Permitting can be a tricky and complicated process, full of numerous regulatory hurdles.  It becomes especially complicated if you hire someone to do Remodeling or Renovation work and they are unlicensed, or fail to properly document the permit with the local building department.  Given the fact that the building, energy, and mechanical codes have changed several times over the last 5 years, we cannot stress the importance of having your project properly permitted.  There are still many contractors on Cape Cod who will bid on a project, and then ask the homeowner to obtain their own permit. This is a huge red flag and indicates one of the following problems:

- The contractor is not licensed do do the work

- The contractor does not have workman's compensation insurance

-The contractor has lost his license for violations reported to the state

In Massachusetts, the law is very clear about doing any work in a home, and basically, unless you are re-painting, you need to obtain a permit for most work.  So if you would like your next  Remodeling, Renovation, or New Home project to be done right, and you don't want to worry about permits, hire a licensed, reputable contractor, and please check their references.

Here is an article from the Wall Street Journal about permitting mistakes: Avoiding Pitfalls of Remodeling Permits.  We have also put together a guide for hiring a general contractor that provides a checklist of things you should be looking for when you hire a contractor, click below to download:

   The Commerce Department released it's September statistics for new home starts and building permit activities.  New Home construction was up 15% from August, and building permits are rising at the same level.  The level of activity in September signifies an 82.5% increase from all time lows seen in 2009! So what does this mean for your New Home, Renovation, or Remodeling project on Cape Cod? Well it means demand for qualified and experienced contracting services is on the rise, and that material prices will be on the move as well.  Since last year at this time, REEF has witnessed an 8% increase in construction materials prices for the average home.  So if you have been thinking of Building, Remodeling or Renovating on Cape Cod, now is a great time to start and take advantage of still low costs and low interest rates! Here is the full article from Yahoo Finance: Construction Starts Up

If you are thinking of starting your project click here to see how we can help:

  Buying a lot or land on Cape Cod is still a realistic option for many of our customers.  There are still several reasonably priced parcels left on the Cape, and building a new home can afford a customer the ability to design a home that exactly suits their needs.  However, there are many issues that must be addressed before the purchase. Here are just a few:

• Site Plans / Perc Test
• House Design and Engineering
• Historic / Conservation and other approvals
• Building Permits

   Partnering with a reputable and experienced design/build firm can make this process predictable and provide the customer with some assurance that in fact the home desired can be built on the chosen lot.  Custom Homes can provide the flexibility in design and appearance that many customers desire, but without proper planning, the permitting can become an arduous process.

REEF, Cape Cod's Home Builder has developed a critical planning guide for customers planning New Homes and Renovation projects on Cape Cod.  Click Below to download the guide: