Are planning to make changes to your home? I always recommend that you err on the side of caution and find out if the work requires a permit. Skipping this step can create a tangled web that could become extremely tricky and expensive in the long run. For example, many homeowners attempt to cut corners by making home improvements without the required permits. However, getting those permits ensures that the work complies with the local building codes. While homeowners may save time or money and avoid the complicated paperwork and red tape, they may never realize that according to building codes they made their home unsafe and possibly uninsurable. In other cases, homeowners discover unpermitted work of previous owners while performing renovations; in either case, you are still legally responsible as the homeowner. While legal issues may not be common, this is exactly the reason insurance companies may opt to not insure the property for the next owner. If a permit was not pulled for the work, how does the insurance company know if the work was done to code and most importantly, if it is safe?
While it is not impossible to sell a house with unpermitted work, you may have to do a bit of maneuvering to reach the closing table without legal consequences hanging over your head. Laws surrounding real estate transactions require you to report unpermitted work in the disclosure; failure to do so could be costly. As a result, your buyers may walk away from the deal, or you may be required to have the work torn out and brought to code through the permitting process. You do have options, however. Read on as we explore how to sell your house with unpermitted work in Port Orchard.
Get Permits
You may have the ability to get the work permitted after the fact, to sell your house with unpermitted work in Port Orchard. The cost of the permit is dependent upon the size of the project. If available, you will need to fill out an application detailing the work and be patient while awaiting local jurisdiction’s permitting process and their inspector. However, be prepared for at least a small amount of deconstruction so that inspectors can review the job and ensure your safety and code compliance. It will help to remain calm throughout the process and remember that the permit office and inspector are your friends. You may be forgiven penalties or fees if you did not know about the work, and you may also be able to pursue legal steps against the previous owners of the property. If you are in negotiations with a buyer and unpermitted work is discovered, they may walk away from the deal altogether, ask you to have the work permitted before closing, or negotiate for a drastic price reduction. All of these are perfectly reasonable responses. Try to put yourself in their spot as the buyer.
Rebuild
You may have to rebuild the previous improvement if the work is not up to code to sell your house with unpermitted work in Port Orchard. If the original work is not within the guidelines, the cost of permitting and completion will necessarily increase along with the size of the project. The local jurisdiction would notify you of what is required to rectify the situation. They’ll also give you a time frame to complete the changes. If the home is unable to pass inspection, the value of the home will necessarily drop with the discovery of the subpar renovations, and lenders may not be willing to make loans on the property as it is. Sadly, you may need to weigh the rebuilding costs against the property’s value and determine if the work is worth the investment. Depending upon the size of the unpermitted renovation, you may face the heartbreaking decision to tear down the existing structure and rebuild completely. If you were not responsible for the unpermitted work, I highly recommend that you seek legal counsel concerning pursuing damages against the previous owners. If this is something that might be necessary, you do not want to delay. There are time limits on how long after the discovery that you may file suit.
Sell Directly to Kitsap Home Pro – We Buy As-Is
If you would prefer to leave the work to someone else, the easiest solution is to save your time and money and sell your house as-is, with unpermitted work in Port Orchard to Kitsap Home Pro. At Kitsap Home Pro, our professional buyers will compare what you could earn by making the repairs and selling on the market and providing you the details of how we reached our numbers, so you will agree the offer is fair. At Kitsap Home Pro, no hidden fees are coming off the top of your profits. The offer from Kitsap Home Pro is the amount you receive. Because Kitsap Home Pro pays cash, we have the flexibility to set the closing date when it is convenient for you, be it quickly in a matter of days or delay the closing to allow you the time to coordinate your moving plans. When you move, take whatever you want to keep and leave the rest to Kitsap Home Pro – there’s no need to worry about a final cleaning. If you haven’t found your new home yet, Kitsap Home Pro has a steady inventory of the best properties available in Port Orchard. Ready to learn more about how Kitsap Home Pro can help you? At Kitsap Home Pro, our experienced pros take the time to listen and are happy to answer your questions or concerns with no obligation. Call Kitsap Home Pro at (360) 329-4331 or send us a message to learn more.