Thoughts on 'handyman' label and job size limits in different states?
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KeyMaster
·7mo·1801 replies·1097 participants
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KeyMaster⭐ ExpertOP7mo
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I've been doing handyman work for about 8 years now, fixing everything from leaky faucets with SharkBite fittings to mounting TVs on drywall anchors, and been in the Chicago area my whole career. Down here, the term handyman doesn't limit what I can tackle skills-wise, but there's this $10k cap on jobs before you gotta license as a full contractor, which keeps things small-scale like porch repairs or cabinet installs. In other spots it seems to mean you're just good for minor stuff and not qualified for bigger remodels, which rubs me the wrong way. Saw a post on r/handyman where someone in California was griping about the same connotation, and a guy in Handyman Nation group swore by rebranding to 'home repair specialist' to dodge the stigma. Anyone else deal with negative vibes from the label? What's your take on it, especially with liability insurance tying into job sizes?
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JoistJockey⚒️ Journeyman7mo
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Man, that $10k limit is such BS, had a client want me to add a whole sunroom but I had to sub it out and lost half the profit.
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GroundFaultGuru⚒️ Journeyman6mo
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Same here, been stuck turning down deck builds because of that crap cutoff. Feels like the state just wants to nickel and dime us independents.
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KeyMasterMike2⚒️ Journeyman6mo
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Try getting GL insurance that covers up to that threshold, I use Progressive and they bundle it cheap for handymen under 10k jobs. Keeps you legal without jumping to full contractor status.
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HandyMandy⚒️ Journeyman5mo
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Yeah Progressive worked for me too on a bathroom flip last year, no hassles. But yeah, the label still makes clients lowball you.
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BoltBreaker⚒️ Journeyman5mo
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handyman label's like a 'free beer' sign on your truck, draws in every cheapskate who thinks a full bath remodel's just a 'quick fix' for $500 😂
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NailGunNinja13🔧 Apprentice5mo
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yeah man, i slapped 'handyman' on my card once and suddenly everybodys callin with a whole kitchen gut job for chump change, total nightmare.
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DustBunnyHunter10⚒️ Journeyman5mo
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handyman label's a damn curse, every cheapskate homeowner thinks it means i'll gut their whole house for beer money while they nickel and dime over every damn screw.
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NailGunNinja⚒️ Journeyman5mo
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handyman label's just a scam for states to screw us out of real work, why the hell should i be capped at $500 jobs when the neighbor's flipping houses for 20k without a license? screw that noise, i'm rebranding to 'property fixer' and seeing if i can dodge the BS regs.
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BugBlaster7🔧 Apprentice5mo
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yeah man, same shit here, every handyman gig turns into them wantin a full reno for chump change while they bitch about the $50 faucet i put in.
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MopMaster30003🔧 Apprentice5mo
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those cheap-ass homeowners think we're miracle workers for pennies, demandin full renos without payin for a licensed crew. state rules are a joke too, half the time i gotta turn down $500 jobs cuz they hit that handyman limit and id get fined to hell. screw angi leads too, they just hook us up with more of these bargain hunters.
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NotAnElectrician8⚒️ Journeyman5mo
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angi's the worst, they feed us to these cheap bastards who wanna remodel the whole damn house for chump change and then bitch when we cant touch the job without a license.
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FramingFool⚒️ Journeyman5mo
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angi's a straight-up scam, they let every lowballin homeowner in and screw us on the fees while we chase jobs we cant even take. had a guy last week want his kitchen gutted for 2k, i told him to fuck off or get a real gc.
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TarheelTiler7⚒️ Journeyman5mo
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handyman labels are just a scam to keep real tradesmen from small jobs without the bullshit gc license. in north carolina, i push the $500 limit every damn time and let the lowballers cry about it.
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V9149🌱 Newcomer5mo
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hell yeah, i hit that $500 cap fixing a leaky faucet once and the customer was like 'but it's just a handyman thing!' made my day watching em fume 😂
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FlushMaster2⭐ Expert5mo
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screw the handyman label, in california it's $500 and anything over that you gotta license up or risk the board comin after you like a pack of wolves. customers cry about it but tbh theyre the ones whod sue your ass if somethin goes wrong on a bigger job. just bid it right and watch em pay up, limits are there to keep the hacks out.
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BreakerBoxBen⚒️ Journeyman5mo
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yeah man, same BS in texas with that $500 limit, keeps you jumpin through hoops just to fix a damn cabinet without the state breathin down your neck.
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DirtDevilDan⚒️ Journeyman5mo
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in nc, just bundle the small stuff into a bigger package to skirt that $500 handyman cap without getting flagged. keeps the lowballers out and your margins fat.
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BeamBoss5⚒️ Journeyman5mo
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bundling's a hack, but in my book it's skirting the law too damn close and the inspectors here dont care about your margins if they catch ya.
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FloorFixerFred🔧 Apprentice5mo
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inspectors are the biggest pain in the ass, always bustin balls over some BS bundling while real pros eat the fines. handymen get away with murder and it pisses me off every damn time.
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V5133🔧 Apprentice5mo
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fuckin inspectors acting like they're the law but let handymen slide on the same crap we get fined for, it's total BS. i was on a job last week and the guy next door, some unlicensed hack, was wiring up outlets without a permit while we got reamed for a minor code tweak. pisses me off how they pick on pros to pad their tickets. we oughta band together and call this shit out every time.
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CircuitBreakerBob⚒️ Journeyman5mo
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smart move bundlin' those nc jobs, but in virginia we just call it a 'maintenance package' over $1k and inspectors never blink twice if you got the right waivers.
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MowAndGo⭐ Expert5mo
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yeah man, those handyman caps are total bullshit designed to screw over guys like us chasing small gigs without the gc hassle.
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PipeDreamer19⚒️ Journeyman5mo
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angi's like that drunk uncle at the family reunion, promising the world but leavin us with a hangover and a pocket full of lint lol
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BrushStrokeBen⚒️ Journeyman5mo
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set a firm job limit like $500 in your profile and stick to it, or just bail on angi and run ads on nextdoor instead - way less headache.
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SweepSquad⚒️ Journeyman5mo
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man, angi's a total crapshoot with those lowball leads that balloon over $500 and then you're the bad guy for bailing. nextdoor ads have been my sanity saver, got steady gigs without the state-by-state license headaches. feels good to just do the work without the constant rule-juggling.
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FlashingsFanatic⚒️ Journeyman5mo
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stuck the handyman label on my truck a couple years back and it's been nothing but $2k gigs rolling in steady, no more chasing those angi nightmares.
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PipeDreamer19⚒️ Journeyman4mo
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handyman label's like catnip for the big jobs, but in my state i gotta dodge the license nazis after $500 gigs. angi can suck it, glad you're dodging that crap-show 😂
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TermiteTerror⚒️ Journeyman4mo
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angi's the real license nazis, sucking blood out of every small job like they own the damn trade. screw em, i dodge their leads and still book full weeks without the BS fees.
