Otis in the Suburbs (2 Viewers)

[shuke]

You'll need to get yourself a Chore Buddy™ to remind yourself of all the stuff you need to do.

Are you volunteering?

It's not a person. It's a computer program. Scupper invented it.

 

[GroveDiesel]

Just wait until the first time you decide to tackle an "easy" home repair job. And it takes you 10 times longer to do than you expected and you have to make 3 trips to Home Depot to get the right parts because either the home builder or previous owner decided to use some crazy non-standard part somewhere that makes no sense and makes everything 100 times harder to do. And you find 5 other things that need repaired while fixing that "easy" job.

 

[Al Czervik]

You'll need to get yourself a Chore Buddy™ to remind yourself of all the stuff you need to do.

Are you volunteering?

It's not a person. It's a computer program. Scupper invented it.

It needs to be an App. Let's get that done.

 

[Otis]

You'll need to get yourself a Chore Buddy™ to remind yourself of all the stuff you need to do.

Are you volunteering?

It's not a person. It's a computer program. Scupper invented it.

It needs to be an App. Let's get that done.

Actually a really, really, really good idea.Except there's an app for that.

 

[Otis]

Just wait until the first time you decide to tackle an "easy" home repair job. And it takes you 10 times longer to do than you expected and you have to make 3 trips to Home Depot to get the right parts because either the home builder or previous owner decided to use some crazy non-standard part somewhere that makes no sense and makes everything 100 times harder to do. And you find 5 other things that need repaired while fixing that "easy" job.

This sounds totally awesome.

 

[shuke]

Just wait until the first time you decide to tackle an "easy" home repair job. And it takes you 10 times longer to do than you expected and you have to make 3 trips to Home Depot to get the right parts because either the home builder or previous owner decided to use some crazy non-standard part somewhere that makes no sense and makes everything 100 times harder to do. And you find 5 other things that need repaired while fixing that "easy" job.

This sounds totally awesome.

It's pretty much par for the course. Just about everything takes longer than you think it will. And the best is when you're sitting around on a Sunday morning watching one of those do-it-yourself shows that tell you how to do something in a few hours, then you get to it, and the next thing you know it's 3:30 AM, your hands are bloody, and you want to cry yourself to sleep because you still can't figure out what you're doing wrong. Home ownership is really awesome.

 

[jamny]

Good luck out there O but you should've moved to Queens. Best of both worlds. Quiet neighborhoods, walk to everything, 15 minutes into the city.

 

[St. Louis Bob]

Just wait until the first time you decide to tackle an "easy" home repair job. And it takes you 10 times longer to do than you expected and you have to make 3 trips to Home Depot to get the right parts because either the home builder or previous owner decided to use some crazy non-standard part somewhere that makes no sense and makes everything 100 times harder to do. And you find 5 other things that need repaired while fixing that "easy" job.

This sounds totally awesome.

It's pretty much par for the course. Just about everything takes longer than you think it will. And the best is when you're sitting around on a Sunday morning watching one of those do-it-yourself shows that tell you how to do something in a few hours, then you get to it, and the next thing you know it's 3:30 AM, your hands are bloody, and you want to cry yourself to sleep because you still can't figure out what you're doing wrong. Home ownership is really awesome.

Possibly the most honest post ever. I used to be pissed that my Dad never taught me how to fix stuff. I asked him one time and he responded "I work to pay other people to fix stuff". Oh I've tried fixing stuff in my last 17 years of home ownership but the results were too often pretty close to Shuke's post. About 6 months ago I truly realized the wisdom of my Father and I have vowed that the most complicated thing I'm going to fix going forward is changing a burned out light bulb.

 

[tommyGunZ]

Just wait until the first time you decide to tackle an "easy" home repair job. And it takes you 10 times longer to do than you expected and you have to make 3 trips to Home Depot to get the right parts because either the home builder or previous owner decided to use some crazy non-standard part somewhere that makes no sense and makes everything 100 times harder to do. And you find 5 other things that need repaired while fixing that "easy" job.

This sounds totally awesome.

