liens, licensed vs unlicensed, firing electrician

6 years ago

Pluses of hiring a licensed contractor = potential protection with home owners insurance if anything went wrong (ex: flood...),

probability of better workmanship,

registrar of contractors to help enforce workmanship

minuses:

licensed guy can file a lein

What else am I missing? I never would've thought of a plus of hiring an unlicensed guy until I'm dealing with a licensed electrician who can't seem to read a design nor his own contract. messed up can lights and wanted all money after 30 days when contract was to be the rest is due within 30 days after completion of project.

I feel stuck that I need to work it through to the end with electrician in case he'd want to file a lien as we have a written contract. He's now wanting an extra $200 on top of project for work that was never in a change order, which contract says extra expenses need to be in a change order.

I think we're at the point where we could both agree to call it a day if we wanted to, although I'm not sure how many electricians want to pick up where someone left off, but I don't think this guy would want to call it a day, either, and if we did he'd try to inflate prices and say he owe him quite a lot.

It's hard to have someone in the house, later choosing placement of pendant lights together while he already messed up placement of 10 can lights, someone who thinks he owns the place... I was hyper focused re GC's contract but somehow not with the electrician, i guess cuz i've worked with him before and he talked the talk so i never thought this would happen...

Does anyone know if he can place a lien if we fire him?

Also, I've had someone in MA mention we'd prob win in small claims court if it went there but I realize there are also other/different avenues like utilizing the ROC for bad workmanship and breaking contract, although none of that has anything to do with a lien being filed, although if it came to that my guess is a complaint might help. I'd like to talk but we'll see...

Featured Answer

User

6 years ago

last modified: 6 years ago

In CA, the home owner is responsible for permits, the home owner can hire out the permit process...in the old days, one might have to sit in a waiting room for hours. Permitting and codes are area specific. There are standard construction codes, there are trade association codes, certification systems.

I want my house worked on....I hire a general contractor to make sure all of the i are dotted, t crossed. We sign a contract after I have done my due diligence. Depending on the scope, I may require a performance bond.

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Comments (6)

millworkman
6 years ago
The lien protects you as well. Just because he can file a lien doesn't mean he will. He still needs to pay for that. Keep good records, take pictures, write everything down, document his screw ups, all of them. If you take on the role of GC and do not do your job as GC however you are partially to blame as well. And don't tell me you have hired a GC because with the amount of things you have had go wrong and your involvement in the entire process you have not hired a GC.
mamaandsage thanked millworkman
PRO
Joseph Corlett, LLC
6 years ago
Liens are rarely enforced on such small jobs. I'd try to work out a mutual severance.
mamaandsage thanked Joseph Corlett, LLC
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remodeling1840
6 years ago
In Florida, unlicensed contractors cannot pull a permit so any work they do not not pass inspection. They cannot call for inspection. You would have no recourse for the unpermitted work.
mamaandsage thanked remodeling1840
mamaandsage
Original Author
6 years ago
We hired a general contractor to do structural work putting in a couple of windows in a block wall, installing cabinet, tearing out fireplace and moving a.c..

Designer who works on the job with the GC suggested we could save money if we use Arbonne electrician when I had mentioned to them that I had a good backup electrician if they needed one. I found it odd that she offered hand told her what if he messes up. She said there's no need for him to mess up because he had a drawing to follow. I just figured I would save a few thousand and had already used him and being licensed, with everything he told me there should be no problems.

Both the GC and electrician told me that electric did not need to be permitted. From my recollections recollection and I have it written down electrician said I only need to permit if we are adding 20 amps. Structure work was permitted. If electric is needed to be permitted whose responsibility was told the permit? Electrician or me acting as the DC in regards to Electric? If it needs to be permitted to my understanding we can permit still at anytime.
User
6 years ago
Life is about common sense and experience...

You abrogated your responsibilities....

Asking for sympathy from builders on this site can be painful, asking for sympathy, can be a waste of resources