Sell a House With Unpermitted Additions
A converted garage, an enclosed carport, a basement apartment, a deck that was never inspected -- unpermitted work surfaces at exactly the wrong moment, usually during an appraisal.
A converted garage, a finished basement, an addition your father built in 1998 -- unpermitted work shows up as a square footage mismatch on the appraisal and a raised eyebrow from the buyer's lender. To us it is just work to evaluate.
What you are dealing with
Sound familiar?
- Square footage the county does not recognize
- Appraisers refusing to count the addition
- Retroactive permit processes that require opening walls
- Buyers' lenders declining the whole file
Questions sellers ask us first
- “Do I have to legalize it before selling?”
- “Will the county make me tear it out?”
- “Does it hurt the value?”
What you will need
- • Property record card, if you have it
- • Any permits that were pulled
- • Deed
How it works in Tennessee
The timeline, the law, and your options
- Step 1
Discovery
The mismatch usually appears when an appraiser compares the property record card to what is actually standing.
- Step 2
Retroactive permitting
Local building departments can permit existing work after the fact, typically requiring inspection and sometimes exploratory demolition.
- Step 3
Correction or disclosure
The work is either brought into compliance or the property sells to a buyer who will handle it.
Legal notes
- • Unpermitted work should be disclosed; concealing it creates real post-closing exposure.
- • Insurance carriers may deny claims arising from unpermitted construction.
Your options
- • Pull retroactive permits and bring the work to code
- • Remove the addition
- • Sell as-is to a contractor-buyer
How we handle it
What selling to us looks like
You do not have to permit anything before selling to us. As a licensed contractor we know what retroactive permitting takes in each jurisdiction and we take that work on ourselves after closing.
- We assess unpermitted construction the way an inspector would, because we build to code for a living.
- No requirement that you legalize, permit, or demolish anything before selling.
- If the work is sound, it stays; if it is not, our crews correct it after closing at our expense.
- We are not relying on an appraiser's square footage, so a records mismatch does not blow up the price.
Our process
Three steps, no surprises
- 1
Tell us about the house
Call or send the address. We ask about condition, timing, and what is going on -- not for photographs or a clean house.
- 2
We walk the property
We look at it ourselves as a licensed contractor and price the repairs from real numbers instead of a padded guess.
- 3
Written offer, your date
You get a written, no-obligation offer, usually within 24 hours. You pick the closing date; we can close in as little as seven days.
Cash offer vs. listing
Compare the net, not the headline price
| Selling to Unique Construct | Traditional listing | |
|---|---|---|
| Repairs | None — we buy as-is | Seller pays before listing |
| Commissions | None | Typically 5–6% |
| Closing costs | We cover the standard costs | Often seller-paid |
| Showings | One visit from us | Open houses and lockbox |
| Contingencies | No financing, appraisal, or inspection outs | All three |
| Timeline | As little as 7 days | 45–60 days after a contract |
FAQ
Questions sellers ask
- Will you report me to the county?
- No. We handle permitting in our own name after we own it.
- How much does it reduce the offer?
- It depends on what has to be opened up and inspected. Sometimes very little.
- The addition has no heat or permits at all.
- Common. Still buyable.
- Should I get a retroactive permit first?
- Almost never. It can trigger a full inspection and required upgrades that cost far more than the discount they would avoid.
- Do I still have to disclose it?
- Yes. Known unpermitted work is a material fact in Tennessee. Tell us -- it will not change our willingness to buy.
No obligation
Get a written offer
Tell us what is going on. We will be straight with you about whether selling is actually your best move.
Unpermitted Work? Get your offer
No obligation, no fees, no repairs. Tell us about the property and you get a written cash offer within 24 hours of the walkthrough.
Related
Other situations we buy in
Unpermitted additions or work by city
Unpermitted Work? Call (865) 277-6808 and we will tell you where you stand.
Call (865) 277-6808This page is general information, not legal or financial advice. Every situation is different — call us and we'll walk through yours.