When I sell my home am required to disclose to the buyer that I didn't have permits for my addition or is it a don't ask don't tell kind of policy? Thanks

Were permits required? Why didn't you get them? The workmen were willing to work without them?

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Originally Posted by Wondergirl

Were permits required? Why didn't you get them? The workmen were willing to work without them?

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it was the previous owner who did the work without permits and he probably did the work himself.

If the previous owner had no permits, that has nothing to do with you and your selling the house, does it? You aren't to blame for his "oversight".

In my area, the Real Estate contract asks if all permits were obtained. You have the option of stating "don't know". But, the point is that there was work done. If the work was substandard, there might be a liability if something does go wrong in the future, i.e. an electrical fire or a leaky pipe that floods the house. Why wouldn't you want to have an inspection done ($200 to $400) for peace of mind and safety for you and anybody who might buy?

From what I understand, you have to at least say that you don't know if there were permits for the work. Otherwise you are concealing a material fact that could affect the buyer's purchase decision, and if it comes back that it wasn't permitted and they have to tear it down, I think that they would have grounds for suing. If you say that you don't know, then they can buy or not buy knowing what the risk is.