It's pretty much par for the course. Just about everything takes longer than you think it will. And the best is when you're sitting around on a Sunday morning watching one of those do-it-yourself shows that tell you how to do something in a few hours, then you get to it, and the next thing you know it's 3:30 AM, your hands are bloody, and you want to cry yourself to sleep because you still can't figure out what you're doing wrong. Home ownership is really awesome.

This. Thank god I went through my "it's gonna be fun to fix stuff" stage in my early 30s as a renter.

 

[NorvilleBarnes]

then you get to it, and the next thing you know it's 3:30 AM, your hands are bloody, and you want to cry yourself to sleep because you still can't figure out what you're doing wrong.

I've had dates like this.

 

[Otis]

Just wait until the first time you decide to tackle an "easy" home repair job. And it takes you 10 times longer to do than you expected and you have to make 3 trips to Home Depot to get the right parts because either the home builder or previous owner decided to use some crazy non-standard part somewhere that makes no sense and makes everything 100 times harder to do. And you find 5 other things that need repaired while fixing that "easy" job.

This sounds totally awesome.

It's pretty much par for the course. Just about everything takes longer than you think it will. And the best is when you're sitting around on a Sunday morning watching one of those do-it-yourself shows that tell you how to do something in a few hours, then you get to it, and the next thing you know it's 3:30 AM, your hands are bloody, and you want to cry yourself to sleep because you still can't figure out what you're doing wrong. Home ownership is really awesome.

Possibly the most honest post ever.

I used to be pissed that my Dad never taught me how to fix stuff. I asked him one time and he responded "I work to pay other people to fix stuff". Oh I've tried fixing stuff in my last 17 years of home ownership but the results were too often pretty close to Shuke's post. About 6 months ago I truly realized the wisdom of my Father and I have vowed that the most complicated thing I'm going to fix going forward is changing a burned out light bulb.

Dude, I did a killer backsplash.

 

[NCCommish]

then you get to it, and the next thing you know it's 3:30 AM, your hands are bloody, and you want to cry yourself to sleep because you still can't figure out what you're doing wrong.

I've had dates like this.

Best laugh I have had all day. TY

 

[tommyGunZ]

then you get to it, and the next thing you know it's 3:30 AM, your hands are bloody, and you want to cry yourself to sleep because you still can't figure out what you're doing wrong.

I've had dates like this.

Best laugh I have had all day. TY

Norville consistently the funniest guy on the boards.

 

[NCCommish]

then you get to it, and the next thing you know it's 3:30 AM, your hands are bloody, and you want to cry yourself to sleep because you still can't figure out what you're doing wrong.

I've had dates like this.

Best laugh I have had all day. TY

Norville consistently the funniest guy on the boards.

True

 

[bakes]

Run a natural gas line outside for a grill. You can always do the smoker/charcoal thing as well, but a dedicated line to the grill is money.

Or, instead to spending time and money on this, you can do one of the best suburban shark moves. Own two propane tanks for your grill and immediate fill one when it goes empty. They always go empty in the middle of cooking.

 

[bakes]

then you get to it, and the next thing you know it's 3:30 AM, your hands are bloody, and you want to cry yourself to sleep because you still can't figure out what you're doing wrong.

I've had dates like this.

 

[cstu]

then you get to it, and the next thing you know it's 3:30 AM, your hands are bloody, and you want to cry yourself to sleep because you still can't figure out what you're doing wrong.

I've had dates like this.

Best laugh I have had all day. TY

Norville consistently the funniest guy on the boards.

True

I call a 3-way tie between NB, SLB and bostonfred. I'd pay money to get those guys in a room together (...for sex of course).

 

[cstu]

You'll need to get yourself a Chore Buddy™ to remind yourself of all the stuff you need to do.

Are you volunteering?

It's not a person. It's a computer program. Scupper invented it.

It needs to be an App. Let's get that done.

Actually a really, really, really good idea.Except there's an app for that.

It won't be long until you realize to married the app.

 

[Rohn Jambo]

then you get to it, and the next thing you know it's 3:30 AM, your hands are bloody, and you want to cry yourself to sleep because you still can't figure out what you're doing wrong.

