Permits

[Kevin Izquierdo]

I've been a handyman for quite some time, but I never understood the concept of Permits from a home owners perspective. If I'm the home owner and live there, do I need a permit to fix a kitchen or finish a basement? I remember speaking to a home owner who was selling a house and had to reduce the selling price because of a garage that wasnt on the blueprint of the house. Can anybody give me some insight on this?

[Nathan W.]

It's so you don't do something stupid and then sell your mistake to someone else.  Makes perfect sense to me.  You are not going to be the only inhabitant of the house until the end of time.