Real Estate Question

[Aleks]

I was looking at a house and on a tax assesment it shows no garage yet it does have a double detached unit. But when I print out a property map on the City's website it shows it there. Any idea what's going on there?

Also who's responsibility is it to get a Real Property Assesment. The seller said he wants to negotiate the cost of this. By owner selling. Is it always done by the owner or is this negotiable?

[rip]

Typically the seller is responsible for the survey. You can avoid getting a new survey done by purchasing title insurance which is much cheaper.

When I purchased my home the previous owner covered the cost of the title insurance instead of providing a new survey.

If i recall correctly the new survey was ~$800 and the title insurance was ~$100

[lastprodigy]

hmm yeah i always wonder this when i see an assesment that shows an undeveloped basement but the basement is developped or somehting.....isnt the city supposed to approve such things?

[Aleks]

The basement is not that big of a deal. Objects outside the house like garages and other larger objects you have to get permits for and inspections.

[lastprodigy]

oh i thought you needed a permit for the basement just to verigy that there are opening windows and such so that people can "legally" live there...i dunno

[w3apon]

yes you need a building permit for basement renovations.
Also electrical and possibly plumbing and gas if your doing a bathroom/bar or fireplace.

You would want the basement electrical/plumbing/gas permit done mainly for insurance reasons. If your house burns down or floods becuase of faulty wiring/gas/plumbing in the basement and there is no permit you could be SOL in getting insurance to pay.

[djayz]

yes you do need permits and inspections for basement just incase there foundation leaks or anything as well as what w3apon said above...pretty much any addition you make to a home inside or out needs a permit....even a basketball pole on the garage pad! haha

[Aleks]

What i meant is the city doesn't care if in the property assesment it says your basement is undeveloped as much as they care about garages...

[Z24_3.1]

if u have any realestate questions call my bro his name is kal his number is 6206080 hes a realtor and works for remax thanks...