Hillsborough County, Florida deputies conduct sting to nab unlicensed contractors.
The article mentions the resources expended to catch these untaxed handymen could have probably been used elsewhere on something the rest of us would call actual crime.
It also mentions that these occupational licenses are far more about protectionism and revenue than to help the consumer.
But what I have never seen an answer to, is the question: Was the the work done correctly?
As a consumer, that's all I really care about. In the back of my mind I want recourse should the person I hired prove incompetent.
Something the licensing system in Florida has created is a situation where I don't have legal recourse against an incompetent contractor should they prove to be unlicensed because why just punish the person who screwed up the work when you can also punish the person who hired them?
The idea is to force the homeowner to only hire licensed contractors.
Well...
I'm waiting on my licensed roofer to coordinate with the county inspectors to start work on my patio roof.
Marv's waiting on permitting inspectors to get a metal shed installed on his new house.
One huge advantage of the fly-by-night blackmarket construction worker is they show up when they say and do the work right then and there.
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I know an unlicensed contractor in Arizona. All his working adult life, he held a contractor's license, bonding, insurance, etc. But he could not compete against the unlicensed and licensed contractors using illegal aliens, and he refuses to use illegals in his operations.
ReplyDeleteSo, he went underground. He does excellent work and stays busy all the time. But, he does not supply any materials. He gives the home/property owner a list of what he needs to do the job and they purchase them and have them delivered to the site. The owners also pull any permits and coordinate any necessary inspections, with him advising them. His advertising is entirely word of mouth.
The licensed roofer I am waiting on employ's a crew composed entirely of Mexicans, so being unlicensed isn't the only people save money by buying slaves.
DeleteJust go online, learn how to do the job, buy the materials and do it yourself.
ReplyDeleteNo permits, no snoops, no illegals. When the time comes to sell the property, just play dumb and say it has always been this way so it must be grandfathered. Nine out of ten the inspector does not want to do any more paperwork than you do and will say "all OK".
That's my normal modus operandi.
DeleteThe problem with roofing, especially a flat roof, is by the time you've accumulated the tools and skills; you might as well get the license at start being a contractor yourself.
We checked into all this with Marv's much larger flat roof.