Demolition is simply the physical process of dismantling a building (or a house) using a pre-planned or controlled methods. However, there is more to the house demolition Dandenong of a structure aside from literally swinging the wrecking ball.
Going by the logic of why the house is demolished, the action actually involves highly trained experts working with debris, weather conditions, materials, mass, and some physics and some bits more thrown in.
Options
From the outside looking in, there are a couple of scenarios where demolishing a house is a better option than repairing or remodeling one. The first scenario is finding that the house has major structural issues. There could be problems like a faulty foundation, some fire or water damages or maybe a rampant pest or mold problem, all of which can’t be easily solved.
Sometimes it could be more financially viable to tear down the house and build a new one.
The second scenario is if more qualitative attributes are assessed. This could be the size of the home that makes it worth less than the other homes in the area with the same lot size. Or maybe, a combination of the home’s age and small size make it more appealing to start building a new one. Whatever is the scenario, it pays to factor in meticulously the cost of demolition. Carefully prepare an ARV (after repair value) analysis before you commit to the property or the demolition.
Understanding the process
When you sign in and agree to the demolition, it is one perfect idea to familiarize yourself with the overall procedure of the demolition. Your chosen supplier should be offering you everything that helps in handling everything for you in the course of the demolition process. There are many areas you still have to handle.
Permits
Most licensed contractors will secure a permit and file it for you. Different regulations in different localities must be met. These laws are there to protect the community and its infrastructure. Failure to secure a permit and meet regulations could result in a fine and your contractor losing their license.
These processes can take a few weeks, so it’s important to factor in the overall timeline of the project. Also crucial would be the requirement of examining whether there are any heritage boundaries on the destruction or removal of trees.
Services Disconnection
After getting the demolition permit, your contractor will be calling you for the disconnection of the service. Your demolition contractor cannot start the demolition unless all services have been disconnected. Here, you need to be in contact with your contractor regarding these issues. Normally, you will go for the disconnection of all your utility services like electricity, gas, water (and sewer) and telecommunications before starting the demolition of your house.
Companies are most likely to send their technicians to do the disconnection.
Baiting
Baiting is a related to the local council obligation for your home to be pulled for rodents in a few days or weeks. This is before the demolition of your house. The objective of the process is to stop the dispersal or relocation of your house pests to your neighbor’s houses.
Demolition contractor
You can ask your builder to get you a demolition contractor. If not, it is important to select a demolition company yourself. If it is not possible, select a demolition company that has all the required licenses. It is an advantage that they can get the required licenses, use the latest equipment, follow proven procedures, and to know that they also know how to dispose of the demolished materials, together with your building wreckage.
Referrals
A good contractor is important to find. The first step should be to ask your relatives, friends, coworkers and neighbors for referrals. They may be able to give you a recommendation on who (or who not) to hire.
If you have no referrals from friends and relatives check things online. There are sites like Yelp or Google where people leave reviews. Or you can check with Better Business Bureau.
Search a company’s name followed by “complaint” or “rip-off” to check on what comes up.
Your lender
If you still owe money on your house, you need to contact your lender. You will need the approval of your lender.
Not only would they need to know of the planned demolition, they could even help you secure a construction loan for rebuilding or renovation.
Home inspector
A pre-demolition inspection will help you determine what issues the property might have that will need to be addressed before demolition. They might be similar to a typical home inspection, but the reasoning for a pre-demolition inspection is different.
If, for instance, the inspector finds something like asbestos, mold or lead pipes, you need to look for bidders who can handle these issues frequently and who can do it at a lower cost.
Environmental issues
Finding contractors to take care of environmental issues before demolition starts will give you more control and be more cost effective than having the demolition crew do it.
A good inspector will also know state and local regulations on disposal of hazardous materials (asbestos, vinyl sidings).
Notices to neighbors
Letting the neighbors know what’s going to happen is a good call. Lean into what’s good about the demolition. You are building a new home that will look better and likely increase their property value.
Notifying them of the noise and dust ahead of time is a good way to stay on their good side.
Cheap house demolition
The first factor to consider is the cost. Afterwards, you will want to consider the risk of getting a demolition on your house.
For instance, doing a DIY (do it yourself) demolition might just be cheaper than hiring a professional contractor.
Risks
When looking at the cost, you also need to consider risk. Doing a DIY demolition could be much cheaper than hiring a contractor. However, if you make a mistake, you won’t have the experience or the resources to fall back on.
There might be a risk of damaging your neighbor’s property or worse, hit a sewer line. In these instances, a contractor has more experience and is less risky.
If cost is a factor, you may want to consider pulling the most valuable components out of your home. Things like hardwoods and copper pipes have value and can be sold or scrapped if you have the time and skill to remove them.
Appliances and fixtures can also be salvaged and sold, especially if they’re of high quality.
