service calls and permits

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LarryFine said:
I have no problem with pulling permits foir every job. Well, okay, I have one problem with it:

If I pull a permit for anything, with a $55 minimum, and the hour it takes to apply, that adds approx. $150 to the cost, even for a $150 ceiling-fan install.

"Yes, ma'am, I charge $300, but I do it legally."

Now, if you can tell me how to get a job when the competition is willing to do it for half as much by skipping the permit, I'll be happy to pull one every time.
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$250- $290 for a ceiling fan install with accessable attic where there is no ceiling light is about the right price. I'll do all 3 bedrooms for $600.
 
"I've seen it many times the fire department can't seem to pinpoint the cause so they say it was an electrical fire"

FYI, the fire they were investigating was caused by rags in the garage, the owner was refinishing cabinets, and left the rags in the corner of the garage, and i believe the official report noted this, and yes it appeared he was fishing for information, as iwire noted, every area is different, and laws on permitting differ, but if you have your work permited, you may, reduce your companies exposure, should a problem arise, remember even though your city, or state may not require a permit, will your insurance contract require it?
 
bkludecke said:
If you think it's frustrating to compete w/ licensed ECs who don't pull permits, try competeing in a market overrun w/"handymen" (retirees supplementing there income by doing sidework) and dayworkers (legal and illegal) working for cash and not paying taxes. You want me in jail? Fine. Then you can house me, feed me and give me free medical/dental AND you can then pull more permits feeling smug about what a great EC you are. With the exception of not pulling a permit on every 2bit job we are actually quite legit. We pay taxes, have insurance, have worker comp, pay excellent wages and benefits etc. I am constantly trying to "fix the problem" by writing legislators and educating the public. I stay current on codes and laws that affect our trade etc, and I don't need anyone telling me that I need to do jailtime for not pulling a permit Lighten up.
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If you read my post I appologized. What you do still doesn't make things right. Rules are put in place for a reason. If you don't agree with them doesn't mean you cannot follow them. It's part of doing business. I tell them if they found someone cheaper then hire them, they know what their value is worth. They pay for what they get. More often than not, without the benefit of a permit breeds inefficient work and cutting corners.
 
77401 said:
& you still loose to us not puliing permits?

Can I share a jail cell with the owner?
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Sometimes. Because the quality of my craftsmanship far exceeds the minimum. They pay for what they get.
 
Here in WA, we have "small work" permits. You must permit everything, even just swapping out a single receptacle. You buy a book of 20 for $200. You fill in the info, mail on copy to Labor and Industries, and post the other on the site. It is subject to a random inspection, but I haven't heard of one being inspected yet.
 
marcerrin said:
Here in WA, we have "small work" permits. You must permit everything, even just swapping out a single receptacle. You buy a book of 20 for $200. You fill in the info, mail on copy to Labor and Industries, and post the other on the site. It is subject to a random inspection, but I haven't heard of one being inspected yet.
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I have to say this is a very nice idea and I wish it was here in SC. This would reduce the incentive for homeowners to use unlicensed individuals to do the work.

As a sidenote I am doing work on my own home as is permitted by the local laws, codes, and ordinances, I could not and would not do the work elsewhere (ie another person's house) until I obtained the appropriate licensure in this state to do so. Though I do have a work permit and have remained in contact with my AHJ to make sure that all the work I'm doing is done right, to code, and is not violating anything that could put me in a precarious situation.
 
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marcerrin said:
Here in WA, we have "small work" permits. You must permit everything, even just swapping out a single receptacle. You buy a book of 20 for $200. You fill in the info, mail on copy to Labor and Industries, and post the other on the site. It is subject to a random inspection, but I haven't heard of one being inspected yet.
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while this is a more rational approach, does it not bother anyone at all that in the land of the free we have to get permission from some bloated bureaucracy to change a light bulb?
 
tbonse said:
This would reduce the incentive for homeowners to use unlicensed individuals to do the work.
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Here in my part of Virginia it is illegal for a homeowner to pay an unlicensed person to perform electrical work. They can get a permit and do it themselves, but if they don't do it themselves they must hire a licensed and bonded person. The Commonwealth provides a website to verify their credentials.

Of course, I've never actually heard of a homeowner being penalized.
 
Mike03a3 said:
....Of course, I've never actually heard of a homeowner being penalized.
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They get penalized all the time. Virginia, as well as many other states, has a "recovery fund" which is established for the purpose of reimbursing homeowners for money lost to shady and unscrupulous contractors.

The premise is the homeowner has to hire a licensed contractor to be eligible for reimbursement under the program. There are many, many claims made to the state for reimbursement that are denied because the owner failed to verify credentials, or willfully hired someone unlicensed.
 
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