Where can I get this?

**zink** · 10-06-2009, 07:21 PM

I seem to be having some trouble here, so any help will be appreciated. Where do I find out if a part of the house was originally built with the house or if it was added on after the owner moved in?

My home inspector apparently looked the information up online and said the porch was added on but my realtor says it was part of the home when it was originally built according to the selling agent. Somebody doesn't know what they're talking about so I want to find out myself.

**SearchTheJungle** · 10-12-2009, 10:27 AM

It may be impossible to find the answer, but here is what I would try:

1. Ask the home inspector for his source of information.

2. Your profile says you're from Tampa, FL, so you might look up the tax records of the property with the Hillsborough County tax collector at: http://www.hillstax.org/tax/propertytaxmain.asp

3. Contact Hillsborough County for any records of building permits or construction permits being issued for the property.

4. Ask neighbors.

5. Compare construction between the porch and the rest of the property. Look at roofing materials, siding materials, type of nails used, decals or stamps that a contractor may have left in an obscure corner, compare floor joists (see if they're stamped with a lumber yard name, are they the same size, etc.), look at the quality of work, etc.

6. Look at homes in the neighborhood with the same floor plan. Do they have a porch or not.

Good luck.

**tuttleco** · 12-16-2009, 05:23 AM

I do have one more thing to add, you can also contact the people that lived there and get into account details from the owner who first build your house.