[andercat]

We are looking at a pre-owned house that is in the MLS. The information from the realtor list 1900 square feet. You can tell a large addition was added to the home. The Sumter tax record shows 1392 square feet. On the Sumter county appraisal site there is no record of an addition. Would this mean that the addition was not permitted? What are the ramifications for the new buyer?

[villagetinker]

If you cannot find records, permits, inspection reports, RUN as fast as you can from this house and deal. IMHO, you could potentially be taking on lots of headaches and expenses, especially if some else reports to ARC about the addition. I am no way an expert in these areas, but a title search should show any problems also. You could save another party the agony by mentioning to the county building inspector that something does not appear to be correct. It is possible this was a record keeping error, and all of the documentation is actually there.

[photo1902]

Originally Posted by andercat

We are looking at a pre-owned house that is in the MLS. The information from the realtor list 1900 square feet. You can tell a large addition was added to the home. The Sumter tax record shows 1392 square feet. On the Sumter county appraisal site there is no record of an addition. Would this mean that the addition was not permitted? What are the ramifications for the new buyer?

Sumter County has an online source to check for permits which were obtained for an address. If you're not computer savvy, you can always visit Sumter County Building Services, who can check on the existence (or lack thereof) of any building permits. I have found that depending on the age of a residence, the online resource might not reveal a permit being pulled. This DOES NOT mean a permit was or wasn't issued.

Building Services | Sumter County, FL - Official Website

I would suggest you check this source before summarily dismissing the property you are interested in.

[dewilson58]

Make sure you are looking at apples to apples.


Down here in the South, some people include a lanai in the SF'age, some include the garage, some use climate controlled areas.


As the Agent their definition.

[retiredguy123]

Why not just ask the listing agent for a copy of the permit for the addition?

[CWGUY]

Originally Posted by andercat

We are looking at a pre-owned house that is in the MLS. The information from the realtor list 1900 square feet. You can tell a large addition was added to the home. The Sumter tax record shows 1392 square feet. On the Sumter county appraisal site there is no record of an addition. Would this mean that the addition was not permitted? What are the ramifications for the new buyer?

You're doing the right thing..... asking questions. You are just doing it in the wrong place. Go to the Bldg.Dept. and ask there. It all may be fine. No need to run away from a deal you like..... deal with the experts and if something is wrong you can walk away. Good luck.

[jnieman]

It is possible that heat and air conditioning was not added to the room in the form of a mini split. In many cases an expansion requires a mini split a/c system to be installed and they may have just opened the sliders to let in the air and heat from the home or had vents installed off the house A/C without pulling a permit for them. The room may be permitted but not able to have the square ft added to the home because of no mini split system. This is my guess.

[Emmakrock@yahoo.com]

Probably included the lanae and possible bird cage. But if a permit with inspection it would be on tax listing. Check closer if it’s enclosed and the floor is not raised. The do not count the space. If it’s correct remember taxes will be increased by that much

[greenflash245]

good plan. any unpermitted work can come back to haunt you upstream. if it has a could odor to it, walk away and find another home

[Snookie]

Find another house and avoid the head ache

[MEbner2805]

Originally Posted by andercat

We are looking at a pre-owned house that is in the MLS. The information from the realtor list 1900 square feet. You can tell a large addition was added to the home. The Sumter tax record shows 1392 square feet. On the Sumter county appraisal site there is no record of an addition. Would this mean that the addition was not permitted? What are the ramifications for the new buyer?

Check with the villages community standards to ensure it’s approved. Likely it was. 352-751-3912

[stqrmy]

There are several ways the realtors list square footage. Verify this by asking what the "air conditioned" sq. ft. is.

[retiredguy123]

Originally Posted by MEbner2805

Check with the villages community standards to ensure it’s approved. Likely it was. 352-751-3912

A large addition would require a County building permit, not just Community Standards approval.

[pacjag]

There are records showing the original floor plan. Request them from TV and compare with the current floor plan before getting too worked up.

[John_W]

Sumter County Property Appraiser

The Sumter County Tax website shows heated square feet. As mentioned by a couple of posters already, a Realtor will elaborate somewhat and his square footage most likely included everything under roof.