My biggest gripe is people bitching about contractors running up the cost of housing, when it is local building code enforcement that is actually running up the cost. I've been building long enough to remember when we didn't have foundations that you could build the empire state building on, metal connections on every piece of framing, non arch fault breakers that worked, no UL requirements for plumbing and electric fixtures, oil base paints and stains, window U factors requirements so low that only the most high end companies can comply. The big corporate companies like Simpson, Seimens, Eaton, Kohler, Delta, etc. all pay off the building departments to enforce codes that only companies as big as them can comply. As contractors, we are then forced to accept the codes and pass on the expense to the customer for your protection. We then have to kiss some inspectors ass that has only read a book and has no understanding of actual building. Then try explaining to people, that think the building department is there to protect them from the bad contractors, that the building department is actually the one ****ing them. Guess what, if the building department misses something in the inspection, you don't get to sue the building department, but you get to pay for all of the expensive needless shit that the building department forced on you. When you really break it down, the building department is just like the mob. Everyone complains that no one is building low cost housing, but it isn't that people don't want to build it, it is impossible to build low cost anymore. The amount of ****ing paperwork is now is just insane. If I wanted this much reading and paperwork I would have went to law school. All that wasted time and cost is passed onto the consumer.
Almost forgot, the insurance that I am required to carry by the building department, now requires me to get a signed subcontractor agreement with every sub before I can hire them. I just had my attorney draw up the standard agreement, and every person I hire wants to have a ****ing legal argument about whats in it. I've had to tell people if you want it changed to your liking, you are more than welcome to pay my attorney $500 an hour to make it agreeable.
Almost forgot, the insurance that I am required to carry by the building department, now requires me to get a signed subcontractor agreement with every sub before I can hire them. I just had my attorney draw up the standard agreement, and every person I hire wants to have a ****ing legal argument about whats in it. I've had to tell people if you want it changed to your liking, you are more than welcome to pay my attorney $500 an hour to make it agreeable.
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