All Forum Posts by: Deborah Cavallaro

Does anyone know a contractor who will build a 360 sf one bedroom apartment over a garage for $125 sf in Los Angeles? It will be a rental so no high end materials, just $2.50 sf porcelain tiles and $2.00 laminate flooring, $60 faucets etc. The foundation will have to be reinforced most likely and an outside stair to the entrance will need to be built. Otherwise, just basic kitchen and bath, no tub. It's near the airport so probably four good sound insulated windows will be necessary. Probably will need to move the electrical line and upgrade the panel. Thanks, Deborah

@Hugh Ayles

Thanks Hugh. This information on the feasibility study gives me a much clearer picture of how to proceed and what it will cost to get preliminary drawings to show a contractor. Very helpful and thanks again.

@Glenn Banks

I get that you have to pay for an engineer or architect I just don't want to lay out 10k to find out if the project is viable.  I don't know, but I would think that an engineer could come out and look at a project and give me a ballpark idea of what will be necessary.  Then at least I could go to a contractor and tell him what I need and have him give me an estimate on doing that work.  Is that an unreasonable assumption on my part?  If I have to shell out $10k just to find out if a project is a go or no go that's not too practical for me.

@Charlotte Moore

No problem Charlotte, we're all in this together right?

@Manolo D.

I wouldn't mind spending a couple hundred dollars to have an engineer give me an idea of what's needed but can I get an opinion for that amount of money or do I have to spend a couple thousand? I can't spend thousands of dollars to find out if my project is viable or not.

Good idea on contacting wholesale nurseries for landscaper referrals.  I'll do it.

@Manolo D.

OK, so I'll need to get a separate estimate from a landscaper or get a contractor who subs out the landscaping and add that cost on top of the contractor's bid.

@Frank Nolan

Right.  I plan on having a contractor and maybe an engineer come out and take a look.  Good idea, thanks.

@Hugh Ayles

Yes I do realize that Hugh, which is why I'm going to do a lot more shopping so I can be more precise as to what I really plan to do.  Thanks for pointing it out though.

@Hugh Ayles

Hugh, can you explain what this means "I would use quantity takeoff and base prices off of those quantities."  I'm not familiar with that terminology.  Thanks.

@Frank Nolan

You're right about the foundation and framing but I think I can reinforce the foundation rather than do a new one, at least I think I can do it.  Does anyone know if instead of completely re-framing the first floor to raise the ceiling, can I keep the existing framing and stack two 4"x12" beams on top of each other to raise the ceiling two feet?  I agree with you Frank, it is a big project especially for a first one.  That's why I'm soliciting everyone's help and advise to determine if I will proceed or not.