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from Twitter https://twitter.com/AustinTenantAdv via Blogger Proviz Sports thanks for following me on Twitter! https://t.co/XwGFECU53p When buying or leasing commercial real estate you sometimes will come across a commercial property that was previously used as something different than your intended use. For example say you find an industrial space for rent Austin that was previously used by a wine distributor. According to the City of Austin zoning chart their use was considered Limited Warehousing and Distribution. Your a food and beverage company that wants to use this industrial space for food preparation. Before you will be able to open for business you will have to apply and be approved for Light Manufacturing which would take about 15 to 20 days. Change of Use ProcessThe change of use process will vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction. In most counties and cities you will have to visit your city planning department or development assistant center. Anytime there is a proposed change in the use of a space or building you must obtain a permit. The change of use permit is required because they want to make sure you comply with the applicable codes for a new use before issuing a certificate of occupancy. Change of Use in Austin TexasIn Austin, Tx however a change of use is a two step process. 1. First you need a site plan exemption application or a site plan correction application if they have a current site plan on file for the property. Either application must be submitted to the Austin Tx Development Assistance Center located at One Texas Center, 505 Barton Springs Road, Austin, Tx 78704. They are open from Monday to Friday 9 am to 12 pm. The review time is 7-10 days. 2. Next you need to submit a building permit application with Commercial Plan Review which is located at the same address on the 2nd floor Monday – Friday, 8:00 to 12 pm. Once you have approval of the building permit you will be issued a Certificate of Occupancy and you can open for business. If you have any questions about whether you are required to do a change of use on your commercial space in Austin or how to do it feel free to give us a call to discuss at 512-861-0525 via Tumblr How to Do a Change of Use When Leasing Commercial Space When buying or leasing commercial real estate you sometimes will come across a commercial property that was previously used as something different than your intended use. For example say you find an industrial space for rent Austin that was previously used by a wine distributor. According to the City of Austin zoning chart their use was considered Limited Warehousing and Distribution. Your a food and beverage company that wants to use this industrial space for food preparation. Before you will be able to open for business you will have to apply and be approved for Light Manufacturing which would take about 15 to 20 days. Change of Use ProcessThe change of use process will vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction. In most counties and cities you will have to visit your city planning department or development assistant center. Anytime there is a proposed change in the use of a space or building you must obtain a permit. The change of use permit is required because they want to make sure you comply with the applicable codes for a new use before issuing a certificate of occupancy. Change of Use in Austin TexasIn Austin, Tx however a change of use is a two step process. 1. First you need a site plan exemption application or a site plan correction application if they have a current site plan on file for the property. Either application must be submitted to the Austin Tx Development Assistance Center located at One Texas Center, 505 Barton Springs Road, Austin, Tx 78704. They are open from Monday to Friday 9 am to 12 pm. The review time is 7-10 days. 2. Next you need to submit a building permit application with Commercial Plan Review which is located at the same address on the 2nd floor Monday – Friday, 8:00 to 12 pm. Once you have approval of the building permit you will be issued a Certificate of Occupancy and you can open for business. If you have any questions about whether you are required to do a change of use on your commercial space in Austin or how to do it feel free to give us a call to discuss at 512-861-0525 via Blogger How to Do a Change of Use When Leasing Commercial Space A certificate of occupancy (C.O.) is a document given by a building department or local government agency that certifies that your commercial building and/or space complies with the plans you submitted to and that were approved by the city, the city’s / county’s applicable building codes and laws, and that it’s in a suitable condition to occupy. Who Needs a Certificate of Occupancy?The procedure and requirements for a certificate of occupancy vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction and on the type of commercial property. In general however it’s required when
Temporary Certificate of OccupancyA Temporary certificate of occupancy gives the occupants the same rights as a CO however only for a temporary time period. Certificate of Occupancy in Austin TXIf you are buying or leasing commercial real estate Austin Tx and doing any construction or improvements you more than likely will need to get a permit and then ultimately approval for a certificate of occupancy. When you complete and pass the inspection phase after tenant finish out and construction you will receive a certificate of occupancy. The C.O. proves that your building and space is safe for your particular use. If you are trying to get a C.O. in Austin and not sure where to start the following steps will help.
