How Do We Increase the Value of Projects

How do we increase the value of our client's projects? It depends on the project, because each project is unique. But generally, every project has a strong and prominent need and it wants to be materialized within a given project environment: budget, program, regulatory requirements, site conditions, etc. At each step of the project, we pay attention to and try to take advantage of particular circumstances in order to increase the value of the project.

Here are some examples:

Thorough Analysis of Codes & Securing Variance when possible:

Our client wanted to legalize the existing house as a multi-unit housing. The house was relatively large and had enough size. This would obviously increase the value of the property. The problem was that the city did not allow it without adequate parking spaces and the site did not have enough room to accommodate this. We analized the code, studied the site and generated plans illustrating the difficulty and came up with a solution which worked despite its non-compliance (strictly speaking) with the zoning code. We wrote a letter to the city and met with the official. He was persuaded. The plan was approved! This increased the value of the property perhaps in the order of 50 to 60%.

Cost Saving through Construction Documents and Bid Administration:

In a big new house design, our client had a contractor he had known in mind. We created a very thorough specifications, listed bidders, organized bidding and evaluated multiple bids. In fact, the contractor the client had known was the highest bidder. Our client chose a different contractor. It saved him $800,000. We also did comparative analysis of similar projects in the area, so that our client could evaluate relative value of his project in the market.

Simple and Effective Design:

Potential of values increase is not limited to large expensive projects. In a small kitchen area remodel with a limited budget, we saw the most critical part of the project: to overcome the lack of natural lively light and efficient workable space. We provided a design solution that solved these problems very simply and beautifully. It completely transformed the kitchen area into a place where one could enjoy cooking with live natural light. Our client was so impressed and pleased that he often boasted "See! My friends spent much more money for his house and we spent much less and our design is much, much better!"

Unique and Thoughtful Design:

For a new house at a great view site but with a tight budget, we designed a house of modest size, simple in plan, but harmonious with the natural hillside with a lot of thoughts in it. Years later the house was put on the market. It was in a severely depressed real estate market and many houses in the market were sitting unsold. Amazingly this house attracted five offers. Even more amazing was that all offers, including the lowest one, were way above the asking price. The realtor told us that the every visitor fell in love with the house. When they realized that the house ws really unique and they could not find anything similar to this one elsewhere, they wanted to have it. In this and many other cases, the design quality takes a critical role in giving the property a true value.

Highly Coordinated Unusual Design:

For a tight urban site, we designed a multi-unit housing with unusual design. Unusual not in the sense that it had an unusual look, but in the sense that it had a completely separate private entrance for each unit, rather than shared foyer (more common in similar sites). Also, each unit had its own private spacious outdoor space (more common was that outdoor spaces were shared). We took advantage of other given characteristics of the site and came up with a highly coordinated design. The units were sold successfully during the deep recession when no other multi-unit housing projects were being sold. In fact some developers came to see this project wondering how it could be sold in such an economically depressed time. Again the design made a huge difference in lifting the value of the project. Simply making a building look opulent and superficially impressive, as many developers do using so called "builder's set" plans, does not work. It has to be genuinely beautiful and livable.

Life Cycle Cost Evaluation:

Saving the construction cost (initial cost) is not necessarily the smartest way to save money. We look at a project in its life cycle: the cost of operation , replacement, maintenance cost and its impact on people's health and its environment should be taken into account. Specifying energy efficient heating systems and appliances, water saving fixtures, good materials for human health may cost more at the beginning, but often they are worth when we look at them in the entire life of the building and people's life.