What You Need To Know About Unpermitted Work

Unpermitted work can be a problem for homeowners when they try to sell. If you're a homeowner who lives on a property with unpermitted work, knowing what to do about it can help you when the time comes to sell your property. By remediating the problem or by working with a Sunset Ridge real estate agent, you can sell your home for a fair and competitive price.

What You Need to Know About Building Permits

A building permit is a permit that homeowners must get when making certain changes to their property. Usually, building permits are required when changes are being made to the home's structure and when gas, plumbing and electrical work is being done. Building permits enable local government officials to monitor the renovations, so they can be done safely. Often, permits are required for major remodels and additions. Permits are also required when a new construction home is being built.

Building permits can be expensive, so many homeowners who are performing their own remodeling work will often skip the permitting portion to save money. What many homeowners don't realize is that unpermitted work can cost more money than it saves, over the long run.

The Problem With Unpermitted Work

Without a permit, changes could be made to the home that are unsafe for occupants. Permits enable building officials to monitor changes to the home, thus ensuring that all changes are made according to codes. Changes made to homes without a permit have a higher likelihood of being structurally unsafe. A deck addition that is not performed to code, for example, could eventually collapse, resulting in injuries or even death.

Unpermitted work also makes the home hard to sell. Home buyers hesitate to purchase a home without permits, knowing that they will need to remediate the unpermitted work. Unpermitted work can make a home very unattractive on the real estate market.

What Can Be Done About Unpermitted Work During the Home Sale

Unpermitted work is supposed to be disclosed when the home is sold. Before putting the house up for sale, homeowners must decide whether to get the work permitted retroactively, or sell the home as is. Selling a home as is, with unpermitted work on the property, could result in dramatically lower offers from buyers. Remediating unpermitted work can also be costly, requiring contractors to tear out walls, expose plumbing and so on.

Making a Decision

Homeowners who want to sell their property with unpermitted work have a decision to make. It helps to meet with contractors to get estimates for repairing unpermitted work. Meeting with multiple contractors and getting quotes from several professionals can help make this decision easier. Homeowners must also explore how much a retroactive permit will cost in their area.

Finally, it's also helpful to meet with real estate professionals. A good real estate professional can tell a homeowner how much they can expect to get from the sale of their home before and after getting a permit. This can help the homeowner decide which decision is the most financially beneficial.

Contact a Real Estate Professional In Your Area

If you're a homeowner who would like to sell your home with unpermitted work, contact a real estate professional in your area. After a consultation and viewing your property, your real estate professional can help you decide which decision is right for your home.