If you’re having a hard time finding the home of your dreams in a sought-after community, one option is to buy an existing property with a teardown house. You will want to check if you can utilize these handy storage solutions for making the most out of the space and using the home to its fullest potential. This is a great way to acquire a lot in a good neighborhood where there are no undeveloped lefts available. In addition, you will need to familiarize yourself with things like how to avoid paying council tax on UK property so that your investment is protected and profitable.
A teardown house can be demolished in a day or two, but there are several factors that could complicate the process. Before you buy a property with the intention of tearing down an existing house and building your own home, there are some important things to consider.
Let’s take a look.
First, why should you tear down the house?
Tear down an entire house? Why would you want to do that?
Well, there are a couple of reasons.
First, it can sometimes be more expensive to remodel an existing house than to tear it down and rebuild from scratch. This is especially true if the house has fallen into disrepair and will need significant work to repair damage from termites and water.
Second, it’s also not as costly as moving the existing structure to another lot.
With so many factors to consider, teardowns can get complicated. Here’s a quick guide to the things you need to look into before deciding to demolish a house.
Permits
Before you even make an offer on a property with an existing house, you have to make some calls and secure some important permits.
First, check with the local city zoning department to see if the property you’re considering is classified as historical. If the property is identified as historical, you won’t be able to tear it down. Keep in mind that in some communities, there are rules and codes that require replacement structures to follow the existing architectural standards of the neighborhood.
You should also see about getting a demolition permit and any other municipal permits that may be required before you can demolish an existing structure. Call the homeowner’s association and check if you can get HOA approval. The offer you make on the property should be contingent on the permits needed and the cost of securing those permits.
Cost of demolishing the house
Tearing down a house can be expensive. First, there’s the cost of acquiring the property. Second, there’s the cost of demolishing the existing teardown house. Finally, there’s the cost of building your dream home.
Fortunately, properties with teardown houses tend to be priced lower than the average for the location. For the demolition, consider hiring a professional demolition service. They’ll know what to do — from getting the required permits for handling hazardous materials, from hauling the debris to disposing of the debris in compliance with local codes.
Utilities
You’ll need to talk to the local gas, water, electric, cable, and phone companies about disconnecting the house you plan on tearing down. If a utility line gets damaged during the demolition, you may be required to pay for it as well as for any damage done to main utility lines, transformers, and the like.
Find out if the local government requires an inspection for hazardous materials like asbestos inside the house. This is more likely if you’re purchasing a property with a house that was built prior to the 1960s. You also need to contact the local fire department and ask about any inspections they may require before you demolish the structure.
Hire someone to check for hazardous materials inside the structure. Some older houses may contain lead paint or asbestos. There may also be hazardous materials such as diesel tanks buried somewhere in the property. These can be quite costly to remove, especially if there’s already a leak.
Hazardous materials, in general, bump up the cost of demolishing an existing structure significantly, so you’ll want to be aware of their presence before you make an offer on a particular property.
Recycle
You may be able to make some money from recycling parts of the structure you’re planning on tearing down. Instead of hauling everything to the landfill, you may consider sending some parts, such as steel beams, door hardware, bathroom fixtures, and lighting, to a recycling facility. Some facilities will even accept drywall and concrete.
Buying a property with a teardown structure may be the best choice for you. But before you close the deal, consider all of the above and be aware of any possible traps and hidden costs. Good luck!
