Exeter’s housing runs older than nearby Visalia’s or Tulare’s: about half of homes were built before 1980, and roughly 1 in 7 before 1950. If your kitchen has plaster walls and a single outlet by the sink, or your bathroom still has its original tub, that history is where a remodel starts. We serve the city from our shop in southeast Fresno, about 70 minutes away, and the rest of this page explains what to expect.

A citrus town’s housing stock

By 1888 the Southern Pacific line reached the area, and railroad representative D.W. Parkhurst formed the town on land bought from settler John Firebaugh, naming it after his hometown of Exeter, England. The city incorporated in 1911, and its motto is Citrus Capital of the World. Today’s population is near 10,300, by Census estimates, with a median home built around 1979 and about 57% of homes owner-occupied.

About 14% of homes predate 1950. Those tend to have plaster walls, small bathrooms, cast-iron tubs, galvanized supply lines, and wiring a licensed electrician should evaluate before new lighting is planned. Another 37% went up from 1950 through 1979, bringing ranch-era kitchens with soffits and closed layouts, original tile baths, and tub and shower combinations. Another 29% dates from the 1980s and 1990s, with oak cabinets, laminate or tile counters, cultured-marble tops, and fiberglass surrounds, and the remaining fifth was built after 2000, with very little since 2010.

Because so much of the stock predates 1978, the EPA’s lead-safe renovation rule applies to many remodels here, which affects dust control and cleanup from the first day of demolition. There is more on older houses in our guide to remodeling older homes.

Permits go through Tulare County

According to the city’s building permit FAQ, Exeter partners with the County of Tulare Building Department for plan check, permits, and inspections. Applications go to the county’s office at 5961 S. Mooney Blvd. in Visalia, inspection cards are picked up at Exeter City Hall on N F Street, and inspections are scheduled with the county.

The same FAQ notes that most homeowner projects need a combination permit and that changes to existing plumbing, electrical, or mechanical systems require one, down to moving or adding an outlet. Exactly what your kitchen or bathroom needs is confirmed during the in-home consultation.

Hard water and older plumbing

The city’s wells deliver hard water. Its 2025 water quality report lists average hardness of 160 parts per million, with samples from 110 to 230, which falls in the hard range on the U.S. Geological Survey scale. Expect white crust on aerators and showerheads and spotting on glass, so finish and fixture choices deserve more thought here. The hard water and fixtures guide walks through options.

In the oldest houses, galvanized supply lines corrode from the inside and restrict flow. Replacing them is plumbing work for licensed trades and is evaluated during the consultation, since it can change both the scope and the planning range.

The drive and the schedule

Exeter sits about 56 miles from our shop at 4143 E Madison Ave in Fresno, roughly 70 minutes of driving, and we have no office nearby. Consultations run Monday through Saturday, 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM, and your estimator ZIP code is how we check coverage. Nearby communities are listed on our Tulare County service area page.

Starting with the estimator

Use Get My Renovation Estimate to choose the kitchen or bathroom questions. Answer them, add your contact details and ZIP code, and a personalized planning range appears on screen. For orientation, kitchens usually start around $25,000, a typical kitchen remodel lands around $40,000, and larger kitchens run $50,000 to $60,000, while bathrooms usually start around $15,000, land around $25,000 for a typical remodel, and run $30,000 to $40,000 for larger projects. In older houses, what is behind the walls has a bigger say in where a project lands, which is why the free in-home consultation checks existing conditions before anything is final.

For a home that predates 1950, it helps to note anything you already know about past updates, such as rewiring, replaced pipes, or newer windows. Those details hint at what may be behind the walls and make the visit more useful.

Licensing you can check

The company’s owner is Albert James Joya, and All American Renovations holds California license #1111311 for B-2 Residential Remodeling and is insured and bonded. You can confirm any contractor’s license with the state, and our license check guide shows how.