All Forum Posts by: Aaron T.

@Raekwon Yates following this conversation, I have a wholesale company based out of DC and am looking to relocate to PR

Check out the hostel management website - lots of tips, forms and stories that might help you. 

Back in the 1990s I stayed in hostels when traveling - you meet the most interesting people. I remember a doctor on an exchange program; a gal that graduated from college 10 years prior and still traveling, working on archeologic gigs, botanical gardens, nursing homes etc. 

@Aaron T. I’m going give you advice from an Architect’s perspective and what can derail this projects. Hopefully, it doesn’t but here is you list.

1. Puerto Rico looks like they follow the International Building Code (IBC) of 2018 which means a lot and even though old building may not have those requirements you will be changing the use of the building from a school to a hostel and the occupancy. That means you will not be grandfathered in for many parts of this project. It also means it isn’t a third world country where you might get away with a lot of things.

2. Plumbing. There is a ratio on how many people you have for how many toilets, showers, and sinks you need. Plumbing can cost a lot to update. Is the property on septic or public sewer? How much will it cost to enlarge either of those. If you are on septic you can kiss the pool away. Unless you get a company to fill and drain it. I know of one in the DC area that does this so a property owner doesn’t have to hook up the pool to the sewer systems.

3. You may need to adhere to ADA guidelines. Puerto Rico is part of the USA and people may sue your small business if you do not meet ADA or ANSI guidelines. For example, clear pathways, restrooms and showers, beds, and so on. Even how hard a door may be pushed is taken into account. You can sometimes get away with not complying if the occupancy is lower than a certain threshold.

4. Mechanical requirements. I know COVID will go away sooner rather than later. However, a lot of codes have been updated for Air filters. For example, some daycares I am working on had to change their 4’ wall to 6’ because of COVID to separate spaces. Is Puerto Rico hospitality industry requiring anything like this? The good thing is that you are near a beach so opening a few windows may do the trick but you need to ask.

5. Electrical may need to be updated. The panel, outlets, etc. Once you open a wall to change one thing then there are a hundred things to update. Do all lights need to be converted to LED?

6. Fire alarm system or sprinklers. This will cost an arm and a leg and you need to check if this is required. It may be an occupancy thing again. Same goes for the number of egress from a space.

7. Energy requirements. Does the code require new windows and doors and insulation and so forth.

8. Structural. You need to make sure it is still in good shape after all those hurricanes every year. If anything needs to be repaired it will fall under the new IBC 2018.

9. Certificate of occupancy requirements and any other type of licenses you may need from Puerto Rico’s tourism industry.

10. Finally, figure out the best spot for the bar! That will bring in your revenue.

I love hostels and have traveled the world staying in hostels. I’ve stayed in over 100 and maybe one or two would pass all the new code requirements. I bring all this up because there is a lot of due diligence that needs to be done and any of these items may add a ton of money to the construction budget. I’m on your side and I hope I see this built in a year so I can take my kids surfing.

Good luck!

@Aaron T. Where exactly in Puerto Rico? Im from Puerto Rico. Rincon area may be a great place to open up an Hostel, a lot of people travel to Rincon to just stay in a cheap place and surf all day. But other than that, maybe in Condado, or Calle Loiza.

Is the location near a National Park, or desirable hiking trails? Youth hostels rent VERY cheap and require lots of cleaning and trash pickup.  Who is going to maintain the pool? 

I think that he meant that the narrative and response is govt controlled. Like how they are restricting our movements and creating policies that aren't really based in science. Not that COVID19 is a hoax or a govt plot. 

I like the Idea, SOunds interesting , cool and unique.. ( dont worry about the naysayers) the rebels and unique changed the world :) ..   things to consider,, check with the city and zoning and check is ok to treat it as a short term rental .  this will be like a cool airbnb type of deal or hotel . .. I guess that if you have the money and commitment ,, it could work..  just consider plan b/c and D :) just in case. ;)  Blessings

If designed and done well - this could be an amazing project!

For the marketing aspect.. It looks pretty colorful already and if it were me, I would definitely build on the colorful, tropical vibe and create a lot of instagrammable moments throughout the space with murals, funky seating, beautiful bathrooms etc.

I’ve also seen content about projects very similar to this on TikTok, so building out a platform on there would be a great way to showcase your project/property to the masses.

Now that Im thinking about it, my head is swimming with ideas, there’s tons of possibilities to market this out!