Are you getting estimates for a new roof, vinyl siding or furnace? The first question you need to ask the contractor is, will you be pulling a permit from the town hall? Is that cost included in your estimate, and will you include with your completed bill to me for payment, a copy of the closing of that permit from the town, upon completion of the job?
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It is really not complicated, but many companies neglect this part of the job because it is an expense and it is time consuming. There are permits needed for air conditioning unit installations and gas fireplace inserts, new gas installed stoves and ovens and the list goes on.
Many people think that the permits are only required for structural jobs, such as new decks and porch stairs, for example. According to today’s codes, the homeowner is better protected than ever. The permits have a minimal cost, could be around $ 100.00 but the Building Department in town makes an appointment to review the job, therefore preventing any safety issues down the line.
Realtors are facing these dilemmas when marketing a property. First the home inspector advises the buyer to search for permits for work done: it could be a new bathroom in the basement for an example. If the inspector does not pose the question, next the bank appraiser reviews the home and adds it to their list of contingencies for closing. Many times the contractor “pulled a permit”, as they say, but never completed the process by “closing the permit”, which entailed a review of the job. Perhaps the vendor is no longer in business, the job having been done ten years ago. At this point the homeowner opens a permit himself, and gets a licensed contractor to review the job, stand behind his evaluation and closes the permit under the supervision, again, of the town building inspector.
Closing attorneys are also reviewing their Municipal title searches which show opened building permits as well. Either way, in today’s process of purchasing a property the loans and titles are intensely scrutinized to the highest standards. Again, all of this is to protect the homeowners and prevent any safety issues in the future.