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trailwart

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Nov 13, 2009
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369
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MI
i cant feel bad for someone not pulling permits and finding out what can and cant be done before building.
 

RbrtAWhyt

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North East Georgia
doh-1.jpg
 

BackAgain

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My uncle did the same thing. He thought he was safe because he was up in the woods and nobody could see the 3 car garage he was building. One of the neighbors turned out to be a building inspector or something, had to take the whole damn thing down. Cost him like 10 grand!:lol_hitti
 

kwb

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I think accidental fire could be a solution.... not suggesting insurance fraud or anything but...
 
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Shocker

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Olympia, WA
I get the feeling that they bought the property with the structure on it and now it needs to go.
 

krooser

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Jun 3, 2005
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Waupaca, Wisconsin
Several years ago a local builder built a custom home for a customer on THE WRONG LOT!!!! The customer gave the carpenter the wrong info and it wasn't caught until the real owner of the property drove by and saw a new house going up on his lot. The home was 75% done... I never did find out how the screw up was handled but the home was completed and it's now occupied.
 

kwb

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I don't think they cover unpermitted structures...

Yea and if you don't get a electrical permit and your place burns then you won't get a payout...:spit:

One of the best all time myths propogated amongst forums.

There may be extinuating circumstances in this case since the county has demanded the removal of building but normally insurance would pay in event of accidental fire.

I called my insurance co mid project on the house to let them know I was adding space, I got a premium bump but no questions about permitting.
 

BackAgain

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Messages
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Yea and if you don't get a electrical permit and your place burns then you won't get a payout...:spit:

One of the best all time myths propogated amongst forums.

There may be extinuating circumstances in this case since the county has demanded the removal of building but normally insurance would pay in event of accidental fire.

I called my insurance co mid project on the house to let them know I was adding space, I got a premium bump but no questions about permitting.
So you think if your house burns down because of incompetent/unpermitted/uninspected wiring, the insurance co. is going to pay for it? Can I have a hit off your bong? :spit: If that's the case I'll go hack up my wiring right now and spend the night in a motel, if you know what I mean...

The circumstances are probably different for temporary work/while under construction, but if you never even asked for a permit and built a whole building....good luck with the insurance adjuster.
 
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35mastr

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Norcal
How many of you that have had a home or shop burn or other occurances of mother nature.

Then how many of you actually had the insurance company ask if you had a permit?

I know a family member that had his garage burn down in Novemver of last year. Insurance covered it and never asked if he got a permit to build it.
 

BackAgain

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Messages
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How many of you that have had a home or shop burn or other occurances of mother nature.

Then how many of you actually had the insurance company ask if you had a permit?

I know a family member that had his garage burn down in Novemver of last year. Insurance covered it and never asked if he got a permit to build it.
I'm sure if your home or shop burns down the insurance company is going to do some SERIOUS investigation into you, your building, and what happened. Just because they don't ask you "did you get a permit to build that?" doesn't mean they didn't check. You can be sure the insurance company and your local authorities will be in contact with eachother.

If a fire investigator can PROVE that it was unpermitted work that caused the fire, then you're really, really screwed. If you have unpermitted work and happen to have an unrelated fire, they might never know. It's just a matter of who's investigating what. Nearly anybody can find out if you have the right permits without asking you...
 

kwb

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So you think if your house burns down because of incompetent/unpermitted/uninspected wiring, the insurance co. is going to pay for it? Can I have a hit off your bong? :spit: If that's the case I'll go hack up my wiring right now and spend the night in a motel, if you know what I mean...

The circumstances are probably different for temporary work/while under construction, but if you never even asked for a permit and built a whole building....good luck with the insurance adjuster.

Wrong. Amongst other things insurance covers stupidity

I'm sure if your home or shop burns down the insurance company is going to do some SERIOUS investigation into you, your building, and what happened. Just because they don't ask you "did you get a permit to build that?" doesn't mean they didn't check. You can be sure the insurance company and your local authorities will be in contact with eachother.