via Blogger What is a Certificate Of Occupancy? A certificate of occupancy (C.O.) is a document given by a building department or local government agency that certifies that your commercial building and/or space complies with the plans you submitted to and that were approved by the city, the city’s / county’s applicable building codes and laws, and that it’s in a suitable condition to occupy. Who Needs a Certificate of Occupancy?The procedure and requirements for a certificate of occupancy vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction and on the type of commercial property. In general however it’s required when
Temporary Certificate of OccupancyA Temporary certificate of occupancy gives the occupants the same rights as a CO however only for a temporary time period. Certificate of Occupancy in Austin TXIf you are buying or leasing commercial real estate Austin Tx and doing any construction or improvements you more than likely will need to get a permit and then ultimately approval for a certificate of occupancy. When you complete and pass the inspection phase after tenant finish out and construction you will receive a certificate of occupancy. The C.O. proves that your building and space is safe for your particular use. If you are trying to get a C.O. in Austin and not sure where to start the following steps will help.
via Tumblr What is a Certificate Of Occupancy? When buying or leasing commercial real estate in most cases you will end up having to build, renovate, construct, or do some sort of tenant improvements whether you want to occupy office, retail, or warehouse space. Choosing the right contractor however can be a difficult process especially if you have not been through the process before. Picking the wrong contractor can lead to your tenant improvement project being way over budget and not on time which can create a lot of stress especially if you have a hard deadline or existing lease expiration date. Going through a commercial real estate renovation is not ideal or fun however choosing the right commercial contractor can make the different between a successful move in and a stressful one. Below are a few tips on how to select the right contractor that will keep your project on time and within your budget. Know What Your Needs Are FirstHave some plans and ideas. Contractors can’t guess your needs and while verbally telling them what you want is possible on a small job in most cases you want to have things in writing. If the scope is really small (e.g. just building a couple of walls or having new flooring installed) then you really won’t need plans but do have what you want done in writing. If the scope is larger you need to hire an architect or space planner to draw up an office layout that meets your current and future needs. Once you have a good plan that you are at least 90% sure will work then you are ready to get preliminary bids. Find Out Commercial Contractor RecommendationsThere are a few ways to go about choosing the best contractor. If using a commercial real estate company Austin you can start with them. They have been through the process a ton and can share a complete list. You can also ask the landlord for a few references on who they have used for tenant finish outs. Ask neighboring tenants who they used and how their experience was. As you do your research you will find that there will be a handful of commercial contractors that do most of the tenant build out work in your city. Ask Contractors Lot’s of Questions Before Asking For Construction BidsBefore asking for contractor bids you want to interview at least 5-6 contractors and ask them a lot of questions about their experience.
Obtain at Least 3 Preliminary Construction BidsNow you are ready to request preliminary commercial construction bids. You may have not signed a lease yet or closed on a property however BEFORE you do it’s important that you get at least 3 preliminary written bids first. The landlord may be giving you $50,000 in a tenant improvement allowance however how do you know if the total construction costs will be above or below that? In most cases it ends up being above and if so it might make this property too expensive for you. You don’t want to be surprised later on by finding out you have to come out of pocket by $100,000. You need to set your expectations and having an idea of what the costs will be is VERY important. Even if you are 90% sure you are going with XYZ company getting a few other prelim bids will educate you on typical costs and you will be able to keep your contractor honest. Make sure the bids include a line item for every aspect of the build-out. For example total plumbing, electrical, flooring, walls, mechanical costs, etc. Compare Each Commercial BidMake sure to compare each bid ensuring each one includes the same level of materials, tasks, and scope of work. You want to ENSURE they are apples to apples. If the landlord is charging a construction management fee make sure you know whether it’s on the total construction amount (hard and soft costs) or just the hard costs. Also make sure to get estimates on architectural and engineering fees if needed and insert those as line items on the bids. Value Engineer the Construction Scope of Work If NeededIf the bids came back much higher than you anticipated then discuss with each contractor how you can value engineer. This essentially means reducing the scope where possible to get the costs down. You want to meet in person or jump on a conference call and go through the bids line by line. Do this with each contractor and find out where (if possible) you are able to reduce the costs. You can also negotiate with the contractor to see where they are able to reduce their list price. Choose the Least Expensive Qualified Commercial ContractorAfter comparing all the bids now is the time to choose a contractor. Don’t always go for the cheapest, however