Colorado Springs Vintage Homes Blog
719.287.1049
3 reasons to get building permits
3 reasons to get a Building Permit in Colorado Springs
Related articles:
- 5 reasons lack of building permits cause big problems
- Colorado Springs Building Codes and Permits – Part I
- Colorado Springs Building Permits – Part II
- Colorado Springs Building Permits – Part III
- Colorado Springs Building Permits — Part IV
- Colorado Springs Building Permits — Part V
- Why do you care about building permits?
Some people complain about getting a building permit from the local code enforcement office for changing something in their house, erecting a deck, adding a garage or making any other improvement to their property. I think it’s very important to get permits.
Before you start your next home improvement project, here’s 3 reasons to get a building permit:
- It might be a law that if you make enhancements of a certain nature to your property you must get a building permit to begin the work.
- The permit keeps everyone honest. There won’t be any shortcuts by the contractor that might affect your investment or safety. If there have been shortcuts that affect
safety, the code enforcement officer would typically find it. - You get free inspections of the work the contractor does. The code enforcement officer typically comes out to check the work and to ensure the work is up to code. Wouldn’t you prefer to know about problems on your your remodeling project? Especially before you make the final payment to your contractor.
As an example, we’re currently getting the electric panel upgraded on a Colorado Springs rental house that my husband and I own. Even though we’ve done our homework on the contractor we’ve hired, we won’t know if the work is “up to code”, as we’re not trained electricians. Pikes Peak Regional Building will come out and inspect the work to make sure it meets code requirements. It certainly gives me peace of mind.
According to information on the Pikes Peak Regional Building web site, “The main goal of the Department is to safeguard life and limb, health, property and public welfare by regulating and controlling the design, construction, quality of materials, use and occupancy, location and maintenance of all buildings and structures within all zoned areas of El Paso County through the enforcement of minimum building code standards.”
If you enjoyed reading this article, why not Subscribe to be notified of the next one?
To find out more information about buying a home in Colorado Springs or Manitou Springs, call ….
Homework required
If you want to buy a Colorado Springs foreclosure, you’ll need to do your homework.
Make sure and avoid these 6 mistakes:
Search for Colorado Springs foreclosures
Related Articles
(1) Bidding War: Don’t get caught up in a bidding war. Some banks are under pricing their foreclosed homes; which can result in
multiple bids. Buyers can get excited and pay too much. Research ahead of time and know how much you want to pay.
(2) Repair Costs: Don’t underestimate repair costs. Do a home inspection. Take along a professional who can help give you an estimate of how much repairs costs will come to.
(3) More research required: Look at recent building permits on the Pikes Peak Regional Building web site, and make sure you know what’s been permitted and what hasn’t. Also, check out the information on the El Paso Assessor’s office, make sure the square footage is the same as the property listing. A buyer may think they are buying at 1500 square property, but the Assessor may have it listed at 1200 square feet.
(3) Neighborhood Home work: Know what comparable homes cost in the same area. In some areas with multiple foreclosure, prices can be depreciating. Get information on current sold properties as well as current active homes for sale in the area.
(4) Neighborhoods are important: Don’t buy in a neighborhood flooded with foreclosures: A neighborhood saturated with REOs and foreclosures may have declining prices.
(5) Financing: Do have your financing in place. If you don’t already have pre-approval from a lender, you won’t be able to put an offer on a property, as sellers want to know that you are financially qualified. You must be able to move quickly.
If you enjoyed reading this article, why not Subscribe to be notified of the next one?
Kathy (719-287-1049) KTorline@msn.com
Colorado Springs home buyers tips
Colorado Springs RealEstate – Home buyer Tip #1
Related articles:
- 5 reasons lack of building permits cause big problems
- Colorado Springs Building Codes and Permits – Part I
- Colorado Springs Building Permits – Part II
- Colorado Springs Building Permits – Part III
- Colorado Springs Building Permits — Part IV
- Colorado Springs Building Permits — Part V
Since I work with many Colorado Springs home buyers; it’s important for me (and for them) to do some extra due diligence
Falling down deck on a Briargate Foreclosure
we put together their offer and complete the purchase on their dream house.
