  Wally Member Username: Wally Post Number: 312 Registered: 12-2003 |
Has anyone ever demolished a house before? If so, did you hire a contractor? How much did they cost? I'd do it myself, but I imagine it would take a long time and a lot of band-aids. I'm looking to purchase and demo a 1200 square foot 1-story aluminum sided house on a crawlspace, and just leave it as an empty lot. The house is next door to me, bank-owned, and is the eyesore of the neighborhood. Thanks in advance if anyone has any information to share. | ||
Crystal Member Username: Crystal Post Number: 36 Registered: 05-2007 |
I think you need a permit to raze a house (like a construction permit, only different). Also, precautions must be taken about environmental concerns (asbestos becoming particulate, etc.) | ||
Wally Member Username: Wally Post Number: 313 Registered: 12-2003 |
A permit is required for demolition. Utilities need to be capped. The environmental concerns would be a good reason to have a professional do the demo. Plus, I'm assuming they'd probably have it done quickly, in a day or two. Just wondering if anyone's been through this before. (Message edited by Wally on October 02, 2007) | ||
None Member Username: None Post Number: 77 Registered: 07-2007 |
Thats what I do Wally, 4500 is the going rate with disposal fees and fuel being what they are However It's a whole lot of fun to rent the equipment and have a go of it It's not like you can hurt anything ya know, anyways there are a lot of really good contractors in your area that would do a probono if you pitched it right Or screw it paint it orange and burn the front porch off and DFunk will feature it in his photo blog of Detroit which is a smoken all around cool place | ||
Wally Member Username: Wally Post Number: 314 Registered: 12-2003 |
$4500 is the going rate? Sounds like a deal considering how much work it would be to do it myself and the time involved. What would be the incentive for them to do it probono? Is there enough salvageable material in a house that would make it worth their while? | ||
Mackcreative Member Username: Mackcreative Post Number: 104 Registered: 08-2006 |
Detroit Architectural Salvage Warehouse will dismantle and remove reusable, architectural, historic material plus give you a tax write-off for the donation. | ||
None Member Username: None Post Number: 82 Registered: 07-2007 |
Residential demolition bids out at 4 to 1 1000sq.=4000$ so 1200sq=4500 The probono thing is all about the who what where and why, to rid a neighborhood of a constant threat such as a crack house with a notorious rep, thats for the community and shits and giggles, however like I said it all boils down to the situation Salvaging is a Great plan, aluminum siding caught my eye not to mention all of the valuable building materials that can be donated to local rehab projects, It's a lot of fun really does not take that long and the karma is a good thing | ||
None Member Username: None Post Number: 87 Registered: 07-2007 |
Detroit Architectural Salvage Warehouse 4885 15th St Detroit, MI 48208 (313) 896-8333 http://www.aswdetroit.org/ Great local resource, Thanks for the heads up I completely forgot about them, I purchased a bunch of steam rads from them back in the day, cool | ||
Wally Member Username: Wally Post Number: 316 Registered: 12-2003 |
Awesome, thanks for the information! I will definitely give them a ring, and report back if I get the property and go this route. | ||
Jt1 Member Username: Jt1 Post Number: 10364 Registered: 10-2003 |
Wally - that is a great thing you are doing for your neighborhood. You shoudl set up a paypal account if there is a significant cost to do this. I would be willing and I am sure others here would be willing to pitch in a few bucks towards the demo costs. | ||
None Member Username: None Post Number: 98 Registered: 07-2007 |
An escrow account set up under a non profit tax number is the usual route, with the bank handling the payment of the funds upon completion and approval of those cosigned on the account Pay pal will screw with you on fees, the bank charges a flat rate and will wave the fees if the conditions meet the boards approval | ||
E_hemingway Member Username: E_hemingway Post Number: 1347 Registered: 11-2004 |
Another option, although one you're probably not interested in. Lighthouse House Community Development rehabs homes and sells them to first-time home buyers. They have been doing this in Pontiac for several years and started doing it in Ferndale earlier this year with the Porch Light Partnership. The way it works is they buy distressed homes in strong neighborhoods, rehab them and then sell them to first-time home buyers at cost. Many of these have been sold to women with solid jobs. There's more information on it here: Ferndale's Porch Light Partnership to sell first rehabbed house http://metromodemedia.com/devn ews/porchlightferndale0035.asp x Again, this option probably isn't what you're looking for, but it could be a cost-effective way for you to remove the blight and strengthen the neighborhood. Just an idea. | ||
Barnesfoto Member Username: Barnesfoto Post Number: 4233 Registered: 10-2003 |
I once demoed a small dilapidated cottage on the back of my lot. Had the utility companies disconnect the gas and electricity, then I spent a summer slicing it up with a sawzall and crowbar. Great fun! This was before Detroit Architectural Salvage was around, of course. | ||
None Member Username: None Post Number: 102 Registered: 07-2007 |
E_hemingway Thats a cool thing they have going there, Saginaw apparently has some good programs also however you don't here a lot about it in the news or on the street will have to google it and see what they have going | ||
Track75 Member Username: Track75 Post Number: 2626 Registered: 10-2003 |
Chainsaws can be fun to use too, just be careful you're only sawing wood. Plaster and iron pipes dull the chain pretty fast. And you can maim yourself if you aren't careful, so no beer until the job is done.  |
