As a Realtor, you are faced with many challenges when it comes to helping your clients understand the impact of Functional Obsolescence on their commercial and residential properties. In this reference book, I will show you how to help your clients see the relationship between inadequate design and the depreciation of real estate so they can make better decisions about their future investments. I further explain what these detrimental conditions are as architectural and building code issues and why it's important for realtors to understand them. It must be said that some clients may not want to acknowledge a problem to rectify. Therefore, I propose that the Realtor given critical reference material should provide solutions through a consulting Architect. Ultimately, I will discuss ways to identify functional obsolescence before closing on a property so that you can mitigate potential problems or even reject a negative real estate transaction altogether!
This is an educational reference book developed by Arthur Nerbas to be used by professional realtors as reference material. The following are the reference book objectives:
Role of the Architect - Describe the Architects role in developing construction documents as it relates to protecting the consumer public.
1. Health, Safety & Welfare - Illustrate the architectural importance of protecting the public: Health, Safety, and Welfare as it relates to real estate.
2. Accessibility issues - Describe the difference between general building accessibility and the Americans with Disabilities Act (known as ADA) as it relates to real estate.
3. Occupant Load & Occupancy Classification - Identify the Occupancy Classification and Occupant Load of a space and the multiple implications in architectural design of a building and tenant use.
4. Means of Egress - Communicate the importance of the 3 components of the Means of Egress.
5. Fire Protection - Describe the implications of the Fire Protection and Sprinkler System in a building to protect the consumer public.
6. Site - Identify the building Site related issues with slopes, parking, and Fire truck access.
7. The Design Process - Illustrate the Design Process to a client as it relates to new buildings, renovations of existing buildings, and tenant improvement buildouts.
8. Design fees - Access reference guidelines for Architectural design fees for a range of building types.
9. Construction costs - Access reference guidelines for Construction costs for a range of building types.
10. The 16 Divisions - Describe the construction industry standard of using 16 Divisions for subdividing material selections, specifications, and pricing.
11. Building Types - Describe the range of architectural building types relative to construction type, occupancy, and critical issues.
12. Architecture Resources - Identify reference resources for architectural standards, building codes, and building types.
Occupancy Classifications, in summary, this reference book will cover all real estate building types/categories as they are described in the building code, as the following Occupancy Classifications:
ASSEMBLY - such as Restaurants, Bars & Gymnasiums.
BUSINESS - such as Professional services, Car Wash & Dry Cleaners.
EDUCATION - such as Schools and Children Daycare facilities.
FACTORY - such as Bakeries, Beverage Distilleries & Catering Kitchens.
HAZARD - such as Chemical, Fireworks or Tire storage.
INSTITUTIONAL - such as Assisted Living, Hospitals & Adult Daycare facilities.
MERCANTILE - Retail Stores, Gas Stations, & Salesrooms.
RESIDENTIAL - such as Hotels, Apartments and Single-Family Homes.
STORAGE - such as Repair Garages, Food Storage & Parking Garages.
UTILITY - such as Agricultural buildings, Aircraft Hangers & Private Garages.
