Renovation Info on a House

[Cal166]

Is there a way to find out from public permits/records on what kind of renovation was done on a house? For example a finished basement.

 

[rivan]

You can call your city or county government (whoever has jurisdiction) and request permit records.


Mine had great records back to the early '90s, and spotty records well into the '70s. Of course, that won't tell you anything the previous owners did without a permit, which was probably the case with my place.

 

[Fiat1]

Yes if a permit was required & pulled in the city or county. If no permit your out of luck. And may face re-inspections if one was required.

 

[Muse]

I went down to my city permit office and they let me view their microfilm on work done on my house going way back. I found out some things.

 

[DrPizza]

If you have a relatively new home in an area where everyone hires contractors & no one dares raise a finger for fear their neighbor will call the building permit police, then you should have no problem finding out what's been done in the past.

 

[Cal166]

Thanks! I looked it up online.

Here's what I am trying to do, I am trying to do an estimate on the house on zillow. This house has a finished basement that was originally built by home builders but zillow does not include that information.

The finished basement has a living room space, full bath and a bedroom. Do I just add-on the sq ft of total, 1bedroom and 1bath to my estimate?

 

[rivan]

Thanks! I looked it up online.

Here's what I am trying to do, I am trying to do an estimate on the house on zillow. This house has a finished basement that was originally built by home builders but zillow does not include that information.

The finished basement has a living room space, full bath and a bedroom. Do I just add-on the sq ft of total, 1bedroom and 1bath to my estimate?

I'm not sure what's standard, but basement square footage (even if finished) is not included on a home's SF in my area, even if it's finished. Basement bedrooms and baths are always called out as being in the basement, but are included in the bed/bath totals.

 

[Cal166]

I'm not sure what's standard, but basement square footage (even if finished) is not included on a home's SF in my area, even if it's finished. Basement bedrooms and baths are always called out as being in the basement, but are included in the bed/bath totals.

I just figured the basement not including in the total sq ft. as I am looking thru all the records.

So let's say, the total sq ft is 1450 for 3BR and 2.5Bath not including the basement. But if I go into zillow and add in the 1 additional BR and 1 additional bath that's in the basement, the value of the house goes down by 8k?

 

[rivan]

I just figured the basement not including in the total sq ft. as I am looking thru all the records.

So let's say, the total sq ft is 1450 for 3BR and 2.5Bath not including the basement. But if I go into zillow and add in the 1 additional BR and 1 additional bath that's in the basement, the value of the house goes down by 8k?

So you're taking a 1450 SF 3BR/2.5BA house in zillow and updating it to be a 1450 SF 4BR/3.5BA? Or are you inflating the SF as well, but still getting a lower value?

 

[Cal166]

So you're taking a 1450 SF 3BR/2.5BA house in zillow and updating it to be a 1450 SF 4BR/3.5BA? Or are you inflating the SF as well, but still getting a lower value?

See there lies the issue, if I inflate the SF, then the price goes up. But like you said, the basement SF does not include in the total SF of the house.

So I am just updating my estimate to 1450 SF 4BR/3.5BA which brings the value down $8k

 

[rivan]

I'd expect that's because 1450 SF chopped up into 4 bedrooms and 3.5 baths would mean each of them would be pretty small.

But I really have no idea how Zillow handles their estimates.

I'm curious why you're so concerned what Zillow says? Does it matter somehow, now?

I just looked, and lol, it's incredibly inaccurate about me and a couple of my neighbors.

 

[kgokal]

Op, I was in the similar boat but opposite side, thinking about finishing my basement.
Then i called some banks, and they (BAC, 5/3, ING) DONT include basements, finished or unfinished, in their appraisals for mortgage's. So if your buying, don't include it in the offer either. Its just icing on the cake, your gain the owners loss. WHich is why I killed the idea of doing mine.