Crested Butte Real Estate | Remodel or Addition
The Crested Butte Real Estate market is full of homes and condos that may need some updating or total remodeling. There are homes in downtown Crested Butte that date back to the late 1800s that have no foundation and need to be “jacked-up” to allow for a proper foundation, and other homes or condos that just need some updated fixtures and finishes. With the “off-season” coming up, it may make sense to hire a handyman for smaller tasks or a builder for larger remodels or additions to your Crested Butte area home. Do you have someone you already use, or are you stumped wondering where to turn? No matter the answer, these tips can help you better understand what may be involved, and to point you in the right direction. Adding on to your home – what is your FAR? – First FAR is Floor Area Ratio, or the structure’s square footage (typically of importance is heated living space, but garage space is also considered) as a percentage of the lot size – net net how big of a house you can legally have on any given lot. This can be a very complex subject and the answer is different whether your home is in Crested Butte or on Mt. Crested Butte, or within Gunnison County and varies by zoning classification in the municipal boundaries (R1, R2…). As well a “shed” typically receives special consideration on the FAR and on set-back requirements. A call or a visit to the Building Department at the town office is time well spent. As well most subdivisions have building guidelines or restrictive covenants and may have a formal Architectural Review Boards process (both Skyland and the Prospect Subdivisions certainly fall in this category). Whether you are expanding your home, building a garage or adding a dormer, you will need an architect and an engineer who understands the objective, and who can provide input up front and design your addition given the aesthetic requirements. Not to be overlooked is the additional consideration of snow in the Crested Butte area. There are unique structural requirements to support the snow loads here, as well you want to ensure the roof will shed the snow properly so that is does not dump snow in front of a door, a walkway, or on the driveway.
In Downtown Crested Butte – BOZAR – Crested Butte is a Historic town and most people visiting here for the first time will comment about how quaint and nice it is. This is not by accident – there are strict guidelines and processes to build a home or make any changes to a home or building in town. Getting approval from BOZAR for any projects that changes the exterior of the home is required and you will be well served to hire an architect who understands these rules and knows the ropes. BOZAR is the Board of Zoning and Architectural Review and consists of a seven-member Board comprised of local residents appointed by the Town Council to serve for a term of at least three years. BOZAR holds one public hearing a month to review all of the published building, zoning and land use requests submitted to the town of Crested Butte Building Department. Click here for more information on BOZAR. Decide on Your Project – Smaller repair projects are perfect for a handyman but typically the small project can grow, or can become more complex, or can require the work of a number of specialists. For example: adding a coveted steam shower will require a plumber, an electrician, a tile guy, a new glass door, a proper exhaust vent…etc. It may be best to turn to a licensed contractor from the start – especially if you are thinking of coordinating this work from 1,000 miles away in Texas. Ask Around – Your neighbors and friends are great sources for referrals on home repairs. As a real estate agent, I also know and work with many professionals and contractors and can give you some ideas, on who to contact, depending on the scope of your project. Determine the Cost – Find out how much the work will cost before it’s started. Sometimes services are billed hourly and sometimes you will get a fixed-price estimate or bid based on a description the job and materials to be used. It is normal for a general contractor to do some of the work themselves and coordinate sub-contractors for the more specialized jobs – and to charge 10%-20% for overseeing the subs and ensuring the project is done correctly and completely. One thing to not overlook is that you may do one job, a general contractor will hire (or not) these subs over and over and so carries a big stick. One Project at a Time? – A contractor may have many talents, but you’ll want to test his skills before laying out too many projects in the beginning. Be sure to understand the timeline to complete the work – it is not unusual for a contractor to have many balls in the air, not to mention the subs. Getting commitment on a completion date may be a good idea – but some parts of the job may not be able to be finished in the winter months (ie: typically concrete and stucco and exterior paint or stain will have to wait until the warmer months). Combining a number of small projects together and creating a small package deal may work to your financial advantage and a larger job will get more of the contractors attention. If he has good or great recommendations, and provides a financial incentive for a multi-layer job, it may be worth considering. Many homeowners look at these decision at the end of their use of their home when they are getting ready to sell in order to make their home more marketable – then wonder “why didn’t we do this years ago and get to enjoy the changes…?” Hopefully these ideas will help you as you find ways to spruce up your home and glide easily into the holiday season. If you need suggestions on who to call for referrals or other home related needs, please keep me in mind. As a Crested Butte Real Estate Agent I interface with many builders and contractors, you can always consider me your source for advice relating to your home and the local Crested Butte area real estate market. For more information on the Crested Butte Real Estate Market contact: Chris Kopf, Previews® Property Specialist, Coldwell Banker Bighorn Realty, Phone: (970) 209-5405, email: chriskopf@bighornrealty.com Click here to do an advanced search the MLS for properties for sale in the Crested Butte area Chris Kopf Coldwell Banker Bighorn Realty 305 Sixth Street, PO Box 100 Crested Butte, CO, 81224 Author: Chris Kopf