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RustyNails⚒️ Journeyman4mo
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handyman label pulled me out of the angi hole too, switched from $2k jobs to $4k remodels once i got tired of the small stuff. put that badge on the truck two years ago and never looked back, feels good watching those bigger checks clear. customers respect the title more now, no more haggling over $300 leaks at 2am. you ever think about ditching the sticker once the work gets serious?
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V6501🌱 Newcomer4mo
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in texas the handyman label keeps jobs under 5k but if you hit that cap switch to a proper contractor license or risk big fines.
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TileTamer4⚒️ Journeyman5mo
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angi's a total scam, they bait you with those $500 gigs then hit you with bullshit fees and leads that ghost you every damn time.
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ScrewLoose⭐ Expert5mo
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angi's a total crapshoot, they keep pushing those $500 jobs into thousand-dollar nightmares and then blame you when the homeowner flips out. bailed on em last year, nextdoor's been way less bullshit even if the leads are smaller.
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HeatPumpHank⚒️ Journeyman5mo
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if you're dodging angi's traps, try housecall pro for scheduling those nextdoor gigs, it's got solid routing that keeps small jobs from turnin into a mess.
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RoofRat873🔧 Apprentice5mo
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housecall pro's the reason i scaled my roofing side gigs from handyman fixes to full tear-offs without missin a beat, feels damn good.
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ChillMaster⚒️ Journeyman5mo
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hey, what state you in, cuz handyman limits vary like crazy from place to place?
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JoistJockey6🔧 Apprentice4mo
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ignore the handyman label at your own risk, cuz crossing that $500 threshold in california without a c-61 can get your ass fined $15k easy. i saw a guy last year lose his truck and tools over it, so check your local board before you bid big.
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RustyNailBob2⚒️ Journeyman4mo
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same shit here, homeowners try pushing the limit then cry when you quote proper contractor rates.
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JoltJockey⚒️ Journeyman4mo
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homeowners are the worst for that, theyll push you to do a full electrical job for handyman rates then act shocked when you tell em no.
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BoxHaulerBen3⚒️ Journeyman4mo
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homeowners are the worst, always tryna get full electrical for handyman rates then act shocked when you tell em no.
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FloorFixer2⚒️ Journeyman4mo
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same shit here, homeowners always want a full rewire for handyman cash.
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DuctTapeKing4⚒️ Journeyman4mo
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same shit, every homeowner wants us doing full panel swaps for handyman cash and the states just let em get away with it
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LiftLegend2⚒️ Journeyman4mo
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don't do those panel swaps for cash or you'll get fined heavy in most states, saw it shut a guy down last year.
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PanelPusher⚒️ Journeyman4mo
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so what happens if you get caught doing those swaps under the handyman label in your state?
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DustBunnyHunter9⚒️ Journeyman4mo
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its always the homeowners pushing the line and states just turn a blind eye when some unlicensed guy does a full 200 amp swap for cash under the table. then we get called in when the panel burns and they act shocked its not up to code. this shit happens weekly down here and the inspectors just shrug. whos gonna start pushing for actual enforcement instead of letting this keep happening?
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SharkBiteKing⚒️ Journeyman4mo
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same shit here, half these homeowners think a handyman ticket covers a 200 amp swap for cash under the table
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SawdustSavant22⚒️ Journeyman4mo
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you can dodge alot of headaches by sticking to under 500 bucks worth of work in most states, keeps you from needing the full license. learned that the hard way after a customer wanted me to run new 12/2 romex for a whole room addition. best move is quoting flat rate on the spot so they cant push the scope bigger later. seen guys on r/electricians get fined just for swapping a couple outlets on a handyman ticket. if you pull one permit you basically wave a flag that your not just the handy guy anymore. how do you handle it when they keep adding stuff mid job?
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VentWizard3🔧 Apprentice4mo
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same shit here, one more outlet and suddenly your pulling permits. florida inspectors love turning handyman calls into full jobs.
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BrushMaster⚒️ Journeyman4mo
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florida inspectors turning every outlet call into a permit grab is bullshit, same shit everywhere.
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WireWizard5⚒️ Journeyman4mo
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florida inspectors turning everything into a full job is straight up bullshit.
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AmpedUp4⚒️ Journeyman4mo
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check your state license board before touching anything over 500 bucks, seen guys get fined hard.
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ThermostatTech⚒️ Journeyman4mo
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had a guy want me to rewire his whole house for handyman money then wondered why i wouldnt touch it, like fixing a lightbulb suddenly makes me an electrician
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V1547🌱 Newcomer4mo
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same shit here, they want you changin fixtures for handyman rates then act shocked when ya draw the line
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HeatWaveHero⚒️ Journeyman4mo
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same shit, they expect fixture swaps for handyman money then lose it when you say no. been there too many times in my area. makes ya wonder why they dont just call a plumber or sparky from the start.
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ChillMasterC⚒️ Journeyman4mo
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handyman label is BS, half these homeowners just want licensed work on the cheap. fight me but id rather turn it down than risk the fine.
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RustyNails3⚒️ Journeyman4mo
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dont take anything over a couple grand without pulling permits, saw a guy get hit with a 5k fine last year for skipping it.
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CanvasKing3⚒️ Journeyman4mo
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handyman label gets you screwed on jobs over a couple grand in my state. last guy i knew got hit with 5k and still had to pull permits after.
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NotAnHVACTech🌱 Newcomer4mo
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states got it all wrong, handyman label shouldnt cap you at 2k when the real issue is inspectors needing their cut
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NailBiter3⚒️ Journeyman4mo
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same here, id rather pass on the small stuff than risk my license over some cheap handyman gig.
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FramingFool2⚒️ Journeyman4mo
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same shit here, homeowners want licensed work but only wanna pay cash under the table.
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AirFlowAce3⚒️ Journeyman4mo
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florida caps handyman work at 2500 bucks before you need the license, seen too many guys get hit with fines for going over. just quote the big jobs as a plumbing or electrical call and dodge the headache. anyone else tracking their state threshold like this?
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ToolTitan⚒️ Journeyman4mo
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same shit everywhere, theyll push for handyman rates then flip when you draw that line at a couple hundred bucks
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DrainDoctor⚒️ Journeyman4mo
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what states are you seeing them actually enforce those limits?
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DustBunnyHunter8⚒️ Journeyman4mo
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homeowners think they can get a full plumber or sparky for handyman money then get pissed when we say no
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SlateSlinger5⚒️ Journeyman4mo
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dont take handyman jobs over a grand in california or you could lose your license.
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NailGunNinja11⚒️ Journeyman4mo
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same shit here, they act like changing a fixture is all ya do then get pissed when ya wont touch the panel.
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TenYearVet12⚒️ Journeyman4mo
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what state are you in that homeowners even think that limit still applies?
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SparkJockey2⭐ Expert4mo
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homeowners still think the old 500 limit counts in cali even after they raised it to a grand, same shit everywhere.
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HammerTimeHank⚒️ Journeyman4mo
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homeowners think they can loophole everything and it just screws the rest of us trying to stay legal.
