House With Addon But No Permits
We've come across a house that the owner added a room(400 sq feet) to without getting permits.
We'd understand that it is almost impossible to sell the house without the permits. Can someone get permits on something after it has been built? If so can anyone suggest who we should talk to about getting permits for the add-on....contractor....city......Yoda......etc?
Thanks
Mike
I've known some people who have started projects, like roofing, and also decks, who were shut down in the process of building or repairing them. The instructions they were given were to cease and desist all construction and/or repair activity until permits have been obtained. My friends were told (the one working on the roof), don't even think about going up there, even to get your tools, until you have the permits. After the fact, I think the the local government in most areas would be happy to get what they can and appreciate your honesty(?). On the other hand, how are they gonna know? I had a four bedroom house and made it a three bedroom because I wanted more space in the master bedroom. I didn't get a permit, so what? The truth is that at the time I didn't know I was supposed to, but now, who cares? That was two years ago. If I market and sell the house as a three bedroon instead of a four, I don't think anyone would notice. If someone did, a tax assesor, for example, he'd either have to be watching the "for sale" ads or knocking on my door to find out. And how should I know when the alteration was made, or even if it was? Maybe there was a misprint in the info the tax guy has. Hey, all I know is that I bought a house with such and such square feet, I don't know anything about any addition. I might be missing a key element of your question, because it is, after all, very late. My advice would be to play dumb. Zach
when someone buys a home especially when getting a mortgage, a survey update is done on the property. this is an addition therefore the footprint of the house has changed and when they are going to compare the old survey with the update the 400 sq. ft addition will show. when you are changing something within the biulding like converting part of a bedroom into a bathroom, no one will know....as far as you getting permits, that shouldnt be a problem..its an existing structure but must comply with current code...and if it doenst than you have to correct the problem(s).
Not long ago in Miami, people who had made illegal duplexes, fourplexes and fiveplexes out of houses would just hire a "consultant" to go into the city and substitute the drawings that were on record!
The Miami Herald caught wind of it, and went back and made comparisons to the microfilm/microfiche and the whole scheme came to a crashing halt.
YMMV
Are there no permits at all? In my experience no permits can be better than some, especially if they are left open.
It is my understanding that a mortgage company will not finance a property with open permits. However, if there are no permits or any that were open had been finaled then I believe that you will be just looking at the issues of the new appraisal.
In answer to your question about getting it inspected, here is what you are looking at. Generally the only person who can get a property inspected by the city for building codes is the owner. So you would have to purchase the home first and then call in the city to check the house out and pass it. However, this could be a nightmare, suppose the homeowner did something wrong with the electrical, and the inspector wants to see all the wiring. Typically for electrical work you have 2 inspections, the rough and the final, the rough is done with the walls open so the inspector can see all the wiring runs and look in the boxes to see the connections and grounds are correct. If you skip the rough inspection and the inspector comes out for the final, he has every right not to inspect the rough has not been done. How would you get the rough done? Rip out all the drywall and take all the electrical lights and switches back off!
Plumbing, mechanical and framing are the same, so the first thing I would do is go down to the building dept and tell them the situation and see what the consequences would be. I'm guessing that a possible outcome might be the city might work with you if everything looked pretty good and you might just go through some small hassles, however I could also see the possibility of the city sticking it to you and putting you through complete hell to get the inspections finalized.