The Third Rule of Thumb and Noise & Light Ordinances & Landscaping!

While it may not seem like it has anything to do with you, your lighting, the amount of noise that your tenants might make, and your landscaping are all make or break items when it comes to the city and the neighbors and getting your project approved. Each one of these can stop your project before it even starts. This is why it is so important to research what is required during your due diligence period.

The light from your property may not be a big deal if you are in a retail area. However, if you are not, then your light cannot spill out onto your neighbors’ property. This is a tough balance. You have to find a way to keep your property well lit to prevent vandalism and theft without bothering your neighbors. Work with your architect to make sure that your lights are placed in a way that will give you the maximum lighting and the least amount of spillage.

Noise ordinances are usually not going to be an issue. An easy way to prevent noise is to simply prevent bands in your lease. By not allowing bands or other loud occupants in your self-storage units in the first place, you won’t have to worry about not passing the noise ordinance.

You don’t need to build the Taj Mahal. However, you don’t want to build a cardboard box either. You need to find out what materials the city is going to require you to use. They may want the exterior of the building made out of metal or brick. How will this affect your bottom line? You want to know what materials they are going to expect you to use before you get very far into your designs. You want to get a bid based on what they are going to require rather than what you want to use. Hopefully, the two coincide.

Finally, you want to find out what the city is going to require for landscaping. Sometimes they want you to bring up the entire neighborhood. If this is the case, it could cost you tens of thousands of dollars. Hopefully, they will allow minimal landscaping. Get a bid during your due diligence period. In our current market, everything is more expensive. You want to know what your costs are going to be before you close on the property.

Your due diligence period is when you check all the minor details. You want to make sure that you can meet all of the city’s expectations. You want to verify that you can build what you are envisioning in your mind. Don’t skip over the small things because they can kill your deal. As always, happy investing.