Sometimes, a family member or unlicensed contractor may get a little fancy with the hammer or chisel and do something they shouldn’t. The next thing you know, you have a feature in your home that isn’t exactly up to code. That may be fine while you or some tolerant tenant lives there.
What about when you try to sell the place? Are there any issues that crop up when selling a house with unpermitted work?
When someone says, “I want to sell my house,” in Las Vegas, Next Step Offers answers without fail. What does our team have to say about unpermitted renovations?
What Work Qualifies as “Unpermitted”?
You need a building permit for certain renovations around your property, though not all. For instance, you don’t need a permit to put up a painting or install new blinds. However, you do need one for major changes to your building, structurally or internally, such as:
- Removing or adding walls
- Additions to the property
- Major electrical work, like adding new circuits
- Major plumbing, like adding new fixtures where there weren’t any before
- Installing new HVAC systems
- Significant roofing work
- Adding outdoor structures
- Installing new sewer lines or septic systems
- Demolishing part of or the entirety of a building
So, it would be fine to replace a light switch with a dimmer without a permit, but not to add three new light switches and plugs in a room where there weren’t any before.
How Unpermitted Work Affects Resale Value
Permits ensure that work on the property follows state and local guidelines and regulations. They keep citizens safe from construction issues, fire hazards, water filtration problems, and more.
Selling a house with unpermitted work tends to be more difficult than selling a normal one due to the lack of legal compliance. All it takes is a home inspection to find where a DIYer or a faulty contractor left mistakes behind. The property is less safe for it, and potential buyers are more likely to look for houses without the risks attached.
Because of that, the demand is low, and the price plummets. Lenders are less likely to finance it, too. A real estate agent may have a hard time making a sale.
It’s not as though you can willfully hide the truth, either. After discovering unpermitted work, you must include it in your property disclosure.
If you knowingly fail to mention unpermitted work in a disclosure statement before a sale, you could be sued by a buyer. Even an as-is sale won’t keep you safe from a lawsuit.
Sell Your House for Cash With Next Step Offers
Despite the situation, you aren’t out of solutions. Selling a house with unpermitted work has never been easier!
Next Step Offers buys houses for cash in Las Vegas and nearby areas in Nevada. We buy houses with previous hoarder issues, fire damage, foundation problems, and more. If you want to try selling your place without an inspection, reach out to us.
Get a reasonable cash offer on your property today. Visit our contact page to get started.