When you plan on doing major changes to your home, err on the side of caution and find out if you require a permit. Don’t skip this step because when you don’t pull a permit from the proper authorities, sometimes you don’t comply with existing codes and when time comes to sell it can create costly consequences. Frequently, homeowners attempt to save some money and make home improvements without pulling the required permits, ensuring that the work complies with current building codes. While these homeowners have saved time or money and avoided dealing with all the complicated paperwork, they don’t realize they may have made their home unsafe and sometimes uninsurable. In other occassions, during on-going renovations, homeowners discover unpermitted work done previously on the property; in either case, you are still legally responsible as the homeowner. Each city has their own codes and rules. For example, in McAllen you may first ask the City of McAllen Building Permits Department and they will direct you further.
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 to disclose unpermitted work; failure to do so could be costly. As a result, some buyers may walk away from the deal, or you may be required to have the work torn down and redone to code. You do have some options, however. Read on as we explore how to sell your house with unpermitted work in McAllen.
Get Permits After the Fact
You may be able to get the work permitted after the fact, to sell your house with unpermitted work in McAllen. The cost of the permit will 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 the inspector to come see the property. In this case you need to be ready for at least some deconstruction so that inspectors can review the job and ensure your safety and code compliance. Remember to remain calm throughout the process and know 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.
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 McAllen. If the original work is missing the guidelines, the cost of permitting and completion will necessarily increase along with the size of the project. The city would notify you of what is required to rectify the situation and a time frame for completing the changes. Unable to pass inspection, the value of your 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. If that’s the case, you may need to compare the rebuilding costs against the property’s value and determine if the work is worth the money. 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, do not delay pursuing damages against the previous owners. There are time limits on how long after the discovery that you may file suit.
Sell Directly to Dolfin RGV – 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 McAllen to Dolfin RGV. At Dolfin RGV, 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 Dolfin RGV, no hidden fees are coming off the top of your profits. The offer from Dolfin RGV is the amount you receive. Because Dolfin RGV 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 Dolfin RGV, there’s no need to worry about taking with you things you don’t need anymore or deal with the final cleaning. If you haven’t found your new home yet, Dolfin RGV has a steady inventory of the best properties available in McAllen. Ready to learn more about how Dolfin RGV can help you? At Dolfin RGV, our experienced team wil take the time to listen and we are happy to answer your questions or concerns with no obligation. Call Dolfin RGV at (956) 904 5234 or send us a message to learn more.