All Forum Posts by: Kurt West

@Taylor Michels

Sounds like a great location. Hopefully it works out for you.
We're working on a similar project for a client. I'm more than happy to share some info and chat about your project.  

Kurt

@Warren Kuhn

Any chance you could build a second unit on the lot, without splitting it?  Not sure if that works with your investment thesis, but if it is allowed by-right, you remove some hurdles while creating some new ones!

@Jenna Meditz

Most jurisdictions offer a "pre-submittal" meeting with the zoning/planning department.  They are the ones to be asking your questions.

Let us know if you need any more guidance.  We're an investor-friendly architect firm working all over.

Depending on the type of leads you want, Interior Designers, Structural Engineers and Architects should be good referral partners for any GC.

@Brisa Mejia

In most jurisdictions, draftsman are not allowed to work on 4-unit properties as that size of project triggers commercial building code.  You'll need a licensed architect to add their architect's stamp the drawings.   You might need mechanical, electrical and plumbing drawings done by engineers.

Depending on how much dirt you are moving, you may also need a civil engineer.

Let me know if you need anymore advice about the process.  

He wants to build an ADU people.

@Pal Sa reach out to some contractors who have built homes and ADUs in your town. You'll get a lot further with that person than a random post on Bigger Pockets.  

Sorry I cant be of better assistance, I havent done any project in SF Bay Area yet.

Kurt

@Daniel Bedell

When I visit your Instagram and Facebook pages, it is unclear to me what you are marketing. I would lean on Honomobo to get you renderings and construction drawings of the house. You can use those to help explain what you are doing.  Also, it will be worth every penny to pay a legit marketing professional for an hour of their time to give you some pointers/direction.  

@Jayme B.

I'm working on a similar project right now.  Let me know if you want to chat.

Could be data centers.  They are usually nondescript tilt-up concrete buildings.

@Bruce Woodruff and others have done a great job at covering this topic.  As an architect, I have a couple experiences/anecdotes to add the dialog:

1. I was able to get $10,000 off the purchase price of my house because my realtor did some digging around and found out the previous owner didn't pull a permit for a simple structural modification.  That double 2x12 should have cost him $800 in labor, material and permit fees! Once its known, the un-permitted work needs to be disclosed and will become part of the negotiation.

2. Once a year I get a phone call from a frantic homeowner wanting us to draw an existing addition, or some kind of modification that had been completed on the house. They did a major project on their house and can't sell it for what the market will allow because a permit was not pulled. I will not touch any of those projects.

3. I have a recent client who was warned by my firm not to start work without a permit.  Needless to say a big pile of dirt and a dumpster on-site triggered some phone calls from neighbors, inspectors show up and flag the project.  And now he's being sued by his neighbors...he hasn't even started building anything! The client can no longer afford the project (or my invoice) because of legal fees.  His plans when up in smoke because he couldn't be patient and listen to some folks who may have some useful advice that will help him succeed.  

4.  Aside from the long-term financial benefit of pulling permits, I'm a huge proponent of doing it right, not merely from moral stand point, but that fact that the permit review folks and the inspectors (there's maybe 6-12 people looking at the project at the gov't level), are additional eyes on the project who want nothing more but to see the project succeed and not kill anyone.

Just my two cents....