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KeyMasterKate⚒️ Journeyman4mo
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homeowners keep pushing the handyman loophole until inspectors nail someone and everyone pays.
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HeatWaveHero⚒️ Journeyman4mo
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homeowners keep pushing those $1000 jobs until california nails someone and we all get screwed on insurance rates.
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V9866🔧 Apprentice4mo
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california's $500 handyman cap keeps alot of us from getting hit with full contractor insurance rates
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TileTerror7⚒️ Journeyman4mo
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same shit here, guys always try sneaking big jobs under the handyman label then get pissed when we charge real rates
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GutterGuru2⚒️ Journeyman4mo
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handyman label just turns into a scam when they bid 8k jobs under it. i had one guy last month trying to run a full panel swap and rewire as minor repairs then got mad when i quoted right. inspectors here in jersey do not play when they catch it either. keeps driving down rates for everyone doing legit work. makes it harder to keep a crew paid proper when these lowballers undercut you. same thing keeps popping up on the plumber forums too. whats the worst handyman mess you guys seen in your area?
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DrainDiver4⚒️ Journeyman4mo
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same shit here, jersey handymen quoting full panel swaps as patch jobs until inspectors nail em.
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FramingFanatic⚒️ Journeyman5mo
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angi's like that one customer who keeps adding 'just one more thing' til you're over the $500 limit and licensing's breathing down your neck lol.
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WattTheHeck23⚒️ Journeyman5mo
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yeah, angi leads are a crapshoot, mostly lowballers who ghost after the quote. to dodge those fines, i stick to jobs under $500 in states like california and texas where the handyman exemption caps out there. if it smells like a full reno, i just refer em to a licensed gc and keep my record clean. saves the headache of dealing with the board.
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RodentRider⚒️ Journeyman5mo
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man, i've gotten burned by angi lowballers ghosting me too many times, it's all the damn same headache keepin under that $500 cap just to stay legal.
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HammerHeadHal⚒️ Journeyman5mo
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check your state's handyman threshold, like $500 in california without a license, but anything over needs full contractor creds or you'll eat a fat fine.
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RoofRat875⚒️ Journeyman5mo
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those state boards are a total scam, fining legit guys outta business while the unlicensed hacks undercut everyone and laugh all the way to the bank.
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DuctTapeKing2⚒️ Journeyman5mo
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handyman label is just code for 'guy who'll do your leaky faucet for $50 cash while i charge double to stay legit,' and states love fining us for it. screw the boards, they're protecting their cronies more than the public. unlicensed hacks get away with murder cuz inspectors are too busy chasing small fries like me. fight me if you think regulations aint the real scam here.
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SudsAndScrub⚒️ Journeyman5mo
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fuckin handymen giving it away for peanuts and now every homeowner thinks thats the going rate, screwing us all outta fair pay.
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DrainDiverDan2⚒️ Journeyman5mo
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ignore those handymen undercutting you and stick to licensed jobs over $500 in california or you'll get slapped with fines and lawsuits thatll wipe you out.
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SpringSpecialist10⚒️ Journeyman5mo
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those damn handymen are screwing over all of us legit guys, i took a small job last month and almost got fined for not knowing the $500 limit in cali. it's bullshit how they undercut and leave us picking up the pieces.
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HaulHero⚒️ Journeyman5mo
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yeah, handymen are like that one buddy who fixes your sink with duct tape and a prayer, then im left charging double to actually make it not flood the kitchen.
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DucttapeKing⚒️ Journeyman5mo
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those damn handymen screw everything up and leave us real pros to clean up their messes while they undercut prices and chase away good customers
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PackRatPaul2⚒️ Journeyman5mo
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those handymen are the WORST, half-ass a leaky faucet with some zip ties and duct tape then ghost the customer when it floods, leaving me to redo the whole damn thing for double the price.
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FrameFreak9⚒️ Journeyman4mo
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dont take handyman jobs unless youre licensed for it, or youll end up in hot water with the state board like i almost did in texas last year. those zip-tie fixes turn into lawsuits fast, and youre left holding the bag when the customer sues for the flood damage. stick to what you know or get the right certs before diving in.
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BugBusterBill⚒️ Journeyman4mo
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texas aint the only state playin games with handyman rules, check your local board before touchin any plumbing or electrical. i stick to under 500 sq ft remodels to stay legal, and always get a signed waiver for anything over basic repairs. if youre doin light stuff like fixin a leaky faucet, use pex fittings and document every step with photos, itll save your ass in a dispute. never zip-tie anything permanent, thats just askin for a callback at 2am. for certs, start with the hbse in texas or equivalent elsewhere, costs about 200 bucks and a weekend course. had a buddy who skipped it and ended up payin 5k in fines last year. keep it simple, know your limits, and youll sleep better. if the jobs get bigger, sub it out to a licensed pro, no shame in that.
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DrainDragon7⚒️ Journeyman4mo
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this handyman label bs screws over legit guys like us who know the limits but still get hit with fines from texas boards for stupid crap.
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HeatWaveHero2⚒️ Journeyman4mo
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texas boards will fine you for a 5 foot pex run then act surprised when legit guys stop taking small jobs altogether.
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HardwoodHero6⚒️ Journeyman4mo
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handyman label is killing the trade out here in texas and boards are making it worse. a guy like me can fix a couple fixtures but once you run even 5 feet of pex they call it plumbing and hit you with fines. proud to say i turned down three small calls last month because the paper chase aint worth it. now i stick to bigger jobs where the money is good and the rules are clearer. contractors are leaving small stuff behind and homeowners feel it first. if more of us walked away maybe the rules would loosen up. how many jobs you skipped this quarter?
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DirtBagLandscaper⚒️ Journeyman4mo
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handyman rules in texas suck, i'd walk from anything over a couple hundred bucks to dodge those fines too.
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TenYearVet12⚒️ Journeyman4mo
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texas boards chasing a 5 foot pex run while guys skip small jobs is the joke that writes itself.
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FittingFool⚒️ Journeyman4mo
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texas boards love protecting the big outfits while choking out the guys who actually take the small pex jobs.
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ZapZapZoe⚒️ Journeyman4mo
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texas loves stacking the deck so the big companies get all the pex work and we get the scraps. same shit here with these dollar caps that basically say small jobs aint worth it unless your licensed up the ass. regulators just protecting their buddies while the rest of us fight for scraps.
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FramingFool3⚒️ Journeyman5mo
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ignore the handyman BS and get licensed in california where jobs over $500 trigger fines up to $15k, i saw a guy get hit last year and it wrecked his whole operation.
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ShingleShark14⚒️ Journeyman5mo
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california's $500 rule is a damn joke, i got fined $8k last summer for a simple deck repair and it nearly shut me down too.
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ShingleShark7⚒️ Journeyman5mo
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yeah california's $500 cap is brutal, but check with the CSLB for exemptions on decks under 200 sq ft, saved my ass on a similar gig last year.
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FlooringFiasco2⚒️ Journeyman4mo
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that cslb $500 cap is straight bullshit for anyone trying to get real work done without jumping through 10 hoops.
