So you are thinking about finishing that basement and actually using some of that exercise equipment that is doubling as a laundry line right now. Maybe you want to have a billiard room instead of a Christmas ornament depot. Maybe it isn’t the basement your thinking of finishing maybe it is that garage carport thing you want to turn into another bedroom. Hey it’s only storing a motorcycle you haven’t ridden in three years anyway. Whatever the reason you are thinking about finishing an unfinished area of your house the question always becomes do I need a building permit for that? Usually the answer that question is usually yes with a capital Y. Let me see if I can explain.
As a home inspector in Charlotte NC for over 15 year I have seen my share of unpermitted additions and rooms being finished. The dead giveaway that it wasn’t permitted is that the space has been added but the HVAC is still the same size as before. Sadly I have seen people try to get these permitted later only to find the code inspector had them strip of the drywall so he could see the plumbing and the electrical wiring. This is sad position to be in.
You might say well why even bother with a permit. First of all if there is a leak or fire insurance might well deny your claim if there is an unpermitted addition. Also you might have trouble selling your house with an unpermitted addition. It is the law. It is also possible that the county could file a lien on you for back property taxes for under reporting square footage. So when is a permit needed.
1. Any work on your house over $5000
2. The addition, replacement or repair of load bearing members or structures.
3. The extension, alteration, or installation of any plumbing system.
4. The alteration, extension, or installation of any heating or cooling system.
5. The use of material not included in the code
6. The addition of roofing, excluding replacement of like grade of fire resistant roofing.
No you may get a contractor who tells you don’t need a permit. He may say you will only wind up paying higher property taxes. The reality is that he might not even be licensed, bonded, or insured. He doesn’t want somebody checking up on him and he maybe planning to take some shortcuts. If you have a contractor spewing some garbage like that, don’t walk, run away from him. Remember that you as the property owner will be ultimately responsible for these repairs and the contractor will have been paid and long gone.
So go ahead get that solo flex dusted off and finish that basement or garage but remember to get a permit. If you use a contractor make sure he is licensed, ensured and bonded. Make sure he pulls and closes all necessary permits. Many property permits can be checked online these days. If you have any permit or home inspection questions please visit our website at Charlotte NC Home Inspector and Ask the Charlotte Inspector.

In this video Charlotte home inspector Preston Sandlin shows you what home inspectors look for when they inspect the HVAC on your home. If your differential is too low it could mean that you are low on Freon or your system is undersized. You could have too much of a differential in which your filter could be dirty or your fan speed could be set on the wrong speed. If you are thinking of buying a house in Charlotte NC, Gastonaia NC, Hunterville NC, Waxhaw or Weddington please keep the folk at Home inspection Carolina in mind.

Preston Sandlin
(704) 542-6575
Home Inspection Carolina

Recenty Morgan Fogarty of Fox News Charlotte interviewed Charlotte Home Inspector Preston Sandlin about an alrming trend. Some Charlotte Buyers are opting out of the cost for the inspection to save a little money. According to NACHI The National Association of Certified Home Inspectors, the average repair cost for a home being bought is a little over $1600. The average inspection cost is $350-$400. Its a no brainer to get a home inspection. Charlotte home inspector Preston Sandlin says he had a house with $60,000 worth of damage. Morgan Fogarty says the only time you may not want to get an inspection is if your are buying a house from your parents. For more information about home inspection visit Preston’s site home inspection carolina.

Charlotte home inspector Preston Sandlin recently appeared on J. Rosso’s TV show Financial Self-Defense. Also on that show was Jamie McGillis. The purpose of the show was to provide people with some information on how to protect their biggest financial investment, their house. Jamie talked about staging a house to put it on the market. Preston Sandlin talked about the advantages of free inspections. These advantages include finding out the problems in a house before you put it on the market. This would be seller can price out the work getting the best contractor for the best available price. It all of the major things are repaired before the buyer comes into the picture. This helps the seller in two ways. First it takes away the spook factor that might scare the buyer off completely. It also takes away the ability of the buyer to try to get the seller down on the price. A pre-inspected home has a higher perceived value at one that’s not. A Preinspection inspection report can be used as a marketing tool to help sell the house.

The home inspector talked about several other issues as well including radon and asbestos. Radon is a gas that you can not see Smail or touch it comes from the earth and the breakdown of radioactive material. There is asbestos everywhere. It is much more prevalent in mountain areas and the Northwest United States. There have been some pockets of high radon levels found in around the Charlotte area. Home inspection Carolina recommends that you get your house tested for radon. Asbestos was a product that was used up until the 1950s. Asbestos literally means inextinguishable in Greek. The Greeks thought of asbestos is the miracle fiber because it would not burn. Asbestos will not burn and it has a high “R” value. The problem with asbestos is when it becomes airborne or friable. When humans breathe in friable asbestos their body cannot metabolize it. Asbestos has been linked to many respiratory problems. Asbestos was used as siding, roofing, flooring, and insulation wrap. If your house was built in the 1950s or before there is a good chance that you have some asbestos.

Joseph Russo appears as the Host of Financial Self Defense on Channel 4 in North Carolina. Joseph Russo interviews a wide variety of guests on his show to address the challenges of the recession of 2009.

Joseph A. Russo covers topics such as Real Estate issues, Real Estate Fraud, Mortgages, Personal Loans, Credit Reports, and Credit Card management.

Other topics include Small Business Issues, Internet Business startup, Consumer Fraud, Identity Theft, Personal Loan management, Foreclosure Assistance, Foreclosure Scams, Loss Mitigation, Tenant Issues, Automobile Purchases, Automobile Loans, Student Loans, Financial Aid Loans and Reverse Mortgages.

Joseph Russo is the Executive Director of the National Council for Personal Financial Literacy and offers presentations to consumer groups, High School Students, College Students, Senior Citizen Groups and Ministries. www.WeTeachAboutMoney.org

Joseph Russo is an Author, Journalist, Public Speaker, Radio Show Commentator and Radio Show Host, Television Show Commentator and Television Show Host.

Lets face it, 2008 has been a tough year for real estate. Do you remember that old supply and demand graph from Econ 101? When demand exceeds supply price goes up until the optimal point is reached. Well sadly the reverse is true; When supply exceeds demand the price has to fall until it reaches the optimal point. Unfortunately this where 2008 has found many of us in the real estate business. With supply exceeding demand is there anything a seller can do to accelerate their chances of getting one of these few sales? Preston Sandlin of Home Inspection Carolina says there is; Preinspections. In this radio interview with Realtor Paul Jamison on WBT 1110 in Charlotte NC Preston lays out his program of preinspections and how this makes the house more marketable and saves the seller money in the process