3rd Edition of Choice Option Magazine August 2014 | Page 8

Property

The Top5 Legal Considerations to Home Renovation
By Anthony Akabuduce

tractor have read and signed it. Many issues are the result of a customer asking
for something and then balking at the higher bill.
Undocumented workers.
An unfortunate reality of the industry is that many of the workers are undocumented. If discovered, this could lead to work stoppage or even involve you in
a legal matter. Again, get recommendations for reputable contractors and if
you suspect something is not quite right, be sure to document it and alert the
proper authorities in order to protect yourself.
As always, there is no substitute for the advice of an experienced real estate or
construction attorney. Contact yours before beginning any renovation or remodelling project.

W

e all have our dream home renovating projects. it could
be as simple as a model bathroom, or completely
bringing the building down and starting over. home
renovations are big business and anywhere there is big money
there should also be legal considerations. The simple fact is, a
home is not actually a castle but a piece of property subject to
numerous laws and regulations. Here are some legal considerations before you start swinging that sledge hammer at your walls.
Can you even do it?
You need to check to see if you can even make any changes to the
property. It should go without saying, but tenants that are leasing a
property usually don’t have the right to renovate. many homeowners’ associations have strict bylaws about what renovation and alterations are allowed to be made. Also, if the renovation is going
to change the height or footprint of your home, you may run into
zoning issues with your state or municipality. It is worth the extra
time and effort to check everything out before any work begins.

How a glass extension turned a
traditional Thirties London terrace
into an ultra-modern home
A Thirties semi in a terrible st FR&V6