All Forum Posts by: Chad Conrad

Michael Yes I have experience with Jonathan's course that is online. I am in the San Diego area and watched Jonathan perform his work for some time. Great what he has been able to do without clients. It is a really good over view of the development perspective from the Architect's perspective and how he has done this over a long period of time. The manual, videos, contract and ongoing forum are a good explanation of the process and how he deals with issues. Recommend it if you are an Architect and wanting to break free of clients. Chad

Originally posted by @Edgar Martinez:

Originally posted by @Matthew Murphy:

Welcome to Bigger Pockets. Continue taking steps and learning, pursuing deals and that first one will fall into place. Do you plan to work as an architect and invest part time to start? Good luck in your future investing!

  I want to get my architecture license so I'll have to work for someone for about 3 years. So I haven't exactly figured out the path I want to take but working full time at an architecture firm and investing part time might be the best move. It gets a little trickier with my real estate license. So I'll have to figure all that out.

 Edgar --

Good morning.  I am an Architect in the San DIego area and i ahve a few suggestions.  You are on a very bright path if this is the direction that you want to go.  As  you have stated you will have to work long enough to get your internship hours completed with the IDP prirogram through NCARB.  I highly recommend that you do this and complete the NCARB program.  Being able to get an Architectctural licencse in other states through reciprocity is a big deal. 

As was noted above Jonathan Segal is a reat source to see what can be done when you are in full control of the process.  See the websites that are noted but also look at his course that is for educational purposes:

www.architectasdeveloper.com

It is an eight part course that covers the process and if you want to stay involved once the course is completed you can maintain the 'membership for a $9.99 fee that allows you to post questions to a forum Jonathan will answer questions via videos.  As noted earlier, I am in San Diego and can persoanlly vouch for what he has done over the past twehty + years here in San Diego.

I can tell you that once you graduate it will be a good idea to understand as much as you can from the business side of Architecture - as it is a business and it has to be treated as such.  Work for a large firm and for a small firm - two years each so that you can understand the differrences in systems from a large firm perspective.  A small firm will force you to have to wear many hats and do a lot more as you will not have the support around you that a large firm provides.

That is my advice moving forward.  All I can say is that if this is teh direcgtion that you want to go - it is a wise and gives you a lot more contrl over your future.

Good Luck -

Chad Conrad, NCARB, LEED AP 

Originally posted by @Account Closed:

@David Ferrette : Hi, thanks for your reply. I should have added that the property is in an unincorporated area of San Diego county. I did speak with a county inspector and he does want plans but was pretty chill about it all and vague about who draws them up. I'm also in an HOA and all of the neighbors basically say "don't ask permission, better to just do it and ask for forgiveness later." I guess there's a committee that is headed by a power hungry (non resident) employee of the community and people avoid him. But I'm worried that if I ask, it will cost me, and if I don't, I run the risk of fines from HOA even if I do what the county requests. But the status quo is to not ask, I guess...in the CC&Rs it says we have to ask for every exterior change except annual flowers! And there are fees with every request ranging from 150$ for requesting to paint the house to 20k for regrading an area of your property, so asking can get pretty expensive. And slow. They review requests just one day a month.

I have had two architects out to the property, and we discuss generally what I want to do, and they send me a proposal from 7-10k for the drawings, and just say "if you're okay with the quote, let me know and I'll get started." But we didn't talk about the details, like where the pantry will be and how far the kitchen will extend, etc. How can they draw plans without knowing what I want? So I ask and they just say "give me the original plans and 10k and we'll go from there" but that seems like a gamble. For example, how do I get a permit without plans for interior work? I don't want to pay 10k without having everything included. Is 10k a lot for plans? Plus contractors say stuff like "how do you feel about pulling permits?" People don't generally pull permits for interior changes? Everything seems...shady! Or is this just how CA is?

It's kind of crazy so far. 

Thanks again, 

Mary

 Mary

I am an Architect here in the San Diego area. I can understand your demise but also caution you in moving forward without HOA approvals. I see that you are from Rancho Santa Fe. If hte HOA is the RSF and the Art Jury is the review committee then I feel your pain. I also want to state that I have done a small project there for a home owner that intended to move forward without the HOA knowing and I did not move forward with them. I found out that they did move forward with someone else and bot reported to the HOA and were in trouble.

Often timew when you perform changes to the exterior envelope of a building it has structurl inmpilcaitons on tne overall building and needs to be addressed siesmically.  Not sure if this is the case but non the less is a cosideration. 

In terms of the fees, always remember that you get what you pay for.

Chad 

Sean 

Welcome to BP.  You came to the right place to learn about RE investment.  There is more here than you can drink in at any time. A great place to learn. 

I too am an architect that is moving in that same direction but here in the San Diego area. I have met Jonathan on a few occasions and I am a real fan of him and what he does. I have seen all of his projects and can tell you that they truly inspire us as it can break us free if having to have clients for fee income and move us towards passive income and true wealth. 

PM if you want to talk more. 

Chad Conrad

Martin 

It would be a really good itdea to have an experienced Architect perform an accessibility review of your property for compliance with accsssibility standards.  The link that @garrickoconnell provided is the one that I would have recommended as well.  

If you are having them just review the parking area then I am in agreement with @davidfet\rette that you probably do not need a CASp.  This would be a good idea if you wanted to do a full property accessibility review.

If you need any more infromatin regarding this please feel free to contact me.

Chad Conrad

Josh

I am an Architect in the San Diego area and I do not know all of the details regarding the project but a 5% fee is a decent fee for this amount of work.  Given the description of work noted above it sounds like quite a bit of work to perform.

What many in these forums do not understand is that the building codes have become very complex and do so in every new code cycle.  These codes need to be adhered to and have a very heavy focus on energy and sustainability.  Especially in the Seattle area.  A lot of what you are paying for is this professional knowledge and ability to piece the puzzle together.

If you or a draftsman can do this, then more power to you.  Remember you get what you pay for.

Chad

William -

I will send you a note via e-mail.

Have a good day!

Chad

William -

Good morning.  I saw this post and wanted to give you some direction.

I am an Architect here in California and have worked on many Senior Housing projects.  There are so many factors to consider when thinking of developing this type of project.  The way they are planned and constructed can vary depending on what types of housing you are providing.

If you would like to know of some good Architecture firms to speak with I can provide three good ones that I know could do a good job for you.

Chad

Good morning. I am an Architect in California and have seen both used extensively. The cost factor is definitely something to consider. Granite is nice but it will require maintenance as it is a porous material. Concrete is also a porous but can be sealed and will wear just as long as the granite if properly installed. Just watch the water to cement ratio as too much water will dilute the strength of the concrete and continue to hydrate longer. There are some coloring and texturing that you can get with concrete that you may not be able to with granite. Things to consider. Chad

Heather -

Good morning. I too am here in SoCal in San Diego and also an Architect. I too am interested in Architect as Developer as I have been watching Jonathan Segal do this for a long time and doing some amazing work. Interesting what can happen when you do not have a client holding you back. I too have similar goals and it is good to hear from what Aaron stated above that the numbers make sense now. I know that they do with mixed use and MF but was not sure about SFR.

Chad Conrad, AIA