Looking for the barf collective wisdom here. I am looking to build on a lot here in Oakland and need recommendations on a great contractor that would like to possibly do the job. Oakland hills is the locale. Will need power, waste and water to be installed. It's just a bare lot right now. Any recommendations are appreciated.
New Construction Contractor?
- Thread starter panthera
- Start date
My recent experience is that you'll need a co.plete set of plans, approved by the city, before they even call you back. They're all super busy.
The exception might be contractors that can do "cradle to grave" service, from initial design all the way through to handing you the keys
The exception might be contractors that can do "cradle to grave" service, from initial design all the way through to handing you the keys
Dubbington
Slamdunk Champion
PM'd my dads contact. He's built homes from the ground up. Give him a ring. He'll do it right and/or steer you in the right direction.
Yakoo752
USN
Can you get a boundary adjustment?
CockyRooster
Grab the Transmogrifier!
You'll need an architect first. Ducati Honey here is an architect and lives in that area. Architects usually have a list of builders that they enjoy working with and that's your best route for a more cohesive and unified process.
I'm gonna start with "Shit". Then I'll add: give yourself a LONG DD period and don't purchase till you have all the kinks worked out. The building world is littered with beautiful sites that are unbuildable and the owners have a real nice park they can visit.
Edit: Call Dub's father. We're bidding a project in Lafayette right now. The bids are absolutely insane. Right now: purchase is going to be much cheaper.
Edit: Call Dub's father. We're bidding a project in Lafayette right now. The bids are absolutely insane. Right now: purchase is going to be much cheaper.
Thanks guys. I'll contact Dubs dad. I do need someone to draw up plans for me and will hit up DH to see if she is interested. I will most likely purchase the plots as I can use them even if we don't build a home on it. I will need power water and waste regardless. If we don't build on the site we will at the very least have water, power, and waste ran to the property along with a concrete pad. Eventually I want to park an RV there if we don't build a home. I still need to check with the city but will purchase the property anyway. This is very early stages but would like to have everything in place. We are willing to pay for plans and planning and not looking for a "deal". Hell we may spend 100 grand before finding a contractor. We already live less than a mile from the site. I am in the trades and can save 50K on the best heating and cooling system available. I will be going down to the city this week to find out more.
nine_inch_rear
Well-known member
It would be far cheaper if you just turned it into a nice dirt track for us barfers.
CockyRooster
Grab the Transmogrifier!
That's true. Op - quit thinking about just yourself.
Often a "Feasabilty" set of plans is a worthwhile investment where you get a set of ghost plans sketched out and take them to the planning dept.
Berto is correct about prices as my sub and material costs are up +30% from just five years ago, and new construction can take a year or two before a shovel hits the ground in planning and engineering.
Knowing that, party on, Garth!
arty
Yakoo752
USN
Moving the electric meter in Sunnyvale would have started at $10k. And that was just to disconnect and connect the panel. Nothing else. It stayed outside.
Mike95060
Work In Progress
I know this is a little out of left field, but man if I had the means I would do this for a "retirement" home when the kids are grown. I have seen these in real life and they are really nice when properly put togeter. Do it off grid with solar and a wood stove for heat? Have a well dug and use a septic tank maybe?
Check it out.
http://www.smilingwoodsyurts.com/
In Walnut Creek, our estimate a few years ago was $35K for the small meter and $50K for a larger meter (based on sq/ft). Insane.
Mr. White
Well-known member
That's nuts! What was the actual work involved?
CockyRooster
Grab the Transmogrifier!
None whatsoever. On top of that each municipality is so different that just the permits that cost $3500 in Redwood City cost $17k in Burlingame for equivalent work. I refuse to lock in solid bids anymore because costs can be so random and arbitrary.
If you're still in touch with Mark Foster he's pretty well versed in those things. But overall I'd say go to the planning dept, ask them, and expect the final outlay to be triple of their estimate.
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Dubbington
Slamdunk Champion
Friends in Malibu up a mountain with views, they all wanted to bury the power lines underground to improve the view. Pretty sure they were quoted at $50k for pole removed and power run under ground.
Lester Green
DROOPY FOR MOD
new construction on bare land with no utilities from the ground up in the Oakland hills....Sounds like a nightmare from start to finish..Better back up the Brinks truck.