HAS YOUR HOUSE BEEN RED-TAGGED BY THE BUILDING DEPARTMENT BECAUSE OF UNPERMITTED REMODEL WORK?
When Building Departments become aware that work has been done on a house, for instance a kitchen remodel or an added bath that has been done without a building permit, they will often issue a red-tag or code violation notice. This document will stay with the property records until the work has been legalized.
Often this doesn’t become a big issue until the property is put up for sale. But if the title search reveals a building or planning code violation, most banks will decline financing, and this becomes a hindrance to an easy sale.
David Hirzel can help.
If the work was properly designed with a knowledge of building and planning codes, and competently constructed, a drawing that shows what was done (and that it does indeed conform to the local codes) may be the only thing needed. After all, the purpose of these codes is to ensure the health and safety of the occupants of the house, and the surrounding community. This is a good thing.
If the design and construction was less than entirely professional, some aspects of the construction may need to be redone, again to ensure health and safety. If there are no significant structural issues or planning violations, the remodel may possibly be brought up to code with a minimal amount of work and expense. Depending on the nature of the violation and the extent of the work done, even larger additions and alterations may be brought into conformance. The rules that govern what may or may not be done are complex. David Hirzel has been a residential building designer working with local jurisdiction throughout the greater Bay Area since 1988. We can go to work for you today, to help resolve red-tag and code violations on your property.
THE SITUATION
When title research reveals that unpermitted remodeling work has been done on a property, building department “red tag” and code enforcement issues are a liability. They must be rectified before the property can get financing.
When building departments see code violations, their primary goal is to legalize the work that has already been done. Often this only requires a set of as-built drawings showing the work, with notes referencing current code requirements.Once drawings have been reviewed and approved, a building permit is issued, and the red-tag is removed. The property is now clear and ready for sale. Some planning and building issues cannot be met so simply, but through proper negotiation, many of them can.
A SOLUTION
David Hirzel Building Design can remedy most of these situations quickly. I have provided as-built drawings and red-tag remediation in Santa Cruz, Santa Clara, and San Mateo Counties since 1988.
If the work to be legalized does not conform to current building code standards, I can design solutions to rebuild the problem areas. These plans then become the basis for contractor bids to perform the required work.
For example, the owner of a property in one Northern California town nearly doubled the size of a house without a design or building permit for a three-story addition. The hurdles to legalizing this construction were significant, but they were met by David Hirzel.
If the house you want to buy or sell has code violation issues, you need an experienced building design professional who will start work on your project immediately. The time is yours to save. Call today.
