| Regardless if you are an experienced do-it-yourselfer, | | | | spending more money in the end on the home |
| the days of just picking up your hammer and starting | | | | addition or home remodeling project by not pulling |
| a home addition or home remodeling project are long | | | | the permits during the pre-construction phase of it. |
| over. It is critical that you first make your municipality | | | | The other advantage in pulling the appropriate |
| aware of your home building intentions. | | | | permits on a new home addition or home remodeling |
| Municipalities are increasingly cracking down on the | | | | project is that you enable your project to be |
| weekend DIY construction homeowner to protect | | | | regularly checked during the construction by the local |
| themselves against possible future lawsuits, and to | | | | building inspector. As a result, you can feel more |
| maximize their property tax revenue. If you don't | | | | comfortable knowing that the home addition or home |
| contact them, be assured someone else in your | | | | remodeling project not only meets the national and |
| neighborhood will, so before you have legal problems | | | | local building codes, but is also safe and your financial |
| and fines to contend with, it is best to contact them | | | | investment is protected. |
| first. | | | | The costs of building permits are quite minor, relative |
| Also note that besides legal issues and fines | | | | to the total cost of a home addition or home |
| associated with not pulling permits, municipalities also | | | | remodeling project, and consequently there should be |
| can require the destruction of the home addition. | | | | no excuse not to pull them. Yes the permit process |
| There are federal, state and local building codes that | | | | may force you to use licensed contractors that you |
| municipalities require in home construction. These | | | | had previously no intention in hiring, but again this |
| codes are in place to protect the occupants of the | | | | cost delta is peanuts compared to a cease and |
| home, and others living near or around the home | | | | desist, or deconstruct order from the town or city. |
| from fire, collapsed framing construction, electrical | | | | Not pulling permits on a home addition project is |
| shock and many other dangers that can occur when | | | | fraught with danger and liabilities, and the liabilities can |
| a home or home addition is not constructed properly. | | | | last the life of the home addition. Consequently, if |
| These codes also serve to protect the investment in | | | | you are planning to build a home addition, always go |
| your home. Most of today's homebuyers request a | | | | to your local municipal building inspector first and |
| home inspection as part of the purchase and sales | | | | determine what permits you will need. In some cases |
| agreement. If a home inspection determines your | | | | you may be able to pull the permits yourself, and in |
| home addition does not meet home construction | | | | other cases a licensed contractor will need to pull |
| codes then chances are the buyers will renege on | | | | them for you. |
| their offer, and rightfully so. To ultimately sell your | | | | For more help on building a second floor addition or |
| home you will probably need to bring your home | | | | room addition, see HomeAdditionPlus.com's Room |
| addition or home remodeling project up to legal | | | | Addition Bid Sheet. |
| building codes. As a result, you will wind up ultimately | | | | |