<p>Well, it sounds like things went better than they could have and that the guy who came out was nice–that always helps! The new buyers will be lucky that everything is done according to the permits and code, so that should make it more marketable and maybe for more $$$$! Good luck!</p>
<p>I agree with HImom’s assessment. I know time is money and there is the money going to all the additional “cooks in the kitchen” now that you have a draftsman, engineer, etc., but it seems like it could have been much worse. Can you get the original house re-roofed in the interim or are you truly shut down? Good luck going forward:)</p>
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<p>Well, that’s a good sign. Sounds like he will try to make it happen.</p>
<p>One step at a time, cb. That’s all you can do. It sounds like your first big step was a winner. </p>
<p>The only value I will get from all this hassle is that I can legally call it a 1315sf property instead of a 1017sf property. That will help a buyer when their bank appraiser goes to look at comparables for a valuation. I will probably not get a dollar more in sale price.</p>
<p>Buyers in this area really don’t care about permitted stuff on a 1936 house - they would care if it was obvious that there was a garage conversion into living quarters or some kind of strange room stuck on the back of a house. There are so many variations in real square footages versus square footage in public records for these old homes, no one would question it.</p>
<p>But maybe my real estate agent sees it differently and will come up with a higher valuation for the future sale!</p>
<p>I pleaded to be able to put a new roof on but he said the roofing permit should be included with the ‘Combination’ Building Permit. The only thing he said might be OK is to submit a separate retaining wall permit to try to get that finished. </p>
<p>Here’s an example of a 1929 home in the neighborhood.</p>
<p>4424 Bermuda Avenue, 92107</p>
<p>This house has the following in confidential remarks for real estate agents (only visible to other agents viewing the listing) “Permits for second bathroom unknown”. Very common language in local listings. This means no permits. </p>
<p>House is a 2/2 1339sf but has a full lot with 2 car garage on back of lot with alley access. Cute original Spanish character with added roof deck (probably not permitted) that provides the view. Minimal view from the windows inside the house. This house sold in 3 days with a bidding war. Sold for $980,000 over $959,000 asking price.</p>
<p>I think your house is going to sell for a lot of money. 
Have you decided what to do with the fireplace?</p>
<p>Cb, let’s get your mind off the unpleasant stuff and think about all the pretty and creative things you can do inside the house! :)</p>
<p>I think I will take your suggestion to just trowel it back to plain white smooth plaster but I’m going to have to put a mantle on it to cover the “box” shape sticking out of wall</p>
<p>A buyer who doesn’t yet have an agent may notice (and as you say) have an easier time with financing and envisioning the larger square footage than the smaller one and give you a bigger pool of potential buyers. These days there are quite a few folks who skim zillow, truilla and other sits trying to see properties they may be interested in. I think you’ll have a bidding war on your adorable house!</p>
<p>And you think you’ve got problems. Take a look at this – builder built the house on the wrong lot:</p>
<p><a href=“AOL - Finance News & Latest Business Headlines - AOL.com”>AOL - Finance News & Latest Business Headlines - AOL.com;
<p>cb, the house you just mentioned – 4424 Bermuda Avenue, 92107 – does have the two-car garage and a bigger lot, but the views from inside aren’t as good. I’ve got to think that yours could sell for not that much less than the $980K that this one sold for. What am I missing??</p>
<p>Since you are at a true standstill, I guess it’s time to do your Christmas shopping since December is likely to be a busy month </p>
<p>Are you allowed to work on clearing out the dirt buildup?</p>
<p>Really glad it seemed to go ok; I hope the historic review is pretty nominal.</p>
<p>Today we just wasted time doing stuff the craftsman needed to finish plans. The guys had to go under house with head lights and measure each new foundation pier and plot its location on the drawings. This involved taking large blueprint down to Xerox place and getting a couple of 11x17s of each half of house. Then I was above and they would yell up dimensions. Took hours.</p>
<p>Other guy spent hours moving any visible concrete and any dirt from our trench off the pile and over onto our property. City guy said we should remove anything that might be remotely connected to our construction so that we don’t get blamed for the dumping into alleyway.</p>
<p>I’m hesistant to work on big pile for fear that A) some neighbor or passersby thinks we are the ones that dumped there because we are pushing it around or B) City comes by and we get cited for ‘disturbing natural slope’ or something stupid like that. The whole mess and perpetrator was hidden before because of the trees and overgrown mess in that area before.</p>
<p>Regarding Bermuda property. I was just using that sale as an example of how no permit for 2nd bath did not stop buyers from clamoring over an old house. The $980k value is from slightly more desireable location on other side of Newport Ave, full lot with 2 car garage on same level, alley access available and roof deck (people think they are cool…but how often do they really go up there???) So my guess is we are valued about $75 to $100k less, but I could be wrong!</p>
<p>Still trying to decide what we are going to work on. Probably paint whole exterior (hoping some historical commitee tries to tell me what color I am allowed). And do gates and landscaping. My agent wants me to paint stucco white with the siding in another color. True to the period.</p>
<p>Off to Parent Weekend at Ds college. Nothing I can accomplish at this point</p>
<p><em>draftsman needed</em> dang auto correct</p>
<p>cb, enjoy your weekend. Have a drink. Hug your daughter.</p>
<p>Yes, have a great time with your D (and maybe even two drinks)! Do not let the permitting mess spoil your weekend. </p>
<p>Update on some of the Estate Sale Items</p>
<p>I was able to connect with the World War II collector to sell the Eagle Swastika bookends. I met him at a Starbucks on my way back down from D’s college. He immediately felt that the bookends were in ‘too perfect’ condition and might be fakes or reproductions and tried to negotiate down from $300 to $200. I finally caved in at $250. I mean really?? who is trying to ‘fake’ porcelain figurines that cannot be sold in Europe (by law) or on US Ebay??? Pretty sure Walter was not running around buying fake figurines in his later years </p>
<p>I know that he will be able to research these items better than I can so I asked him to email me if he found out what their history was. His father was a Surgeon in WWII in Europe and Germany and started a collection. Evidently this son continued by collecting helmets, uniforms, etc and has a really nice collection in Orange County.</p>
<p>I sold one of the French Guards on eBay. Tried for $130 which some previous ones sold for and finally sold it at $85. </p>
<p>Not raking in huge money on this stuff. Now I need to figure out what to do with the album collection and Napoleon and Josephine!</p>
<p>Yay, coralbrook’s back! Hope you had a wonderful weekend with your daughter. I’m eager to get my House Flip fix and hear how this week goes. </p>
<p>Some money is better than none.</p>