Because most of the homes being torn down are older, there may be substances such as asbestos and other carcinogens that will be released into the air during the actual demolition. The EPA has set rules and procedures for capturing this toxic waste instead of allowing it into the air.
However, in actual practice most demolition sites will have one unfortunate person with a slow running garden hose attempting to keep the carcinogenic particulates from flying into the air. Recently, the EPA has again issued additional warnings regarding the proper disposal of asbestos at demolition sites, so we may be seeing future enforcement.
Cities and towns are continuing to address the teardown issue. Most of these areas have many rules, laws, and procedures specifically directed at the demolition phase of a teardown. In addition to significant fees for permits, these laws allow for significant fines for each violation. Besides adhering to the local rules, laws, and procedures, these laws will incorporate the latest requirements from the state and federal agencies such as the EPA. Before you decide to purchase property for a teardown, you must review these requirements.
Once the teardown has been completed, the owner is then faced with more rules. Most towns that have had to deal with teardowns have enacted rules about how long an empty property can sit before building begins. There are rules regarding safety fencing, signage, cutting down trees, and other aspects of a property prior to building.
By far the area where there are the most rules and laws is in the actual building of the home. The builder is required to follow the building code of that city, which involves permits and fees, inspections and fees, and 100% compliance with the building code.
That depends on the area and the costs. In some areas of the country teardowns are still going on, although not at the frantic pace they once were. One of the reasons that the teardown craze has stopped or cooled down is the tightening of mortgage money.
Many investors who were in the process of a teardown and rebuild when the seller's market changed to a buyer's market were left with a building that was no longer worth more than just the costs of the teardown and rebuild. In many cases when the consumer signed contracts with the builder that specified the sales price during the seller's market but did not take possession until the buyer's market, that new home was worth less than that sales price.
Before you consider a teardown and rebuild, look at what is now required by the town you are building in. After reviewing the fees, fines, rules, and other costly requirements, you may find that the added costs for a teardown are much more than you had anticipated. You can probably find another home in the same community that can become your dream home with a simple renovation for a lot less money.
If you still want to do a teardown and rebuild, do your homework to find the very best professional builder and contractor to do the job. Do not assume that just because a builder has put up many lovely homes in an area that he or she is the best. During the height of the teardown and rebuild craze, top-name builders were using less than top-name workers just to complete all the jobs on time. Once you hire a builder, become an involved owner. Visit the site often. Come to the site at different times of the day and on weekends.
Finally, if you are doing a teardown and rebuild, make a special effort to speak to your about-to-be new neighbors. Do not expect to be welcomed with open arms. They are putting up with your construction site on a daily basis. Neighbors can tell you a lot about how your builders are doing. I watched as workers tore up and put back down the front yard of a neighbor ten separate times in order to give the younger workers experience on the construction equipment.
I would have enjoyed telling the new owner about that and the other problems the workers were causing, but the new owners never came to the job site until construction was complete and they moved in.
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Note: This article was sent to us by: Brandon G. Meyers at 05312010
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