Ask For Permits Upfront, or It Will Cost You $$$ One Day

Ask For Permits Upfront, or It Will Cost You One Day

Buyers’ home inspections have produced some surprises over the years, one of the most frequent being incorrect installation of HVAC systems and hot water heaters. I think much of this has come from work being done without permits. I realize everyone doesn’t agree about the use of permits, but they do provide some accountability on installation which it appears is much needed. And some of the stores I can tell …

About the owner who paid for a new HVAC system but one tiny problem happened along the way. The invoice showed the correct size coil needed, but the installer used the wrong size. The seller wasn’t happy when this was discovered. Would a
permit have prevented this? Possibly.

Or the HVAC system that was incorrectly wired and blew out the electrical panel.

Or the hot water heater where the T&P line had been cut of at the wall and the line was installed differently to empty into, instead of outside, the garage. Would a permit have prevented this? Oh, yes.

Or the hot water heaters that are installed with incompatible metals? See, I’m not a plumber – I’m just repeating what a line of licensed home inspectors and plumbers have said. There is a right way – and wrong way to do this stuff and it seems that I see more of the latter with buyer inspections.

What about a roof [in a community requiring a permit] installed without a permit? Some I have seen looked like a bunch of decals pasted side by side. I’m also not a roofer, but anyone with normal vision and a brain can see the problem with this type of installation.

The point here: Know something about the company who is installing these systems in your home. If you don’t have testimonials from prior customers, at least check them out on Better Business Bureau’s website. And ask that the work be permitted if
it is required by your city. It will probably cost a little more, but you are investing in a larger amount – the property itself. I’ve learned that you pay now, or generally you pay later, and later may end up being the more expensive route.

Becky Hopkins, Realtor®, SRES, GRI
CENTURY 21 Judge Fite Company

Serving the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex

www.50andholding.com

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