If you are going to swing a hammer..........

If you are going to swing a hammer...GET A PERMIT!!!

I cannot tell you the heartache that I've had in the last dozen or so
homes that I've sold where the seller, looking to expand their horizons
(well maybe that's a bit lofty...they probably just wanted some extra
living space) decided to finish a basement.
And so they did.
Exactly that.
Just finish the basement.
But, how do you know the town approves of it, and why should you care?
There is no other way to know that you have a performed work that is
legal without obtaining a permit from the town.
Of course, nothing is a problem...until there is a problem. I called
town hall regarding a basement that was finished without a permit 17
years ago.
If you have already done work to your home and are wondering, go to the
town, "pull a permit" and get a C.O. (certificate of occupancy). This
should be done whether you are planning to sell your home or not.
I had one attorney tell me that as long as you are not changing the
footprint of the house, you don't need a permit, and that is just not
true (atleast for all the towns that I cover).
Please, protect yourself and your investment and make sure that the
work you do is up to standard and up to town code by making sure you
have a permit!!!

Karin Stocknoff
The Kasey Group
Raveis Real Estate
kjillstock@aol.com
378-8200
C# 209-2468