Converting a two family to a three family

[Mohamed Farih]

Hello I am a new home buyer in Newark NJ.  I just bought a two family home in Newark NJ and want to convert it to a three family home.  The house has an above ground basement and more than enough space to convert it to a three or two room apartment.  I have checked if the house is in a three family zone and the house is zoned in a three family zone.  It makes me think why didn't the previous owner try to convert it or maybe he/she was going to but decided not to.  

• My question is what else should I check before I convert the house to a three family?  
• How do I go about converting the house?  
• What should I expect? 
• What are some common obstacles people face in Newark NJ.
• What is an estimate to convert the home?

Thank you in advance for your help.

[Allan Szlafrok]

@Mohamed Farih Speak to the zoning board and also speak to an architect. The architect knows what kind of requirements need to be met for the conversion and you are going to need drawings anyway.