In listing a home in Cary, NC, one of the key questions for us to ask new clients who want to sell their home, is…Attic Remodel

  • Did YOU add on that deck? or
  • Was that beautiful 3rd floor space always finished? or
  • Did YOUR condo always have an elevator?

As listing agents, we at LG REAL ESTATE spend a great deal of time educating our sellers on the importance of getting a permit for many “innocent” or “common” additions or modifications. The lack of a permit can break a sale! We are not allowed to market any unpermitted space in TMLS, our Multiple Listing Service. And, today’s savvy buyers want to make sure that all improvements are permitted. The need to go back and get prior work permitted is so common, that the Town of Cary has set up a rather painless process in their permitting department to handle it.

You can get the all the details online at www.townofcary.org.

Here are the everyday items that need a permit per the town’s website:

  • Converting a residence to a business.
  • Constructing a deck, screened porch, or sunroom.
  • Installing an irrigation system.
  • Installing a swimming pool.
  • Adding a ceiling fan. - Can you believe this one????
  • Finishing an attic or basement. - THIS IS THE BIGGIE FOR US!
  • Replacing a furnace or air conditioner.
  • Replacement of water heaters in the same location with the same fuel source.
  • Installing gas logs, attic fans, skylights

As you can see, some items would be easy to get a permit for. But an attic expansion could require the Town of Cary to tear holes in the sheetrock of your attic if they cannot verify the wiring was put in to code. They also require stair railings. Many do-it-yourself projects leave the stair railing out. Also, the stairs have to be a certian height. For one LG Real Estate client, we are unable to list the square footage for a 3rd floor expansion at this time because the risers were not built to code. These NC Building rules are in place to protect each of us as consumers.

If you are unsure if your project requires a permit, call Cary Inspections & Permits Dept at 919-469-4043 between 8am and 5pm weekdays.

Have you experienced any permitting challenges? We’d love to hear about them.

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