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TenYearVet8⚒️ Journeyman4mo
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that cslb cap screws anyone doing real repairs, i got hit with a $600 job last month and had to hand it off to a licensed guy. now the customer is pissed at me and the other dude wants a cut too. its straight BS when a toilet swap or outlet fix pushes you over the line. why should a guy with ten years experience eat a call like that?
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RustyNailPro🌱 Newcomer4mo
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that cap is total BS for us guys with real experience, a simple toilet swap or outlet fix can push you right over and youre left holding nothing. why hand it off so a bigger contractor gets the cut and the customer blames you instead. seen this crap in a few states now where the dollar line screws small jobs. you got any way to split calls like that without eating the whole loss?
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AmpedUpJoe⚒️ Journeyman4mo
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same shit here, that dollar cap just hands small fixes straight to the big guys and leaves us looking bad
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BoxTosser⚒️ Journeyman4mo
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most states let you slide under $500 or $1000 without a license, so pick a number and stick to it.
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DirtBagLandscaper⚒️ Journeyman4mo
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exactly, those handyman caps are just a joke when some homeowner tries to stiff you on a $1200 job and you got no recourse.
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V8099🌱 Newcomer4mo
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those handyman caps screw you when its over a grand, id always get a written agreement with the homeowner before touching anything over $800. seen guys lose out on payment and no license to lean on for small claims either. hows your state handle the dollar limits exactly?
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NotAnHVACGuy🔧 Apprentice4mo
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most of em turn into full size jobs the second you show up anyway. heard a guy in plumbers united say one little toilet leak cost him his license.
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FixItFelix12⚒️ Journeyman4mo
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these damn dollar caps screw us small guys every time just like the insurance companies and big contractors pushing for them.
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BlowerBandit⚒️ Journeyman4mo
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what states you seeing the biggest dollar cap fights in?
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AntAnnihilator4⚒️ Journeyman4mo
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california inspectors are the worst about capping jobs at 500 bucks and then calling it handyman work.
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EaveEater2⚒️ Journeyman4mo
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california inspectors are screwing everyone with that 500 dollar cap bullshit.
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EaveEater2⚒️ Journeyman4mo
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handyman caps just push the real money to the bigger outfits that can eat the insurance hit.
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BugBuster88⚒️ Journeyman4mo
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proud as hell when a handyman job turns into a $6k full remodel cause the big outfits cant move that fast.
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CircuitSavant⚒️ Journeyman4mo
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same shit here man, ten years in and we still gotta hand off anything over a couple hundred bucks or the state comes down hard
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DeckDoctor⭐ Expert4mo
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got that same state limit here, feels like we're all just glorified janitors till the job hits three hundred bucks. my buddy calls it the
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MoverMadness⚒️ Journeyman4mo
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handyman label always cracks me up, like im a janitor until the ticket hits three hundred then suddenly im an electrician. my buddy still calls it that and we just laugh about the state cap every time.
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PipeLord42029⚒️ Journeyman4mo
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its the same crap everywhere, states draw some random dollar line so the real trades get screwed while the weekend warriors skate by until it hits their cap. one guy i know got fined for running a $275 drain line without the ticket even tho the homeowner was begging him. now im stuck quoting separate jobs just to stay legal and the customers think im nickel and diming them. PE companies dont care either, they just throw the handyman label on everything and keep rolling. hows your state handling the flip from handyman to licensed when the bill climbs?
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BeamBoss3⚒️ Journeyman4mo
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these state rules are such bullshit, they let the big outfits take everything over a couple hundred while we get stuck handing off work and watching our margins get eaten by licensing fees and insurance hikes. damn near every week some homeowner is on my ass about a $800 job we cant touch without getting fined and its always the same story with the state inspectors picking sides. me and the boys was finishin up a small leak repair last month when the customer tried to add on a full panel swap and we had to walk away because of this exact crap. plumbers united group has guys posting the same thing every month and nobody can figure out why the limit is so low everywhere except a few places where it jumps to 3k. the real joke is that we still gotta pay the same liability and truck insurance as the licensed crews but cant scale up without jumping through hoops. why do you think they keep the number so low in your state?
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BrushStrokePro14⚒️ Journeyman4mo
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same shit in my state, they cap us at $500 before we gotta hand it off. check what the actual code says for your license class instead of guessing on the job.
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NailGunNinja12⚒️ Journeyman4mo
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same shit here, that $500 cap screws us every time
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JackOfAllTrades3⚒️ Journeyman4mo
8
exactly, these state caps screw the small guys so we lose every job over a grand to the big outfits with deeper pockets.
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BoltBreaker2⚒️ Journeyman4mo
4
dont touch anything over that $500 limit or some inspector will nail you for unlicensed work.
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BrushStrokePro8⚒️ Journeyman4mo
3
same crap, inspectors in texas love nailing guys over that $500 line like its their job. i just walk away now when it gets close.
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WireWhisperer3⭐ Expert4mo
20
california just bumped that limit to 1k and texas still acts like every job over 500 is a felony. same shit everywhere, inspectors treat handymen like they are running some underground operation. maybe its time we start pushing back on these rules instead of walking away and losing work. why let them decide how big our jobs can be?
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RoofRat2⚒️ Journeyman4mo
13
california at 1k still leaves you dodging the big stuff, seen a guy get fined 8k for crossing that line on a roof patch in texas. dont test it, inspectors love nailing handymen for unlicensed work even on small jobs. roofers are pushing to raise the threshold in a few states right now, might be worth watching.
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LockPickLarry5🔧 Apprentice4mo
17
handyman rules got more loopholes than a texas roof patch job, hell id rather fight the inspectors than chase 1k limits all day.
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ToolTinker⚒️ Journeyman4mo
13
homeowners dont get that these $500 limits screw legit trades more than they help anyone
M
MuscleMoverMike⚒️ Journeyman4mo
17
same shit here, those limits just push legit guys out while handymen still sneak in the big stuff.
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ScrubSquadSam⚒️ Journeyman4mo
23
those handyman loopholes screw over guys running legit shops while the weekend warriors keep snagging the bigger jobs anyway.
R
RoachRider2⚒️ Journeyman4mo
14
same shit here, these limits just push legit guys like us to turn away easy work or risk it all. california bumping it to 1k still screws small jobs bad.
K
KeyMasterMike⚒️ Journeyman4mo
24
california just bumped it to a grand and its still bullshit, keeps us from taking anything real without getting a full license.
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HueHustler5⚒️ Journeyman4mo
25
california aint bad at a grand, up here in new york its still $500 before you gotta go full license and most handymen just turn down anything bigger anyway.
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HammerTimeJoe⚒️ Journeyman4mo
18
handymen doing big jobs in ny is just asking for insurance to screw you over when something goes wrong
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CircuitSnake⭐ Expert5mo
18
that $500 limit in cali is straight up bullshit, i got slapped with a $5k fine last year for a basic fence fix that ran $600. nearly lost my truck over it too. states like that just want to bleed us dry while the real contractors get away with murder. gonna have to stick to under $500 jobs now or go legit, which costs a fortune.
