[WSBARP] discrepancy between Property Appraiser and Property

Sun Jun 3 13:53:24 PDT 2018

Nearly all residential structures, during their lifetimes, will have
unpermitted work.  Replacing a roof, adding a deck that extends a few feet
above grade at one end, installing a fireplace insert, replacing inefficient
glazing, replacing a side sewer, or replacing a water heater or furnace are
all examples of work that is done on many homes, and which requires a
permit.  And homeowners (and some contractors) don't always get a permit for
that work.

Moreover, it is not terribly uncommon to have a SFR property owner take out
a permit and never get around to having a final inspection performed.  Some
building departments send out a letter terminating the permit, and others
let the permits die a natural death by old age.

Finally, it might be a small stretch to conclude that work was unpermitted
simply because city records show something different than the tax assessor's
records.  As I understand it, the assessor takes information submitted on
permit forms at the time of permit submittal.  But things get changed during
construction and approved in the field, and those changes are not always
clearly reflected throughout the forms on file in the permit department.  At
least that's the way it was when I was managing a building department, and I
doubt it has changed a lot.

Scott G. Thomas

Thomas Law Group, P.S.

1204 Cleveland Ave.

Mount Vernon, WA  98273

 <mailto:Scott at ScottGThomasLaw.com> Scott at ScottGThomasLaw.com

From: wsbarp-bounces at lists.wsbarppt.com <wsbarp-bounces at lists.wsbarppt.com>
On Behalf Of nestor at pplsweb.com
Sent: Saturday, June 2, 2018 10:26 PM
To: 'WSBA Real Property Listserv' <wsbarp at lists.wsbarppt.com>
Subject: Re: [WSBARP] discrepancy between Property Appraiser and Property

It is "Schrodinger's cat" applied to real estate. Rhetorically speaking,
does he or does he not go to the city? 

Nestor Gorfinkel, Attorney at Law

Licensed in Washington & Florida

Florida Civil-Law (International) Notary

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From: wsbarp-bounces at lists.wsbarppt.com
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<mailto:wsbarp-bounces at lists.wsbarppt.com> > On Behalf Of Kary Krismer
Sent: Saturday, June 2, 2018 9:17 AM
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Subject: Re: [WSBARP] discrepancy between Property Appraiser and Property

 One disadvantage to that is they would then know it was unpermitted, and
then have to disclose that as a fact rather than "don't know" on Form 17.

I had an interesting experience with unpermitted work last year.  Despite
applying for permits, the prior owner apparently never had them finalized.
That was over 20 years ago, and the county showed no interest in going out
an inspecting the property, in part because they wouldn't know what code
provisions to apply!

In another case, an eastside city did come out an permit after the fact some
then current owner remodel work, and while some obvious plumbing venting
issues did require being addressed, they let slide some electrical issues,
such as number of outlets on a wall.

Getting back to the OP's question, those sorts of issues are more likely to
be issues for a seller in a more normal market.  For that second situation I
was critical of the appraiser using two short sales as comps when the sale
itself was not a short sale and that area had very few short sales--so
obviously a different market time.

Kary L. Krismer
John L. Scott/KMS Renton 
206 723-2148

On 6/1/2018 2:46 PM, scott at scottgthomaslaw.com
<mailto:scott at scottgthomaslaw.com>  wrote:

Why not walk over to the county or city permit counter, and ask to look at
the file they maintain on the parcel to see if it was permitted?

From: wsbarp-bounces at lists.wsbarppt.com
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Sent: Friday, June 1, 2018 2:27 PM
To: 'WSBA Real Property Listserv'  <mailto:wsbarp at lists.wsbarppt.com>
<wsbarp at lists.wsbarppt.com>
Subject: [WSBARP] discrepancy between Property Appraiser and Property

Happy Friday List Mates.

I have a client purchasing a property where the county websites states it's
2.5 baths and the home has 3 baths. If it was done without permits I am
aware that many municipalities would make the new owner pull permits, submit
plans, inspect and then force them to correct any deficiencies. 

Is there any other downside to the Buyer to be aware of? Is Buyer obligated
to notify the property appraiser of the discrepancy?

Thank you.

Nestor Gorfinkel, Attorney at Law

Licensed in Washington & Florida

Florida Civil-Law (International) Notary

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