I love to get new listings for so many reasons, but one reason that is prominent is that I want to serve the public.  I want to help them realize their dreams.

But sometimes we Realtors run into issues that the seller might rather forget about, but we do because we have a code to work by; we must be honest.  Just like the other day.  I'm working with a new customer who is a buyer first but also has a house to sell (maybe).  And I learned from him that he built his full basement; two bedrooms, a bathroom, and a kitchen, but because he built it himself, with his own hands, and he had planned on being there for years to come, he didn't get the work permitted.  *As of this writing, he says it's all up to code, but no inspection has been performed on the house.

I must admit, I was a little nervous.  He hadn't had it permitted, oh no!  I sent my broker an email to ask about it and he replied that not all projects require a permit so because I have an inquiring mind, I had to research it.

What I found is, as usual, two-faced.  There are always two sides to every story.  So, what do I tell my customer?

I suggested to him to get a home inspection so that the new potential buyer will feel secure in knowing everything is up to code before they write a good offer.  Can't blame a buyer for making that an important issue for them.  During the pandemic, buyers were buying property not knowing if anything was code, as they forfeited inspections.  Based on some stories I've read; they are paying the price for that now.

The main purpose of a permit is to ensure everything is built to code, I suggested it to my seller, as I always do, and like most sellers, my customer said, 'the buyer can pay for that if he wants to know."  A typical response.  I respond with, "well, Mr. Seller, if a buyer pays for an inspection, they may come up with more problems for you to solve than it will cost to get an inspection yourself.  And the inspection point is where they usually want to renegotiate the price."  We'll talk about that in another posting.

I learned through my research that some reasons to have the project permitted are as follows:

  • build a new room in a house
  • Install a new roof
  • Change the use of a room
  • and a few more always reach out to your cities building permit department

 

*Disclaimer. Information in this blog is deemed reliable but not guaranteed.

Citations:

Web. Blog. August 18, 2017. Architectural Services, construction, design process.

Melissia

United Real Estate Indianapolis


Office:
1425 E 86th Street Suite 200, Indianapolis, IN, 46240
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