Pacific Heights Mansion Case Study

Deniz Kahramaner
Deniz Kahramaner
Jun 5

1 | Why This Home Stood Out

Pacific Heights mansion front facade
Pacific Heights mansion kitchen
Pacific Heights mansion penthouse with views.
Pacific Heights mansion living room.
  • Turnkey appeal without sacrificing character. In Pacific Heights, true gut-renovations rarely keep original charm. This home delivered both. At nearly 6,000 sq ft, the home has been fully modernized, featuring a penthouse level with panoramic Golden Gate views, an elevator to every level, and period detail preserved throughout. With 5 beds, 6.5 baths, and a 4-car garage, the home is suitable for multi-generational living.
  • Time-pressed, high-net-worth buyers. Our clients required a move-in-ready residence yet demanded the certainty that only rigorous diligence provides.

2 | The Core Challenge

Pacific Heights mansion garage.
A century-old, four-story structure now re-imagined with an elevator, open spans, and modern systems. The question: Was the underlying engineering as robust as the finishing touches suggested?

3 | Our Process

Step
Action
Purpose
Contract Negotiation
Secured favorable terms, including broad inspection contingencies.
Protected the buyers’ leverage and timeline
Price Negotiation
$745,000 was negotiated off the $9,995,000 listing price
Saved the buyers a substantial amount on the price
Structural Deep-Dive
Reviewed approved plans with the project architect, original structural engineer, and independent peer reviewers
Verified load-path logic, shear-wall placement, and seismic retrofits
Specialist Inspections
Engaged waterproofing and moisture-intrusion experts beyond the standard general inspector
Exposed hidden or premature wear risks
Targeted Water Testing
Simulated winter-storm conditions at suspect openings
Confirmed active vs. historical leaks
Defect Log & Remedy Plan
Documented 25 items, ranked by urgency, and negotiated seller credits/repairs before close
Delivered cost certainty and post-close peace of mind

4 | Key Findings

1. Three Moisture Paths Identified
Pacific Heights mansion potential leak area 1.
  • Rear Lower Exterior Sliding Door – Staining on interior drywall. Water test confirmed no seepage at frame-to-stucco interface. Stain from hardwood floor staining.
Pacific Heights mansion potential leak area 2.
  • Main Staircase Landing – Hairline gaps where joints between stairs and structure allowed water intrusion during heavy rains. Additional layers of waterproofing materials were applied to joints and flashing was installed to protect entry points.
Pacific Heights mansion dry-rotted mudsill
  • Compromised Mudsill in Garage – Dry rot was identified on a painted mudsill near the garage door. The entire mudsill was replaced with pressure-treated lumber.
2. No Structural Red Flags Peer review validated steel moment frames and the new shear-wall schedule. The elevator shaft is properly isolated from the load walls.
3. Minor Cosmetic & Functional Items Were Addressed Examples: Scuffs on interior baseboards and walls, minor cracks at joints in the shower enclosure. All logged for correction.

5 | Outcome for the Buyers

  • Significant 7.7% Price Discount: $745,000 was negotiated off the $9,995,000 listing price.
  • Seller Grants Request to Repair: Covering all waterproofing remediation and finish touch-ups.
  • Post-Repair Verification: second water test passed, moisture readings returned to baseline, and all punch-list items signed off.
  • Move-In Confidence: Clients closed knowing the home’s historic bones and modern amenities now work in unison.

6 | Takeaways for Future Buyers

  • Turnkey ≠ Trouble-Free. Even flawless cabinetry can hide early-stage leaks.
  • Specialists Pay for Themselves. Targeted water intrusion and engineering reviews prevented six-figure surprises down the road.
  • Leverage Exists Before Close, Not After. Thorough contingencies and clear documentation translated directly into monetary repairs or credits.
Pacific Heights Real Estate
San Francisco Home Inspection
Real Estate Case Study
Buyer Due Diligence Checklist
Luxury Home Inspection Guide
Waterproofing Remediation
Best Real Estate Practices
Home Buying
San Francisco
Inspections

Questions? Ask our team of experts

Deniz Kahramaner
Deniz Kahramaner is the Founder & CEO of the data-driven Real Estate Brokerage Atlasa. His mission is to help home buyers understand the tradeoffs of different home options using big data and analytics. Feel free to contact Deniz if you need help with the home buying or selling process at deniz@atlasa.com.