Permit status decides more than presentation does. A secondary suite the City of Saskatoon has inspected and permitted lets a lender count its rental income, which widens the buyer pool to include investors as well as owner-occupiers, while an unpermitted suite narrows that pool considerably.
Tenancy also shapes the timeline. A vacant unit is easier to show on a buyer's schedule, while a tenanted unit under the Residential Tenancies Act needs proper notice before showings, which can add real coordination time even when the price is right.
Documenting the suite's permit history and rent roll before listing removes the biggest source of buyer hesitation on a two-family property. Get your hand-reviewed valuation from Joel Dyck.