Y
YardYodaYusuf⚒️ Journeyman5mo
22
cali's $500 cap is a joke, its designed to force handymen into paying off inspectors and real contractors who bribe their way around it.
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RefrigerantRanger⚒️ Journeyman5mo
19
cali's $500 cap is like a speed bump for ants, meanwhile im out here quotin a $600 ac tune-up and dodgin the license nazis like its frogger. shoulda just called myself a 'handy ninja' and see if that flies.
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TarheelTiler3🔧 Apprentice4mo
24
those damn license nazis in cali are straight up stranglin the little guy while the big boys with their $10k contracts skate free, its a total racket.
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ComboBreaker⚒️ Journeyman4mo
18
same shit here in texas, small jobs get you fined while the guys with big crews skate by. feels like the state just wants everyone workin under one of the big outfits. had a buddy lose 4k on a simple faucet swap cause he didnt pull a permit. its all about who you know at the building dept, not the actual work.
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JackOfAllTrades2⚒️ Journeyman4mo
30
handy ninja would last about two seconds in florida before they hit you with a 500 buck fine for that ac job
S
ShingleShuffler3⚒️ Journeyman4mo
31
florida aint playin with that handyman nonsense, same crap up here where they nail you for anything over a light bulb swap. i had a buddy get hit with a 400 buck fine last spring just for swapping a condensate pump on a 2 ton unit. now we all stick to pure roofing and let the licensed guys handle anything mechanical or they come down hard. makes ya wonder how many side jobs are actually getting done under the table just to dodge the inspectors. you seen any guys still trying to fly under the radar without getting popped?
V
V8330🔧 Apprentice4mo
14
florida inspectors are straight up tyrants, same shit everywhere we try to make a buck without some license checkin every move.
C
CircuitSurfer4⚒️ Journeyman4mo
16
same shit here in florida, had a guy cite some handyman rule and shut down a simple fixture swap last month.
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LiftLad2⚒️ Journeyman4mo
15
same shit down here in south florida, inspectors love shutting down anything over a hundred bucks. feels like every month they find a new way to screw us on the little jobs.
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ColorChaos2⚒️ Journeyman4mo
12
same shit down here, florida inspectors are just looking for any excuse to write us up and kill the small jobs.
S
SubfloorSalvage🔧 Apprentice4mo
20
same shit here, florida inspectors been killing small jobs for years now. they got no clue what handyman work even is half the time.
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GutterGuru2⚒️ Journeyman4mo
13
florida inspectors got it all backwards man, tried fixin a toilet for a guy and they called it a full remodel.
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TenYearVet19⚒️ Journeyman4mo
24
florida inspectors will call you a remodeler if you swap a washer.
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BugBlasterBen2⚒️ Journeyman4mo
11
florida inspectors act like swapping a washer makes you a general contractor, same shit up here.
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WattTheHeck21⚒️ Journeyman4mo
11
proudest day was when i told a florida inspector his own rules didnt apply to my $180 handyman ticket.
K
KeyKeeperKate⚒️ Journeyman4mo
12
florida handyman caps are a joke, had a guy do a 3k kitchen for $180 and the inspector just walked away laughing.
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PaintSplatter⚒️ Journeyman4mo
8
florida inspectors love making it a pissing match over $180 work.
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SlateSlinger2⚒️ Journeyman4mo
3
same shit here, south florida inspectors love killing anything over a couple hundred bucks.
S
ShingleShark4⚒️ Journeyman4mo
6
florida caps the handyman jobs at 2500 bucks so just stay under that line and skip anything needing permits.
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ShingleShark8⚒️ Journeyman4mo
2
florida caps you at 1k before you need a gc license, stay under it and you dodge most inspector headaches.
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V2425🌱 Newcomer4mo
4
south florida got it easy compared to some states where anything over $500 means you need a contractors license, fight me.
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SpringSpecialist9⚒️ Journeyman4mo
9
florida inspectors are the worst but its the same crap in every state with those dollar caps on handyman work. theyll bust you for anything over a few grand and call it unlicensed contracting. florida just makes it worse cause everything already rots in the humidity. anyone else getting nailed on the small jobs lately?
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RoofRat883⚒️ Journeyman4mo
24
florida inspectors got me on a $2400 window swap last year so now i stick to anything under 2 grand and use a handyman license when i can.
V
V7346🔧 Apprentice4mo
10
same shit here in florida, inspectors screwed me on a simple faucet swap
A
AntAnnihilator4⚒️ Journeyman4mo
8
dont do plumbing swaps without the license, saw a guy get fined $5k in florida last year.
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HeatPumpHero2⚒️ Journeyman4mo
19
same shit here, florida inspectors will nail you for anything over $2500 and call it unlicensed contracting. humidity just makes the rot worse so those small jobs turn into bigger headaches quick.
R
RoofRat8810⚒️ Journeyman4mo
15
same shit here, florida inspectors love nailing guys over a couple grand on small jobs.
N
NotAHVACGuy🌱 Newcomer4mo
14
dont mess with jobs over a grand down here, saw a guy get fined 4k last month for crossing the line.
Z
ZapMaster3000⚒️ Journeyman4mo
4
in my state you can do up to 999 without a license but one job over and they hit you hard. i just turn down anything that smells like it needs a permit now. what are you seeing down there?
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BugBusterJoe⚒️ Journeyman4mo
15
stay under $999 and skip anything needing permits or you'll get nailed.
O
OpenerOperator5⚒️ Journeyman4mo
12
state rules are just another way to screw the little guy while big outfits skate by
V
VentViking⚒️ Journeyman4mo
9
get a service area map for your state before quoting anything over 500 bucks. i use quickbooks to flag jobs that need permits automatically so nothing slips through. whats the biggest job youve taken without getting in trouble?
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SawdustSavant18⚒️ Journeyman4mo
5
florida has that $2500 handyman limit before you gotta pull a real license, same deal in georgia but they let you slide on jobs under 3k if it's just repair work. i always tell guys to stay under the cap and break bigger jobs into separate tickets so the inspector cant stack em on you. service calls like swapping a fixture or fixing a drip usually fly under the radar out here. if it starts looking like a remodel though they will flag it quick. lots of guys got hit last year on the gulf coast for doing a full bath reno under the handyman name. might be worth checking your state board site for the exact dollar cutoff before quoting anything bigger.
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RollinRoller⚒️ Journeyman4mo
17
florida and cali both got that thousand dollar hard line now so these inspectors are just cashing in on small jobs. same shit here with handymen getting popped for basic stuff.
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TenYearVet22⚒️ Journeyman4mo
11
same shit with inspectors fining handymen for basic jobs just to make a buck in texas too.
V
VentWizard4⚒️ Journeyman4mo
6
florida inspectors will nail a handyman over a $400 toilet swap if they can, same thing in cali. just keep every job under the limit and carry your own license even if the customer dont care. saw one guy get hit with a 3k fine last spring over a single light fixture. what kinda work you turning down because of the threshold?
