I got tired of watching people guess.
A buyer asks their agent what the addition will cost. The agent doesn't know. A homeowner asks their contractor whether it's worth doing. The contractor doesn't know either. Both answers get guessed, and the guess is expensive.
Credentials
- Texas real estate license #829970
Brokered by Dalton Wade Inc. - Construction
Residential building & renovation - Greater Houston
Heights · River Oaks · Memorial · Katy · Sugar Land · The Woodlands - Specialisms
Room additions, renovation ROI, pre-listing renovation, fixer underwriting, flood diligence
Why both trades instead of one
Real estate and construction are treated as separate professions, and for most transactions that separation is invisible. It becomes expensive the moment a property needs work — which, in a city where the best-located housing stock is forty to a hundred years old, is most of the time.
The agent sees comparable sales, days on market, and negotiating position. The construction read catches roof geometry, foundation movement, panel capacity, setbacks and permit history. Both are reading the same house and neither has the whole picture. The decision — should you buy this, should you build this, will it pay — sits precisely in the gap between them.
I hold both trades so the gap closes in one conversation.
What that changes in practice
- Buyers get the renovation priced during the option period, while there is still leverage — not after closing, when there is none.
- Sellers get pre-listing work priced and managed directly, scoped to their actual comparable set, rather than referred to a vendor network that fronts money and takes a margin.
- Investors get the after-repair value checked against real comparable sales by the same person pricing the build.
- Everyone gets told when the answer is no. That is the part that matters most and it is the part a commission-only relationship makes hardest.
The advice I give most often is "don't"
Don't build that addition — the bracket above you isn't far enough up. Don't renovate before listing — fix the inspection items and let the market pay for it. Don't buy that fixer — the slab and the unpermitted square footage will eat the margin. I would rather be the person who told you that than the person who sold you the project.
How I work
- Send me something specific. An address, an inspection report, a renovation you're considering, or a house you're thinking about listing.
- I walk it as both. Comps and construction, in the same visit, out loud.
- You get one number, and the reasoning behind it.
- You decide. There is no obligation and the walkthrough is free.
Room additions, patio covers & renovations
I've worked in residential construction since 2014, building room additions, patio covers and renovations across Houston. With a master's in urban planning from Texas Southern University and a bachelor's in urban planning engineering, I look at every project the way a buyer or appraiser will: what it costs, what it's worth, and what the city will approve.
Planning a room addition or patio cover? Send me the address or call (832) 339-4197 and I'll walk it with you.
Areas I cover in depth
Greater Houston generally, with full guides for Houston Heights, River Oaks, Memorial & Spring Branch, Katy, Sugar Land and The Woodlands — each covering flood risk, renovation approvals, school zoning and what returns at resale.
Send me an address.
Free walkthrough, no obligation, usually same day. Or just call — (832) 339-4197.
Frequently asked questions
Who is Mike Zare?
Mahdi "Mike" Zare is a Texas licensed real estate agent (#829970) brokered by Dalton Wade Inc., with fifteen years in urban planning and residential construction. He serves Greater Houston with in-depth coverage of the Heights, River Oaks, Memorial and Spring Branch, Katy, Sugar Land and The Woodlands.
Does Mike Zare have construction experience as well as a real estate license?
He holds a Texas real estate license (#829970), a Master's degree in Urban Planning, and fifteen years of combined experience in urban planning and residential construction. Texas does not license general contractors. That combination is what allows him to price renovations, read inspection reports the way someone who has done the work reads them, and scope, price and manage pre-listing work himself rather than referring it out.
What areas does Mike Zare serve?
Greater Houston. The six markets covered in depth on this site are Houston Heights, River Oaks, Memorial and Spring Branch, Katy, Sugar Land and The Woodlands, though he works throughout the metro.
How do I contact Mike Zare?
Call or text (832) 339-4197, email mzb1368@gmail.com, or use any form on this site. Walkthroughs, valuations and inspection-report reviews are free with no obligation.