Maryland

[99PanozAIV]

My first post here. I'm not sure how active I'll be here...just looking for ideas. We are starting retirement and want to down size. We bought a nice 5 acre piece of property but are now finding that it will cost us almost as much to build a smaller place as what our larger place is worth if we sell it.

A lot of the reason is regulations and building codes:

Impact fee $18,500 (not a permit, just a fee to build a house)
B.A.T. Spetic system $12,000-$15,000
All new residential structure must have fire sprinkler systems (not sure of cost yet)
Approximately 400 ft drive to house location
All walls must now be minimum of R24 and ceilings R49 with associated costs
Etc.

So, we are thinking now about doing Quonset type structures for residence/garage to drive down construction cost as much as possible, and that's why I'm here, looking for ideas. I've already communicated with Olympia and Steelmaster just to explore things...I'm waiting on more info from Steelmaster. What I would really like to find now are local builders that deal with this type of building. I can't do it myself because of age and bad back.

 

[Turbotboz]

Where in MD are you?

 

[99PanozAIV]

Where in MD are you?

We're in New Market, Frederick County, about 10 minutes from Frederick city. The property we bought is up Rt. 15 only about 10 minutes from downtown Frederick, with a Thurmont post office address.

 

[Turbotboz]

oh alright. You're quite a bit north of me (southern md).

Have you received multiple quotes from contractors for building? Have you considered being the general contractor and trying to save that "20%" or more?

 

[cderalow]

I've absolutely yet to see a new residential single family dwelling with a fire protection system installed. Multi-family and high rise sure, but single family separate house, no.

even if you did have to install one, figure on $3/SF, but odds are if you're in that area, you're likely looking at well water, maybe city, and that area doesn't have the highest street pressure.

 

[99PanozAIV]

I've absolutely yet to see a new residential single family dwelling with a fire protection system installed. Multi-family and high rise sure, but single family separate house, no.

even if you did have to install one, figure on $3/SF, but odds are if you're in that area, you're likely looking at well water, maybe city, and that area doesn't have the highest street pressure.

We've been looking at new places in Frederick county, just to see what money will buy; they all have fire sprinkler systems. We've had drawings done by local architect and cost estimates done by construction management guy that was recommended, separately, by both architect and wife's real estate employer. They both confirmed that code for new residential construction in Frederick county requires fire sprinkler system, even if it is a non-combustible structure. No exceptions. And you're right, we do have a well on the property, 550 ft deep and 4 gpm, not exactly a gusher. They'll soon figure out they need a pressurized reserve tank and just add that one to code. This state is absurd.

 

[99PanozAIV]

oh alright. You're quite a bit north of me (southern md).

Have you received multiple quotes from contractors for building? Have you considered being the general contractor and trying to save that "20%" or more?

Yeah, we're pretty far along in that. We thought about self contracting, even bought a how to book. Both of us though, just starting retirment, are pretty much career burnouts. I'm just not sure we're up to it. That's one of the reasons we want to down size, even just upkeep on this place is getting to be a chore.

The guy we're dealing with on the costing side has a comapny that does construction management. Our arrangement with him, if we move forward, is that he is more of a project manager, than a GC. We would use him for different aspects of the job and pay him for each part he completes.

 

[Glenn M.]

Welcome to the GJ from VA!
Long ago, I lived in Walkersville (Glade Town Subdivision)...