Free Tips
IMPORTANT….FOR NEW BUYERS!
Many many times when we apply for building permit on behalf of the new home owner and or current property owner, sometimes we find: open building permits, active building permits, abandoned permit applications, illegal basement apartments, additions or interior alterations done without a building permit.
If you close the deal and have not been aware of any of this (if any) you will be responsible to make any arrangement to solve the issue(s).
You will have to deal with Orders to Comply, Stop work Orders, Court Orders and such and such….
Is not the home inspector job to say if the addition was built or a load bearing wall was removed with the permit or not! He or she can guess, but that’s that!
Title insurance is not the ultimate solution! Go to the city and check your self!
Just do a search with your local Building department to find out whether there are open permits or if the property is legally as listed on the MLS listing. You could than bargain with the seller….
Always ask for a copy of the property survey! Sometimes the seller have the survey, but do not want to expose an issue with the property, so they say (we don’t have it).
We can also do the entire search for you and find out if the property is permitted as per current conditions!
We can save you and your client big headaches and money! Maybe is not the right deal for you…
We know what to look for! For more information please contact us
AVOID THE WORST!
We had a case where a young couple in 2010, with a 2 year old baby and one coming, were in a rush to buy a house so the could give a home to their second boy.
2 Years later….Ding Dong, Building inspector! Order to comply due to a rear addition which was done in 2002 with out a permit. The previous owner passed away.
So the young couple goes to Title insurance, 2 years back and forth still nothing. Now we are in 2014 and the house is also sold to another victim.
During the original owner occupancy, he have done other work with out a permit: a rear walkout, wood deck and interior alteration incorporating the porch area into the living area. In the mean time the current Homeowners, the young couple, sold the house and moving back to Brasil.
We got a building permit so they can close the file.
We had the inspector and ask to have the senior inspector on site as well to speed up the process.
The current homeowners tried to fix the issue by postponing the closing date and avoid legal action against them.
The rear walkout and wood deck was demolished and rebuilt.
An Engineer was engaged to get an engineer report for the interior alterations, plumbing, etc..
The front porch still remains an issue due to zoning by law!
The new homeowner wants to lower the deal or walk away.
Now back to title insurance and Lawyers for another claim different from the original order to comply.
SEE WHAT A MESS? AVOID THIS AND DO YOUR DUE DILIGENCE!
HAVE YOUR LAWYERS, REAL ESTATE OR YOUR SELF TO DO THIS SEARCH…
***ASK FOR A LETTER OF COMPLIANCE