Additions As Corrections For Excessively Small Rehab Houses

[Robert Carpenter]

I'm a big fan of Frank Lloyd Wrights open plan 'Unsoninan' homes.  I think there are rehabs where the living space is so small it makes sense to put in a spacious open plan addition and use the existing living area for other things.  If anyone finds themselves in such a situation I'd love to take a look. 

[Will Barnard]

Originally posted by @Seth Borman:

Originally posted by @Will Barnard:

Almost all of my projects involve additions to the square footage of the home. In fact, in our competitive market, adding square footage is a strategy that makes sense in today's conditions since I can build for less than I can buy. So by adding size to the home for X, then selling for y, I have "created" an equity spread to cash out on that was not present at purchase.

 We did that on a house in West Adams. Working with the city was a nightmare. What tips do you have for getting through DBS?

 If it were easy, more people could easily do it. Working with the city (LADBS) is never easy so if you are unfamiliar with the ins and outs and don't know any of the plan checkers, your job will be much more difficult. On the other hand, if you or a team member like your GC or architect has all the skills and contacts to get things through as smoothly as it possibly can with LADBS (which is never perfectly smooth of course), than you have your advantage. We know how to get things done, what they ask for and we know most of the plan checkers which really helps our cause.