I've had dates like this.

Best laugh I have had all day. TY

Norville consistently the funniest guy on the boards.

I love NB.

 

[NorvilleBarnes]

then you get to it, and the next thing you know it's 3:30 AM, your hands are bloody, and you want to cry yourself to sleep because you still can't figure out what you're doing wrong.

I've had dates like this.

Best laugh I have had all day. TY

Norville consistently the funniest guy on the boards.

True

I call a 3-way tie between NB, SLB and bostonfred. I'd pay money to get those guys in a room together (...for sex of course).

Lotta love up in here. SLB and I have cornholed in Chicago (going back Easter weekend).I can't hold bfred's jock but I really gotta get up to Boston sometime this summer.

 

[Good Posting Judge]

Just wait until the first time you decide to tackle an "easy" home repair job. And it takes you 10 times longer to do than you expected and you have to make 3 trips to Home Depot to get the right parts because either the home builder or previous owner decided to use some crazy non-standard part somewhere that makes no sense and makes everything 100 times harder to do. And you find 5 other things that need repaired while fixing that "easy" job.

This sounds totally awesome.

It's pretty much par for the course. Just about everything takes longer than you think it will. And the best is when you're sitting around on a Sunday morning watching one of those do-it-yourself shows that tell you how to do something in a few hours, then you get to it, and the next thing you know it's 3:30 AM, your hands are bloody, and you want to cry yourself to sleep because you still can't figure out what you're doing wrong. Home ownership is really awesome.

Great posting.I have the good fortune of living 2 miles away from a real hardware store which has been around forever, not a Home Depot. Their selection isn't the same as a HD or Lowe's, but it's still pretty good, and the guys there actually know their #### and always ask if you have any questions, which I usually do. I cannot overstate the value of good hardware store advice. Much more often do I go down there with an idea of what I want to do, I explain it to them, and they help me figure out the best way of going about it and what I'll need. At Home Depot, I'm just taking a shot in the dark.

Shuke's right that it can be incredibly frustrating, and the earlier Otis post about the satisfaction of a successful DIY is also correct. My advice is to start with some small things. 1-2 hour projects, and work your way up from there. Use the internet to watch instructional videos, try to put off the bigger projects until you've got some more experience, and always consider hiring labor to help you out if you want to do something but you also want to cut down on time. I hired a guy to help insulate my attic, and he was great.

 

[jamny]

Just wait until the first time you decide to tackle an "easy" home repair job. And it takes you 10 times longer to do than you expected and you have to make 3 trips to Home Depot to get the right parts because either the home builder or previous owner decided to use some crazy non-standard part somewhere that makes no sense and makes everything 100 times harder to do. And you find 5 other things that need repaired while fixing that "easy" job.

This sounds totally awesome.

It's pretty much par for the course. Just about everything takes longer than you think it will. And the best is when you're sitting around on a Sunday morning watching one of those do-it-yourself shows that tell you how to do something in a few hours, then you get to it, and the next thing you know it's 3:30 AM, your hands are bloody, and you want to cry yourself to sleep because you still can't figure out what you're doing wrong. Home ownership is really awesome.

Great posting.I have the good fortune of living 2 miles away from a real hardware store which has been around forever, not a Home Depot. Their selection isn't the same as a HD or Lowe's, but it's still pretty good, and the guys there actually know their #### and always ask if you have any questions, which I usually do. I cannot overstate the value of good hardware store advice. Much more often do I go down there with an idea of what I want to do, I explain it to them, and they help me figure out the best way of going about it and what I'll need. At Home Depot, I'm just taking a shot in the dark.

We have Harry's Hardware about a half-mile away. The most valuable store in the neigborhood. They have everything. I use Home Depot mostly for propane. And yes, get 2 tanks!

Best advice I got was to just take your time in a new home. There's no rush to make major changes. Chances are you'll make better decisions after living with it a little first.

 

[gianmarco]

then you get to it, and the next thing you know it's 3:30 AM, your hands are bloody, and you want to cry yourself to sleep because you still can't figure out what you're doing wrong.

