All Forum Posts by: Account Closed

An interesting rather recent article:

http://www.cslb.ca.gov/Media_Room/Press_Releases/2...

"Posing as homeowners, investigators called potential suspects to solicit bids on interior painting, flooring, concrete, and fencing. Bids ranged from $912 (labor only) to $2,800 – well in excess of the $500 legal limit. A CSLB-issued license is required for all construction-related work that costs $500 or more in combined labor and materials.

Thirteen of the 18 suspects were cited for contracting without a license (Business and Professions Code section 7028). Two of the 18 did not give bids, but indicated to investigators that they would; if those bids are submitted, the individuals will face misdemeanor charges of contracting without a license. Three of the 12 did not provide a bid and will be charged criminally at a later date. "

I would be  deeply saddened if my handyman were to join the ranks of the above guys.. and handymen being 'caught' and prosecuted from time to time in Cali thanks to the CSLB 'below $500 rule' is likely anything BUT a miracle; if anything, an everyday occurance. While prison space may be extremely limited, doesn't a day go by that my housemate who is a poster (posts bail after bonds are secured) isn't totally swamped by the plethora of clients waiting in line to bailed outta jail 24/7 just in Signal Hill & Long Beach cities alone.

I do doubt that most of those in jail are there because they violated CSLB

As for $500 to paint a house of course it's reasonable but CSLB would have you hire a LICENSED  CONTRACTOR and pay EXPONENTIALLY more. Not only that, but in my case, where I am a builder-owner until my license is approved, its ridiculous dealing with 'hiring' anyone to 'help' in this state so I've resolved with my trustworthy neighbor to paint it together and all i owe him is some beer and food.

When I rented out my upstairs of my 2 family home, I had to call Con Edison to tell them to shut off the electric on the 31st cuz a tenant would be moving in on the 1st.  

In one instance they didnt do it so I had to call a second time and reiterate the above, cause the new tenant was told service is already active in your apartment under the owner's name.

Actually I am questioning just that: Why does CSLB 'allow' unlicensed contractors to do a construction job (in my case, painting the exterior, repairing cracks in driveway, etc) priced less than $500 in labor and materials?

It implies I - the homeowner - am allowed to pay that much, per project. Does it not? Who said under the table or off the books? In the case of unlicensed contractor, the word 'handyman' is common in the scope of home improvement independent contractors, licensed or not.

I'm not even in a trade or business yet still do issue a 1099-MISC to handymen, and even my tax-preparer just in case the IRS or some other beauracracy should deem me as being in a 'trade or business' already. 

Just checking. As the neighbor's son (19yo) came back over after I paid him $20 to help reseed the lawn, offering to weed the lawn (different area that's full of weeds) for another $20, is it illegal if I do accept his humble offer?

PS - I don't see a problem with being a budding philantropist at the same time as an investor. Heck, I do sponsor a child overseas for $30/mo  thru planusa.org for going on 5 years now and I do see to it that at least 15% of my income does go towards legit charitable causes (mostly overseas) each year. 

Thanks Manolo for all the advice, esp regarding WC. =D

I get what you're saying except you've avoided the fact that in the OP I pretty much explained I tell my 'unlicensed contractor' what nexyt small project needs to be done and he comes back to me with a quote and if I can afford it, it sounds reasonable, and if and only if it is below $500 in labor+materials, I say yea get it done.

My question is, why does CSLB allow unlicensed contractors to charge up to $500 material/labor, if even charging $1 is like you say, 'illegal'? Are you saying I can only use 1 handyman/independent contractor ONLY once? That I should never use the same handyman/independent contractor more than once lest I establish a 'continuous' 'pattern'?!

I also specified  this is is all cosmetic, exterior work.  Paint the stucco. Fill the cracks in my driveway. Your reply is what I'm doing is illegal. Seriously? Today I paid my neighbor's 19 year old son $20 to reseed my lawn. Is this also illegal? Are you going to tell me that painting a house is continuous? That reseeding a lawn is continuous? I mean seriously how often does one get their house painted, continuously? Get their lawn reseeded.. continuously? Sure sounds like that is what you are saying.

Hey so my neighbor's son offered to weed the lawn for another $20.. will that establish a 'pattern' and will it make it illegal, or was it already illegal when I gave my neighbor's son $20 to reseed my lawn? 

 What's worse than a beauracratic government? A litigious people! =/

This afternoon while cooking out back, Mexican neighbor agreed to help out with the house painting and other yard projects - for virtually free on weekends starting tomorrow - in exchange for a few beers and my awesome lunch/dinners off the grilly! 

My handman and his son aren't latino and regretfully I've never employed a person of hispanic descent.. yet.  I'm not hispanic but neither am I 'black' nor 'white'. I don't believe in profiling people via race/ethnicity, but rather, their CREDENTIALS and their individual performance. In business, references and jobs done also help too.

Handymen per CSLB are prohibited from taking on projects that are more than $500, unless they can either break the project down into smaller job or risk going to jail -especially if they furnished something recordable (ie, a phone conversation or in writing) in violation of this fundamental CA rule governing construction.

So yes I do agree CA handymen should never quote a client anything more than $500/materials+labor per particular job unless they don't care about building a career towards being a licensed contractor honestly and dont care if they end up being criminally charged for it.

As for a family member and/or close friend I would expect handymen in CA to obviously work out 'less than armlength' ways to help them with big jobs that do exceeed $500/project but not leave an obviously incriminating papertrail afterall its family you're dealing with anyway and nevertheless as a handyman (and likely brother, cousin, in-law etc) until one day you are a licensed contractor then can quote as much as you want per project.

I'm tired and done with CA handymen masquerading as contractors, quoting contractor prices, yet not having even liability insurance that licensed contractors are required to have. 

Wow that's interesting. city requiring a businesslic just to rent out your own property, wonder if that's even applicable if one were living in that property or city?

I'd likely complement them on a feature of the house that interested you (other than distressed status).

As opposed to my opening line being that I found out your property is distressed and I want to buy it. Cuz there's just too many postcards and flyers being mass distributed to most every house on the block in the nation with offers to buy your house cash no questions asked.

So is it okay in CA to ask a person indicating they are moving from another country, for their Passport/Visa?

 I totally agree and had he listed 'prepping caulking and taping house exterior' as a separate 'project' and 'painting house exterior' each with its own separate respective labor quote, I would then consider.

However since he and I have discussed the CSLB limit time and time again, yet he still had the nerve to just simply list (on a spreadsheet) $500 labor for painting the house alone, and handed me the sheet with a statement that my compensation is not 'fair', the long and short of it is this person who I consider a friend, isn't any longer a viable handyman for law is law, business is business, and fair is fair.

Note: had he quoted something like $400 or something for painting house, I would be glad to negotiate with him (ie, maybe he was under the misunderstanding that $100 would be enough for paint) but he didnt. Instead, smacking the CSLB limit for both labor+materials as the charge for just labor is just like I said, a slap in the face cause we've discussed CSLB limits time and time again. (And no, he isn't supplying his own paint, I already ran that by him just to make sure that wasn't his methodology).

By the way, he mentioned the "new" CSLB  limit is $600/materials+labor but when asked for a reference to that, did not furnish anything and I can't find any info online as to that.