2 to 3 families conversion advice

[Ivan Shao]

Hello, BP community!! 

Recently,  I acquired a 2 families property ( with finished basement) ;  I would like to convert it to legal 3 families property.    Any BP members can give us advice and share experience in conversion.   What procedure would be required by the town? 

Thank you!!

[Frank Chin]

Originally posted by @Ivan Shao:

Hello Frank! Since the building next our building is a 3 families, we will try to approach town building departments and see what would required for conversion.

Thanks!

 If you are going down to the building department anyway, pull your C/O as well as the C/O of ones that are 3 families just to see if they are really legally 3 family. If you're really serious about doing it, hire an architect as you'll have to file plans.

I did rehabs of some properties, and some years back, had to go down to the buildings department to see what they have on me. They gave m the entire file, including building plans, changes made, who approved it and so forth. Wish I reviewed it when I bought the building. I was selling the property, the wise guy buyer told me my fire escape is not up to code. Talked to his inspector and the guy said the buyer has a problem, so you either drop your price, or find in the building dept file a sign off by the fire dept approving the fire escape.

So I spent a day at the building department, found the fire inspection approval dated in 1939. The buyer was a little shocked and speechless when I called him. I recall he wanted $5,000 off the price. Had a fun day researching and made a few thousand dollars.