Renovate Rip Up Basement and get CO as buyer? (loan, house)

[LInewbieTownofNH]

There is a house "as is" for a steal and I would be willing to do substantial renovations with the money saved from the low price.

COs for extension and visible alterations are in place.
Finished basement w/bathroom does not have CO.
This basement needs renovation as well.

Assuming the bank lets the loan go through...

Is there a way to "renovate" the neglected basement through proper channels and get the CO fresh as the buyer?

Or has anyone "unfinished" a crappy basement (demo'd it) and then applied for the CO fresh?

Searched through the threads but most are about nice finished basement that you wouldn't want to rip up.

Thanks for any help. New to the area.

[twingles]

You can do it either way. Town/village doesn't care as long as they can send in inspector and get $$$ from you. Good luck with the purchase.

[markjames68]

I would require the CO or the basement to be demoed so you can inspect what's not visible now. If the price is a "steal" there has to be a reason why...

[nuts2uiam]

First you, un finish the basement. You get plans drawn and go to the town seeking the permit. IF they approve the plans there is no difference at all. You can leave the shell of the bath up but about it. You will get a fine for the lack you will need a plumbing and electrical permit so you may as well scrap it and start over again. Now, you could take a chance and leave it and have the inspectors ask you about it and will be fined for doing the work without benefit of a permit. My c/a that was with the house when we bought it in 1997 had to be permitted after the fact in 2011 and the fine was 4 x the cost of the permit which at that time was $50 x 4. $200.

[LInewbieTownofNH]

Thank you for the quick replies.

I'm seeing that I'm supposed to get a permit to demo.
Even if I didn't, the dumpster is probably a dead give away.

Has anyone here successfully unfinished or demo'd an entire basement without town trouble?

[Kbinspections]

Originally Posted by markjames68

I would require the CO or the basement to be demoed so you can inspect what's not visible now. If the price is a "steal" there has to be a reason why...

Be careful, honestly, no real steals on LI, long gone.

[Kbinspections]

Originally Posted by LInewbieTownofNH

Thank you for the quick replies.

I'm seeing that I'm supposed to get a permit to demo.
Even if I didn't, the dumpster is probably a dead give away.

Has anyone here successfully unfinished or demo'd an entire basement without town trouble?

Depends on the Town!

I would gut and then file plans, biggest cost will be to add a 2nd egress if you don't have one already.

[gx89]

Originally Posted by LInewbieTownofNH

Thank you for the quick replies.

I'm seeing that I'm supposed to get a permit to demo.
Even if I didn't, the dumpster is probably a dead give away.

Has anyone here successfully unfinished or demo'd an entire basement without town trouble?

I gutted Kitchen, 1/2 bath and Den to the studs then rebuilt 400+ sq ft deck. I ended up not getting
a dumpster for the reasons you are concerned about. Call around you can get a dumpster that you can load up and have it gone in a few hours on a Sunday when the town isn't around. I cut all the wood into 4ft pieces put it to the curb. The rest of the crap I bagged up using contractor bags put it to the curb little by little, I have a 2 car garage and temporarily used one side for garbage.

Just remember a permit and c/o is only an issue when open. If the basement is finished and current owner never filed for it the town has no idea. Your lender might not even care mine didn't.