renovation without permit (Long Branch: sale, condo, attorney) - New Jersey (NJ) - City-Data Forum

fivekids · 08-11-2009, 04:45 AM

Has anyone had any experience with renovating their home, then when you go to sell the buyer wants permits? We renovated a bath and didn't get permit. we assumed that since it wasn't adding a bath it would not require permit. we now are in attorney review and buyers want permit. which we are fine with getting, we have done everything to code we have actually upgraded the bath. I will be calling the town this morning, but I was just wondering if anyone went thru this already and what their experience was. Thanks

BobKovacs · 08-11-2009, 05:39 AM

Depends on the town, and what the scope of work was. If you just replaced fixtures with the same type of fixture and replaced finishes, you'll probably just have to pay for the permit and have the work inspected. If you moved fixtures, changed piping, etc., you may have bigger issues, and may end up poking holes in walls to exposed the concealed work.

brook2ga · 08-11-2009, 05:44 AM

We renovated our bath before selling. We had to have several inspections, 2 of which were before the walls were closed up. As Bob said, it depends on the town. Good luck!

armx · 08-11-2009, 05:46 AM

Generally, updating the bathroom that was there constitutes replacement rather than construction. So permits would not be necessary, as you believe. In my location, I was turned away by the L & I when I asked if permit is required.

First you should determine if a permit is required... just because the attorney has a question does not make it a valid question!! Don't just apply for it and make things more complicated than they need to be.

A permit is required if one adds and therefore, ups the built-up square footage which is the basis of your assessed value and the property taxes. No addition ---no harm, no foul!

And if you changed any pipes or plumbing that is behind the walls that is a different story, that requires inspection and the plumber should have taken the permit.

desertsun41 · 08-11-2009, 09:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BobKovacs

Depends on the town, and what the scope of work was. If you just replaced fixtures with the same type of fixture and replaced finishes, you'll probably just have to pay for the permit and have the work inspected. If you moved fixtures, changed piping, etc., you may have bigger issues, and may end up poking holes in walls to exposed the concealed work.

I agree with you Bob 100% of the time because we do the same work and share the same pride in what we do. But Bob I think you may have missed something here. If she just replaced fixtures and cosmetic things like flooring and tile and wallpaper and even a new vanity or toilet....no permit is needed.

But you are correct that if they moved plumbing, electrical etc then yes they will have bigger issues.

If I was in a bad mood and a buyer asked to see permits I would tell them to go pound sand. But in this economic depression that may be the only home buyer east of the Mississippi River. I guess sellers just have to bend over and open wide for the one or two buyers out there who are demanding the ridiculous.

DFBonnett · 08-17-2009, 06:26 PM

Sounds like a tactic to knock the price down or get out of the contract.

pbennett1 · 08-17-2009, 06:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fivekids

Has anyone had any experience with renovating their home, then when you go to sell the buyer wants permits? We renovated a bath and didn't get permit. we assumed that since it wasn't adding a bath it would not require permit. we now are in attorney review and buyers want permit. which we are fine with getting, we have done everything to code we have actually upgraded the bath. I will be calling the town this morning, but I was just wondering if anyone went thru this already and what their experience was. Thanks

You should not make the statement "we have done everything to code" because:

which "code" are you referring to?
you're exposing yourself to liability if anything is not
the AHJ can request that you open up finished surfaces
the AHJ can force you to completely remove the improvement (seen it done in Long Branch, NJ)
Without a municipal inspection, and approval, there's no official proof
even with a municipal inspection, and approval, the improvements still may not be to code (discovered in buyer's home inspections, and even new construction inspections.

Good luck with the sale of your home.

luckyshoes · 08-18-2009, 06:19 AM

Just get the town inspector out to look at it. Act cool. Be super nice. Your agent should be able to walk you through this with the inspector, if you are using a skilled and well-connected agent who knows their stuff.

Does your town require a CO? If so, then the inspector will be coming anyway, and you can get the CO then push back and say got the CO, all is fine.

gagaliya · 08-18-2009, 09:17 AM

can you guys explain some basics to me. I know for a condo/coop, you need to get approval to rennovate.

But for a house??? why on earth do you need to get permit to rennovte your own house? especially if it's something internal like a bathroom or kitchen. I never heard of this requirement.

????

luckyshoes · 08-18-2009, 09:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gagaliya

can you guys explain some basics to me. I know for a condo/coop, you need to get approval to rennovate.

But for a house??? why on earth do you need to get permit to rennovte your own house? especially if it's something internal like a bathroom or kitchen. I never heard of this requirement.

????

To make sure that things are to code, and therefore safe. Especially when dealing with things like plumbing and electrical and of course, structural work. You wouldn't want to buy a house or live in a house that wasn't inspected and safe, right? There are things that you don't need a permit for, and things that you do.