Bell Harig Home Inspections Offers Peace of Mind for Homeowners Considering Home Additions

Bell Harig Home Inspections wants to remind local homeowners who are considering making a home addition that there is more to it than simply getting a contractor in to do the job. Home additions are an excellent way to add value and enjoyment to a property, but avoiding all the pitfalls that can occur is not so simple.

Bell Harig has many years of experience with home improvement projects and the company can help make the project process as simple as possible whilst ensuring that all legal requirements are met. To aid homeowners who are considering a project, the company has published an article and guide to help make sure potential pitfalls are avoided at https://bellharig.com/home-inspection-spotsylvania-va.

The potential pitfalls involved in home improvement projects become more challenging when the area within which the home is located is an area of historical importance. The Spotsylvania, Virginia, area is one such area of the country, and as such it can be daunting trying to establish what permits will be necessary for the project. Within such historical areas it is crucial that all projects to be in strict compliance with local building laws. Homeowners are often tempted to choose a cheap contractor who is happy to go ahead and complete the project without getting the required permits. Even when a homeowner does the work themselves, such a choice can potentially be a huge mistake especially when it comes to selling the property at a later date. Obtaining the right permits is not as difficult or as expensive as most homeowners fear.

Eric Harig, a spokesperson for the company, said that people who don’t follow the permitting procedures can be taking a very large chance with their finances. “It can be tempting to think that a permit isn’t needed if your family does all the work. Some people think ‘no one will know,’ or that they ‘don’t need’ the inspections that come with permitting, but the thing is that if there’s a problem that should have been caught during construction and the homeowner did not secure a permit, homeowner’s insurance won’t cover losses at all. That little add-on room project can cause huge problems if it’s not done properly and legally. Our inspectors help give homeowners peace of mind.”

Bell Harig home inspections covers an area in Virginia as depicted on the map here: https://www.google.com/maps?cid=3797755706293345424 . The company will inspect and assess projects anywhere in that area to ensure legal compliance.

Building an extension to a property might not seem like something that local government needs to get involved with at first sight. Whatever a homeowner’s thoughts are on the subject the fact of the matter is that local, city and even state organizations can have a legal right to specify certain things about what any homeowner can do or not do with their property. Easements, and the dreaded “conditions, covenants, and restrictions (CCRs)” that are often found in planned communities, subdivisions, or other developments, must all be considered when planning construction of any type.

These restrictions are not optional conditions that a homeowner can choose to obey or not obey. CCRs act as a type of shadow zoning ordinance and are essentially rules within rules. These restrictions are in addition to municipal ordinances, and it will be necessary to meet them in order to avoid violating the contractual agreement with a neighborhood association.

Many homeowners have come to regret not getting the proper permits for a project prior to construction. The various agencies involved with building regulations can legally force a homeowner to obtain the required permits retrospectively. Not only that, but the cost of the retrospective permits will be significantly more than they would have been if they had been obtained at the proper time.

Those interested in learning more about the various issues involved or who wish to contact Bell Harig can do so through https://www.facebook.com/bellharig. The company also has a website at https://bellharig.com/ and can be reached by telephone at (540) 881-0550.