Teardown and Rebuild in Michigan: The Steps, in Order
Why The Order Matters
Taking a house down is not one job. It is a string of small ones, done by different people, and each has to finish before the next starts. We keep them in order.
We work alongside your architect or designer. They lead the design. We keep you informed at every step and build it with care.
The Usual Steps
1. Find Out Whether The House Has Protection
Some homes and streets are historic, and a request to take a building down there goes to review. Clarkston is one example. We check this first, ideally before you buy.
2. Work Out What Can Replace It
The lot shapes the new home: its footprint, its height, and its distance from the street and the neighbors. In places such as Grosse Pointe Park, we take the new plan in for approval before the old house comes down.
3. Have The Utilities Disconnected
Electric, gas, water and sewer are all shut off before the demolition permit comes through, and this takes longer than most people expect. We book the disconnections early.
4. Gather The Paperwork
Every application is different: a survey of the lot, photos of the old house, a written note to the next-door neighbors in Birmingham, an old well or septic tank properly closed. We collect all of it.
5. Make The Site Safe
A demolition site sits among neighbors. We secure it, keep the dust down and keep the road clean. That is our job, not yours.
6. Take The House Down And Have It Inspected
Once the demolition permit is issued, the house comes down and the foundation comes out. We have the open ground inspected before it is filled, and again at the end.
7. Start The New Home
With the lot clear and the building permit in hand, the new home begins. We plan both permits together from the start, to keep the gap between them short.
General information, not legal advice. Each town, county and state office decides what applies to a property.
Questions About Teardown And Rebuild
Can any house be taken down and replaced?
That is decided property by property. We take your address to the town first, so you know where you stand before you sign.
Should we talk to you before we buy the house?
Yes. Whether the house comes down, and what replaces it, shape what the lot is worth to you. We look at the address with you before you buy.
How long until the lot is empty?
It varies with the house and the town. The utility disconnections and the demolition review set the pace, and we give you a realistic picture for your project when we talk.
Who deals with the utility companies and the town?
We do. We arrange the disconnections, prepare the application and handle the inspections.
Does the new home have to match the old one?
It is designed fresh, for the lot as it is today. We work out what the lot takes with your designer and confirm it with the town.
General information, not legal advice.
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