In a recent article in the Orlando Sentinel, the question was ask....Do you "flip" houses -- buy them, fix them up, and sell them quickly -- or are you building a home on speculation?
Here in Florida, the terminology 'flip houses' is often used. However, these investors sometimes forget that the Florida Building Code is the minimum standard by which all renovations and new construction must be built in the state. It is a violation not to pull a permit where one is required.
Sometimes, these investors are just interested in the bottom line - their profits. They sometimes fail to realize that they are making decisions that will affect the lives of real people. Yes, some of us have seen those shows 'Flip This House' or 'Flip That House', 'Property Ladder' etc. and many times, before our eyes seen how they cut corners. We might say that this is just for TV, no, many times these type of conduct continue over into real lives.
So, naturally for anyone to make a buck or two, they might justify their use of an unlicensed contractor or subcontractors. Or by using their Uncle Tom, etc. However, failing to pull required permits and not following the Florida Building Code, will affect the future of many families. How so you might ask.
Here is an example currently affecting Jeni and Allen Moore.
Allen is an Army veteran, and both of them work in the construction industry, so they did everything right when they purchased their first home for them and their boys. They had all the proper inspections, and extended family helped pool financial resources to get them into a Leesburg house that had just been remodeled.
Weeks after moving in last summer, the new roof failed, and the living room ceiling fell in. The couple discovered that they had unknowingly purchased four sets of Florida Building Code violations -- electrical, mechanical, plumbing and structural. In addition, they learned that the home warranty they had purchased does not cover repairs when the original work was not properly permitted.
In digging out of these violations, the Moores are having to spend money set aside for college funds, braces and health care. Even the jungle gym they wanted to give the three boys now is beyond their reach. The estimate to repair the roof alone is about $16,000.
Recently, the boys -- Austin, Jake and Logan -- asked if mom and dad were going to be all right. Allen looked to Jeni for the answer -- he didn't know what to say. After being defrauded, what do parents tell children? Like most moms, Jeni assured her family that things would be OK.
By choosing to circumvent the Florida Building Code, a house flipper gambled with the futures these families. As told by Linda Renn
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