Working Without License?

JumboJack

Thats a little harsh...Most of the contractors that I know don't even want to take "handyman" jobs ie: fixing a broken gate,installing a screen door etc..A true handyman is not taking work from me IF he is a true handyman
and sticks to the under 500.00 total rule.

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in texas with framing and cornish people will do it for 3.00 a foot. What do yall think about that? Just laber

abonear

Hi MetroContruc

No...I'm not taking a contractors job...in fact we take the ****ty jobs..and we got to take lots of them to make a good living. We get calls for jobs replacing hardware on a kitchen cabinet door, replace one tile. Helping elders with cleaning their garages, Sometimes real stupid stuff that no way in Hell a Contractor would touch. But we also get lots of those other people as I mentioned that want us to do huge jobs and I tell them no. The fact is if we are in the handyman business is because we want the small jobs. We do not want to spend 3- 6 months in a project. We want to be able to finish a job in a day get paid and move on to the next. A home remodeling or room addition is not what we are about. Yet the consumer constantly want to think a Handyman can do it all because all they can charge is the $500.00

We are currently in line for our General Contractors license. We have enough experience to be able to do bigger jobs...but again...
Big jobs are not our thing. We like doing small jobs. We don't have to pull permits, we can fix a broken glass on a window and change a toilet and go home.

I don't think a Handyman is a threat to any contractor. Handymen never di-value anything. As long as you value your work and your ethics you have nothing to worry about. Some people spend to much time blaming others for their lack of business. If it wasn't for the immigrants, if it wasn't for the gas prices, if it wasn't for the government, if it wasn't for the Handyman...Common.. If you are a contractor go out there and pull those customers in. Do a great job, your customers will be more than happy to provide you with 3-4 leads for you. You'll never be without business.

Now I'm sure there are Handyman who are irresponsible. Because I've had to correct a few problems here and there. But for the most part in our area. Most of the handyman have either specific trade license or the General. We have trade only for right now. I think anyone in this field should keep themselves educated know the going rates for any job. I think that is very important and I think we need to inform the consumer/customer.
It's easy for the consumer to always want to shop around but if everyone had the same or similar price range then it really comes down to service.

I have contractor friends and If I were to do a bathroom remodeling for $500.00 when he charges $5000.00 they I'm bringing down the value for BOTH of us. That would be ridiculous for us to do that. It's not that hard to get a license and for those who do not have it, I tell you make an effort to get it. It's an investment that will pay for it self. Do what is right and if you need help, always ask. I have not met a contractor that would not answer a question in the most colorful and blunt way. It never hurts to ask.

I think by the end of this year we will have ours as general linc. but I'm not leaving the handyman business at all for it. Instead of charging $499.00 I will be able to charge a Whopping $599.00 and that is Just Okay with us.

Peace and Prosperity to all
Sandra

neolitic

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(Sorry....it seems there really are dumb questions)

metroconstruct

Jumbojack,

Rubbish... the facts do not concur with your Utopian view.

For your information these unscrupulous individuals do not stay under the $500 limit, both labor and materials. The fact is this: here in California most unlicensed contractors are criminals or ex-cons; they are not qualified to do the work nor would you want to invite them into your home around your kids and valuables.

For the facts, read the articles on the following link: http://www.gouca.org/unlicensed_contractors_beware.htm

You should also have a bit more concern for your license which is being de-valued by each handyman that pops up. But, this is no sweat off your back... as you stated, you don't make your living on small jobs.

Despite your projected-sentimental concerns for the 'poor' handyman, the majority of contractors suffering here are sole proprietors whom are just eeking out a living for themselves and their families.

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abonear

OMG I can't believe someone made a Webpage for the Handyman Haters...
Now I've seen it all. I wonder who is the founder of that web page. A Licensed Contractor?

Bob Kovacs

Dude, I understand that you're upset about losing jobs to unlicensed contractors, but that website is about the most pathetic attempt to get people to hire licensed contractors that I've ever seen.

