Trying to sell a home with code violations? The thought may sound daunting, but in reality, there are many options you and your real estate agent can choose from in order to sell your home profitably and quickly.
While some think code violations may halt all their selling endeavors, the market is extremely favorable for sellers at the moment, so there’s no reason you shouldn’t be able to sell both with minimal stress — despite any challenges that may arise during the sale.
What Are Home Code Violations?
Home codes are standards to ensure individuals and surrounding neighbors are safe and healthy within their homes. Failing to meet home codes results in violations, which puts your life at risk and could require you to fix the violations before you can live in or sell your home.
New homes are less likely to violate home codes. Local inspectors often work with new home builders to ensure the house is up to code and safe for buyers. The code violations usually appear after someone has moved in and lived there for some time. Changes or additions to the home can also result in a home code violation.
You don’t need to panic if you get your home inspected and it reveals a home code violation. While the news may seem worrisome, it’s possible to fix these problems and even sell your home with home code violations.
Common Home Inspection Code Violations
Many individuals will experience home code violations if they own a home, especially if they do DIY repairs or upgrades without the proper knowledge or tools to handle the job. Below is a standard housing code violations list to help you identify areas you may need to look at if you’re considering professional repairs or renovations:
- Incorrectly placed smoke alarms
- Exhaust fans venting to an inappropriate location, such as the attic
- Poorly installed old piping from the late ‘70s to mid-’90s using polybutylene
- Additions to the home without a permit
- Addition of large new appliances without a permit, such as a water heater
- Inadequate protection on circuits and outlets
- Improper deck connection to the home
- Failing to follow fence height requirements
Homeowners can experience code violations for other reasons, but the above are the most common reasons people receive a violation after an inspection. Some of these violations are simple to repair at a low cost. However, other code violations can be more extensive and require expensive repairs or replacements.
Does a Homeowner Need to Fix Code Violations to Sell Their Home?
It’s unnecessary to fix code violations before you sell. However, doing so will make selling on the market and receiving the total market price for your home easier. Fixing code violations isn’t always easy, though.
Some code violations are extensive and require significant funds to repair. If you were in the process of selling your home and the inspection revealed more violations than expected, you could be looking at a hefty bill just to bring your home up to code.
One of the reasons you may choose to bring your home up to code is so you can sell your home at market price. However, if you have significant issues with your home, you could end up paying more for the repairs than your home is worth, meaning you’ll lose money on the sale.
Determining whether fixing code violations is worth it will depend on the value of your home, the extent of the violations and your financial ability to repair any issues. You may also want to consider how challenging it may be to sell your home on the market with certain code violations.
Do Sellers Need to Tell Buyers About Code Violations?
Sellers must reveal any code violations to their potential buyers as required by law. If you don’t reveal these violations, you could be responsible for the financial loss the buyer may experience after purchasing the home.
Some people are willing to buy homes with code violations, but it can be challenging to find individuals willing to take on the burden of the repairs. While homeowners would need to disclose code violations to buyers, selling a home that needs different repairs is still possible.
Options for Selling a House With Code Violations
If you own a home with multiple code violations and are looking to sell it, you have a few options:
Bring Your Home Up to Code
One of your options is to put in the time and money to fix your violations. This option might be right for you if you only have a few code violations.
However, if bringing your home up to code requires expensive repairs and upgrades, such as replacing the plumbing, this may not be an ideal option if you can’t reasonably afford it. Costly home repairs also may not be worth it if you’ll pay more to bring your home up to code than you would receive when selling.
Offer a Credit or Lower the Price
Buying a home with building code violations is possible. However, as the seller, this may include offering your buyers a credit or simply lowering your price to accommodate the issue.
If a buyer has already fallen in love with your home by the time either of you finds out about the code violations, they might be willing to move forward with the sale anyway — so long as they receive a credit at closing or a price reduction.
Sell As-Is
If your biggest priority for selling your home is commanding the best possible price point, the best option for you may be listing your home on the open market with help from your trusted real estate agent.
Since not every seller has the cash reserves or timeline to remedy expensive code violations prior to sale, selling your home as-is to an internet buyer — whether to an investor, house flipper or startup company — may be your best option.
We Buy Homes With Code Violations — Get an Offer Today
HomeGo is a professional home buying company that will purchase your home as-is, regardless of the condition.
If your inspection has revealed that your home has multiple code violations, you don’t have to worry about trying to repair or upgrade the house to sell. We’ll handle all the repairs and renovations once you close the deal, taking the burden off your shoulders.
Our walkthrough to assess your property takes only about 30 minutes. Once we finish, we can give you an offer on the same day, and your can rest assured that our offer is honest and accurate from the start. If you accept the offer, we can help you close the deal in just seven days, allowing you to move as soon as you want.
Schedule a walkthrough or contact us today to learn more about how we can help.
