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On the disclosures "Have all necessary permits, approvals and inspections for all construction, repairs and improvements been obtained?" He checked the "yes" box.
If I were the seller's attorney, the word "necessary" is the one I would argue about. That's why you have to find out if permits were required.
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Originally Posted by themudpuppy
What I'm concerned about is what happens when I need to get a permit to do improvements. For example, the first thing I want to do is add the converted room to the central a/c system. I'll probably have to get a permit to extend the a/c. So what happens if I apply for the permit and they discover that the original conversion wasn't permitted? Or if I want to finish the one-car garage by adding insulation and sheetrock, and they discover the original structure had no permit? I wouldn't mind having to pay for a permit retroactively, as it can't be that expensive to get a permit for a small structure like that, but I'm afraid of being socked with thousands of dollars in penalty fees, or worse, that they would make me tear the garage down and start from scratch.
Or what will happen if I sell the house in the future? I wouldn't lie about the permits like he did, so how is this going to affect my future sale?
These ^^ are all valid questions. Get a pro to help you answer them.
Then you should not proceed until the permit issue is settled. If you buy the house, then the unpermitted structure is YOUR problem to deal with. You won't even be able to insure it.
A realtor would NEVER lie! No no no no no, not EVER.
And to think when they're trying to unload their own property on some suc....er....I mean buyer.....that is the least likely time for them to be pulling tricks on people.
Then you should not proceed until the permit issue is settled. If you buy the house, then the unpermitted structure is YOUR problem to deal with. You won't even be able to insure it.
I think it might be too late, and it will be my problem to deal with, since I didn't discover it during the due dilligence period. We already signed the closing docs. I didn't find out until closing that there wasn't a permit. All that's left to do is the funding which will happen the day after the buyer of my house sends the funding early next week. I'm not going to back out of the deal because of it, but I wonder if I should just wait until I remodel and deal with it then and hope for the best, or go to the county as soon as I have possession of the house and try to work it out with them immediately.
I know I'll have to contact an attorney after the holiday weekend, but just wondered if anyone had had this kind of experience and what kind of trouble or money I might be looking at.
Your gut instinct to NOT take his word for it is good because he, of course, has a lot to lose.
Go to the county offices and start asking. There SHOULD be some kind of planning office, or even the tax assessor.
Just go to the assessor and make sure everything is correct there. Now is the time to do it.
Many places dont have planning or building departments. If you are really worried pay a deputy inspector to inspect the house. If there are deficiencies get them noted and start by sending a letter to the previous owner.
I've never heard of inspectors or governments requiring or even checking on houses that had work done in the past, when owned by a different person. I bought a 1953 house that had had work done. Did it have the necessary permits? I don't know. I'm not the one who did the work, and I'm not sure what the house looked like in 1953. I had the house inspected and appraised and approved by a lender.
I mean, just how far back would they go? A garage modified 10 years ago? 15 years ago? 40 years ago? Seems to me a current owner cannot confirm whether any work ever done on his house before he bought it was permitted. He can only confirm that the house at time of purchase was inspected by a licensed inspector, which should suffice, shouldn't it?
I've never heard of...
I mean, just how far back would they go?
As said earlier, these are LOCAL questions requiring local answers.
Some areas are quite loose; others very tight on the matter.
But nearly every area is tighter than it used to be.
Quote:
Seems to me a current owner cannot confirm whether any work ever done...
The Q is about work done during their period of ownership.
Their statement implies that the work didn't require permitting (and inspections).
That may be the case and the end of it all...
but until the OP asks the tough Q's of locally knowledgeable folks...
it's all conjecture.
I've never heard of inspectors or governments requiring or even checking on houses that had work done in the past, when owned by a different person. I bought a 1953 house that had had work done. Did it have the necessary permits? I don't know. I'm not the one who did the work, and I'm not sure what the house looked like in 1953. I had the house inspected and appraised and approved by a lender.
I mean, just how far back would they go? A garage modified 10 years ago? 15 years ago? 40 years ago? Seems to me a current owner cannot confirm whether any work ever done on his house before he bought it was permitted. He can only confirm that the house at time of purchase was inspected by a licensed inspector, which should suffice, shouldn't it?
One city in my area goes back 7 years. But, to them, a permit is not required to make sure that the structure is safe...its primary purpose is to bring in $$$ to the municipality.
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