All Forum Posts by: Roman Romaniuk

Thank you @Matt Devincenzo and @Chris Seveney for sharing your knowledge/experience/advise. I actually went to VID (vista irrigation district) to get some in depth explanation, and it turned out, as Matt mentioned not a actual construction cost, but around 16k as "capacity cost" to San Diego County and around 32k "capacity cost" as well to VID. The rest is permit/construction/etc. 
As a possible solution I requested if I can have new service in parallel to existing one to supply only new construction (and it would be either 3/4 or 1 depending on engineering calcs), and waiting for their decision.

Thank you once again 

Hello everyone,

I’m currently building 2 ADUs in Vista in a new 2-story building (each floor is a separate 2 bed, 2 bath unit, 750 sq ft each).

I already have 4 units on this lot, and the water main is a 5/8”. My engineer calculated that I need to increase the main to a 1.5” for the new units. I contacted the Vista Irrigation District and got these estimates:

• Upsizing from a 5/8” meter to a 1” meter: ~$24,000

• Upsizing from a 5/8” meter to a 1.5” meter: ~$54,000

This seems outrageous to me. The material cost difference between 1” and 1.5” is minor, so it feels like they’re charging whatever they want because they know you’re locked in with no alternative options.

Has anyone dealt with this before? Any ideas on how to negotiate this or lower the cost? My total construction cost is around $300k, so spending nearly 1/6 of that just to upgrade water service seems crazy.

Thanks in advance for any advice!

 PMed 

Hello @Patrick Cleary

I have an active HELOC with Shellpoint, and they only charge interest as you go

I have a broker in San Diego who helped me to get it, lmk if you need a contact 

Thank you @Andy Eakes! You answered all my questions and concerns :) Since I already have an architect to get permits for ADU, he will also do the same for deck extension. It's definitely worth to make everything properly.

Thanks once again 

 Thank you Bill for advice, and it would be really helpful if this law firm specialize on topic! Let me know :) 

Hello everyone! 

I recently purchased duplex, with billboard on the land, facing 5 freeway in SD downtown area. Billboard lease agreement is end this November, and billboard company already reached me out regarding renew agreement, but I have no idea how to get the most out of it.

Is negotiation should be outsourced to professional, or should I try to do it myself? 

Any advices what to do/ and what not to do. 

Thank you!  

Thank you Bonnie, I will reach out to the local building department to make it proper

Hello everyone.

It might not be exact place to ask this type of question, but I really believe that a lot people from this forum have an experience with that, so you can help.

I have rental duplex with downtown view (located in San Diego), and back doors of this unit leads to balcony\patio with that view. Right now it's around 4 feet in depth, and you can go downstairs  and have some extra land there. It would make much more sense in this case to extend this patio\balcony all the way to the end of the land. But one of the renters moving out in a month, and other one in 2 month, so it would make even more sense to do it before getting new tenants. 

I'm wondering if I need/recommended  any permission from city, or since it's my land I can do it, anyway I already have balcony/patio. 

See picture for better understanding, and thank you in advance! 

Hello everyone.

It might not be exact place to ask this type of question, but I really believe that a lot people from this forum have an experience with that, so you can help.

I have rental duplex with downtown view (located in San Diego), and back doors of this unit leads to balcony\patio with that view. Right now it's around 4 feet in depth, and you can go downstairs  and have some extra land there. It would make much more sense in this case to extend this patio\balcony all the way to the end of the land. But one of the renters moving out in a month, and other one in 2 month, so it would make even more sense to do it before getting new tenants. 

I'm wondering if I need/recommended  any permission from city, or since it's my land I can do it, anyway I already have balcony/patio. 

See picture for better understanding, and thank you in advance!