Checking for open permits is an important step whether you are buying or selling. It helps buyers, sellers, inspectors, real estate attorneys and agents avoid problems later, including trouble getting a certificate of occupancy.
What open permits can cause
- Delays: many lenders will not finance a home with open permits, and some buyers walk away from unresolved issues.
- Fines and penalties: permits that were never closed out can lead to fines from the town, which can build up over time and pass to the new owner.
- Hidden unpermitted work: an open permit can point to work that was never inspected, which may be unsafe or not up to code.
How to check
You can request the records yourself, free of charge, through New Jersey's Open Public Records Act (OPRA). There is also an outside service that will do the legwork for you for a fee of about $50. If you are interested, mention it to Grant as early as possible: there are time limits whoever does the search.
