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Old 01-11-2015, 05:47 PM
 
Location: Stanton Heights
778 posts, read 837,295 times
Reputation: 869

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My house is one of the only ones on my street that does not have an addition. We love this house and this neighborhood--it's perfect for us in every way, except for how minuscule the house is. I don't want a mansion, I just want a couple extra rooms and a half-bath. (Right now we have 2BR, 1 BA and less than 800 sq feet of living space. What I'm really after is 1200 sq feet, 3BR, 1.5BA.)

Our options are move or build an addition like so many others have in this neighborhood. Timeline is not for a couple years (in 2017, my parents are probably going to be living in another country for several months, which means we could live in their house while work here was taking place).

I've never done a renovation job, I have no idea who to even contact to start getting an idea of how much this would cost. (Up to a point, it makes financial sense, beyond that point it doesn't). Who is the first person one calls about such things? A contractor? An architect (this would be nothing fancy, but it would be a 3-story addition since we have an exposed basement in the back)? I really at this time just need to know a vague ballpark figure for how much such a project would run us, so I can figure out whether to spend the next 2 years preparing for that, or saving for a downpayment on a new house.

I'm all ears for recommendations for contractors/engineers/architects/whoever it is that one hires to oversee such projects.
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Old 01-11-2015, 06:47 PM
 
Location: Pittsburgh, PA (Morningside)
14,362 posts, read 16,943,461 times
Reputation: 12400
Although my wife is a registered architect, she is unable to freelance because she doesn't work for herself. Architects need to either be covered by liability insurance through their firm, or else purchase it themselves, and thus can't really do the whole jobs on the side thing.

She does have a former coworker who recently started his own firm. He actually lives in Morningside just a block up from us, and (IIRC) worked on a lot of the Botero Development work in Lawrenceville. I can pass along his contact information if you want.
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Old 01-11-2015, 09:30 PM
 
3,592 posts, read 3,370,394 times
Reputation: 2530
I am a contractor, I would recommend you start with a trip to your local zoning office to see if you can do what you want, then go to see a good architect.

If i was looking to hire a contractor, i would have all my selections done before i got any bids, that way everyone is bidding the same specs, that way you can compare labor and markups better. some contractors bid allowences, they keep allowences low to have a cheeper bid, but you will have to pay alot extra in the end.

one company that i do work for sends me the plans ahead of time to review, they then schedule all the contractors and architect to a prebid meeting. that way the contractors have a little face time with the architect to go over any questions or problems before the final bid.
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Old 01-12-2015, 11:20 AM
 
Location: O'Hara Twp.
4,359 posts, read 7,506,011 times
Reputation: 1611
I have heard that an engineer (p.e.) can stamp plans too. Is this right?
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Old 01-12-2015, 12:10 PM
 
3,592 posts, read 3,370,394 times
Reputation: 2530
i have had an engineer stamp prints i did in the past, unless they are self drawn i dont see an advantage. the price is rather high unless you know someone.
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