I've had dates like this.

Best laugh I have had all day. TY

I missed this earlier. JFC.

 

[Otis]

***OFFICIAL*** QUESTION #1:

Building Permits -- get 'em or forget 'em?

Off we go.

We're having the kitchen gut renovated before we move in. We learned that our small village is apparently strict about things like building codes/permits, etc. (as is common for some of the smaller villages and towns on Long Island). My contractor said he planned to go ahead without bothering, given that we're not doing significant external work. However, in the current plans they will be moving a window; taking down an interior wall; running gas, electric, etc. By the letter of the rules as I read them, this is the sort of work that probably does require a permit. I don't mind paying a few hundred bucks for a building permit if we have to, but we are hoping to start construction right after we close in two weeks, and I'd rather avoid the hassle of this process if it's going too introduce significant delays. Contractor said he would stop by village hall and try to get a feel for it. I told him that ultimately I'll leave it to him, and that I just don't want to run into any trouble or set a bad precedent as troublemakers as we are just moving in.

How do you folks deal with this stuff? By the book? Or get it done fast and hope nobody gives you a hard time? As new owners there I suppose we could always plead ignorance.

I thought moving out of the city was like heading to the wild west, and I could just go out back and shoot off guns or whatever?

 

[RudiStein]

***OFFICIAL*** QUESTION #1:

Building Permits -- get 'em or forget 'em?

Off we go.

We're having the kitchen gut renovated before we move in. We learned that our small village is apparently strict about things like building codes/permits, etc. (as is common for some of the smaller villages and towns on Long Island). My contractor said he planned to go ahead without bothering, given that we're not doing significant external work. However, in the current plans they will be moving a window; taking down an interior wall; running gas, electric, etc. By the letter of the rules as I read them, this is the sort of work that probably does require a permit. I don't mind paying a few hundred bucks for a building permit if we have to, but we are hoping to start construction right after we close in two weeks, and I'd rather avoid the hassle of this process if it's going too introduce significant delays. Contractor said he would stop by village hall and try to get a feel for it. I told him that ultimately I'll leave it to him, and that I just don't want to run into any trouble or set a bad precedent as troublemakers as we are just moving in.

How do you folks deal with this stuff? By the book? Or get it done fast and hope nobody gives you a hard time? As new owners there I suppose we could always plead ignorance.



I thought moving out of the city was like heading to the wild west, and I could just go out back and shoot off guns or whatever?

Forget the permits. Just let all your neighbors know about you construction. It'll be like this.

 

[The Big Guy]

***OFFICIAL*** QUESTION #1:

Building Permits -- get 'em or forget 'em?

Off we go.

We're having the kitchen gut renovated before we move in. We learned that our small village is apparently strict about things like building codes/permits, etc. (as is common for some of the smaller villages and towns on Long Island). My contractor said he planned to go ahead without bothering, given that we're not doing significant external work. However, in the current plans they will be moving a window; taking down an interior wall; running gas, electric, etc. By the letter of the rules as I read them, this is the sort of work that probably does require a permit. I don't mind paying a few hundred bucks for a building permit if we have to, but we are hoping to start construction right after we close in two weeks, and I'd rather avoid the hassle of this process if it's going too introduce significant delays. Contractor said he would stop by village hall and try to get a feel for it. I told him that ultimately I'll leave it to him, and that I just don't want to run into any trouble or set a bad precedent as troublemakers as we are just moving in.

How do you folks deal with this stuff? By the book? Or get it done fast and hope nobody gives you a hard time? As new owners there I suppose we could always plead ignorance.

I thought moving out of the city was like heading to the wild west, and I could just go out back and shoot off guns or whatever?

Any contractor who wants to proceed without permits is planning on doing things wrong right from the beginning. Why wouldn't you want the approval of inspectors on the work being done to your family home? Watch a few episodes of Holmes on Homes, you will go get a new contractor right away or make sure that the one you have gets all the required permits.

 

[the moops]

Any contractor who wants to proceed without permits is planning on doing things wrong right from the beginning.

