This episode dives into one of the most overlooked landmines in a real estate transaction: the open building permit attached to your property. We start by explaining, in plain language, what is an open permit on a house and how the permit process is supposed to work—from opening the permit, completing the work, scheduling the final inspection, and officially closing the permit with the town or city. When step three and four never happen, that unfinished paperwork follows the property, not the previous owner.

You’ll hear why unresolved open permits can derail a home sale at the last minute. We walk through real-world scenarios where open construction permits trigger red flags for buyers, lenders, and title companies, causing delays, renegotiations, or even canceled deals. We’ll talk about how open permits can affect mortgage approval, title insurance coverage, homeowners insurance, and the final sale price, as savvy buyers demand credits or price reductions to cover the risk and hassle of cleaning things up.

Next, we dig into the legal and financial side: what happens when a town inspector comes back years later and holds the current owner responsible for bringing older work up to today’s building code. That can mean opening walls, redoing electrical and plumbing, or facing fines and penalties before new permits are issued. Finally, we cover the safety concerns behind open permits—why uninspected work is more than just a paperwork issue and how it can hide serious structural or fire hazards.

By the end of the episode, you’ll know how to search for open permits, why you should resolve them before listing your home or making an offer, and the right questions to ask your contractor, attorney, and real estate agent so you can move to the closing table with confidence. #sellingsouthietosagamore #jimaldred #kwmass #southshoremarealestate #sellingsouthietothecape #plymouthcountyrealestate #kwsignaturepropertiesma #HINGHAM #02043 #pinkdoorproperties #norwell #02061 #MarshfieldMA #02050 #plymouth #02360 #Scituate #02066 #kingston #02364 #pinkdoorproperties #marketreport #sellingsouthietosagamore #scituate #duxbury #pembroke #02332 #SellerTips #BuyerTips #sellertips #hull #OpenPermitExplained #WhatIsAnOpenPermitOnAHouse #RealEstateDueDiligence #HomeInspectionTipsForBuyers #SellingAHomeWithOpenPermits #ConstructionPermitProblems #ClosingDaySurprises #RealEstateLegalRisks #BuildingCodeCompliance #HomeSellingChecklist #FirstTimeHomebuyerEducation #RealEstatePodcast

Jim Aldred is a Realtor serving Boston's South Shore and can be contacted via his Links below.
https://linktr.ee/SellingSouthieToSagamore
www.KWMASS.com
Email me at [email protected]

cell: 339-987-0382