Homeowner Projects and Building Permits

Homes with extensive additions, remodels and upgrades often stand out from their peers as potential good buys, but they also pose a potential risk to the home buyer. A finished basement may look great, but if the homeowner or handyman built the walls like they do in most other areas of the country, the expansive soils we have in this area could cause extensive damage to the home. If they did the wiring improperly, you could be electrocuted or the house could burn. A good inspector should be able to identify most hazards that the remodeling owner has built into the home, but it is also a good idea to check with the local building department to see if the owner obtained building permits for any work that’s been done. The inspections performed by the building department during construction provide some assurance that the work was done properly.