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Need to find a permit for the home you're buying? Or to see if any exist?

By
Real Estate Agent with Team Reba of RE/MAX Metro Eastside www.TeamReba.com

Excellent Q&A about home issues in this attached article link called Beauty of the As Built Permit, including how to find out about permits on a home with additions, etc. So timely since a client just emailed me this morning about just such a topic... We'd closed on their sale last week and they had the sellers direct contact info, but she still emailed me to ask the question. I forwarded her request, plus let her know that the local City of Seattle Dept of Planning & Development has a website that lists permits back to 1983 where she could look OR she could perhaps call the seller directly since they had each other's info.

It was funny that she thought they still had to keep the indirect contact after closing.... :)

It's good though that she is looking for these kinds of details because one of the items that is covered by title insurance (if you get the right policy) is non-permitted work.  It's always good to have whatever you can get on a property when purchasing so that when you resell later you have the documents for the next purchaser.

David Grbich
Realty One Group - www.FindCARealEstate.com - San Juan Capistrano, CA
Orange County Real Estate - 949-500-0484

Great info and important to check permits if it looks like new work has been done. Wish the areas I serve had an online permit check - makes sense. Thanks

Apr 05, 2012 02:11 AM
Reba Haas
Team Reba of RE/MAX Metro Eastside www.TeamReba.com - Bellevue, WA
Team Reba, CDPE

Hi David, there may be an opportunity to send comments to your local municipality that if they do any technology upgrades that perhaps they work this into their plans. Many cities are finding that having these things online makes for easier workflow in their departments and for easier communication with builders and home owners too.

Apr 19, 2012 02:41 AM