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For obvious reasons, lying about permitting is a major problem. You could easily be sued by the new homeowner for making false statements about the home. We can say, however, that the legislature regulates only buildings of a certain size and height.
The biggest decisions around permitting should be done before the property is even listed. Make sure to communicate everything you know about unpermitted work on your property. Withhold information from potential buyers, and you’ve got a potential lawsuit on your hands.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
If unpermitted work is disclosed, the buyer will assume future responsibility. If your permit is approved, you’ll receive an official license. Depending on the complexity of your project, this permit could be approved on the spot, or need additional review. For many homeowners, this small detail slips through the cracks, then becomes a problem when they want to put their house on the market. Use HomeLight’s Simple Sale platform to sell when you’re ready without the hassle of paying for repairs, prepping for listing, or dealing with showings.
The difficulties could include being required to get the work permitted—which may consist of hiring an architect, making changes to meet codes, etc. Undisclosed Defects Discovered After Home Sale,” we explained that sellers in most states are required by law to submit a real estate disclosure statement. As part of the disclosure form, sellers must make buyers aware of easements, material defects and certain home improvements. This is a particularly difficult situation in Chicago where many small contractors try to avoid applying for building permits because the city makes it such a hassle.
Home Inspectors don't have to be old white guys
This could mean receiving a credit from the seller to cover future permit applications and fines. It could also mean a reduced sale price that takes this unpermitted work into consideration. Just make sure that the appraisal value matches the new list price and that your lender will still finance the purchase. Replacing an entire air conditioning system or adding on an addition without pulling the required permits is another.

You may not be able to get an addition insured, if it was built without permits. And if a fire started in the basement, which was converted to living space without a permit, the insurance may not cover anything if they believe the illegal construction caused the fire. Now that you’re looking to purchase the home with unpermitted renovations, this simple oversight has potential to turn into a money pit nightmare. Here are some potential pitfalls of an unpermitted addition or renovation. You can personally become liable for any work carried out without permits.
Should I buy a house without permits in NYS?
He has been one of the top RE/MAX REALTORS® in New England for the past decade. In 2018, he was the No. 1 RE/MAX real estate agent in Massachusetts. If there's some sort of incident, and you need to make a claim, your insurer can refuse to pay out.

The most commonly used name for mobile homes used in countries outside of the anglophone world is ‘mobile,’ and the average cost is around 5,000 EUR. It's amazing how many "upstanding citizens" ask us to do work without permits. We always gently but firmly let them know that we don't work like that.
It is also advisable to ensure good relations with these people as you will be meeting them several times. Permits for your home projects serve to ensure that your plans comply with the local standards of land use, zoning, and construction. By going through your local government agency, you can ensure not only your safety but that of future owners of your home. Most communities would rather have you point out the fact work was done without permits and get the problem squared away.
Another big advantage is that you do not need to prepare and construct all the official legal letters; you do not need a professional licensed architect to prepare your project. This does not mean, however, that you won’t need any floorplan at all. In fact, it is always necessary to have an exactly measured floorplan.
Although that rarely occurs, the bank may decide carrying the loan isn’t worth the risk if the type of work performed exposes it to potential liabilities. Once a bank calls your loan, the entire balance is immediately due. Most municipalities have records of improvements that homeowners make to their homes. And, as you rightly mentioned, many homeowners make these improvements without required governmental permits. So, you have to determine whether the work was done safely and correctly. And having the work brought to code by a contractor will be an additional expense.
Naturally, this blog is all about home inspections and home-related topics in the Twin Cities metro area. In addition to working at Structure Tech, he is also a licensed Truth-In-Sale of Housing Evaluator in Minneapolis, Saint Paul and several other cities. That’s why you have your own inspector do a professional home inspection, even on a brand new house.
Post the permit on your home or close to where you’re completing your project. Find AgentsIf you don't love your Clever partner agent, you can request to meet with another, or shake hands and go a different direction. We offer this because we're confident you're going to love working with a Clever Partner Agent.
Home Advisor has a good reference on building permit costs worth a look. You can also check with your city or town to get a better handle. If the unpermitted work is extensive, potentially dangerous and/or far too expensive to legalize, you might want to walk away. Always consult with a real estate professional, mortgage broker and/or real estate attorney during the home buying process.
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