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BugBlasterBob⚒️ Journeyman4mo
18
same crap everywhere, they hit you for even swapping a condensate pump on a 2 ton unit. florida and the inspectors are making it damn near impossible to stay legit without going full licensed.
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FlashingsFanatic⚒️ Journeyman4mo
14
same shit here, florida inspectors treat a pump swap like you are rewiring the whole house.
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LaminateLarry⚒️ Journeyman4mo
16
same shit here, florida inspectors treat a pump swap like you are rewiring the whole house. handyman labels get you in trouble fast down south when they see anything electrical. been there with a water heater job that turned into a full permit nightmare. whats the biggest job youve gotten away with before they call you out?
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RollerRogue3⚒️ Journeyman4mo
12
pump swaps under 1hp are usually fine if you keep it under 20 amps and dont touch the panel.
D
DustBunnyBoss2⚒️ Journeyman4mo
6
florida inspectors are straight up ridiculous with that crap, same shit every time.
C
ColorCraze4⚒️ Journeyman4mo
21
florida inspectors are the damn worst, same crap in georgia making us overthink every little swap.
R
RoofRat88🔧 Apprentice4mo
8
california just raised their limit to $1000 and im proud we beat florida at something.
K
KeyTwister2⚒️ Journeyman4mo
12
florida and georgia inspectors turning every 50 dollar swap into a full blown permit headache is straight up garbage
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PackRatPro⚒️ Journeyman4mo
15
florida inspectors are the real handymen, they fix problems nobody asked for. swapped a sump pump last month and they wanted a full panel inspection for it. its like they get a bonus every time they drag out a job. what state you in where they arent this nuts?
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ShingleShark17⚒️ Journeyman4mo
7
florida inspectors sound like they get paid by the hour to drag everything out. had one pull the same crap on a simple outlet swap in georgia, ended up losing half a day. how they even justify the panel inspection for a sump pump?
V
V3286🔧 Apprentice4mo
32
florida inspectors will find a way to make a damn condensate pump a plumbing job. same crap here, had one red tagged over a $200 part swap.
N
NotAnElectrician26⭐ Expert4mo
19
yeah in florida they got you on a condensate pump now? just pull the permit yourself and eat the $45 fee instead of letting them turn a $200 part into a whole plumbing job.
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WrenchWally2⚒️ Journeyman4mo
4
those inspectors love turning a $200 pump swap into a full blown plumbing job. reminds me of that time a guy tried fixing his own and flooded the whole damn basement.
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BreakerBreaker⚒️ Journeyman4mo
2
inspectors turning every little job into a permit circus is the real scam here
B
BugBlaster9⚒️ Journeyman4mo
5
permits are just another tax to keep us small while the big boys run wild
R
RustyFittings🔧 Apprentice4mo
20
same shit here, these permit rules just screw the little guys while the big outfits skate by
V
V8366🌱 Newcomer4mo
2
same shit here, inspectors turn every little job into a full code check.
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PadlockPro⚒️ Journeyman4mo
6
what state you in where the handyman limit actually holds up?
N
NotAnElectrician⭐ Expert4mo
18
florida inspectors dont care if its just a condensate swap, theyll hit you for working on anything with refrigerant. had a guy in my crew get fined 2k last year over similar crap. makes you wonder why anyone stays legit down there.
D
DuctTapeDuke⚒️ Journeyman4mo
14
florida loves to nail you for refrigerant work even if its just a condensate swap, had a buddy lose 2k on the same crap last year. honestly why even bother staying legit when the inspectors treat every job like a crime scene.
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CrownMoldingMoron⚒️ Journeyman4mo
8
florida inspectors got xray vision on r410a jobs, my buddy got popped for just draining a pan last month. guy shoulda wore a hazmat suit for that condensate swap.
A
AmpedUp5⚒️ Journeyman4mo
2
florida inspectors must think every condensate line is a federal crime scene.
R
RustyWrench⚒️ Journeyman4mo
15
florida inspectors are a joke, that $2k fine coulda been a new milwaukee tool instead. why risk the legit route when the rules change every damn job?
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JoistJuggler⚒️ Journeyman4mo
5
florida inspectors screwing everyone over like that, feels like the fine always hits right when you need that new saw.
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PaintSplatterPat2⚒️ Journeyman4mo
14
florida inspectors are the real handyman limit, always nailing you with that fine right when the new saw money is gone
R
RoofRat872⚒️ Journeyman4mo
27
florida inspectors love that $500 fine so keep any job under $1000 and you dodge em.
F
FloorFixer3⚒️ Journeyman4mo
14
florida just loves nailing handymen with those fines while the big outfits get away with murder
H
HandyDandyDude⚒️ Journeyman4mo
7
florida fines a handyman $5000 for changing a faucet while the big boys keep flying under the radar, classic.
R
RoachRanger⚒️ Journeyman4mo
9
florida's rules hit the little guys first but bigger crews slip through with proper licensing. check your county permit site before taking anything bigger than swapping a light.
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RollerRanger4⚒️ Journeyman4mo
3
yeah calis $500 cap is total BS, just a racket for the big contractors to bribe inspectors and shut out us little guys trying to make an honest buck.
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PrunePro2⚒️ Journeyman4mo
13
yeah, cali's $500 cap is pure bullshit, had a guy call me for a $600 fix-up and i had to turn it down or risk the whole damn circus with inspectors.
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WrenchWizard2⚒️ Journeyman4mo
4
cali's $500 limit is straight up designed to screw over us independents and line the pockets of the big outfits who can afford the licenses, total BS.
A
AmpedUp4⚒️ Journeyman4mo
9
cali limit really keeps the solo guys from landing those $400 bathroom refreshes. plenty of us just do the work as a straight handyman call and send the big remodels to buddies with the C-36. been working for me to stay under the radar and still pay the bills.
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NailGunNed⚒️ Journeyman4mo
17
cali ain't the only one, texas lets handymen do way bigger jobs than that $500 bullshit and the big boys still cry about it.
V
V1226🌱 Newcomer4mo
32
handymen doing big work without the right license is gonna bite em. i saw a guy lose a finger on a 480v panel swap cause the texas rules let him think he was fine. no bond no insurance so when it goes bad your stuck holding the bag. dont mess with jobs over $500 even if the state says ok. cali might be strict but at least they protect the real trades. watch your back on anything past light fixtures. what kind of work you seein most from these guys?
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ColorCraze2⚒️ Journeyman4mo
9
those guys are out here doin 480v swaps with a $20 walmart tester and callin it tuesday. saw one last month show up in a minivan to rough in a whole panel. how many of em actually pull permits on the bigger stuff?
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LockoutLulu⚒️ Journeyman4mo
26
dont let em touch anything over 240v, saw a minivan guy blow a transformer last year cause he skipped permits and didnt know the difference between 480 and a regular outlet.
V
V6085🌱 Newcomer4mo
16
handyman shouldnt touch 240 either, that minivan guy aint special.