 

[Otis]

***OFFICIAL*** QUESTION #1:

Building Permits -- get 'em or forget 'em?

Off we go.

We're having the kitchen gut renovated before we move in. We learned that our small village is apparently strict about things like building codes/permits, etc. (as is common for some of the smaller villages and towns on Long Island). My contractor said he planned to go ahead without bothering, given that we're not doing significant external work. However, in the current plans they will be moving a window; taking down an interior wall; running gas, electric, etc. By the letter of the rules as I read them, this is the sort of work that probably does require a permit. I don't mind paying a few hundred bucks for a building permit if we have to, but we are hoping to start construction right after we close in two weeks, and I'd rather avoid the hassle of this process if it's going too introduce significant delays. Contractor said he would stop by village hall and try to get a feel for it. I told him that ultimately I'll leave it to him, and that I just don't want to run into any trouble or set a bad precedent as troublemakers as we are just moving in.

How do you folks deal with this stuff? By the book? Or get it done fast and hope nobody gives you a hard time? As new owners there I suppose we could always plead ignorance.

I thought moving out of the city was like heading to the wild west, and I could just go out back and shoot off guns or whatever?

Any contractor who wants to proceed without permits is planning on doing things wrong right from the beginning. Why wouldn't you want the approval of inspectors on the work being done to your family home? Watch a few episodes of Holmes on Homes, you will go get a new contractor right away or make sure that the one you have gets all the required permits.

I watched that show the other night. Great show.Ok, so you're saying I should make him get the permits. Bummer.

 

[JerseyToughGuys]

***OFFICIAL*** QUESTION #1:

Building Permits -- get 'em or forget 'em?

Off we go.

We're having the kitchen gut renovated before we move in. We learned that our small village is apparently strict about things like building codes/permits, etc. (as is common for some of the smaller villages and towns on Long Island). My contractor said he planned to go ahead without bothering, given that we're not doing significant external work. However, in the current plans they will be moving a window; taking down an interior wall; running gas, electric, etc. By the letter of the rules as I read them, this is the sort of work that probably does require a permit. I don't mind paying a few hundred bucks for a building permit if we have to, but we are hoping to start construction right after we close in two weeks, and I'd rather avoid the hassle of this process if it's going too introduce significant delays. Contractor said he would stop by village hall and try to get a feel for it. I told him that ultimately I'll leave it to him, and that I just don't want to run into any trouble or set a bad precedent as troublemakers as we are just moving in.

How do you folks deal with this stuff? By the book? Or get it done fast and hope nobody gives you a hard time? As new owners there I suppose we could always plead ignorance.

I thought moving out of the city was like heading to the wild west, and I could just go out back and shoot off guns or whatever?

We pulled them for my bathroom. Complete BS, but doing it anyway,.

 

[Reaper]

***OFFICIAL*** QUESTION #1:

Building Permits -- get 'em or forget 'em?

Off we go.

We're having the kitchen gut renovated before we move in. We learned that our small village is apparently strict about things like building codes/permits, etc. (as is common for some of the smaller villages and towns on Long Island). My contractor said he planned to go ahead without bothering, given that we're not doing significant external work. However, in the current plans they will be moving a window; taking down an interior wall; running gas, electric, etc. By the letter of the rules as I read them, this is the sort of work that probably does require a permit. I don't mind paying a few hundred bucks for a building permit if we have to, but we are hoping to start construction right after we close in two weeks, and I'd rather avoid the hassle of this process if it's going too introduce significant delays. Contractor said he would stop by village hall and try to get a feel for it. I told him that ultimately I'll leave it to him, and that I just don't want to run into any trouble or set a bad precedent as troublemakers as we are just moving in.

How do you folks deal with this stuff? By the book? Or get it done fast and hope nobody gives you a hard time? As new owners there I suppose we could always plead ignorance.

I thought moving out of the city was like heading to the wild west, and I could just go out back and shoot off guns or whatever?

My dad just tried to do a major kitchen remodel without a permit and the inspector came by and shut down the job..... In the end it wasn't a major hassle but, not a guy you want to piss off. He probably could have been much more of a hard###.

