Hey everyone! My wife and I bought a house from a previous owner who started finishing the basement but never got a permit for it. He had done some framing, Sheetrock, and electrical work, but didn't put in a floor before selling the house. I ended up finishing the floor myself, and so far, everything seems fine. However, I just learned that I'll need to replace my AC and furnace, which means the town will send someone to inspect the furnace in the basement. I'm concerned about what might happen if they notice the unfinished work. Will they look into the house's renovation history? If they bring it up, what are my options? Any insights would be greatly appreciated!
3 Answers
There's a really low chance they’ll be looking deeply into the basement's past during the HVAC inspection. Inspectors often just focus more on safety and functionality than past renovations unless it's really obvious. I’d recommend just keeping the basement's state to yourself unless asked directly. The chances are slim!
Honestly, since the basement was in that state when you bought the house, there's really not much they can do about it now. If any inspectors were to check, they usually don't dig too deep into the history unless something seems off. Plus, if your inspection report noted the unfinished state, you’re in a solid position to say you bought it like that. Just be upfront and keep the communication smooth with the inspectors!
Exactly! I doubt they'll even care to check the whole history, especially if everything works fine now. Just be honest about it if it comes up.
It’s best to focus on the current condition of the home rather than what wasn't permitted by the previous owner. Just make sure everything on your end is up to code with the new HVAC installation. If something does come up, just explain it was that way when you bought the house. It’s unlikely they’ll press for a full history unless there’s a clear problem with what you’ve done.
Thanks for the reassurance! That makes me feel a lot better about it.