CA: handymen vs contractors

[Jeremy Lee]

Hey all,

Just wanted to clarify but in California if I have repairs that cost over $500 including parts and labor, I need to hire a licensed contractor to do the work. If it's under $500 (including parts and labor) I can just hire a handyman for the work.

I have repair work that needs to be done post water damage remediation in my kitchen, bedroom and dining area. This includes drywall/texturing/paint, re-hanging cabinetry, installing baseboards, replacing carpet padding and tacking/stretching carpet back in place, replacing an ice maker box valve, as well as painting (though we may just do this ourselves). I had a couple handymen come out who I don't think are licensed through the state of California, and both quoted well over $500 for the work to be done. I wouldn't want to hire these guys, even if they're offering lower prices, at the risk of either of us getting in trouble.

Is it probably a best bet just to avoid/pass up on going with these guys in favor of using a licensed contractor? So far all the quotes I've received have been between $1200-$1900 for the scope of work so this definitely isn't a $500 job. 

[Brian Rhodes]

Yeah, the state wants you to pull a permit for everything; replacing a toilet or painting a wall. The purpose of permits is to uphold safety and construction codes/standards. My opinion is that if you doing it right (to code) and not trying to cheat, you can use a handyman without permits. Sorry I missed the plumbing for the ice maker (still not a big deal for a good handyman, still no permit). Yelp reviews are actually one of the best ways to tell if someone is good or not (actual customer ratings and comments). I do agree with @Danery Amador in that you have to balance your construction experience (to supervise a handyman's work) and time available with the cost and convenience of a licensed contractor. In regard to the handyman being considered an employee, I doubt any handyman is clued in enough to sue for workers comp. The reality about the license and the permits is that if you don't have a construction dumpster in your front yard and a major rehab going on, you can fly under the radar with the city enforcement. Just make sure the work is done correctly and to code. Otherwise, bite the bullet and hire a contractor. There are just as many bad contractors as there are handymen, and yes, drug relapse does happen:)