How Do You Factor Architectural Drawings into Your Deal Analysis?

[Aisha Umar]

Hey BP community,

When you're running the numbers on a flip or BRRRR especially one that involves layout changes, additions, or ADUs how are you estimating the cost and time for architectural drawings?

I’ve seen a few deals lately where the profit looked good on paper, but after city review or permitting kicked in, the need for stamped drawings added weeks and thousands in unexpected costs.

Curious how others here approach it:

• Do you include drawings in your initial rehab budget?

• Skip it if it’s cosmetic only?

• Build in time buffers for city plan checks?

I work in the design space, so I’ve seen it go both ways  investors who pad for it and avoid surprises, and others who get stuck mid-project when plans are rejected or flagged.

Would love to hear how you factor this into your numbers in today’s market  especially with some cities getting stricter in 2025.

Thanks in advance for sharing!