Buyer beware if Ballot Measure 63 passes in November. That measure, sponsored by — you guessed it — Bill Sizemore, allows property owners to make renovations to their own residential or farm property without a building permit if the cost of the work does not exceed $35,000. Local building officials tell us that could be the cost of a 200- to 300-square-foot addition.

If not tethered by building codes, do-it-yourself renovators have a tendency to take shortcuts. City and county inspections aren’t performed, and “little things” such as plumbing or structural work get covered by sheet rock, fixtures or flooring.

Industries near and dear to the housing industry — real estate brokers, bankers and insurance companies — question the wisdom of the proposed law mainly because of safety concerns. From a risk standpoint, local insurance agents agree the permit threshhold is too high.

Anyone who has bought or sold a home in the past 10 years knows that housing inspections are required before a sale can close. Bankers demand a clean report before committing to loans. With Measure 63, sellers who have done their own renovations will have to open up that wall and show inspectors the construction. If it isn’t up to code, the work will have to be corrected.

So, in the end, Mr. Seller has jeopardized the safety of his family to save a few bucks on a permit, only to pay the piper much more to make the corrections if he wants to make the sale. Or keep his family safe.

We recommend a No vote on Measure 63.