All Forum Posts by: Kurt West

@Erik Bood

.25 acres isnt much to start off with.  I would begin your planning phase by looking into your required setbacks.  After that, how much space do you have to build on? Can you still put 2-4 units on there?  Where is parking?  Do you have access to utilities?  Those are some initial questions you need to answer first while you consider the feasibility of such a project.

@Jorge Esteban Vargas

By definition a duplex is 2-unit building with a shared wall (or floor), so yes it will need to be attached. Depending on the layout of the existing house, parcel boundaries and required setbacks, that will determine where you attach the second unit.

Reach out to the local district attorney also.  I dont have access to your contract,  but smells like it could be a criminal case.  We had this happen on a single-family job in Kentucky.  $80K and the "GC" left town.  Only thing to show for the money spent was some really crappy foundation walls.  Turns out it was a Class C felony.

@Brandon Boyce
Whats the status of this one?  I spent a good chunk of my life in Muncie. 

You'll need to dive into the zoning code to see if you can do more than one dwelling unit on such a small piece of land.

For one-off houses, prefab may not be the best route for you. Have you identified a prefab builder?  If so, I would reach out to them to learn about their pricing/process.

Was there an architect that designed the building?  They should have recommendations.

@Billy Daniel

I have experience developing raw land. And I'm currently working on a 12-unit development in Virginia.  More than happy to talk.  Send me a PM.

-Kurt

@Andrew Shofer

1. You can definitely build eco-friendly in Maryland.   
2. Prefab is not always cheaper. 

I'm an architect in DC and can help you navigate if you're looking for some guidance. I have a lot of questions for you!

How much dirt are you going to disturb?  Many jurisdictions require a site plan submission based on the size of the building(s).  That will need to get approved prior to a building permit being applied for. That will add time and $ to your calcs.

IMHO, an architect is your best friend at this stage of the game.