When have you needed an engineer?

Question

I'm an engineer and investor. I want to see what kind of part time work/services I can provide as an engineer to intersect with real estate. Whether it be subconsultations to someone else or direct services, I'd like to hear everyone's experiences.

Phong Bui · Answer

Thank you for your insight Ryan! I plan to have my PE soon (<1yr) and my state allows me to practice within my scope. I do not intend to practice outside of anything I'm absolutely comfortable being liable for, which in my case would be minor alterations as I do have academic exposure to it. I've been reviewing my city permitting requirements and building codes, but do plan to increase my knowledge much more before attempting to offer any services to anyone. Your answer helps me refine more thoughts and intentions. I'm also fully prepared to admit that it is outside of my capabilities if that is the case.

Your last comment is what has been on my mind. As a small, one person operation, I would not be able to offer the type of service a larger firm would as a one-stop shop. But you also mentioned how some won't bother with minor additions and alterations because it's not worth their time. I figured this might be the case as well and maybe an opportunity for me to fill in this gap.

My thought would be to offer services to investors and general contractors who are flipping or remodeling a home and could use some permitted alterations that require plans to be submitted to improve floor plan or usable space. Volume of work would not be critical either as this would only be a side job and one person operation.

Phong Bui · Answer

Hi Carini, thank you for sharing! I've come to realize that there may be many opportunities available to carve out a niche service, but requires willingness to gain a bigger perspective and asking the right questions.

I took a look at your business site and services you provide. I'm amazed at the amount of work you do. Perhaps a starting point for me is finding someone like yourself close by to me and offer to help in order to learn to provide just that subset of work that they can't get around to.

Carini Rochester · Answer

@Phong Bui

"I can potentially offer this service to general contractors looking to rehab a home but need stamped plans to submit.I'm not sure if this is actually a needed service though."

I do quite a bit of that. And as another poster said, many of us are too busy to do all the work that we get leads on. I have a phone message on my desk right now that reads, "structural issues with current residence. Would like assessment." The message is two weeks old and I haven't returned the call because I'm too busy.

The type of structural work you are describing is happening all the time, and, yes, the homeowner or the contractor need professionally drawn, stamped plans to get a building permit (and to know what beam size to use.)

Ryan Normand · Answer

@Phong Bui When you said engineer my first thought was structural, too. For a contractor, that's the most valuable type of engineer, but it's not the only engineering-related service you could provide. You could build analysis tools, design websites, etc.

Back to structural engineering... Yes, plans/drawings are a much needed service. Architects/engineers charge a pretty penny for drawings and some won't even bother looking at minor additions/remodels because they're not worth their time. I don't think you'll be able to provide "stamped" drawings as these typically need to be done by a licensed architect or PE in the relevant field. However, you might be able to find a niche doing drawings for very light remodels and minor additions, which some cities have less stringent requirements for (i.e. they don't require a full set of plans and they don't need to be done by a licensed architect). Check with your local building department to see what you're allowed to do drawings for, if you want to go that route. You'll still need a strong understanding of building codes even for the simplest of projects, so keep that in mind. You'll also be competing with design/build contractors who do the entire job in-house.

Phong Bui · Answer

I work in auto industry but want to do something else on the side that can generate some cashflow that also combines my engineering profession with my real estate investment space. I want to see what what kind of work is more valuable to investors and homeowners so I can start learning or join a firm that does that type of work.So far it seems structural work is most common, but unfortunately that transition may not be feasible. Structural engineers have a wide range of expertise in different material types that would require me to entirely pivot my career field.Currently my thought is to limit my service to providing stamped drawings for permitting of minor alterations of existing wood frame structure such as windows, doors, and load bearing walls. I have enough background and transferrable skills to begin refining myself to a point where I can potentially offer this service to general contractors looking to rehab a home but need stamped plans to submit.I'm not sure if this is actually a needed service though.

Ryan Normand · Answer

What kind of engineer?