C
CircuitSmasher3⚒️ Journeyman4mo
5
same shit here, guys with minivans think theyre electricians till the panel blows up
F
FramingFool⚒️ Journeyman4mo
12
these handyman types are screwing legit contractors and making inspectors look the other way on real jobs
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HeatPumpHarry⚒️ Journeyman4mo
4
same shit here, guy showed up with a harbor freight meter tryin to land a 200 amp panel. state wants a license for anything over 100 amps but they dont check till somethings on fire. you ever see one pull an actual permit?
V
VentWizard3🔧 Apprentice4mo
5
same shit here, saw a guy tryin to land a 200 amp with a harbor freight meter too. never saw one actually pull the permit.
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PanelPusher2⚒️ Journeyman4mo
18
what states even let a handyman pull a 200 amp without an electrical license?
J
JoistJockey4⚒️ Journeyman4mo
15
cali raising that limit to a grand is just gonna help the big contractors even more while we still get screwed on the small stuff. same old BS everywhere you look.
G
GreenThumbGuru⚒️ Journeyman4mo
8
been crushing those handyman sized jobs up to the limit and scaling my crew to take bigger ones before the regs tighten.
Y
YardYoda⚒️ Journeyman4mo
15
handyman label is straight up a trap in my state, keeps you from pulling real money on anything bigger than a toilet swap.
S
SparkPlugIdiot⚒️ Journeyman4mo
10
same shit here, california's 500 cap screws you on any real job. had a guy ask for a 600 pipe swap last month and i turned it down quick.
V
V6946🌱 Newcomer4mo
7
same shit here, that cap turns everything into a headache. had a guy try to sneak a whole shower valve job past me last week and i almost took the bait.
C
CrownMoldingMoron⚒️ Journeyman4mo
21
handymen always think they can do plumbing till the wall comes down and the inspector shows up. that shower valve guy just saved you from a big mess.
A
AntAnnihilator4⚒️ Journeyman4mo
14
same shit here, handymen always bite off more than they can handle on plumbing and it blows up when the inspector shows.
T
TurfTamer⚒️ Journeyman4mo
10
had a handyman turn a simple leak into a $3k mess, inspectors love that kind of comedy
R
RoofRat6⭐ Expert4mo
10
same shit here, these handymen think they can handle plumbing till the inspector shows and suddenly its my problem too.
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LaminateLad⚒️ Journeyman4mo
10
handyman shows up with a youtube video and suddenly im the one pulling permits at 6am.
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SprayTanSteve⚒️ Journeyman4mo
16
same shit here, seen more than one handyman get hit with fines when they mess with the real plumbing
N
NotAnElectrician14⚒️ Journeyman4mo
9
yeah dont mess with plumbing past $500 or so without a license, most states hit you hard if you go over
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FridgeFixer⚒️ Journeyman4mo
2
same shit here, some states will fine you bad if you cross that $500 line on plumbing even with a handyman license.
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BrushStrokeBoss⭐ Expert4mo
4
handyman label is a joke when states let you do 3k jobs without a license but nail you at 501 on plumbing.
V
VentViking⚒️ Journeyman4mo
6
same shit here, handyman loophole screws everyone who actually pulls permits.
D
DirtBagLandscaper8⚒️ Journeyman4mo
1
check your states handyman license limit before you touch anything over 500 bucks or the inspector will shut it down fast.
S
ShingleShuffler5⚒️ Journeyman4mo
13
same shit, id never risk a plumbing job without the right license even for a quick fix. too many inspectors love nailing you for it.
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NotAnElectrician25⚒️ Journeyman4mo
5
same shit in my state too, they got this 500 dollar line you cant cross without pulling a real license. turned down a 700 dollar job last month just like you and it sucks watching the customer go to someone who aint even supposed to do it. been there more times than i want to count. some guys just do the work anyway and hope no one checks. i get why people push it but one inspection and your whole year gets wrecked. feels like the rules are made to keep small guys small. why not just raise the limit to a grand and be done with it.
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WeedWhackerPro3⚒️ Journeyman4mo
12
same shit here, got a guy doin a 900 dollar job last week and he didnt pull nothing till the inspector showed up.
S
ShingleShark10⚒️ Journeyman4mo
19
check your state regs, most let a handyman go up to 3k without a license so id pull one next time.
M
MoveItMuscle⚒️ Journeyman4mo
16
check your state regs first, a handyman can usually go up to 3k before needing a license so id pull one next time.
S
SawdustSavant🔧 Apprentice4mo
4
same shit here, got hit with a 4k job and suddenly needed a license
D
DirtDiggerDan3⚒️ Journeyman4mo
4
same shit here, handymen doin 3k jobs then ghostin when it leaks and we gotta fix it
R
RoofRat87🌱 Newcomer4mo
15
cali caps screw us on bigger jobs, id just sub it out to a real roofer next time instead of turning down cash.
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BushWhacker⚒️ Journeyman5mo
10
damn, that $500 cap in cali is straight up robbery, got hit with a similar fine a couple years back and it took months to claw my way out.
S
ShingleShuffler3⚒️ Journeyman4mo
16
yeah man, that cali $500 cap had me eatin ramen for weeks after the fine, total BS.
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BoltBuster2⚒️ Journeyman4mo
9
those state boards are just a bunch of pencil-pushin assholes out to screw over every small guy tryna make a livin. calis $500 limit is straight robbery, hits you harder than a sledge on concrete. we all gettin hosed by this crap while the big contractors laugh all the way to the bank.
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LaminateLarry⚒️ Journeyman4mo
5
yeah cali's $500 cap is a total joke, keeps us small timers scratchin for crumbs while those board idiots sit on their asses collectin fees.
F
FlashingFiend⚒️ Journeyman4mo
11
calis $500 cap is rough but alot of states let you slide up to $1k in repairs before they call it contracting.
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TarPaperTom⚒️ Journeyman4mo
8
cali aint the only state screwin guys over with those bullshit caps
V
V8076🔧 Apprentice4mo
12
most states got caps around 500 bucks to keep guys from doing full electrical or plumbing without a license. i seen a buddy lose a job in texas cause he fixed a main line and the inspector nailed him. using quickbooks to track every job size helps alot if your in a strict state. you trackin your handyman calls by dollar amount or just winging it?
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LaminateLad⚒️ Journeyman4mo
21
i got stuck with a 700 dollar drywall patch in florida once and the inspector showed up like he was waitin for it. quickbooks is smart but i just tell em straight up if its gonna cross that 500 line im callin a licensed guy in. feels like half the calls i get are just guys tryna dodge the real trades. bet you got a funny story from that texas job though?
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WoodWizard⚒️ Journeyman4mo
17
same shit in texas, had one of those 500 dollar patches turn into an inspector circus too. feels like everyone just wants to dodge the real license game.
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FloorFitterFred⚒️ Journeyman4mo
10
same deal here, charge the 500 for the patch then let em know a licensed plumber or sparky has to sign off to keep it legal.
A
AirFlowAce⚒️ Journeyman4mo
1
texas has some real picky inspectors once you cross that 500 mark. one trick that worked for me was pulling a handyman exemption form right from the city site before you even touch the job. keeps it under their radar without needing the full license dance. you running into this mostly on residential stuff or commercial too?
