Did they get Permits?
From personal experience, it seems most older Las Vegas houses have had at least minor changes made over the years. If the previous owner installed a shed twenty years ago, and did not get a permit (required for sheds that are larger than 120 square feet), it probably isn't going to mean much. If a past owner converted a garage to living space (a very common project) without getting the needed paperwork, you could have one or more serious problems. First, the unpermitted work means the added square footage cannot be counted legally in the size of the house. If, not knowing any better, you paid for a 2100 square foot house, and the converted garage accounts for 400 square feet of that, you may have a problem. When you sell, your house may appraise as only 1700 square feet. Assuming comparable houses are selling in the $150/square foot range, you have just lost $60,000. Second, the work might not be up to code. Now this may be a very minor issue, but it may have a couple of nasty effects. A truly unsafe condition, such as a gas water heater in an unvented closet, may be putting your life, your family's lives, and your house at risk. Having looked at hundreds of Las Vegas houses, I have seen an amazing array of dangerous situations caused by previous owners work. If an insurance agency inspects your house before writing a policy, they might not issue coverage until the situation is corrected. That could cost thousands of dollars, and take several weeks or months to complete. Make sure that all past work has been done legally. You can do it!
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