We have a 1200 sq ft 1950’s ranch (3BR 1BA ) in the SF Bay area. We love the neighborhood and schools, but the house no longer meets our needs. We want to build a new house on the same lot. We’re still a few years away from being ready to pull the trigger, but I am trying to plan this in advance. Does anyone have a suggested timeline for the ramp-up process? For example, when should we start interviewing design firms? What about lining up the subcontractors? (chosing my own subs, not through a GC).
Thoughts? Advice?
Thanks in advance.
-Smitty
“Honey, will you please make some sawdust and track it across the carpet?”
“Yes, dear…”
Replies
ANYTHING in the SF Bay area takes 10 times longer than expected. Before you spend thousands of dollars on designers, I'd talk to a land planner familiar with the zoning requirements in your area. He/she can shed some light on the process you'll be going through with environmental impact surveys, neighborhood associations, citizens' groups, zoning committees, tree-huggers, etc. You'll soon find that the process can take upwards of 5 years to get approval for a tear-down and re-build, and the fees can go far, far nto the 5-figures before you even put a shovel in the ground.
Bob
Bob-
I know this is the case for folks trying to build in environmentally sensative areas, etc, but I'm in a cookie-cutter subdivision in Mountain View. SHould I be concerned? (I did a kitchen remodel and one exterior wall about 5 years back with narry a glance from the folks in the planning office.)
-DJS"Honey, will you please make some sawdust and track it across the carpet?"
"Yes, dear..."
Probably "less" concerned, but I'd make a few phonecalls anyway. Nothing like spending big $$ on plans, etc., only to find out you've got a 3-year battle ahead of you to get zoning approval.
Bob