What do you know about CO's - cost/obtaining one?

THe buyer of the house just realized he doesn't have a CO for the deck. And he is unwilling to obtain it.

1. how much could this cost us?

2. how do you go about getting one?

3. Shouldn't the seller do this?

4. Does this increase the value and taxes on the houes?

5. How long does this take to get if you are buying?

6. Should we lower our bid price based on the fact that we would need to be responsible for obtaining now?

Thanks in advance!!

Re: What do you know about CO's - cost/obtaining one?

Why would he not want to get one? If he wants to sell the house he either has to get it, or take the deck down. No matter who he sells it to, he'll have to do this. I don't believe you can get it, bc HE owns the property.

1. how much could this cost us? Not sure

2. how do you go about getting one? He must go to the town fill out a paper, pay the fee and he'll get it.

3. Shouldn't the seller do this? YES!

4. Does this increase the value and taxes on the houes? Yes, it will increase the taxes, not necessarily the value of the house.

5. How long does this take to get if you are buying? I believe it only took a week or two when our sellers had to get it-can't remember though.

6. Should we lower our bid price based on the fact that we would need to be responsible for obtaining now? I don't see how you are responsible for getting it, but if you can, I would certainly lower my bid price, or get money back at closing for travel costs, permit costs etc.

Re: What do you know about CO's - cost/obtaining one?

He will only have to take the deck down if the bank requires the CO. Some banks will require this. Some won't really care. Some can pass the responsibility onto the new homeowner.

So he doesn't *need* to get the CO.

Re: What do you know about CO's - cost/obtaining one?

. how much could this cost us? Depends - if u get an expeditor I would say around $5k

2. how do you go about getting one? You can use an expeditor or you can do it your self. You will need to get a new survey and an inspection.

3. Shouldn't the seller do this? Absolutely, I would be surprised if you can get a mortgage without a proper CO. You should negotiate this with the seller. At the very leasy they should give you a credit.

4. Does this increase the value and taxes on the houes? your taxes will def go up, how much not sure. You can call the local assesors office they might be able to help.

5. How long does this take to get if you are buying? If you get an expeditor you will get it done pretty quickly (6 - 8 weeks).

6. Should we lower our bid price based on the fact that we would need to be responsible for obtaining now? yess

Re: What do you know about CO's - cost/obtaining one?

Re: What do you know about CO's - cost/obtaining one?

Should a seller take care of it BEFORE selling the house? Yes. But a buyer can take care of it later. Regardless who does it, it does not meet the township requirement to have it.

Without a CO, the sellers' deck is illegal. That also means that it might not meet code AND must be removed.

Will it increase the tax? Most likelly.

In my township, any deck 8" or higher is subject to a CO.

Usually you have regulation on how deep the footings must be in the ground, etc...

You would have to provide drawings, photos, dimensions. Again depends on township.

I personally would not accept a house without a CO. That $1000 (arbitruary price!) that a seller would agree to give you at closing might cost you $20K to redo a deck not confirm for the township.

I think any seller not willing to privide CO or get them is willing to lose sales on his/her house.

Re: What do you know about CO's - cost/obtaining one?

I bought my house without 2 CO's--an illegal shed and an illegal conversion of living space.

I have Chase and they never asked for permits....thank god.

Re: What do you know about CO's - cost/obtaining one?

we had to have the sellers get a CO on the pool but that is a huge safety issue and was required for our FHA mortgage.....

they hired an expediter and the whole thing took about a month but that was because of their stupidity, it should only take about 2 weeks if things were done right

is your lender requiring it?? with decks sometimes as long as the inspection said it was sound and what not then the lender will not require a CO

good luck