Is pulling permits a waste of time/money?

[Adam Lowe]

So I’m doing my 1st flip and I’ve been getting a mixed response on wether or not pulling permits is a good idea. On one side I’m being told that it’s a must and that it’ll hurt me once the inspector comes through. Conversely, other people say it’s more time/money and as long as it’s up to code it shouldn’t be questioned? Any thoughts or past experiences would be greatly appreciated!

[Jim K.]

You posted a very general question, so here's a very general answer: if you're planning on doing a number of rehabs or owning more than one rental in a specific area, you need to build a positive, professional, respectful relationship with code enforcement authorities or they can make your life a living hell at any time with very little warning. Find out who the authorities are and on this, your first flip, conscientiously do exactly what they tell you to do.