What Happens If You Don’t Get A Final Inspection

Thinking about skipping that final inspection on your recent home project?

You’re not alone. Maybe you’re tired of the whole process, eager to enjoy your renovated space, or just looking to save some time and money. I get it.

But before you decide to skip this last step, you need to know what you’re potentially getting into.

In this post, I’ll give you a quick rundown of what happens if you don’t get a final inspection.

#1 Open Permit Status

First up, we’ve got the issue of an open permit. 

If you don’t get that final inspection, your building permit stays open. This might not sound like a big deal at first, but it can cause real problems down the line.

Most local governments need all old permits to be closed before they issue new ones. 

So, if you want to do more renovations or improvements, you will have to deal with the final inspection from your last project first.

Also Read: Will a federal pacific panel pass inspection?

#2 Legal And Financial Penalties

Skipping a final inspection isn’t just about paperwork – it can hit you in the wallet too. 

Depending on where you live, you could be looking at some serious fines and penalties.

For big companies, these fines can go up to $500,000 for a first offense. Even for regular homeowners, while it might not be that high, it’s still enough to cause some real financial stress.

And here’s the thing – these fines often increase over time. 

So the longer you wait to address the issue, the more expensive it becomes.

#3 Insurance Issues

We all know how important home insurance is. It’s your safety net if something goes wrong. But did you know that skipping your final inspection could put that safety net at risk too?

Insurance companies aren’t fans of work that hasn’t been properly inspected. 

If they find out you’ve had work done without the necessary final inspections, they might refuse to cover you or deny claims related to the uninspected work.

Even if they don’t completely drop you, they might increase your premiums or add a bunch of exclusions to your policy.

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#4 Harder To Sell The Property

Planning to sell your place someday? Well, not having that final inspection could really complicate things. 

Potential buyers tend to get nervous about properties with open permits or missing inspections. It’s like a red flag that makes them wonder what other issues might be lurking. 

Plus, banks won’t even consider giving out mortgages for places without proper inspections. 

This could mean you end up with fewer potential buyers, or worse, you might have to lower your asking price significantly. 

It’s definitely not ideal when you’re trying to move on and sell your property.

#5 Potential For Cease Occupancy Orders

This one is pretty serious. 

In some cases, skipping that final inspection could actually result in you being told you can’t live in your own home. 

Authorities might issue what’s called a cease occupancy order, especially if they think the work done is unsafe or violates important regulations. 

Suddenly, you’re in a situation where you need to find another place to stay and rush to fix everything.

#6 Future Compliance Costs

Even if you manage to avoid all the immediate problems we’ve talked about, skipping that final inspection could still lead to extra costs in the future. 

Also Check Out Our Richmond inspections services

Maybe you decide to get that inspection done later on – perhaps because you’re trying to sell, or maybe the local authorities finally catch up with you. 

Either way, you’re looking at additional expenses. 

You might need to pay for new permits, or worse, you could be responsible for bringing everything up to the latest building codes. 

And those small issues that would’ve been easy to fix right after the work was done? 

Well, they might have turned into much bigger, more expensive problems by now. 

Wrapping Up

So there you have it – six pretty good reasons why skipping that final inspection is a bad idea. 

Sure, it might seem like a hassle now, but trust me, it’s nothing compared to the headaches you could face down the road. Do yourself a favor and get that inspection done. 

Your future self (and your wallet) will thank you for it.

FAQs

What Happens If You Move In Before Final Inspection?

If you move in before a final inspection, you may be violating local regulations. This might mean fines or even having to move out again. Plus, your insurance might not cover you if anything goes wrong.

Contractor Failed Inspection, Who Pays?

The contractor is responsible for paying for any work that fails inspection. This includes the cost of corrections and re-inspection fees. However, this should be clearly outlined in your contract.

But heads up – if the failure is because of changes you asked for that weren’t up to code, you might be the one reaching for your wallet.

What Is Required For A Final Building Inspection?

What you need for a final inspection can vary depending on where you live, but generally, it boils down to these main points:

• All the construction work needs to be finished
• Everything has to meet building codes
• You need to have all the required safety features installed
• Electrical and plumbing work needs to be checked and approved by qualified pros.