If the city wants to collect licensing fees from every home improvement contractor, PLUS collect permit fees, what would the homeowner get in return? Will the city cover us for shoddy work (since they approved these people and all <eye roll>). Will they act like the FDIC? Will we only have to pay the first $50 like when our credit cards are stolen?
The City of Batavia thinks it needs to have it's hands in every pocket of every person either living or working here. No wonder our little city is going to hell in a handbasket.
Just another way to stick their hands in the pockets of hard working Batavians. Absolutely ridiculous. And aren't they considering adding some kind of PR person with a relatively enormous pay rate? Compared to what the average joe Batavian makes?
I think this could be a good idea if done right. I have been self-employed for 18 years and I think it could weed out the moon-lighters. Instead of calling them licensed maybe we could say registered.
It won't make any difference,drive around the city on the weekends and see the work being done on houses,mainly roofs, when the inspectors are off. This system is already in place, it's called the better business bureau,check before you sign on the dotted line. As far as certification,that usually comes from the manufacturer or vendor of the product your installing,tile,shingles,siding,plumbing,electrical,etc. when in question,call to see if you need a permit,that way at least if the city signed off on it,you'll have something to fall back on.
P.S. If it's going to be like the past plumbing board,no one will be able to work in the city.
Well Mike, I'll bet most(all) don't have insurance,or a permit for the job. There's alot of skilled guy's out there,not taking away from that,they do great work but MOST are not insured, if they fall off the roof,burn the house down soldering a pipe,damage the neighbors house throwing stuff off the roof,break a gas/water line,etc.or DON'T do the job right,because they have not kept up on codes, THEN it's a problem (for the home owner) because whoever did the work is paid and gone,or guess who they will sue if they get hurt and can't do their REGULAR job? Most skilled trades have to follow codes,wether it's plumbing,electrical,roofing,carpentry,etc. I guess at least having insurance, a permit,and a contract protects the homeowner,because when it's done,it's inspected to make sure it's done right and signed off(protection for the homeowner or at least a paper trail). I'm all for saving money,but there shouldn't be anything shady about home improvement.
P.S. They've created a show about fixing home improvement things done by "contractors" -Holmes on Homes, it seems EVERY show the job has no permits,inspections,or in some a written contract.
Paul, you have some valid points, but some others that are speculative. Also, inspectors don't have to be on sight during every minute of the day watching over someones shoulder.
Holmes on Homes has been on for a while now, on HGTV. The shows were filmed in Canada, most of them are from 2004 or around then. He does some beautiful work!
Paul well said. As for moonlighters i love them. When they screw up, then the homeowner calls me to fix it right and then the homeowner never uses a moonlighter again. In 18 years i have seen them come and go in my town. Bottom line they are uninsured.
For all the promise of intent, licensing has but two guarantees: the jurisdiction will incur revenue and those contractors who jump through the bureaucratic hoops will operate with reduced competition.
Municipalities have an interest in protecting public investment in utilities, safety and property from the outcomes of poor craftsmanship. Someone- other than the general public -should be responsible for cost of damage resulting from shoddy work.
Mandating insurance, escrow or bond- whether provided by the homeowner, business owner, General Contractor or independent contractor- to satisfy liabilities would fulfill the public interest. The provision of coverage could be certified prior to issue of building permit. Baring a permit, financial responsibility is split between the property owner and contractor.
How different would such conditions be from existing law?
If the city wants to collect
If the city wants to collect licensing fees from every home improvement contractor, PLUS collect permit fees, what would the homeowner get in return? Will the city cover us for shoddy work (since they approved these people and all <eye roll>). Will they act like the FDIC? Will we only have to pay the first $50 like when our credit cards are stolen?
The City of Batavia thinks it needs to have it's hands in every pocket of every person either living or working here. No wonder our little city is going to hell in a handbasket.
i have been ripped off by 2
i have been ripped off by 2 city licensed plumbers, the city did nothing.
Just another way to stick
Just another way to stick their hands in the pockets of hard working Batavians. Absolutely ridiculous. And aren't they considering adding some kind of PR person with a relatively enormous pay rate? Compared to what the average joe Batavian makes?
I think this could be a good
I think this could be a good idea if done right. I have been self-employed for 18 years and I think it could weed out the moon-lighters. Instead of calling them licensed maybe we could say registered.
I'm curious... Are general
I'm curious... Are general contractors already required to get licensed by the State of New York?
It won't make any
It won't make any difference,drive around the city on the weekends and see the work being done on houses,mainly roofs, when the inspectors are off. This system is already in place, it's called the better business bureau,check before you sign on the dotted line. As far as certification,that usually comes from the manufacturer or vendor of the product your installing,tile,shingles,siding,plumbing,electrical,etc. when in question,call to see if you need a permit,that way at least if the city signed off on it,you'll have something to fall back on.
P.S. If it's going to be like the past plumbing board,no one will be able to work in the city.
What is wrong with
What is wrong with moonlighters? If they are knowledgeable and skilled enough to do the work properly who cares if they do it part time?
Well Mike, I'll bet most(all)
Well Mike, I'll bet most(all) don't have insurance,or a permit for the job. There's alot of skilled guy's out there,not taking away from that,they do great work but MOST are not insured, if they fall off the roof,burn the house down soldering a pipe,damage the neighbors house throwing stuff off the roof,break a gas/water line,etc.or DON'T do the job right,because they have not kept up on codes, THEN it's a problem (for the home owner) because whoever did the work is paid and gone,or guess who they will sue if they get hurt and can't do their REGULAR job? Most skilled trades have to follow codes,wether it's plumbing,electrical,roofing,carpentry,etc. I guess at least having insurance, a permit,and a contract protects the homeowner,because when it's done,it's inspected to make sure it's done right and signed off(protection for the homeowner or at least a paper trail). I'm all for saving money,but there shouldn't be anything shady about home improvement.
P.S. They've created a show about fixing home improvement things done by "contractors" -Holmes on Homes, it seems EVERY show the job has no permits,inspections,or in some a written contract.
Paul, you have some valid
Paul, you have some valid points, but some others that are speculative. Also, inspectors don't have to be on sight during every minute of the day watching over someones shoulder.
Holmes on Homes has been on
Holmes on Homes has been on for a while now, on HGTV. The shows were filmed in Canada, most of them are from 2004 or around then. He does some beautiful work!
Paul well said. As for
Paul well said. As for moonlighters i love them. When they screw up, then the homeowner calls me to fix it right and then the homeowner never uses a moonlighter again. In 18 years i have seen them come and go in my town. Bottom line they are uninsured.
Every man has a property in
Every man has a property in his own person. This nobody has a right to, but himself. ~John Locke
In this present crisis,
In this present crisis, government is not the solution to our problem; government is the problem
Ronald Reagan
Ok, what do the political
Ok, what do the political quotes have to do with the original topic?
For all the promise of
For all the promise of intent, licensing has but two guarantees: the jurisdiction will incur revenue and those contractors who jump through the bureaucratic hoops will operate with reduced competition.
Municipalities have an interest in protecting public investment in utilities, safety and property from the outcomes of poor craftsmanship. Someone- other than the general public -should be responsible for cost of damage resulting from shoddy work.
Mandating insurance, escrow or bond- whether provided by the homeowner, business owner, General Contractor or independent contractor- to satisfy liabilities would fulfill the public interest. The provision of coverage could be certified prior to issue of building permit. Baring a permit, financial responsibility is split between the property owner and contractor.
How different would such conditions be from existing law?
Jeremiah, the quote means no
Jeremiah, the quote means no one has the right to force me to use a certain contractor.
thank you terry
thank you terry