Mr_Super-Hunky said:
Not getting a permit/having your stove inspected is LITERALLY a poor mans I.Q test!. Why on earth would you risk a home worth $100k, $500k, 1M + for a $100 permit??. That is insane!.
Tough love does not relate to this matter - on this much I can assure you.....when it comes to minor remodeling jobs in total, the percentage of jobs which have permits are EXTREMELY low. I didn't create this situation, but cannot help but notice it. If everyone who needed a permit came in to get one, you'd see city hall having to immediately quadruple the size of their inspection dept...or more.
I have talked to a number of insurance agents over the years - many of who insisted that we not get a permit for the parts of a job on THEIR OWN house, and every agent has told me there is no such thing as turning down a claim for such a situation. Given the millions if installations (of every type - stove, electrical, etc.) that are unpermited, if this was true we would be seeing people bankrupted every day by such situations. So I would say it does not happen......you can probably find a story somewhere, but it is not normal reality.
There are, of course, many other factors involved, but I want to set that particular one to rest. If you go to the hardware store and install a dimmer switch into your wall without a permit - you will not lose your house if it burns down because of it. There is almost nothing short of you spreading out some gasoline and lighting it on purpose that would make homeowners fail to pay.......well, except a hurricane like Katrina where they claim it was not the wind, but the water that made your house fall over!
I've had insurance agents, judges, police officers, and even building officials have me do work in their home with no permit. This was when I was a remodeling contractor as well as the early days of stove installation. Our shop now gets permits on any job which requires it.
Only point to this thread is that there are potential reasons for getting the permit, but NOT because insurance won't give you a penny when the house burns.
Reasons -
1. A second/third opinion on the job before it is started
2. A record in city hall - for multiple reasons - they raise your taxes and also have a record of all construction done on your home for future buyers and reference.
3. An inspection (of varying quality) when the job is done.
4. Relative assurances that the contractor is using materials and processes that are accepted.
So, no tough love needed. I will not get a permit when I put in my dimmer switch or put up a fence (many areas require this)- but I will get one when I do an addition or major electrical work. Technically, I guess that makes me an "illegal homeowner", and a criminal, so maybe they will ship me away somewhere and teach me how to speak "permit".
Government differs in your town and/or mine/other. You can ask the same question (do I need a permit) to 25 towns and get many different answers....even though one answer might be the correct one. Heck, if THEY can't figure which one is correct, how is the homeowner going to do so?
The other dynamic is with certain government agencies, the answer - if you ask - is always no. No is always safer and takes less responsibility and thinking than "yes". So you often have to press hard to get a yes. So I wonder who really needs to take the IQ test?
Live Free or Die.