If a fire investigator can PROVE that it was unpermitted work that caused the fire, then you're really, really screwed. If you have unpermitted work and happen to have an unrelated fire, they might never know. It's just a matter of who's investigating what. Nearly anybody can find out if you have the right permits without asking you...

Wrong again.

The only thing I will say if origins are suspect - and you did intentionally set the fire then you are screwed criminally and financially.

Since most don't end up with a house fire loss lets relate to something more common - your car insurance. You are munching on a cheeseburger, chatting on the phone, speeding, and have your lights off at night, you cause a crash, (all of which are breaking some sort of law) assuming you have full coverage you not only will have your car fixed, but the cars you crashed into, the road signs you took out replaced and any medical bills covered.... up to your policy limits.

Read your policy to be sure in your case but I know what mine say.
 

BackAgain

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Messages
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Since most don't end up with a house fire loss lets relate to something more common - your car insurance. You are munching on a cheeseburger, chatting on the phone, speeding, and have your lights off at night, you cause a crash, (all of which are breaking some sort of law) assuming you have full coverage you not only will have your car fixed, but the cars you crashed into, the road signs you took out replaced and any medical bills covered.... up to your policy limits.
Would the same be true if your car wasn't properly registered? My old truck expired in December, and it's still insured. If I go out and cause all that havoc with it, is my insurance still going to pay?

The only time I've had to deal directly with insurance was when I wrecked my other truck and was not at fault in any way. Those greasy idiots at the insurance co did everything they could to screw me and give me as little $$$ as possible. I had to take them to court to get the fair value for my truck!
 
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PassnThru

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Jan 5, 2010
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Bowling Green KY
Yea and if you don't get a electrical permit and your place burns then you won't get a payout...:spit:

One of the best all time myths propogated amongst forums.

I have heard that many times. Do you have any references to prove that it is just a myth? I'm not doubting you - I would like it to be true.
 

Shadowdog500

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Dec 7, 2009
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Down the shore
Would the same be true if your car wasn't properly registered? My old truck expired in December, and it's still insured. If I go out and cause all that havoc with it, is my insurance still going to pay?

I called my Homeowners insurance co. last week to add my new pole barn to my policy. They indicated that my standard policy automatically includes either $21K or $23K (cant remember which one) for any outbuildings, garages, and sheds that are on my property, so if the house is insured on that property, that additional building may also be insured.

Since my building was more than $23K, I had to add additional coverage to the policy. They didn't ask anything about permits, even though I do have permits for everything.

I would NOT recommend anyone having a fire, Im just pointing out that that building may be insured. I also don't have much sympathy for people who get caught without permits. My experience are that permits are pretty easy to get, unless you need a variance, and don't really cost much when compared to the cost of the building.

Chris
 

Shadowdog500

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I have heard that many times. Do you have any references to prove that it is just a myth? I'm not doubting you - I would like it to be true.

If it were true it would be difficult to prove since there would be nothing to reference. It may be easier to show it is false by referencing where it is excluded in your policy, or referencing where only permitted wiring is covered in your policy.

Chris
 

tdkkart

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Jun 17, 2006
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6,887
Location
Eastern Iowa
Since my building was more than $23K, I had to add additional coverage to the policy.


This is a very good idea, and something everyone should check into.

Most insurance polices include coverage for outbuildings, usually based on a percentage of the assigned value of the house. In my case, my house is insured for $210,000 so my outbuildings are insured for $21,000.

The problem hit home this summer when we had a small tornado pass near our home. The damage estimate from the insurance company was approx. $12,000, actual cost to repair was closer to $7500.

Problem was, the damage was pretty minimal. We had a 3 stall carport/storage building that lost it's siding and rollup door plus damaged shingles. My 30x40 pole building had 2 damaged overhead doors($2500 right there), plus some roof damage. The buildings were very nearly useable, and if you didn't look close at the pole building you wouldn't have even seen the damage.

What if the tornado would have been closer?? What would it cost to replace a 30x40 pole building with the interior fully finished?? Materials alone for the shell are pushing $10,000, plus the interior materials, plus labor.