Tip #1
Building Codes / Zoning Compliance/Common Interest Community Documents:
If you want to change the house from a Single Family Home to a Tri-plex, you’ll want to make sure that is OK with the current zoning on the property. (Related Article: Quick Explanation of Zoning in Colorado Springs and surrounding cities)
Double check the building permits. Does that beautiful new finished basement have a permit on it? How about the new deck that was built? In the Colorado Springs area, Read the rest of this entry »
How to avoid home repair scams
Home repair tops list of #1 scams in Colorado
Must read posts:
- Do your homework on building permits
- Top 5 Remodeling projects
- ILC versus a Survey, what’s the difference?
- Free local money for home improvements
The Denver Post recently published an article about the ANNUAL LIST of scams published by the Denver-Boulder Better Business Bureau. The Pikes Peak Better Business Bureau also has a very similar list published on their web s
ite. Drum roll please …………., #1 on the Denver-Boulder Better Business Bureau list:
- Home Repair swindles. The article states “ Due to the historic storms Colorado saw in the summer of 2009, countless unscrupulous contractors swarmed into the state to take advantage of damaged property owners. Some of the worst problems reported involved contracts that required all insurance money be owned to the contractor, even if the consumer cancels before work begins, inflated costs and high-pressure sales.”
Here’s some suggestions on how to avoid scam artists:
- Ask to see references, then follow up with the references. Read the rest of this entry »
Do your homework on building permits
Do your homework on Building Permits
Previous Posts
- 5 reasons lack of building permits cause big problems
- Colorado Springs Building Codes and Permits – Part I
- Colorado Springs Building Permits – Part II
- Colorado Springs Building Permits – Part III
- Colorado Springs Building Permits — Part IV
- Colorado Springs Building Permits — Part V
- 5 reasons lack of building permits cause big problems
The El Paso County Assessor’s office is one of the web sites I frequently check when I’m getting ready to write an offer for a homebuyer in the Colorado Springs Area. I like to look at the square footage, the bedrooms, the baths, the garage, and the basement information listed on the assessor’s office and compare it to t
he information on the Multiple Listing Print-out. Also, out of curiosity, I also look at the assessed value listed on the property. (I’ll write more on this later.)
You may ask, why is all of this information important? The biggest reason it is important is that discrepancies may (and I underline the word may) mean that there has been additions and improvements to the property that have not been permitted. If the assessor’s records only show 2 bathrooms, and the property has 3, it may mean there was an additional bathroom added that wasn’t permitted. If the assessor shows the basement was unfinished and the property has a finished basement, again it may mean no permits.
The next step that I do is to check the Pikes Peak Regional Building Department and see what type of permits have been done on the property. Permits are important as they ensure Read the rest of this entry »
5 reasons lack of building permits cause big problems
Building Permits are Important
I recently attended an inspection at a home in Colorado Springs for a client who lives out of state; and one of the first things the inspector said to me is that he noticed the basement had been finished without a building permit. These are not words that any Realtor wants to hear, it can definitely cause some problems and discussions with a potential buyer. Hence, I thought I’d type up my top 5 reasons that additions and basement finishes without permits can cause problems:
- There is no way for a buyer to know if an additions and basement finishes were built/refinished in accordance with local building codes when a permit wasn’t pulled; which brings up a whole host of other questions. One of the reasons the building code was enacted was to insure a minimum standard for construction, electrical, and mechanical work. When permits aren’t pulled, safety and quality of workmanship can definitely be a concern.
- The lack of building permits can often impede the sale of a property; buyer’s don’t want to purchase a property that doesn’t have permits.
- The lack of building permits can and will come up during an inspection for a potential buyer. In today’s real estate market, which is a Buyer’s Market in Colorado Springs, there are many properties for Buyer’s to choose from. The lack of permits can cause a buyer to walk away from a property they want to purchase. Read the rest of this entry »
Colorado Springs Building Permits — Part V
Everything you want to know
about Building Permits in Colorado Springs – Knowledge is Power
Get a Free Market Analysis on your Home, Email KTorline@msn.com or call 719-287-1049
Previous Posts
(1) QUESTION: I put in a new sprinkler system in my home in Kissing Camels, and recently received something from the Building Department saying I needed a Backflow Preventer. What is this?
