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Among the many valuable services that a real estate attorney can provide is giving you guidance on how to go about building an addition on your home. Experienced contractors don't necessarily consult attorneys before they perform this type of work because they've done it in the past and know the necessary steps to take. However, if you're unfamiliar with the rules and regulations of building additions, consulting a legal professional can save you a lot of heartache. Here are some unwanted outcomes that can occur if you move forward with the addition without consulting a real estate attorney.

Costly Fines

Before you begin construction on an addition, you need to have a number of permits from your local building department. However, some people may either be unaware of this necessity or feel as though they can get away without any permits — perhaps because the addition is on the rear of the house and thus not visible from the street. However, if a building inspector were to show up to your site and ask to see a permit and you are not able to provide one, you'd likely be looking at some costly fines. Consulting a real estate attorney beforehand would inform you of exactly the types of permits you'd need for this build, thus negating the risk of a fine.

Teardown Of The Project

In extreme cases, the building inspector may force you to tear down your addition if it doesn't comply with local building codes and other regulations. While you'd likely first have the chance to amend the work to be in compliance, the reality is that it may be impossible to turn your addition into something that passes inspection. This could result in you being given a teardown order, legally requiring you to remove the addition. Without consulting a real estate attorney before you begin work on the addition, you're leaving this risk open.

Civil Suits

Another potential issue that you could face upon building an addition without first checking with a real estate attorney is a civil suit from a neighbor. For example, if your addition blocks your neighbor's view of the water or otherwise interferes with something, the neighbor may decide to file a civil suit against you. Even if the suit has little merit, you may still end up with legal fees and an investment of time in defending yourself, all because you moved forward without consulting an attorney.

Reach out to a firm such as Souders Law Group to learn more.