Did anyone ever deal with people selling their homes who didn't have the right COs for their house? Just got the valuation report from our brokers and the sellers need 3-4 COs as well as a permit. They're unavailable for the rest of the day, though, and I just want some info on what this means on the buyers end. TIA!
JulesMarie27
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Re: NWR: certificate of occupancy?
I am pretty sure depending on what it is they either can a) take it down (sometimes its a patio/deck that can be removed) b) apply for the permits before selling c) drop the cost of the house since you'll have to go thru the trouble of getting permits.
If it's something like a full dormer then I think you could run into a big problem with the county and such....
We just started this process too!! So annoying!! We loved a house and they had a whole stone deck built with a pool and everything, but no permits for any of it!
teacherteacher
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Re: NWR: certificate of occupancy?
Posted by JulesMarie27
We just started this process too!! So annoying!! We loved a house and they had a whole stone deck built with a pool and everything, but no permits for any of it!
Exactly! The owners added a front enclosed porch to their home, but it's heated which means it needs a CO - OR they would have to take the whole section off! Plus a private balcony off the master, a whole 1st level deck and a few other things...arggg
Shanti12
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Re: NWR: certificate of occupancy?
Posted by teacherteacher
Posted by JulesMarie27
We just started this process too!! So annoying!! We loved a house and they had a whole stone deck built with a pool and everything, but no permits for any of it!
Exactly! The owners added a front enclosed porch to their home, but it's heated which means it needs a CO - OR they would have to take the whole section off! Plus a private balcony off the master, a whole 1st level deck and a few other things...arggg
Oh yes this can be a huge hassle. The best thing is to have them get the CO or take down everything that doesn't have one because if YOU have to get the inspector over there and get the CO yourself it will cost you $$$ and if the guy finds anything ELSE that needs one... you're screwed. The house I'm buying didn't have a CO for the deck which stinks, but we don't want to pay lots to get one and we don't want the inspector coming over either and the sellers won't get one - so they are taking it down and giving us credit for it. So it worked out better anyway. It could be less of a pain depending on the rules in your county but generally I think it's a huge hassle. They do have to resolve it at some point though to sell the house!
nyrvixen
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Re: NWR: certificate of occupancy?
When we purchased our home the owners didn't have a CO for the patio. We asked their lawyer about COs prior to closing and he said they had them all. A week before closing he tells us they don't. What happened then was they had to put a portion of their money into escrow and were given a year to get the COs or we get the money. After a year our lawyer sent us the check from escrow and told us it was up to us if we wanted to go ahead and get COs (he said if we plan on selling the house the next owners might ask for them) or do whatever we want with the money
Shanti12
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Re: NWR: certificate of occupancy?
Oh yeah I forgot about that option - you can actually take it 'as is' you just have to hope that when/if you go to sell it that way, the buyers take it as well. I think it can be expensive to get all the COs. (Not totally sure on what it would cost though).
teacherteacher
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Re: NWR: certificate of occupancy?
We're going to call later and talk to our broker...we definitely don't want to take anything 'as is' because there are too many repercussions and permits we'd have to file - Yonkers is ridic. The other annoying thing is the husband is a Yonkers fireman, and getting COs for a cop/fireman is so easy so we're kind of concerned that he didn't get any of these things done seven or eight years ago when they added all of these things.
Regardless, I still love love love this house and I hope it all works out! Thank you all for your input, I'm glad there are other people who know about this stuff because I am clueless lol
Shanti12
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Re: NWR: certificate of occupancy?
Posted by teacherteacher
We're going to call later and talk to our broker...we definitely don't want to take anything 'as is' because there are too many repercussions and permits we'd have to file - Yonkers is ridic. The other annoying thing is the husband is a Yonkers fireman, and getting COs for a cop/fireman is so easy so we're kind of concerned that he didn't get any of these things done seven or eight years ago when they added all of these things.
Regardless, I still love love love this house and I hope it all works out! Thank you all for your input, I'm glad there are other people who know about this stuff because I am clueless lol
Oh yes I'm learning all of it now haha and I'm still no expert. That should be a no brainer then if he' s a fireman! Hopefully they'll just get the COs like they should anyway. Good luck!!
