A Guide to Putting Lancaster County Homes on the Market with Code Violations
When it comes to homeownership, overseeing code violations may be one of the most annoying parts of it. When trying to sell a home, code violations can easily thwart your mission and become costly to repair. Most homeowners are confused about the violation itself and therefore are not prepared to manage the situation in a swift and professional manner. You may not know who to get in touch with or how to get the violations lifted. Here are some of our guidelines to regulate code violations in Lancaster City.
Understand Each Individual Department of the City
In most cases, if you have a code violation it was probably the result of not passing an inspection or due to an incident that caused the city to issue the violation. Lancaster City has three departments that make up the code enforcement: The Property Maintenance Group, The Health Unit, and the Building Code Unit. The property maintenance group enforces the outer appearance of properties in the city as well as the latest restrictions on lead paint poisoning and other hazards. The health unit generally inspects commercial spaces to regulate health standards but also manages the pest control program. The Uniform Building Standard codes help regulate compliances and provide permits for renovations. The majority of residential problems that come up include property maintenance groups related to the preservation of the building code unit for work without a permit.
Collaborate with the City to Find a Solution
In order to quickly and easily sell a home with code violations, work with the city to iron out any unresolved violations in the house. If there are violations that are visible, they can be fixed by simply cleaning the home’s exterior. Clear out weeds and other unsightly vegetation, remove trash, and clean the property to attract potential buyers while taking care of past issues. It’s important to review each violation and tackle the core of the problem. Code violations are complicated. Extensive work might be needed to reach property standards.
It’s helpful to work alongside inspectors to find a solution to potential issues. Violations should be thoroughly reviewed, and the inspectors should be asked what changes need to be made in order to get the violation lifted. Keep a pen and paper, or the “Notes” app through your phone, on hand so that you can record what they say. Bring a licensed city contractor so that you can ask them questions while reviewing the violation. Be aware that there may be terms that you won’t understand when the inspector and the contractor talk to each other. At the end of the meeting, make sure the inspector provides a written and signed document that outlines the problems with the property. Make an appointment for a follow-up inspection with the city after the work is completed.
Petition the City to Repeal Violations
After resolving the violations, appeal to the city and ask to lift the violations. An inspector will be reappointed to look at the house for any issues. Have a copy of your initial walkthrough notes in the event that they may add other items to the violation. It’s common for different inspectors to notice other items during their second walk-through. If the work is completed down to the details, code violations should be lifted immediately or shortly after the inspection is complete. Official documentation will be issued to your address at a later date.
Typical Code Violations
Pricing a Home for Quick Sale
In order to try and sell a home that has code violations to a traditional buyer in Lancaster, you must significantly lower the asking price. Overall, buyers are in search of hassle-free homes that have been labeled as “move-in ready”. If there are serious issues with the property, most lenders will not support a loan for the property, so you may need to exclusively accept cash offers. Problems related to electrical, plumbing, septic, and zoning can be primary dilemmas and red flags with lenders. Before listing a property or if you are starting the process of selling it on your own, discover what we can offer you.
Understand Each Individual Department of the City
In most cases, if you have a code violation it was probably the result of not passing an inspection or due to an incident that caused the city to issue the violation. Lancaster City has three departments that make up the code enforcement: The Property Maintenance Group, The Health Unit, and the Building Code Unit. The property maintenance group enforces the outer appearance of properties in the city as well as the latest restrictions on lead paint poisoning and other hazards. The health unit generally inspects commercial spaces to regulate health standards but also manages the pest control program. The Uniform Building Standard codes help regulate compliances and provide permits for renovations. The majority of residential problems that come up include property maintenance groups related to the preservation of the building code unit for work without a permit.
Collaborate with the City to Find a Solution
In order to quickly and easily sell a home with code violations, work with the city to iron out any unresolved violations in the house. If there are violations that are visible, they can be fixed by simply cleaning the home’s exterior. Clear out weeds and other unsightly vegetation, remove trash, and clean the property to attract potential buyers while taking care of past issues. It’s important to review each violation and tackle the core of the problem. Code violations are complicated. Extensive work might be needed to reach property standards.
It’s helpful to work alongside inspectors to find a solution to potential issues. Violations should be thoroughly reviewed, and the inspectors should be asked what changes need to be made in order to get the violation lifted. Keep a pen and paper, or the “Notes” app through your phone, on hand so that you can record what they say. Bring a licensed city contractor so that you can ask them questions while reviewing the violation. Be aware that there may be terms that you won’t understand when the inspector and the contractor talk to each other. At the end of the meeting, make sure the inspector provides a written and signed document that outlines the problems with the property. Make an appointment for a follow-up inspection with the city after the work is completed.
Petition the City to Repeal Violations
After resolving the violations, appeal to the city and ask to lift the violations. An inspector will be reappointed to look at the house for any issues. Have a copy of your initial walkthrough notes in the event that they may add other items to the violation. It’s common for different inspectors to notice other items during their second walk-through. If the work is completed down to the details, code violations should be lifted immediately or shortly after the inspection is complete. Official documentation will be issued to your address at a later date.
Typical Code Violations
- Drain Covers
- Faulty Fire Alarms
- Height of Handrails
- Outdated Electrical Wiring
- Old Oil Tanks
- Tempered Windows
- Water hose/bib connections
- Window Limiters
Pricing a Home for Quick Sale
In order to try and sell a home that has code violations to a traditional buyer in Lancaster, you must significantly lower the asking price. Overall, buyers are in search of hassle-free homes that have been labeled as “move-in ready”. If there are serious issues with the property, most lenders will not support a loan for the property, so you may need to exclusively accept cash offers. Problems related to electrical, plumbing, septic, and zoning can be primary dilemmas and red flags with lenders. Before listing a property or if you are starting the process of selling it on your own, discover what we can offer you.