We actually skipped permits on one of ours a couple years back—saved some cash upfront, but it bit us when selling. Buyers asked for documentation, and we had to scramble for inspections after-the-fact...lesson learned the hard way.
"We actually skipped permits on one of ours a couple years back—saved some cash upfront, but it bit us when selling."
Totally get why you'd think skipping permits saves money initially, but honestly, it's usually not worth the headache down the line. I've flipped quite a few houses now, and in my experience, buyers (and their agents) are getting savvier every year. Even if you manage to pass inspections after-the-fact, inspectors can be extra picky when they know permits weren't pulled originally...trust me, been there.
On the flip side though, I've seen cases where minor cosmetic updates—like swapping fixtures or retiling—didn't really need permits and never caused issues at resale. I guess it depends how extensive your remodel is. But for anything structural or involving plumbing/electrical work, I'd always recommend playing it safe and pulling permits upfront. It might feel like an unnecessary expense at first, but it'll save you from scrambling later and potentially losing buyers who get cold feet over missing paperwork.
Yeah, learned that lesson the hard way myself. A few years back, we did a bathroom remodel—nothing major, just swapped out the vanity, fixtures, and retiled the shower. Didn't bother with permits because it seemed minor enough. Fast forward to selling, and the buyer's inspector flagged it immediately.
—exactly this. Ended up costing us more in the long run to get everything sorted out. Lesson learned...permits might be annoying, but they're cheaper than headaches later."inspectors can be extra picky when they know permits weren't pulled originally"
I get the logic behind permits, but honestly, sometimes inspectors flagging minor stuff feels more like bureaucracy than genuine safety concerns. When we redid our guest bath—similar scope, vanity swap, new tile—we skipped permits too, and it never came up during our sale. Maybe it's luck of the draw or depends on your local inspectors? Not saying permits aren't important, just that the system can feel inconsistent. Seems like a gamble either way...
"Seems like a gamble either way..."
Definitely agree there. I've noticed inspectors often vary widely in what they flag—even within the same city. Makes it tough to know what's genuinely critical versus just box-checking. Glad your sale went smoothly regardless!
