Who can stamp house plans?

[maggieblanchett]

I was just wondering who to take my house plans to for stamp of approval to get a building permit. I have the house plans from an architect from the mainland. Anyone with permitting experience?

--maggie

[StillHope]

Robert Smelker or any other licensed in Hawaii architect

[maggieblanchett]

Anyone in Puna?
Any idea of how much...?
--maggie

[StillHope]

It cost me 350$.A lot of people in Puna use him.I think he is in Hilo.My draftsperson took care of it.

[Kapohocat]

Stamping plans is one thing. Spending time reviewing them and making changes/suggestions.

Smelker is definately one (and $350 for a "kit" house style is accurate, custom he charges more) and also very entertaining! There is also Robert La Tenser who is excellent, Ray Keuning who is a S/E almost completely retired but does still do a few. I think also Valerie Simpson (I think her name is) that was stamping for HPM for awhile...

Catherine Dumond
Blue Water Project Management
808 965-9261
"We help make building your dream home a reality"

[emily]

Smelker is in Hilo every Friday at Stacy's Drafting on Piilani St. - he comes from Honolulu. Just take your plans to him, he'll take them with him to review and bring them back the next Friday. He is very helpful and like Kapohocat said, "entertaining".

[StillHope]

Stamping plans is one thing. Spending time reviewing them and making changes/suggestions.

Smelker is definately one (and $350 for a "kit" house style is accurate, custom he charges more)
(Kapohocat)

--------------------------------------------------------------------[/quote]
My house is far from being"kit style",I'd say it's rather unique,but may be the price was $350 because it's a small house and the plans were a slightly modified version of already approved plans.I don't know.
It's funny though that the same architect (not Smelker) who stamped the old version offfered to draft my plans for $9-12 /sq ft with the old plans available.But back then I didn't know that a draftsperson can do it.A lot to learn in the house building.
Thanks to this forum,I learned the easy way.

[StillHope]

Forgot to add.Another interesting thing is that I was told that the price will depend whether or not the house is going for bidding.
(?????)
A very nice and a very smart person told me to "drop that architect like a hot potato".So I did.
But ,to be fair,if I would be a very wealthy person,I'd probably still use that architect.
Anyway, I am very happy with my decision and the outcome.
Rob and all nice folks here,I can never thank you enough for this forum!

[John S. Rabi]

OK, I can accept the "very nice" but "very smart?!" [][][]

Aloha,
John S. Rabi ABR,CM,CRB,FHS,PB,RB
808.989.1314
http://www.JohnRabi.com
Typically Tropical Properties
"The Next Level of Service!"

[Hotzcatz]

There's also Lucky Bennet on the Kona side. I think he is listed as Horatio or some Shakespearean name in the phone book.

Modified from approved plans means exactly diddly squat unless they were plans previously approved by Hawaii County. That's just the way it works around here.