Does My Remodel Require a Permit?

Many homeowners choose to do home improvement projects themselves, depending on the work involved and their individual skills. Before picking up that hammer or measuring that window, be sure to ask yourself, “Does this project require a permit?”

A building permit is intended to ensure that construction is performed according to building codes, which help ensure structures will be built right, will be safe, and will last. Property insurers may not cover work done without permits and inspections. And, if you decide to sell a home that has had modifications without a permit, you may be required to tear down the addition, leave it unoccupied, or make costly repairs.

Permits and inspections are required for construction or remodeling work that may impact the health and safety of a building’s occupants. Work that involves an alteration to a building’s electrical, plumbing or mechanical system, or remodeling work that may change the structural integrity of a room or building generally requires a related permit. Examples of home improvement projects requiring permits include:

• Room Additions (bedrooms, bathrooms, family rooms, garage conversions, etc.)
• Residential work (decks, garages, fences, block walls, fireplaces, pools, water heaters, etc.)
• Renovations (kitchen expansions, re-roofing, etc.)
• Electrical systems
• Plumbing systems
• HVAC (heating, ventilating, and air conditioning systems)

Home improvement projects that are maintenance or cosmetic in nature generally do not require permits, such as:

• Painting & wallpapering
• Replacing existing doors & windows
• Clearing stoppages or repairing leaks without altering existing plumbing
• Replacing lighting or plumbing fixtures
• Replacing floor covering, cabinets, molding
• Replacing standard kitchen appliances (but water heaters and water softeners do require a permit)

To obtain a permit, you must own and occupy the home where you plan to do the work. Work on a home that’s being sold, leased or rented must be done by a licensed contractor. A homeowner also may obtain the permit and hire a licensed contractor to do the construction work or installation, but remember, it is the responsibility of the person obtaining the permit to ensure the work meets code.

To learn more about when permits are required and how to get them, contact Clark County Development Services at (702) 455-3000 or http://dsnet.co.clark.nv.us/dsweb.

Do i need a home inspector or an engineer?

Deciding whether or not to hire a professional home inspector or engineer or conduct a careful examination yourself is an essential step before purchasing a house.

It is typically highly recommended that a homebuyer employ the services of a home inspector or engineer before purchasing a home. The option to have a home inspection conducted is usually written into the offer to buy the house, and the sale of the house is contingent on a suitable inspection. This means that the buyer can get out of the contract at no cost if a home inspection reveals anything disagreeable.

In deciding whether or not to employ a home inspector or engineer, several factors should be considered. First, consider the house you have contracted to purchase. If the house is new, the need for inspection by a professional is greatly decreased. Home inspectors and engineers can often detect faulty construction work, but are probably more useful in finding defects caused by age and wear and tear. If you are buying a new house directly from the builder, the builder typically warrants the construction of the house for a certain period of time. The house has not been lived in, and the materials are new. Therefore, the professional home inspector or engineer will be used more to detect problems that might arise in the future, rather than to note problems that are already in existence. The speculative nature of the inspection of a new home makes a professional home inspection less necessary than when purchasing an older home.

If you are purchasing a home that is not considered new construction, it will probably be beneficial to hire a home inspector or engineer. The inspection of an older home will typically reveal any current defects in the home that you may not notice by simply walking through the house with a real estate agent. Termite damage, water drainage problems, foundation defects, and roof problems are simply a few of the areas that a good home inspector will evaluate. While these issues are not readily discoverable in new homes, older homes often give several clues concerning such problems that a quality home inspector or engineer will likely be able to assess.

Another factor to consider in deciding whether or not to hire a home inspector or engineer prior to the purchase of a home is your own experience in home maintenance and repair. If you have previously owned a home, you may be able to walk through a house and perform your own home inspection. You may recognize problems with the house, or the lack thereof, from you own education and experience. If you feel that you are able to conduct an inspection of the house that makes you feel comfortable with the purchase, it will not be necessary to hire a home inspector.

Another factor to consider is that of impulse. If you have reached the stage in the home buying process that you are considering hiring a home inspector or engineer, it is likely that you have found a house that you like. You have been to the house and believe that it will be acceptable. While this is a feeling that is desired before you purchase a home, it may negatively influence your personal ability to conduct a quality home inspection. Typically, when you like something, you tend to accentuate its positive attributes while minimizing the problems. The professional home inspector or engineer will give a trained, third party evaluation of the home you are considering for purchase. Emotion should not play a role in inspection and evaluation of the defects in the home. This might be the most important reason to have an independent home inspector or engineer evaluate a home before making your purchase.

The final consideration in deciding to hire a home inspector or engineer prior to purchasing the home is the purpose for which you are buying the property. If you have selected a home that you intend to be a reliable and dependable home for yourself and your family, you will likely want to consult a professional concerning the quality of the home. If you are purchasing a second home or purchasing a home to fix up for investment purposes, you may feel less need to hire a professional home inspector. You might even enter into the purchase knowing that the home has many problems that you intend to fix.

In deciding whether to hire a home inspector or an engineer, your own personal comfort level is a key consideration. The requirements to become a certified home inspector vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction. The training required to attain certification can often be completed in less than one month. Some inspectors may have never built a house, while others may have very little experience in conducting inspections. However, many home inspectors are retired construction workers or contractors, and do provide quality services to their clients. Should you decide to have an inspection conducted by a home inspector, you may wish to consult your friends or colleagues for a referral to a reputable home inspector.

Engineers generally have more formal education than home inspectors and may be able to determine more structural defects in a house than a home inspector. Structural engineers may not be as helpful in locating plumbing or electrical problems as home inspectors, however. Again, if you decide to conduct a professional home inspection with an engineer, it may be beneficial to seek a referral from someone you know and trust.