picking the most expensive doesn’t mean you will get the best service. I like to pick the “least expensive qualified contractor”. I also make sure I pick the one that I know has the time and bandwidth to work on my project. If I have a deadline it’s important that it gets met. In addition you want the contractor to commit in writing to give you weekly progress updates whether physical onsite meetings and/or conf calls. There needs to be some sort of penalty for not doing this. Communication is key to a successful build out. Don’t Pay Contractors All Up FrontYou may be required to pay a small retainer fee or money needed to cover ordering materials but paying the full construction costs in advance is not advisable. Get Building Permits If NecessaryFor small jobs a construction permit may not be required. However if the scope of work is significant the city will require a building permit. In most cases (such as City of Austin) a qualified commercial contractor is required to obtain permits of their work. Be wary of one that asks you to obtain a permit on their behalf. The party that pulls the permits is held responsible for any construction work that does not meet city code. Before the project begins request proof from the contractor that the building permits and trade permits (if required) have been obtained. Weekly Construction Updates & TimelinesCommunication is key for a successful tenant improvement finish out or other construction. Get in writing up front that the contractor will have a predefined day and time to either meet onsite or have a conference call to review construction progress and if the project is still scheduled to be completed on time. The best experiences I have had have been when we have all met in person to discuss project progress, obstacles, etc.. For more info checkout Federal Trade Commission Consumer Information hiring a contractor via Tumblr How to Choose a Reliable Commercial Contractor When buying or leasing commercial real estate in most cases you will end up having to build, renovate, construct, or do some sort of tenant improvements whether you want to occupy office, retail, or warehouse space. Choosing the right contractor however can be a difficult process especially if you have not been through the process before. Picking the wrong contractor can lead to your tenant improvement project being way over budget and not on time which can create a lot of stress especially if you have a hard deadline or existing lease expiration date. Going through a commercial real estate renovation is not ideal or fun however choosing the right commercial contractor can make the different between a successful move in and a stressful one. Below are a few tips on how to select the right contractor that will keep your project on time and within your budget. Know What Your Needs Are FirstHave some plans and ideas. Contractors can’t guess your needs and while verbally telling them what you want is possible on a small job in most cases you want to have things in writing. If the scope is really small (e.g. just building a couple of walls or having new flooring installed) then you really won’t need plans but do have what you want done in writing. If the scope is larger you need to hire an architect or space planner to draw up an office layout that meets your current and future needs. Once you have a good plan that you are at least 90% sure will work then you are ready to get preliminary bids. Find Out Commercial Contractor RecommendationsThere are a few ways to go about choosing the best contractor. If using a commercial real estate company Austin you can start with them. They have been through the process a ton and can share a complete list. You can also ask the landlord for a few references on who they have used for tenant finish outs. Ask neighboring tenants who they used and how their experience was. As you do your research you will find that there will be a handful of commercial contractors that do most of the tenant build out work in your city. Ask Contractors Lot’s of Questions Before Asking For Construction BidsBefore asking for contractor bids you want to interview at least 5-6 contractors and ask them a lot of questions about their experience.
Obtain at Least 3 Preliminary Construction BidsNow you are ready to request preliminary commercial construction bids. You may have not signed a lease yet or closed on a property however BEFORE you do it’s important that you get at least 3 preliminary written bids first. The landlord may be giving you $50,000 in a tenant improvement allowance however how do you know if the total construction costs will be above or below that? In most cases it ends up being above and if so it might make this property too expensive for you. You don’t want to be surprised later on by finding out you have to come out of pocket by $100,000. You need to set your expectations and having an idea of what the costs will be is VERY important. Even if you are 90% sure you are going with XYZ company getting a few other prelim bids will educate you on typical costs and you will be able to keep your contractor honest. Make sure the bids include a line item for every aspect of the build-out. For example total plumbing, electrical, flooring, walls, mechanical costs, etc. Compare Each Commercial BidMake sure to compare each bid ensuring each one includes the same level of materials, tasks, and scope of work. You want to ENSURE they are apples to apples. If the landlord is charging a construction management fee make sure you know whether it’s on the total construction amount (hard and soft costs) or just the hard costs. Also make sure to get estimates on architectural and engineering fees if needed and insert those as line items on the bids. Value Engineer the Construction Scope of Work If NeededIf the bids came back much higher than you anticipated then discuss with each contractor how you can