During the home-buying process, you will receive a lot of information about the history of the house, as well as its current condition. The home inspection and disclosure statements can give you peace of mind before closing on a property.
Unfortunately, an inspector can only provide information on what they can see. The homeowner may only be able to provide you details from when they lived in the home—and only to a certain extent.
For this reason, you may want to look over the home’s building permit history as part of the home-buying process, so you can be confident in the home’s repairs and alterations.
What is a building permit history?
Building permits are official records that certify home repairs and upgrades went through an inspection process. Here are some common home improvements that may require approval and inspections:
- Additions or extensions to a building
- Finishing a basement or attic
- New sheds, garages, or swimming pools
- Replacing or changing electrical service or HVAC equipment
- Remodeling that requires changes in plumbing, heating, or electrical components
- Building or replacing a deck, porch, or patio
- Renovations that affect the structure, like load-bearing walls, windows, or doors
Reasons to look at permit history
There are several reasons to look at the permit history for a home you are considering buying. It can tell you if any work done to the home was done correctly. Also, some home improvements done without a permit will not be covered by home insurance companies. Read more reasons to look at permit history and how to find the permit history of a home in the complete article by American Lifestyle.
Are you thinking about buying a home? Curious if this is the right time to buy. Find out in the blog post, “I’m Thinking About Buying A Home”
