If you’re getting ready to sell your home, it makes sense that you’d want to renovate and fix any lingering problems as a way to get top dollar for your home. But if you want your renovations to help your home sale—and not hurt it—you need to ensure you have the necessary permits.

According to a recent article from Redfin, there are a number of home renovation and improvement projects—including fence installations and repairs, window installations, plumbing and electrical work, structural changes, heating maintenance, and additions or remodels—that require a permit from the city government. When you obtain these permits, the changes and improvements you make to your home are inspected by the city to ensure they’re up to code. Once they’re approved, they are put on official record.

Why is this important? When you sell your home, both buyers and lenders will want to know that any changes, improvements, renovations, or modifications made to the home were done safely and comply with all relevant building codes. They’ll ask for the city permits as proof—and if you don’t have them, it can sink the sale.

The Takeaway:

If you’re renovating your home, make sure you have the right permits. Otherwise, when you go to sell, you may have a serious problem on your hands.