You have to remember that the inspectors have a pretty small radius to cover. They know every single house in that area and every contractor truck than enters and leaves. He is traveling a few days a week to visit any neighbors and any jobs thay have legally going on.

A small bathroom I passed on permits but, I think a kitchen job and the trucks around may tip it off...

You might even want a good set of eyes looking at that Electrical work / Gas as well as moving a wall!!!!!!

MY VOTE IS PERMIT.

 

[Otis]

Any contractor who wants to proceed without permits is planning on doing things wrong right from the beginning.

It didn't seem like a big deal to me either. The contractor's view is that in these small villages this is often just a money grab. He said if he were doing an extension or otherwise changing the footprint of the house, or even replacing all the windows, he would agree we should get a permit. But based on the work he's doing here, he seems to think maybe we shouldn't bother.

 

[Otis]

***OFFICIAL*** QUESTION #1:

Building Permits -- get 'em or forget 'em?

Off we go.

We're having the kitchen gut renovated before we move in. We learned that our small village is apparently strict about things like building codes/permits, etc. (as is common for some of the smaller villages and towns on Long Island). My contractor said he planned to go ahead without bothering, given that we're not doing significant external work. However, in the current plans they will be moving a window; taking down an interior wall; running gas, electric, etc. By the letter of the rules as I read them, this is the sort of work that probably does require a permit. I don't mind paying a few hundred bucks for a building permit if we have to, but we are hoping to start construction right after we close in two weeks, and I'd rather avoid the hassle of this process if it's going too introduce significant delays. Contractor said he would stop by village hall and try to get a feel for it. I told him that ultimately I'll leave it to him, and that I just don't want to run into any trouble or set a bad precedent as troublemakers as we are just moving in.

How do you folks deal with this stuff? By the book? Or get it done fast and hope nobody gives you a hard time? As new owners there I suppose we could always plead ignorance.

I thought moving out of the city was like heading to the wild west, and I could just go out back and shoot off guns or whatever?

We pulled them for my bathroom. Complete BS, but doing it anyway,.

Can a city guy get a translation here? Does this mean you got them or you didn't get them?

 

[Otis]

My dad just tried to do a major kitchen remodel without a permit and the inspector came by and shut down the job..... In the end it wasn't a major hassle but, not a guy you want to piss off. He probably could have been much more of a hard###.You have to remember that the inspectors have a pretty small radius to cover. They know every single house in that area and every contractor truck than enters and leaves. He is traveling a few days a week to visit any neighbors and any jobs thay have legally going on.A small bathroom I passed on permits but, I think a kitchen job and the trucks around may tip it off... You might even want a good set of eyes looking at that Electrical work / Gas as well as moving a wall!!!!!!MY VOTE IS PERMIT.

This is helpful. Thanks.

 

[The Big Guy]

Any contractor who wants to proceed without permits is planning on doing things wrong right from the beginning.

It didn't seem like a big deal to me either. The contractor's view is that in these small villages this is often just a money grab. He said if he were doing an extension or otherwise changing the footprint of the house, or even replacing all the windows, he would agree we should get a permit. But based on the work he's doing here, he seems to think maybe we shouldn't bother.

I am like you in a way. I grew up living in NYC and my hands didn't touch a tool until later in life and I thought that a good toolbox would consist of a hammer, pliers and a couple of screw drivers. But you said that he was going to be doing things with electrical and plumbing and both off those are major things to mess with and can create major issues when done unlawfully or wrong, especially in a wet area like a kitchen.Honestly, if it were my house and I know less then Jack squat about how to do these things correctly, I would want that inspector coming thru to make sure things were being done legally and correctly.

 

[JerseyToughGuys]

***OFFICIAL*** QUESTION #1:

Building Permits -- get 'em or forget 'em?

Off we go.

