All Forum Posts by: Jared W Smith

Hello Joe, welcome. We work projects in the same areas. Nice to see another local on here. All the best in your endeavors.  

Hello Ryan, Welcome, from a fellow Westchester County resident. 

I work on projects in NYC and Westchester presently. All the best in your REI searches.

This is incorrect. It will be the same cost to modify an internet plan you found as though I came up with it from scratch. I have to assess the building codes and modify it anyway, which can be more time consuming than working from scratch. Despite what most think, this does not lessen the cost of architect/design services. 

Sounds like a draftsman/designer. Licensed Architects don't charge based on a price per square foot. I won't quote this since the Northeast is a very different animal than Texas.

You best check to see what is required by the Building Dept. as far as documents and what seals, and then work from there. Going with the cheapest options usually doesn't work out the way you figure. They're super cheap for a reason. Lack of experience, slow turn around, etc. You don't know what you don't know. 

Having an Architect on board to guide you through the process can be invaluable and save you cost, frustration and trial/errors situations. Don't be penny wise and pound foolish.   

Welcome! 

Welcome from a fellow Architect. 

Couldn't agree more. 

If a Designer or Contractor is proposing to remove a wall and does not think to check the structural integrity of said wall, then they are no one you should be dealing with. More than standard among design professionals- Architects and Engineers. 

Exactly the reason to have an Architect on your team to join in on these conversations ESPECIALLY in existing renovations in older homes. What ever the Contractor proposes you should not take as the only option. Numerous times I have been able to think through an issues that arose on a construction site and saved the Owner by proposing an alternate route to resolve it. 

ACM (Asbestos Containing Material) abatement is a tough one because often you won't know (outside pipe insulation & 8x8 tiles which I can spot and point out with no testing). However, a wall sitting on top of conc. is not typically allowed however, there are work arounds. OF COURSE the Contractor is going to say you need to tear it all out and rebuild the wall(s)  because that's the absolute easiest solution and adds additional work for him. Remember the more work they do, the more you have to pay them. So their opinion of what to do when a problem arises is inherently biased.  

Welcome to the site and glad to see another fellow Westchester Resident. I have worked on a few projects in Scarsdale and know the appreciation is there. Congrats on landing a solid property which can be used as a springboard. 

Like you a purchased my primary residence in 2017 as an estate sale and landed an amazing deal which still holds a large amount of equity. We are about 47% LTV. My wife not comfortable putting our house as equity, therefore we are utilizing other options to fund investment properties.

All the best @Anthony Poulin  

 Welcome @Desiah Barnett !!