Older Homes Need a Different Kind of Remodel
The older houses around Scottsdale, Paradise Valley and the historic pockets of Phoenix were not built the way new construction is built. Walls land where nobody expects them. Kitchens were drawn for a different way of cooking. Ceilings, block walls, slab plumbing and old wiring all have opinions, and you find out what those opinions are once the drywall comes off. That is why we measure carefully and draw the whole thing before we quote a number — so the plan matches the house you actually own instead of the house a template assumes you own.
Michael Fischer is a residential remodeling and construction business based at 11153 E. Karen Drive in Scottsdale, working across Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, Cave Creek, Rio Verde, Carefree and Phoenix. We are licensed, bonded and insuredwe hold Arizona ROC General Dual License #327028and we carry an . Quotes are free, and you get a drawing with them.
What We Renovate in an Older Home
We are not a preservation consultancy and we do not pretend to be. What we do is take the rooms and the outdoor space of an older home and rebuild them properly. Most of our work in these houses falls into six areas:
- Kitchen Remodeling — custom kitchens designed and built from the ground up, including cabinetry, countertops and full layout changes when the original plan no longer works.
- Bathroom Remodeling — walk-in shower conversions, vanity upgrades and full spa-inspired redesigns that bring a dated bathroom back into use.
- Living Room Renovation — layout updates, new flooring, custom built-ins and fireplace surrounds, which is often where an old house gains the most character back.
- Sliding & Accordion Door Wall Systems — custom folding door systems, sliding glass walls and accordion door openings, the single best way to open a closed-off older floor plan to the yard.
- Backyard, Patio & Pool Design — custom pool installations, outdoor kitchens, hardscaping, pergolas and full backyard transformations.
- Architectural Design & Project Management — in-house AutoCAD drafting, 3D renderings, floor plan development and management of the build from start to finish.
Drawings, Renderings and Permits First
In an older home, the design stage is where the money is saved. We draft in AutoCAD in-house, so when a wall turns out to be structural or a drain line sits somewhere inconvenient, the plan gets adjusted on the screen rather than mid-demolition. You see 3D renderings of the finished room before we order a single cabinet, which is the point at which most people change their minds about a countertop or a door location — and that is exactly when it costs nothing to change. We develop the floor plans, handle the permitting, and manage the trades through the whole build so you are not the one chasing a tile setter on a Tuesday morning.
Because everything from the first measurement to the final punch list runs through one office, there is no gap between the person who drew it and the people building it. That matters more on a 1960s block house than it does on a tract home.
Start With a Free Quote
Here is how a project usually runs:
- We walk the property with you and take real measurements.
- We draft the floor plan in AutoCAD and talk through what the existing structure allows.
- You see the 3D renderings and approve the layout, finishes and door and window locations.
- We pull the permits and schedule the trades.
- We build it and manage the site day to day.
- We walk the finished work with you room by room.
If you have an older home in Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, Cave Creek, Rio Verde, Carefree or Phoenix and you are weighing up a home renovation, call Michael Fischer at (602) 329-2517 or email hemimike@yahoo.com. We are open Monday through Saturday, 9:00am to 5:00pm, and closed Sunday. The quote is free.