Vent: I used to skip checking for permits, and it cost me big time.

I thought it was no big deal until I had to tear down an addition. Now I always verify permits before closing.

3 comments

3 Comments

Yep, hard way is the only way. Man, that is brutal but so real. It's wild how many people treat permits like a silly suggestion and not the basic rulebook that keeps your house from falling down or burning up. That sticker or piece of paper is the only proof that someone who knew what they were doing even looked at the work. Skipping it is just betting your future money that every single past owner was a secret expert. Never works out.

lindawalker5d ago

Ugh, I felt that in my bones. I did the exact same thing on my first house, figured the previous owners knew what they were doing. Ended up with an unpermitted electrical panel that the inspector missed, cost me four grand to bring it up to code. That lesson sticks with you. Now I treat permits like the holy grail, won't even think about skipping that step. It's just throwing money away otherwise.

hannaho526m ago

A buddy of mine bought a place with this gorgeous deck out back, perfect for summer. Turns out the whole thing was built without a single permit. The city caught wind of it and made him rip the whole structure out because the footings were totally wrong. He lost his favorite part of the house and a huge chunk of change. That whole mess just proves the permit isn't about the city getting paid, it's about making sure things are done right the first time.