We're having the kitchen gut renovated before we move in. We learned that our small village is apparently strict about things like building codes/permits, etc. (as is common for some of the smaller villages and towns on Long Island). My contractor said he planned to go ahead without bothering, given that we're not doing significant external work. However, in the current plans they will be moving a window; taking down an interior wall; running gas, electric, etc. By the letter of the rules as I read them, this is the sort of work that probably does require a permit. I don't mind paying a few hundred bucks for a building permit if we have to, but we are hoping to start construction right after we close in two weeks, and I'd rather avoid the hassle of this process if it's going too introduce significant delays. Contractor said he would stop by village hall and try to get a feel for it. I told him that ultimately I'll leave it to him, and that I just don't want to run into any trouble or set a bad precedent as troublemakers as we are just moving in.

How do you folks deal with this stuff? By the book? Or get it done fast and hope nobody gives you a hard time? As new owners there I suppose we could always plead ignorance.

I thought moving out of the city was like heading to the wild west, and I could just go out back and shoot off guns or whatever?

We pulled them for my bathroom. Complete BS, but doing it anyway,.

Can a city guy get a translation here? Does this mean you got them or you didn't get them?

sorry, was talking contractor talk. We are getting them this time (I did my main bathroom several years ago without getting one). The guy who is helping us is being a pain. You fill out paper work then "pull" them at the town hall. We get the permits in our own name bc allegedly they go easy on you that way My main fear w/ getting permits is triggering some sort of tax reassessment.

How much work is being done? I've skimmed portions of the thread.

 

[Nick Vermeil]

***OFFICIAL*** QUESTION #1:

Building Permits -- get 'em or forget 'em?

Off we go.

We're having the kitchen gut renovated before we move in. We learned that our small village is apparently strict about things like building codes/permits, etc. (as is common for some of the smaller villages and towns on Long Island). My contractor said he planned to go ahead without bothering, given that we're not doing significant external work. However, in the current plans they will be moving a window; taking down an interior wall; running gas, electric, etc. By the letter of the rules as I read them, this is the sort of work that probably does require a permit. I don't mind paying a few hundred bucks for a building permit if we have to, but we are hoping to start construction right after we close in two weeks, and I'd rather avoid the hassle of this process if it's going too introduce significant delays. Contractor said he would stop by village hall and try to get a feel for it. I told him that ultimately I'll leave it to him, and that I just don't want to run into any trouble or set a bad precedent as troublemakers as we are just moving in.

How do you folks deal with this stuff? By the book? Or get it done fast and hope nobody gives you a hard time? As new owners there I suppose we could always plead ignorance.

I thought moving out of the city was like heading to the wild west, and I could just go out back and shoot off guns or whatever?

Any contractor who wants to proceed without permits is planning on doing things wrong right from the beginning. Why wouldn't you want the approval of inspectors on the work being done to your family home? Watch a few episodes of Holmes on Homes, you will go get a new contractor right away or make sure that the one you have gets all the required permits.

This is how you ended up with those stupid door knobs in the last place. Get the permits.

 

[JerseyToughGuys]

Project to permit ratio 5:3

Oil tank removed = permit

Bathroom #1 renovation = no permit

Patio Built = no permit

Deck Built = permit(s)

Bathroom #2 renovation = permit(s)

 

[mr. furley]

I thought moving out of the city was like heading to the wild west, and I could just go out back and shoot off guns or whatever?

 

[The Big Guy]

Any contractor who wants to proceed without permits is planning on doing things wrong right from the beginning.

So a contractor who wants to start out a job by breaking the law "for you" is going to be concerned about doing other things right while doing the job?Permits are a source of income for towns--sure, but their main purpose is to protect people from getting bad work done on their homes and that shoddy and substandard work gets hidden nicely behind pretty walls.

 

[JerseyToughGuys]

Any contractor who wants to proceed without permits is planning on doing things wrong right from the beginning.

So a contractor who wants to start out a job by breaking the law "for you" is going to be concerned about doing other things right while doing the job?Permits are a source of income for towns--sure, but their main purpose is to protect people from getting bad work done on their homes and that shoddy and substandard work gets hidden nicely behind pretty walls.

somewhat of a stretch here

 

[The Big Guy]

Any contractor who wants to proceed without permits is planning on doing things wrong right from the beginning.

