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Old 08-28-2018, 09:05 AM
 
46 posts, read 41,067 times
Reputation: 37

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Will be selling my mom's house eventually. These are the improvements that were done over time:


  1. Basement: half converted into "playroom" by my Dad: flooring, ceiling tiles, lighting/electric, 2nd zone heat, panelling on 2x4 stud framework. Fireplace added with chimney, no record of who did this. Circa 1965
  2. Dining room expanded into screen porch space (part of house original footprint). Electric, moved radiator as well. Done by contractor circa 1975

Last year, when the fence between us and the neighbor's property was deteriorating, I wasn't sure where the fence was located on the property line. I went to the bldg dept to look at the file for our property, and they couldn't find it. Not in the current files, not in the "old" files, not in the "archived" files.


Since the basement was DIY, and I have no invoice, permit or CO copies for the dining room expansion, how much exposure do I have when the house gets put up for sale? I've been reading the "Help! No permit/CO!" threads here and I'm very nervous. But since there's no file (no survey, permits, CO, or even a folder) with the Bldg dept, does that help or make things worse?
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Old 08-28-2018, 09:12 AM
 
2,045 posts, read 1,901,304 times
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Getting an updated survey is smart. Can be had for under $1000. Getting building dept involved is very risky.
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Old 08-28-2018, 10:01 AM
 
732 posts, read 893,672 times
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Many LI houses don't have permits. Just sell it as is. Ask an agent and they will say the same. A lot of illegal finished basements with a bathroom is overlooked by the bank/appraiser.

My concern is your fireplace in the basement. That could be hard to get through.
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Old 08-28-2018, 11:05 AM
 
Location: under the beautiful Carolina blue
22,750 posts, read 37,020,844 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ubering View Post
My concern is your fireplace in the basement. That could be hard to get through.
Yes, I think this is the biggest issue. Buyers are used to certain things with finished basements but fireplaces are definitely a rarity.
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Old 08-28-2018, 11:10 AM
 
Location: East Northport
3,351 posts, read 9,789,288 times
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I wouldn't worry to much about the basement, except maybe the fireplace. The expansion of the dining room into what was once a screened porch may be an issue.
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Old 08-28-2018, 11:17 AM
 
46 posts, read 41,067 times
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But with no file on record with the Buildings Department, how would they know if there were (or weren't) permits or COs done? Whose responsibility is it to produce the documentation? The entire file for the house - including a survey - is nowhere to be found. Is that a "good" thing or not?
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Old 08-28-2018, 11:22 AM
 
Location: East Northport
3,351 posts, read 9,789,288 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by AlienCheese View Post
But with no file on record with the Buildings Department, how would they know if there were (or weren't) permits or COs done? Whose responsibility is it to produce the documentation? The entire file for the house - including a survey - is nowhere to be found. Is that a "good" thing or not?
Apart from the improvements, are they saying that they are not showing a Certificate of Occupancy for the entire structure?
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Old 08-28-2018, 11:38 AM
 
46 posts, read 41,067 times
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There is no file at all: no documents, no survey, nada. Not even an empty manila folder.
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Old 08-28-2018, 11:40 AM
 
732 posts, read 893,672 times
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One way to find out who owns the fence is to see which side of the fence is facing your property.
If the crappy side (supports) is on your side, it's probably your fence.
If the nice looking side is on your side, it's the other person's fence.
This is what my agent told me. Not 100% sure if correct but it looks like it. This applies to wooden fence. Not sure about PVC.
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Old 08-28-2018, 12:09 PM
 
Location: East Northport
3,351 posts, read 9,789,288 times
Reputation: 1337
Quote:
Originally Posted by ubering View Post
One way to find out who owns the fence is to see which side of the fence is facing your property.
If the crappy side (supports) is on your side, it's probably your fence.
If the nice looking side is on your side, it's the other person's fence.
This is what my agent told me. Not 100% sure if correct but it looks like it. This applies to wooden fence. Not sure about PVC.
This used to be the case when neighbors were considerate. Not so much anymore.
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