Crob,

...most likely YES. If you framed, added or changed electrical wiring, plumbing, even added a window (s) etc, most likely you needed permits from your town.

Many towns have websites which have a list of what you need to get a permit for. Usually under their building department or planning department headings. If you cannot find it, just call the township and ask where on the website it is. No one has to know right from the start that your already did the work.

Most home inspectors put in their reports for the buyers to check to see if there were permits issued for ANY remodeling, additions (including new water heaters, furnaces etc), and most attorneys put that in their attorney review letter as well.

Better to get them retroactively, than have problems with a buyer once the house is listed. It will cost you a few dollars now (but sometimes, unfortunately, they make you open walls to see the work done which can get more expensive).

However, after the fact, if you have to give the buyer a "credit at closing" for them to obtain the permits themselves, it often turns out the "credit" is way above what it would have actually cost you to get the permits yourself. There's no guarantee of cost, but it's not worth the headaches when you are trying to sell and close your house in a timey manner.

Hope that helps.

Unless your idea of finishing was merely painting most likely you should have gotten permits. Dont wait for offers and if your house isnt yet listed deal with this first. As mentioned earlier municipality may require you to remove or change basement so best if potential buyers dont come on scene until what they see is what they will get. Go to municipality and plead ignorance and eagerness to do what is right and perhaps they will make your life easier than they could if some one else turns you in.

Yes is the quick answer to sale, not list. At the very least, you need to disclose this on the seller disclosure. If you don't do so, you can be liable for damages should there be a fire, etc., Most buyer attorneys will ask whether or not you have permits for the basement. I usually check for my buyer clients in towns where a c of o is not required.

Better to just get it done rather than prolong the under contract time or turn off a buyer. If you did it yourself, inspectors can pick up things as well, such as no louvre doors nor vent on furnace room, type of piping, etc. I've had to deal with this many times on both ends. The easiest solution was to get it done. It takes time to get the permits and all, and the towns seem to be gentler when approached in a non-rush fashion. If you did electrical work / plumbing, the towns may use the vendor's schematic. Here's another item -- let's say you added something that you just can't add -- if you are under contract and the buyer wants that item and the town makes you remove it, you are going to pay on both ends -- removing it, and then the buyer wanting a credit for not getting what they wanted.

It just doesn't make sense in this day of disclosure and finicky buyers to have this road block hanging over your head, and there is no upside.

It's always nicer to say that the improvement is getting permits, and, if your town, like mine, has buyers married to the assessed value, you can brag that your assessment does not yet have the basement in it. I know there will be those who will jump in and say having a higher assessment / tax base is a negative, but in Basking Ridge, and that's why I say SOME towns, it has become the ultimate bench mark as the town brags that they are at 98% of true value.

Best of luck.

If you have an agent listing the property, make sure you disclose this to him/her and also fully and completely disclose this information to any potential purchaser. Most cities require permits but few owners ever obtain them for interior remodels where square footage is not added. If you were to ask me what I would do, I would simply disclose the information and make sure my sales contract included an "AS-IS, WHERE IS" provision.

Hi there - many attorneys include in their standard attorney review letter language that asks for confirmaton that permit were secured for all work done that requires them. So even if it is overlooked by buyers during their search it will likely come up during attorney review, and then it could cause you delays or possibly the loss of the buyer's interest. So my suggestion is that you contact the town to understand what you need to do and get on with it.

I'm dealing with this very thing right now. Best to get a head of the curve and resolve - it very likely will cause issues if you do not.

Best,
Jeannie Feenick
"Unwavering Commitment to Service"
Search the MLS at http://www.feenick.com

Speak with listing agent determine what is your best interest.

Is this a DYI project?

City could have you remove all, or fines for not having work permitted.

I would also contact city.

Lender may not allow buyer purchase home till these issues are resolved via city permits

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