ANSWER: A backflower preventer keeps possible contaminated water from backing up into your domestic water supply. A license is required to install this device.
(2) QUESTION: I need to hire a roofing contractor, how can I be sure the contractor will do a good job?
ANSWER: First of all, do your due diligence before hiring a contractor You can check with Read the rest of this entry »
Colorado Springs Building Permits — Part IV
Everything you want to know
about Building Permits in Colorado Springs – Knowledge is Power
Get a Free Market Analysis on your Home, Email KTorline@msn.com or call 719-287-1049
(1) QUESTION: I recently purchased a hot tub for my home in Monument and 
was told that permits were required to hook it all up. Is this true?
ANSWER: Yes, anytime new wiring is installed a permit is required.
(2) QUESTION: I saw a home that had a sign posted on it in Manitou Springs that said ‘Stop Work/Work Without Permit”. What does this mean?
ANSWER: It means that the contractor is not licensed to work in El Paso County.
Colorado Springs Building Permits — Part III
Everything you want to know
about Building Permits in Colorado Springs – Knowledge is Power
Must Read Posts
(1) QUESTION: Are rain gutters and downspouts on single family homes required by building codes in 
Colorado Springs?
ANSWER: Yes, they are required by code.
(2) QUESTION: I want to put up a 5′ fence around the backyard of my home in Old Colorado City, and my neighbor said I needed a permit. Is he correct?
ANSWER: No, you only need a building permit for fences over 6′. But it is still a good idea to call and get the utilities located. You may also want to get an Read the rest of this entry »
Colorado Springs Building Permits — Part II
Everything you want to know
Get a Free Market Analysis on your Home, Email KTorline@msn.com or call 719-287-1049
All about Building Permits in Colorado Springs – Knowledge is Power
Previous Posts
(1) QUESTION: What type of building codes does the Pikes Peak Regional Building Department enforce?
ANSWER; They enforce Building Codes, including the State Electrical Code, the State Plumbing Code, the Fuel Gas Code, the Energy Code, the Mechanical Code, and the Elevator Code. They also enforce Floodplain and Enumeration regulations.
(2) QUESTION: What is the Dangerous Building Code? Is there such a Code?
ANSWER: The explanation posted on the Regional Building Site is ” ………… part of the Regional Building Code, includes buildings that have been burned, damaged by a vehicle running into it, or a natural disaster that may render the structure unsafe. The property owner is given the opportunity to correct the items that make the building unsafe, either by fixing it, boarding it up or having it demolished.” The Building Code is posted online and you can go to the site and read the Dangerous Building Code.
(3) QUESTION: Is there any type of code about dilapidated buildings?
Colorado Springs Building Codes and Permits – Part I
Do you want to know about Building Permits and Building Codes in the Pikes Peak Region?
Part I of FAQ’s
QUESTION: Can I apply for a building permit online?
ANSWER: Yes. Go to the PPRBD web site, and it will give you information on how you can purchase a permit online.
QUESTION: I had a contractor knock on my door and said that my roof was damaged; and then he gave me an estimate of what it would cost to fix it. How do I know if this contractor is legitimate?
ANSWER: First of all, it’s always good to get a second opinion from another contractor, and you may also want to call your insurance company and have them send out an adjuster to look at your roof. Second, you can Read the rest of this entry »
Real Estate Dictionary — “B” is for Building Codes
Knowledge is Power
Search for Homes in Colorado Springs
My brother lives in a Brownstone in Philadelphia. What type of house is this? A Brownstone is typically a row house, often times found in larger cities. There are some brownstones in downtown Denver and also some in Colorado Springs around the Broadmoor Hotel.
What is a building code? Building codes are set up by cities, counties, and states and are used to provide minimum building standards. They also help ensure that the buildings construction is safe. In Colorado Springs and Monument, the building code is enforced by the Pikes Peak Regional Building Department. In Woodland Park, the building code is enforced by the Teller County Building Department
The newspaper said it is a Buyer’s market. What does this mean? The newspaper is referring to a situation where there are more houses on the market than there are buyers, essentially supply exceeds demand. Markets vary neighborhood by neighborhood, consequently there can be both a Buyer’s Market and a Seller’s Market in the same city. Read the rest of this entry »
