Whether you’re selling a mid-century ranch in an established neighborhood, a 1920s arts and crafts bungalow on a tree-lined avenue, or a brand new contemporary white box in a just-built subdivision, a home inspection may very well reveal code violations. This should not create a panic situation. While the news can be surprising and a little distressing, selling a house with code violations is possible. And the discovery of code violations is more common than you might think.

DIY home repairs and renovations will almost surely have code violations. “They happen all the time,” says Jared Davis, a top real estate agent who works with 80% more single-family homes than the average agent in Richmond, Virginia. He speaks from experience as both an agent and a house flipper. Even work performed by contractors is subject to code violations.

The most frequent issue he sees is a lack of permits. “One flipper bought a house where the previous owner didn’t get permits for the third bathroom.” It came to light during the home inspection. “The contract fell through,” Davis reports.

If you’re facing a code violation, this post can help calm your nerves. We added expert advice from Davis and Bruce Barker, member of the American Society of Home Inspectors Inc. (ASHI) and president of Dream Home Consultants, LLC, to our research on selling a house with code violations to help you determine your selling strategy in light of this discovery.