Finding the floor plans for a property I'm currently flipping

[Miguel Martinez]

Hello BP members!

I'm currently flipping a property in Southern California, Inland Empire. My General contractor already did a walk through of the property and he concluded that there are structures and converted spaces that aren't supposed be there. The issue is, how do we find out what was supposed to be there? I took a trip down to my local tax assessors office and planning department, but they gave me the usual run-around of applications, signatures, fees, 30 working business days etc. just to get a copy of the floor plans. Fellow BP members, any advice on how to get a copy of the floor plans for my property without having to take a dreaded trip down to city hall again?

Best regards,

Miguel

[Alec B Calzada]

The way I see it you have a few options:
1) Speak to the original owner or builder, try to find out who the original architect was. If the home was built within a recent frame of time (the past 10 years at most) someone may have a copy of the Original plans still. That's you're best option for not dealing with the city. If that's impossible then...
2) Hire someone to do the run around for you with the city. Expediting companies and some architects will work by the hour to research and work through the garbage to get you what you need. I don't know anyone local, been looking for awhile still but you might find someone before I do (let me know for you do, please!)
3) Revisit what you're trying to do. So what if there are walls or things that aren't permitted? Why take out the illegal stuff? Maybe getting it all permitted would increase the value and equity in the home? If not, then draw up as-built plans of the house (sheet 1) and then draw a demo plan showing which walls you're taking out (sheet 2) and get the permit for the demo. Much faster than the permit path, but still paperwork and head ache, so be sure you know how you wanna handle it.

I work in San Bernardino County dealing with stuff like this all of the time for our clients. If you wanna talk more about it, PM me or shoot me an email. Good luck!