So a contractor who wants to start out a job by breaking the law "for you" is going to be concerned about doing other things right while doing the job?Permits are a source of income for towns--sure, but their main purpose is to protect people from getting bad work done on their homes and that shoddy and substandard work gets hidden nicely behind pretty walls.

somewhat of a stretch here

I know I am being over the top here, but Otis is talking about a full gut and remodel of a kitchen. Maybe I watch too many of these shows where things are done terribly and illegally, but I would want my house being done right, if I am going to spend my money on a job.

 

[JerseyToughGuys]

FWIW, I'm not sure the revenue stream from building permits (for renovations) even pays for the personnel to carry out the regime. I highly doubt it is filling the local municipality's coffers.

 

[JerseyToughGuys]

Any contractor who wants to proceed without permits is planning on doing things wrong right from the beginning.

So a contractor who wants to start out a job by breaking the law "for you" is going to be concerned about doing other things right while doing the job?Permits are a source of income for towns--sure, but their main purpose is to protect people from getting bad work done on their homes and that shoddy and substandard work gets hidden nicely behind pretty walls.

somewhat of a stretch here

I know I am being over the top here, but Otis is talking about a full gut and remodel of a kitchen. Maybe I watch too many of these shows where things are done terribly and illegally, but I would want my house being done right, if I am going to spend my money on a job.

you did it again

 

[JerseyToughGuys]

Dunno where Amherst, NY is but here is what they charge:

Alterations, additions and repairs to residential structuresUp to $1,000.00 of cost $77.00

 

[The Big Guy]

Any contractor who wants to proceed without permits is planning on doing things wrong right from the beginning.

So a contractor who wants to start out a job by breaking the law "for you" is going to be concerned about doing other things right while doing the job?Permits are a source of income for towns--sure, but their main purpose is to protect people from getting bad work done on their homes and that shoddy and substandard work gets hidden nicely behind pretty walls.

somewhat of a stretch here

I know I am being over the top here, but Otis is talking about a full gut and remodel of a kitchen. Maybe I watch too many of these shows where things are done terribly and illegally, but I would want my house being done right, if I am going to spend my money on a job.

you did it again

Should I have said not to code then? No worries--I get the point

 

[Otis]

Project to permit ratio 5:3Oil tank removed = permitBathroom #1 renovation = no permitPatio Built = no permitDeck Built = permit(s) Bathroom #2 renovation = permit(s)

We're get renovating a kitchen, taking down an interior wall, and moving an exterior window up a foot or two.

 

[Dave Mustaine]

I Vote permit.

 

[JerseyToughGuys]

Project to permit ratio 5:3Oil tank removed = permitBathroom #1 renovation = no permitPatio Built = no permitDeck Built = permit(s) Bathroom #2 renovation = permit(s)

We're get renovating a kitchen, taking down an interior wall, and moving an exterior window up a foot or two.

so 3 permits (electrical, plumbing and framing). Probably should do it. I don't really buy into it, but some claim that when you go to resell the house it is always good to have the permits as documentation that renovations were done properly. I never asked for permits, not sure very many people actually do.

 

[skillz]

FWIW, I'm not sure the revenue stream from building permits (for renovations) even pays for the personnel to carry out the regime. I highly doubt it is filling the local municipality's coffers.

I think it's just an opportunity for them to reassess the property and increase the property taxes due to renovations on the house.

 

[Nick Vermeil]

Project to permit ratio 5:3Oil tank removed = permitBathroom #1 renovation = no permitPatio Built = no permitDeck Built = permit(s) Bathroom #2 renovation = permit(s)

We're get renovating a kitchen, taking down an interior wall, and moving an exterior window up a foot or two.

so 3 permits (electrical, plumbing and framing). Probably should do it. I don't really buy into it, but some claim that when you go to resell the house it is always good to have the permits as documentation that renovations were done properly. I never asked for permits, not sure very many people actually do.

If you don't get the permits, one of your new jerk suburban neighbors is going to rat you out and then you'll be fined. Check out what the fines are in your new town and weigh the cost benefit.