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Aloha Everyone,
Until recently I've been thinking of buying a pre exciting home..I've begun to think that maybe I should not be so closed minded and open myself up to buying a lot and building a home of my liking? I'm not into prepackaged homes. I really love the architect Craig Steely type houses out in Puna Beach Palisades. I don't know.. I'm I being crazy to take something like this on? I would totally have to hand it over to a builder that knows what he or she is doing and have trust in them, since I know nothing about building a home.
Is there some kind of price per sq feet for new construction that I can go by?
I would have a catchment, since where I would be building most likely wouldn't have community water. ideally I would also like to have a small guest cottage. In my mind I'm thinking 2000 sq ft approx for main-house and 1000 sq ft for guest house.
Any suggestions,thoughts,experience you would like to share? Mahalo.
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Builders are bidding between $110/sq.ft. and $130/sq.ft. for an average house in Puna now. You will need to check the zoning and CC&Rs to make sure you can build a guest house on the lot. You might have to do it all under one roof and without a second kitchen.
Aloha,
John S. Rabi, ABR,CM,CRB,FHS,RB
http://www.JohnRabi.com
Typically Tropical Properties
"The Next Level of Service!"
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Delmarten..
Certainly understand you thought process!
Unless the existing home is exactly what you wish for ( or priced to where you could improve ) Building new is always a win. It is new, with your style and upgrades.
The key ,especially here, is to find a builder you can trust. There are quite a few "slick" contractors and sub's.
Contact KapohoCat , a member of Punaweb, or her website: Bluewaterpm.125mb.com .She could handle every detail for you.
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I can recommend an excellant ethical builder...email me!
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Guest houses are generally under 500 square feet or they aren't a guest house.
"I like yard sales," he said. "All true survivalists like yard sales."
Kurt Wilson
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Thank you for thoughts and guidance guys...I'm all ears..
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There was a horrible moment when I had to choose between vacant land that I was in escrow on, and a fantastic house with a horrid history, sold AS IS that was in foreclosure. I literally had half an hour to make the decision because I was obliged to say "thumbs up" or "thumbs down" on the inspection of the vacant lot.
I decided against the lot, but I have friends who have decided in favor of doing this. Genxor is right -- if you build, you get it your way. My friend is having a LOT of fun imagining her home and going over plans. I'm having fun with her. We too thought that Craig Steely had some good ideas - why live in Puna if you can't have that wonderful indoor-outdoor feel that he does so well, with durable, practical materials. There are many plans that capture that idea and a lot of ways to do it. And building in Puna is cheap!! Try Kauai where it is 400 per square foot.
One factor that influenced my giving up on building was the fact that my consultant cancelled our first appointment. Although there was a perfectly good reason for the cancellation, my time was short and I could not reschedule and I had to make a choice between vacant land and an existing house. It would have helped to know what I was up against (and what I had in my favor) on the vacant lot. What was the setback? Can I build on rolling land with lots of big pukas? Placement of the driveway? Etc. But there was no time to get this information. I had to make a decision quick. The lot would have been much cheaper and had a KILLER view that was probably unobstructible. But I realized that delays, missed appointments, reschedulings and so forth were inherent in the process of building and that I would not abide such delays very well.
I recognized that things were not going to fall into place on a specified timeline with vacant land. Things would happen. Items would become unavailable. Things would need to be shipped. The inspector would reject something and it would have to be reworked. Contractors would not show up. And the vibe is, the stronger you try and control the process and make it happen, the less it is likely to happen. That's the zen of the island. Has to flow, or it don't go.
It just wasn't going to happen for me. That doesn't mean it won't happen for you and my friends, as I said, are very much looking forward to building their dreamhouse directly across from my existing (and exciting) home. And when the earthquake came followed by the hurricane and the threat of a tsunami followed by the most significant outbreak of lava in years, they didn't blink. I, with my built home waiting for me, was a little more concerned.
You must recognize this important barrier: Island time doesn't just mean that things move more slowly. It really means that things may not move at all, at least for a while. Things do get done, though. They say it takes about a year. If I were ON ISLAND and retired, I would definetely have built. Then I could get in the Island groove and let things fall into place in their own sweet time, but if you are off island, think twice.
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I would be happy to discuss all the different options on building with you. I'm a builder, and alot of people here know me, and know my work. Would love to chat with you about your ideas. Cell: 938-2540, email: jm_minica@yahoo.com.
Aloha,
Mark
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quote:
...One factor that influenced my giving up on building was the fact that my consultant cancelled our first appointment. Although there was a perfectly good reason for the cancellation, my time was short and I could not reschedule and I had to make a choice between vacant land and an existing house. It would have helped to know what I was up against (and what I had in my favor) on the vacant lot. What was the setback? Can I build on rolling land with lots of big pukas? Placement of the driveway? Etc. But there was no time to get this information. I had to make a decision quick. The lot would have been much cheaper and had a KILLER view that was probably unobstructible. But I realized that delays, missed appointments, reschedulings and so forth were inherent in the process of building and that I would not abide such delays very well...
I was that consultant and my significant other had gotten a bad concussion and we were headed to ER that Saturday morning. I also told Glen I would check it out the next day (Sunday).
One of the big things I am seeing - be patient newbies - is that people who are new to the island dont have any concept of island time. Every one wants it now, right now, doesnt matter if it is Sunday morning and you are making breakfast for your family (one of my clients from the Southwest who knew I worked from home saw no issue with calling at 8 am on Sundays). We really respect not working on weekends and taking time out from the rat race. If I didnt I would live in LA, and make 5 x as much money.
If you are willing to try to work through these issues, take some time, realize that this ISNT the mainland, you can have a very beautiful custom home for the same price (or less) as someone else's headache they are selling. Do I recommend builing for everyone? Heck no. I wouldnt build - although I might remodel. But I live with a builder - I would be living in a tent for 10 years while he finished every one else's house.... ha ha ..... I have Chris Olah doing my "honey do" construction projects at my house! My SO laughs and says he is building houses so I can afford Chris to remodel!
Catherine Dumond
Blue Water Project Management
808 217-7578
http://bluewaterpm.125mb.com/index.html
"We help make building your dream home a reality"
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quote:
One of the big things I am seeing - be patient newbies - is that people who are new to the island dont have any concept of island time. Every one wants it now, right now, doesnt matter if it is Sunday morning and you are making breakfast for your family (one of my clients from the Southwest who knew I worked from home saw no issue with calling at 8 am on Sundays).
How true Cat! I got an e-mail with questions from somebody in NJ at 3AM. I got another one at 5AM and a third one at 7AM. This was the third one: "Since you have not replied to my previous two e-mails I decided to contact and work with another Broker." I guess he thought NJ was in the same time zone as Hawaii and not six hours time difference. 
Aloha,
John S. Rabi, ABR,CM,CRB,FHS,RB
http://www.JohnRabi.com
Typically Tropical Properties
"The Next Level of Service!"
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