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Discussion Forum

Licensed contractors debate

andybuildz | Posted in General Discussion on October 6, 2002 10:39am

I’m going to keep this real simple because we can seriously get over our heads here. I would love to hear SIMPLE answers to this debate not long strung out answers. Simple ones. For me in New York state to get a license all I needed to do was pass test about contracts mainly. NOT about building, so that’s not the point.  The point IS that I’ve been willing to go through several hoops and register with my town and state. Registered so that anyone that desires can look up my past credentials for whatever that worth. Its worth a whole lot more then not being able to. It also means I have to be insured. Is that worth anything to you? Sure costs me enough and well worth it all around. The process in understanding contracting or contractors may be easy for some but not so easy for the newbie homeowner. Why do we need a license to drive? Or for that matter the stupidest license of all…to marry. Who does that benefit? Answer is…..well, you answer it! What’s the difference here?

I’m not advocating paying the state more then they’re due but this isn’t about that. Whats it about? Asking you all.

Be well

         Namaste’

                      Andy

It’s not who’s right, it’s who’s left ~ http://CLIFFORDRENOVATIONS.COM


Edited 10/6/2002 3:42:53 PM ET by Andy Clifford(Andybuildz)

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  1. User avater
    bobl | Oct 06, 2002 10:48pm | #1

    one point of view

    license = revenue for government

    another

    license = minimum training to do the job on the theory it will be done right

    on the first view, when our state passed a limit on property taxes, guess what, fees went up.  we pay less in taxes and more in fees

    bobl          Volo Non Voleo      Joe's cheat sheet

  2. Piffin | Oct 06, 2002 11:28pm | #2

    brief.

    When I was licensed in Florida, all it took was a fee and a bond. Getting the permit and inspection did more to influence minimum quality standards. I know they're more strict down there now.

    Mass and Calif have real rests to get licensed, I think. How many states actually have tests geared to knowledge and experience or is this just another form of a govt run union.

    .

    Excellence is its own reward!

    1. Mooney | Oct 06, 2002 11:48pm | #3

      Arkansas has a written test and to further it , you have to be of financial standing offering them a financial statement , and tax return from the previous year.  You must have build 5 houses in the past three years with copies of current building permits to be excluded from the test.

      Tim Mooney 

      1. Piffin | Oct 07, 2002 12:54am | #5

        So, does that exclusion mean basically, that if I'm already buiilding, I don't need to take the test to get licensed?

        .

        Excellence is its own reward!

        1. Mooney | Oct 07, 2002 01:00am | #6

          Correct , with the information supplied.

          Tim Mooney

          1. FrankB89 | Oct 07, 2002 03:10am | #7

            When I started out in '89 or '90, I worked unlicensed for awhile, doing some small remodel/repair jobs while I started building my own house.

            At the time, the timber industry was waning out here in the NW and the Green carders from down south began moving from reforestation work to construction work. 

            I chose at that time to go ahead and get licensed to separate myself what was becoming a major problem...unlicensed/ unqualified people doing half-assed work very cheaply (why not with no overhead) and no permanent address.

            So once I jumped through the hoops I think, What's the big deal?  The license fee is less that $100 a year for a GC.  You'd be nuts to work without Liab, Bond and Workmans Comp in any case and that's the biggest admin. expense and like Lisa (I think it was) pointed out, the customers have a track record and viability data base to access.

            I'm not overly into this "Big Brother" paranoia nonsense when I see more benefit than harm.

            If someone wants to work without a license/insurance/ bond/workers comp, go ahead, but the lifestyle and nest you are trying to build for yourself may become some opportunists' winning lottery ticket.  And to save a $100...

            Andybuildz...sorry about the long post 

          2. Piffin | Oct 07, 2002 03:28am | #8

            Whale now, you've just done went and brought a whole 'nutha' bag 'o' worms to the table for us to agree on.

            Anybody who'd work without worker's comp or liability ins is plumb loco. I think I paid about as much for them last year as I used to make just a few years ago but peace of mind is worth something, after all.

            But I'm wondering what one has to do with the other. I buy insurance to protect my self, same as any builder with half a brain. I want to sleep at night if one of the guys gets hurt on my job.

            Do some states make you buy insurances before they issue a license? Is that the connection? Are you assuming that's the way it is everywhere? Are you implying that I can't buy insurance without a license?

            I got no problem with the cost of a license. If I was in a jurisdiction that required them, I'd get me one to decorate the wall with. But nobody here has said a dang thing about how they protect the consumer. I've heard the assumption repeated but no proof or reasonning put forth. The only thing being protected is the contractor's turf. In the long run, is that good for the consumer?.

            Excellence is its own reward!

          3. FrankB89 | Oct 07, 2002 03:57am | #9

            2 things.  Here they do require license and bond before license is issued.  I can only speak for this state, but insurance companies are getting really flaky and looking for any reason to drop a construction client.  (There was a thread about the insurance issue awhile back that addressed that whole issue).  And banks here want the GC's license data as part of the loan approval for the HO.

            The contractors board here, while not perfect, is a pretty decent resource for both HO and contractors.  I've been alerted to a couple of potential problems by checking their data base on subs and the attendant complaint file.  A HO has access to the same data base and it's helpful to know that Mr. Slick with the nice truck, signage and spiffy spec house has about 12 complaints on file in the past 6 mo.

            In addition, there is a dispute process for HO and contractors through the contractors board that often settles things without getting the sharks involved.

            On one level, I'm appalled, generally, at the cost us honest citizens incur to pay for the behaviors of the dishonest and the criminals.

             If we could all work with handshakes, not cheat old ladies, and practice Capitalism with Conscience and always pursue excellence, we wouldn't need prisons, the SEC, or John Ashcroft....or trade licenses.  Think of the money we'd save. 

          4. Piffin | Oct 07, 2002 04:33am | #10

            I'll shake on that.

            For clarification, is what you call the contrators board a state licensing board or a professional trade organization?.

            Excellence is its own reward!

          5. FrankB89 | Oct 07, 2002 04:40am | #11

            Licensing board.  They also handle plumbers, Elect., and most recently, landscapers, although a GC can do a limited amount of landscaping with a project.  I'm still a little irked about the landscape license requirement, because I was starting to do some of that as a sideline, but the licensing was brought about in the legislature because of problems the public was having with faulty installations of underground irrigation systems, noxious plant issues, herbicide issues, ad nauseum.

             

          6. Piffin | Oct 07, 2002 04:52am | #12

            So, does a farmer need a landscaping license now???????

            I'm all agog!.

            Excellence is its own reward!

          7. FrankB89 | Oct 07, 2002 05:06am | #13

            Oh, Puleeeze! let's not get started on farmers;  with all the non-point source pollution issues, irrigation conflicting  with Salmon spawning and Indians rights;  Cows staying out of the creeks, Yuppies bitching about farm dust and noise and smells......

            Dealing with a contractors license is small...er....potatoes (do you have to have a spud growers permit in ME?) 

          8. Piffin | Oct 07, 2002 05:15am | #14

            Not that I'm aware of but I think you need to speak French.

            Farmers are catching it bad for nitrates in water.

            We'll all be paying more for food stuffs in a year. That's certain..

            Excellence is its own reward!

    2. User avater
      bobl | Oct 07, 2002 12:53am | #4

      http://www.state.ma.us/homeimprovement/contractor/whenreg.htm

      http://www.state.ma.us/bbrs/csl.htm

      bobl          Volo Non Voleo      Joe's cheat sheet

      Edited 10/6/2002 5:56:35 PM ET by bobl

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