value engineer. This essentially means reducing the scope where possible to get the costs down. You want to meet in person or jump on a conference call and go through the bids line by line. Do this with each contractor and find out where (if possible) you are able to reduce the costs. You can also negotiate with the contractor to see where they are able to reduce their list price. Choose the Least Expensive Qualified Commercial ContractorAfter comparing all the bids now is the time to choose a contractor. Don’t always go for the cheapest, however picking the most expensive doesn’t mean you will get the best service. I like to pick the “least expensive qualified contractor”. I also make sure I pick the one that I know has the time and bandwidth to work on my project. If I have a deadline it’s important that it gets met. In addition you want the contractor to commit in writing to give you weekly progress updates whether physical onsite meetings and/or conf calls. There needs to be some sort of penalty for not doing this. Communication is key to a successful build out. Don’t Pay Contractors All Up FrontYou may be required to pay a small retainer fee or money needed to cover ordering materials but paying the full construction costs in advance is not advisable. Get Building Permits If NecessaryFor small jobs a construction permit may not be required. However if the scope of work is significant the city will require a building permit. In most cases (such as City of Austin) a qualified commercial contractor is required to obtain permits of their work. Be wary of one that asks you to obtain a permit on their behalf. The party that pulls the permits is held responsible for any construction work that does not meet city code. Before the project begins request proof from the contractor that the building permits and trade permits (if required) have been obtained. Weekly Construction Updates & TimelinesCommunication is key for a successful tenant improvement finish out or other construction. Get in writing up front that the contractor will have a predefined day and time to either meet onsite or have a conference call to review construction progress and if the project is still scheduled to be completed on time. The best experiences I have had have been when we have all met in person to discuss project progress, obstacles, etc.. For more info checkout Federal Trade Commission Consumer Information hiring a contractor via Blogger How to Choose a Reliable Commercial Contractor If you are planning on buying a commercial building or leasing commercial real estate Austin you will more than likely need to do some sort of construction and/or tenant improvements. Whether it’s office, retail or warehouse space, if it’s located within the City of Austin, and depending on the scope of work, you or your contractor will probably be required to pull a permit before getting started. Services City of Austin Building Permits Provides
When is Permit Required in Austin?A building permit in Austin is required to construct, erect, alter, enlarge, improve, repair, convert, remove, demolish, or move any structure or building within the City’s zoning jurisdiction or in particular MUDs (Municipal Utility Districts). The permit can be Before a permit is issued all building plans must be reviewed by Residential or Commercial Building Plan Review. Depending on the scope of work a trade permit (e.g. mechanical, electrical, plumbing, irrigation) may also be required. To determine whether or not your project needs a permit call (512) 978-4000 What Type of Commercial Work Does Not Require a Permit?An Austin building permit is not required for the following commercial work, however you still must comply with applicable city codes, building codes, etc. To see the full list and details of commercial work in Austin not requiring permit click here. Building
Electrical
Mechanical
Plumbing
What Happens During Construction and After Permitted Work is Completed?Depending on the scope and type of work that was permitted an inspection will be required during construction. After the work is fully completed whoever a final inspection must be performed. The inspection scheduling is the responsibility of the permit holder. This can be initiated by a licensed contractor, homeowner if listed at general contractor on permit, official agents registered under contractor, or a master trade contractor. When Do Permits Expire?Permits are only active for 180 days. On the 181st day the permit will expire if a project has not received any inspections. If you let the permit expire this must be resolved before they city will issue a new permit. To check if your property has an expired permit call (512) 978-4000. City of Austin Permit SearchThe Austin permit search tool allows the public to do searches for permits, plan reviews, inspections, and the status of those permits/cases. You can also view issued construction permits and the online user manual for public search assistance. The city of Austin provides this tool so registered users can apply for permits online, pay for permits, schedule inspections, apply for right of way permits and assign permits.
via Blogger City of Austin Building Permit Services Commercial & Residential Property |
AuthorThe experienced commercial realtors at Austin Tenant Advisors specialize in representing the best interests of buyers and tenants in the Search, Selection, Negotiation, and Occupancy of Office, Retail, Industrial & Warehouse Space for lease, rent, or sale in and around Travis, Williamson, Hays, Bastrop, & Burnet Counties, which are the 5 largest counties in Central Texas. We serve the surrounding cities such as Pflugerville, Round Rock, Georgetown, Leander, Cedar Park, Lakeway, Bee Cave, Sunset Valley, Dripping Springs, Buda, Kyle, San Marcos, Burnet, Marble Falls, and more. Archives
November 2020
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