If you think I couldn't create the exact same page and fill it with stories of "licensed contractors" who have killed, raped, assaulted, sexually offended, etc., you'd be sadly mistaken, so the whole point of the page is absurd, and only shows a lack of professionalism on your part if you'd stoop to the level of creating such a thing. If you want to be respected for having a license and being a "professional" instead of one of the unlicensed hacks that you're trying to run out of Dodge, try acting like one and take that page down.

Bob

JumboJack

So you have no problem going to a customers house and fixing a couple doors that stick?Or how about fixing a broken screen door?Are you going to make a trip to someones house to install a couple of shelves?What about a little old lady that needs a large picture or mirror hung on the wall?Those are the kind of jobs handymen do.No one is going to pay a contractor what a contractor would need to charge to do little individual things like that.
There are many honest handymen that only do small,under 500.00 jobs.
Now,people that claim to be "handymen" and then turn around and do room additions and remodels they are are another thing alltogeather and should be delt with...

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in texas with framing and cornish people will do it for 3.00 a foot. What do yall think about that? Just laber

jspinoza

Yeah WTF? I have children too, license or not, we all got to eat. I've fixed a lot of work done by GC's. many of them hire hacks to do the work, and make there money on management, and sales, not actual on the job work. Handyman do people a valuable service, allowing them to afford to have things fixed. I used to work for a GC. I did everything, the estimating, the bidding (all he did was double my price for the HO) the materials aquisition. Thats when I said to myself, hmmm. I'm goin to get my own jobs, and actually do the customer a favor. And when I get cought, Ill move to a reasonable stat with less RED TAPE Like Illinois, where you dont need a license to be a contractor. Some Handymen may be criminals, but so are a lot of licensed contractors. A license to steal. They have to charge a lot to afford insurance, tax, overhead, etc. Honest people are honest people, license or not. Being unlicensed does not make you dishonest. I have saved a lot of people a lot of money and made them very happy with high quality work, better work than my some of my contractor buddies have done by the hackers they hire. I feel the pinch, now that the housing market has slowed, and there are a flood of out of work construction guys and immigrants willing to work for $15 an hour. Who do I blame for this? No one. Its capitalism, market fluctuation, another challenge in life. Work smarter not harder and stop blaming the handyman for your lack of wealth.

L. B. Condulet

I know several unlicensed contractors who do excellent work. They often charge over $500, sometimes well over $2000 for various jobs. Everybody likes to quote chapter and verse from the CSLB website, but the fact is, you can disregard that $500 limit, the likelihood of getting in trouble is almost nonexistent.

We all know the rules, but since nobody is enforcing the rules, it's just academic.

Anybody that cares about doing good work has my respect.

metroconstruct

I'm glad you liked the facts about unlicensed criminals in the news, put out by several different media institutions.

It must have hit the nail on the head for a few of you, judging by the responses.

For the rest of the unlicensed contractors in California, I'll catch you on Dateline getting popped in a CSLB sting:

http://genisiswebsites.com/genisiswe...ntitled-1.html

California CONSUMERS BEWARE! Do not hire unlicensed contractors! Many of them could be criminals, ex-cons and felons. If you value your family and property say 'no' to unlicensed indivduals. You can check license numbers here:

http://www2.cslb.ca.gov/General-Info...se+Request.asp

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abonear

I watched the Dateline show you posted..and I do not feel sorry for the HO one bit. Did he check referrences? NO Did he check the Lic.#? NO did he go talk the So-called contractors customers and checked their work? NO

So...he was Price Shopping ...wanted something cheep and now he is paying the price for it.
Showing a business card does not guarantee anything. What the hell was this guy thinking?

Were the scamartist jerks for doing what they did? Yes...but there is plenty of real Contractors that do the same and they have a Contractors License.

I agree with L.B. Conduet...if you do excellent work any of this will not
and should not affect you.

But I still think everyone should get their license and do things the legal way.
For your own peace of mind.