It ain't gonna happen for $21,000.

I went and increased my coverage to $50,000, cost me another 60 or 70 dollars/year, and I'm not certain that's enough.
 

kwb

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Joined
May 1, 2009
Messages
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Location
PNW
Would the same be true if your car wasn't properly registered? My old truck expired in December, and it's still insured. If I go out and cause all that havoc with it, is my insurance still going to pay?

The only time I've had to deal directly with insurance was when I wrecked my other truck and was not at fault in any way. Those greasy idiots at the insurance co did everything they could to screw me and give me as little $$$ as possible. I had to take them to court to get the fair value for my truck!


They will do all they can to pay as little as possible when obligated to pay on any sort of policy but they will pay.

I worked in body shop and insurance would regularly pay on claims where owner was drunk, tags expired, etc... The one case I can think of that they didn't pay for all damages was in a case where driver was drunk, crashed, he lost the LH front tire and kept driving for miles and miles, they would pay for the crash damage but not the wheel, rotor, half-shaft and all the other stuff that was ground down to almost the center of the wheel. If you have ever seen a cutaway of an engine or other device the front corner of this car was like that.


To the poster that said permits are small cost of project doesn't live around here. I built my shop for just over 10K in materials and portions that I subbed out, permitting was $2500 by the time I paid all the variety of alphabet agencys. In my book 25% isn't a small percentage.
 

mrb

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Joined
Dec 31, 2008
Messages
3,734
Yea and if you don't get a electrical permit and your place burns then you won't get a payout...:spit:

One of the best all time myths propogated amongst forums.

I have firsthand experiance with this. Place I worked at had a bad fire (over a million in damage). During the investigation, a bunch of unpermitted electrical work was discovered in the electrical room below the origin of the fire (the fire was in the roof). The insurance company refused to pay the claim based on the illegal electrical. They ultimately did pay because the electrical work was not the cause of the fire, but it took over a year and six figures in legal costs before it was over.
 

Shadowdog500

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Dec 7, 2009
Messages
9,872
Location
Down the shore
To the poster that said permits are small cost of project doesn't live around here. I built my shop for just over 10K in materials and portions that I subbed out, permitting was $2500 by the time I paid all the variety of alphabet agencys. In my book 25% isn't a small percentage.

Glad I dont live by you. My permits were around $1,100 for around $64K worth of building, concrete, and electrical, so it was just under 2% for me.

Chris
 

kwb

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PNW
I have firsthand experiance with this. Place I worked at had a bad fire (over a million in damage). During the investigation, a bunch of unpermitted electrical work was discovered in the electrical room below the origin of the fire (the fire was in the roof). The insurance company refused to pay the claim based on the illegal electrical. They ultimately did pay because the electrical work was not the cause of the fire, but it took over a year and six figures in legal costs before it was over.

Commercial/Industrial and Residential insurance are not the same animal and as you noted they paid. Insurance will also pay to bring you up to current code when repairing from a loss
so your old building is toast and new earthquake standards have been implemented the added replacement costs to be up to new standards will be part of your check.

If I go run my boat and the heat exchanger springs a leak due to a hose drying out and cracking while I am running it and fills up the bilge with water and kills the engine insurance will pay to repair the engine, replace wiring damaged by salt water, and so on but will not pay to repair the hose because that was due my not maintaining it.

Insurance covers stupidity and all sorts of other things that happen by accident.

I will hazard a guess that over 50% of houses more than 15yrs old have something done that should have had a permit pulled. Playing those odds and if insurance wasn't paying out on 50% of house fires it would have lots more people on the news begging for donations after a fire.
 
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nehog

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Jan 2, 2010
Messages
7,935
Location
Jaffrey, NH
Insurance covers stupidity. Insurance covers honest mistakes.

A loss is a loss, the building permit is not going to be an issue unless there is a clause in the policy stating that as a condition. (most don't have such a clause).

If you leave your keys in your truck, and the truck is stolen, the insurance still pays.

It's amazing what insurance will pay! (just don't be surprised to receive a cancellation notice afterward, however!)
 
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