Selling a house. Need some legal advice

[silver912e]

OK, I looked up the assessment on my house , and the description of the house is wrong. The garage & a bedroom, which were later additions are missing. The previous owner was a stoner, and probably never let the county know that he did the additions. I would like to get my assessment higher for a higher selling price, but what do I risk by having my house reassessed? Do you think I'll get nailed for what he did?

Thanks.

[stomachmonkey]

The buyers bank will send an appraiser so that's the number you need to worry about.

If you have the local government assess it you may be on the hook for having to pull permits for the additions. Ask me how I know.

They'll give you permits but they will punish your wallet for issuing them after the fact. Ask me how I know.

The higher assessment will also likely mean higher taxes which may make it less attractive to a buyer. Ask me how I know.

Depending on how old the work is it may not meet current code resulting in you having to go out of pocket to bring it in line. Ask me how I know.

That may result in some serious cash sitting in escrow for a year or so till you can get contractors in to do piddly **** that's not worth their time. Ask me how I know.

I don't know how house sales work in VA, in NY everyone comes to the table with a lawyer.

Me, I'd shell out $100 or so and speak to a real estate attorney that knows your local regulations.

[Rick Lee]

I'm kind of curious as to how the county finds out about work you did that isn't visible from the outside. AFAIK, only appraisers, inspectors and realtors actually step foot on and inside the property. If you made a half bath into a full bath sans permits, how is the county going to know?

My folks got clipped on the sale of their last house because they never got permits for the huge and very well-built deck they DIY'ed. I can't remember how it happened, but NJ is a very regulated state and I'm sure a surveyor or someone caught it.

[chocolatelab]

Originally Posted by Rick Lee

I'm kind of curious as to how the county finds out about work you did that isn't visible from the outside. AFAIK, only appraisers, inspectors and realtors actually step foot on and inside the property. If you made a half bath into a full bath sans permits, how is the county going to know?

My folks got clipped on the sale of their last house because they never got permits for the huge and very well-built deck they DIY'ed. I can't remember how it happened, but NJ is a very regulated state and I'm sure a surveyor or someone caught it.

Rick

In riverside county california they local code enforcement guys use satellite imagery to see if you have added additions that shouldn't be there. Then they knock on your door and the games begin.

I have a buddy in Lake elsinore get nailed this way.

[McLovin]

Originally Posted by silver912e

I would like to get my assessment higher for a higher selling price,

How the does value for tax assessment have ANY relationship to the market value or selling price of a house?

I've never heard of that.

[Rick V]

This si something fairly common in this area. My house had two additions done in 1963, on a house that was built in 1943. When I listed the house they are missing a fair amount of square footage, and other issues.
I agree with others here, don't have your assessments raised, the market in this area is still very very slow, no need to price your house out of range by upping the taxes your property has. Charlottesville's taxes are stupid enough as it is

[911_Dude]

The tax assesment has nothing to do with the market value of the house. If you bump the tax assesment, you will only screw the buyer into paying higher taxes, plus all the issues on back taxes for you mentioned above. I would just leave that alone.

[silver912e]

Thanks guys, I appreciate the help.