Maybe you thought a building permit was not needed since the house is your homestead and you are doing the work yourself. Wrong. Whether done by the owner or a contractor there are several types of modifications to your San Antonio home that should only be done after you have submitted the required documentation, paid the 
fees, and received your building permit. In some cases, an inspection will be needed to complete the process.
If the modification to your home is done without the permits, it may affect your ability to sell your San Antonio home until the proper permits are obtained.
What types of permits may be required?
The stated purpose is safety-to make sure buildings and modifications are performed to a standard that provides for safe use and operation of buildings. Of course, someone has to pay for the permits which provide some revenue for the city or county. In addition, the increased value, if any, to the property is added to the assessed value and an appropriate increase in assessed value will be noted for the next cycle of tax assessment.
Contact San Antonio's Development Services Department (DSD) at 210-207-1111.
"Every permit issued shall become invalid unless the work authorized by such permit is commenced within 180 days after its issuance, or if the work authorized by such permit is suspended or abandoned for a period of 180 days after the time the work is commenced." San Antonio DSD website.
If not discovered, nothing bad will happen. But if found out, the lack of permits and approved inspections could cause a transaction to be delayed or not approved by a lender. Remember the lender has an appraiser visit the property to determine if the house has value that supports the loan amount. Construction or remodeled homes
that are evaluated for their plans, and execution by an independent party and are inspected by people qualified to grade the work, have a better chance of being good risks.
If a good quality remodel or repair job is not done, and the Buyer still wants the property in question, there will usually be an expectation of a reduction in price, or discount. Most Buyers will expect some form of compensation since the risk is being transferred to them. The number of potential Buyers will be reduced if the remodel or repair seems poor.
Conclusions
The thought for this post came about from some of the homes I've seen over the past year. Not a week goes by without me seeing a home improvement project that is off the mark as I take Buyers out to see homes for sale in San Antonio. Now we never get a specific answer from a lender regarding why a property did not appraise for the desired loan amount, and maybe less than stellar work in a remodel job had nothing to do with a property failing to appraise.
But, if the work is designed, and implemented according to the code in effect at the time, and on-going maintenance is performed, the remodel or up-date should not be an issue in getting a home sold.
Call me if I can help you find the best way to get your San Antonio home sold.
Texas Law requires all real estate licensees to give the following information about brokerage services: http://www.trec.state.tx.us/pdf/contracts/OP-k.pdf
©All rights reserved-February 2012, Selling Your San Antonio Home-Do You Need A Building Permit?
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