Should I pull Permits?!?!

[Ronald Meza]

Hello all,

I am new to the real estate business and I am just starting to renovate a 4 br, 3.5 bath in the Arizona. I am running into some maybe "ethical" dilemma. I have talked to 2 general contractors in which they stated that for interior work of the house without adding square footage to the home, it would not make sense to delay renovations to pull out permits. I called the county and they say that I am supposed to pull out permits for adding rooms, electrical work, plumbing, etc; however, the GC I'm working with says they have never had a problem with passing inspection after renovating without permits bc they use all original electric wiring, plumbing etc and do not change any of that. Can someone please advise me on the right thing to do? please and thank you. 

[Doug Smith]

Yes. A thousand times yes. Get red-tagged just once and you'll understand. Half-a$$ing a renovation will cost you more in the long run. Just do the job right up front. Pull the permits for the things that require permits...roofs, A/C, plumbing, etc. If you want to paint yourself, that's your call, but pull the darn permits on the stuff that requires it.