Decision to elevate or build new home not easy By THOMAS J. BUTKUS For The Press | Posted: Sunday, September 7, 2014 4:26 am While homeowners are encouraged to research, evaluate and ask questions, the choice to elevate their home or build new is a tough decision that many face. When deciding to elevate or build new, the concern is What direction is best? The ultimate goal is the peace of mind that the home will be comfortable and safe from bad weather. Decision to elevate or build new home not easy BUTKUS Elevating the home is an option, but it can be destructive and, for some, impractical. When dealing with an elevation contractor, the majority of estimates only include the cost to lift the house. This may lead a homeowner to believe elevating a home is not very expensive. Home-elevation projects can include several trades, not just that of an elevation contractor. For example, every elevation project requires an engineer. To elevate, an engineer will be required to test, evaluate and draw structural plans. Structural plans are needed for municipal permits and inspections. Once the engineer completes the structural drawings and specifies the required foundation system, a licensed plumber, electrician and an HVAC, masonry and/or piling contractor need to be selected for the remainder of the home elevation project. A homeowner then must file with municipal zoning and permitting officials to legally lift the home. In many cases, an engineer also is required at project completion to resurvey the finished home and complete a new elevation certificate that proves the structure has indeed met its elevation requirement. A typical time frame regarding home elevation is two to three months and can breach four months, depending on size, contractor, setbacks and related construction activity. Typical cost of the total project can range from $80,000 to more than $125,000. An alternative to elevating a home is to build new. Homeowners who may want to consider building new are those who have suffered significant storm-related damage to their home and are required to elevate, or those who have an older, inefficient home. The same process of hiring a licensed design professional is required. Subcontractors are hired, and permits are expedited. If choosing a modular builder, a homeowner can expect a quicker building process pressofatlanticcity/eedition/news/decision-to-elevate...ot-easy/article_81bd3080-1caf-5202-a382-94ae885c62c8.html?mode=print Page 1 of 2Decision to elevate or build new home not easy - pressofAtlanticCity: News 9/7/14, 7:25 AM compared with typical site-built construction. The design process is the same if a custom home is desired. A typical time frame for a site-built home is three to six months and for a modular/prefabricated home built, two to three months. Be prepared to spend $200,00 or more for a site-built home and $150,000-plus for an economically designed modular home. Whether a decision is made to elevate or build new, homeowners should seek multiple bids from reputable contractors and home builders. Additionally, homeowners who are facing this decision should research area zoning requirements, FEMA and NJ Grant options that are available to those in flood-prone areas. To speed up funding to Hurricane-Sandy impacted homeowners, the N.J. Department of Community Affairs has simplified the contractor selection process for eligible applicants in the federally funded Reconstruction, Rehabilitation, Elevation and Mitigation Program. By doing so, applicants who sign their RREM grant award after the July 1 decision will select their own contractor to rebuild a Sandy-affected home. RREM recipients who receive funding will have one year from their grant award to elevate or build new. This window of time will enable a homeowner to carefully select a contractor and rebuild their home. Many in the shore community will face the decision to elevate or build. In an environment of change, we gain knowledge from past events. With knowledge, we gain the ability to make the right decision. Thomas J. Butkus is president and. owner of Bunga-lowMod Homes, of Ventnor. He may be emailed at Tom@BungalowMod. Business Speaks Out lets area businesses address topics of interest and concern. Send essays for consideration or suggest subjects by email to Kevin Post, business editor, at kpost@pressofac.
Posted on: Sun, 07 Sep 2014 11:52:48 +0000
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