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FlooringFiasco3⚒️ Journeyman4mo
9
texas inspectors been real strict past that 500 mark so pulling that exemption form is a solid move. ive done the same thing on a couple residential jobs when things started looking too big. you mostly stay under the limit or just push it on purpose?
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LeakMaster99⚒️ Journeyman4mo
24
what counts as handyman work in your area anyway, texas inspectors been hassling you on electrical too?
H
HardwoodHero6⚒️ Journeyman4mo
2
same shit here, texas inspectors love turning a $500 patch into a full circus.
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BeamBender2⚒️ Journeyman4mo
16
florida inspectors are the worst with that 500 dollar line and the homeowners just keep pushing handymen to do the big stuff anyway. same shit here, half my jobs are guys trying to dodge a real license and then i get called when it falls apart. why you still quoting under that limit if theyre just gonna screw you with inspectors?
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BrushStrokeBoss8⚒️ Journeyman4mo
2
those $500 florida limits are a joke and homeowners still want us running full romex and sharkbite swaps. i just flat out tell em i dont touch anything under the real license line.
F
FrameFreak5⚒️ Journeyman4mo
12
same shit here, homeowners push for the big stuff then act shocked when you draw the line
V
V2463🔧 Apprentice4mo
13
same shit here, homeowners want you to do it all til you say no then act surprised
R
RoofRat88🌱 Newcomer4mo
10
what states actually let handymen do electrical without a license?
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DucttapeKing⚒️ Journeyman4mo
13
cali ain't the only one, states everywhere got these damn caps makin it hell for actual tradesmen
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RollerRanger10⚒️ Journeyman4mo
24
hell no, that cali cap is straight up BS and id rather stay under radar than deal with inspectors busting my balls over a damn $500 job.
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SpotlessSteve6⚒️ Journeyman4mo
19
hell yeah that cali cap is a joke, i had a guy try to nail me for a $400 faucet swap like it was a full reno. funniest part is he showed up in a damn blazer like we were in court. whats the highest dollar job you ever slid under the radar?
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TenYearVet18⚒️ Journeyman4mo
10
had a dude in a suit try to write me up for a $300 water heater flex swap. funniest part is i just laughed and finished the job anyway.
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DirtBagJoe⚒️ Journeyman4mo
2
damn suit guys got nothing better to do than hassle real plumbers over a flex line.
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PeakProspector3⚒️ Journeyman4mo
19
cali handyman caps are straight up a joke, seen guys lose jobs over $50 overages
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FlushMaster🏆 Master4mo
18
same shit here in texas, capped at 500 and we all tiptoe around that line. seen guys get nailed for a 600 job that turned into permits real fast. crazy how one extra trip to supply house can flip the whole thing.
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V9479🔧 Apprentice4mo
21
handyman rules are a damn joke if you ask me. texas lets you do the 500 but one extra screw or trip for parts and some inspector nails you on it. i would rather just turn down the bigger stuff then risk getting fined for trying to make a living. seen a buddy lose a week of work over one of those calls. maybe they should just raise the cap to match what actually happens out there. why do they even have rules that make zero sense for real jobs anyway.
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DuctDaddy2⚒️ Journeyman4mo
18
dont push past the 500 in texas man, saw a guy get nailed for adding one fixture and lose a month of work.
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RoachRider2⚒️ Journeyman4mo
8
dont touch anything over that limit or texas will shut you down same as the guy you saw.
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PaintSplatter2⚒️ Journeyman4mo
21
handyman label is a joke when the limit is $500 in texas. guys like us lose work to unlicensed hacks and texas turns a blind eye till the job blows up. anyone pulling permits on a 2 grand job is asking for trouble. you ever see a handyman try to run a 240V line and fry the panel?
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DustBunnyHunter⚒️ Journeyman4mo
18
same shit everywhere, handyman does a 240V run and suddenly we're cleaning up the mess. texas letting it slide till the panel fries is classic. i saw a guy try to patch a 220 line with romex scraps and it was a miracle nothing caught fire. at least we get the callback work when it blows up.
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DustBunnyHunter7⚒️ Journeyman4mo
4
texas inspectors are straight up asleep on this crap. same shit here, guy patched a 220 with scraps and i got the panel replacement call last month.
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LeakHunter5⚒️ Journeyman4mo
16
texas inspectors let these handymen run wild then we get the 220 mess cleanup.
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GreenThumbGuru2⚒️ Journeyman4mo
19
same shit here, texas inspectors let the handymen do the big 220 stuff then we get the mess.
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CastIronCrusher2⚒️ Journeyman4mo
22
same shit here, texas handymen leave us with the 220v disasters every week
F
FlooringFiasco2⚒️ Journeyman4mo
6
texas needs to bump that handyman cap or every 240v hack is gonna keep frying panels.
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GarageGuru5⚒️ Journeyman4mo
7
texas handyman cap at $500 means any real 240v fix pushes you straight into unlicensed territory.
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AntAnnihilator7⚒️ Journeyman4mo
11
texas 500 dollar handyman cap is straight bullshit when a 240v job needs done right.
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DuctDoctor10⚒️ Journeyman4mo
18
texas letting a handyman touch 240v is like giving your cat a sawzall, one bad call and the whole house is toast. i got called on a job last month where the last guy wired a mini split with lamp cord and a sharkbite on the condensate. you think inspectors are gonna care about that 500 dollar cap when they show up?
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NotAnElectrician6⚒️ Journeyman4mo
27
same shit here, that 500 cap screws everyone when a real 240v job shows up
T
TarpTitan4⚒️ Journeyman4mo
14
same shit here, texas cap screws us on any 240v work that needs done proper.
V
VentMaster993⚒️ Journeyman4mo
8
texas handymen doing 240V is a damn joke, we keep losing jobs to these clowns while inspectors look the other way.
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HVACHero⚒️ Journeyman4mo
3
texas rules make it damn near impossible to grow without stepping on toes. every time a handyman gets big enough they treat you like the enemy.
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FlushMaster5⚒️ Journeyman4mo
3
same shit in texas, hit that dollar cap and theyll shut you down quick
N
NailGunNinja11⚒️ Journeyman4mo
4
same shit in georgia, dollar caps got me turning down easy jobs left and right
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TileTerror3⚒️ Journeyman4mo
19
same shit here, georgia dollar caps got me pissed off turning down work that should be easy money.
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FixItFelix5⚒️ Journeyman4mo
21
same shit here, texas handyman rules are a joke if you go over that $500 mark even a little.
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BoltBuster3⚒️ Journeyman4mo
23
what state caps do you think would actually work for bigger jobs?
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CircuitSmasher4⚒️ Journeyman4mo
2
same shit here, florida caps it at 2k before you need real licenses
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LiftAndHaul⚒️ Journeyman4mo
5
handyman label is just a loophole for states that dont want to deal with real licensing fights.
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MoverMadness⚒️ Journeyman4mo
4
same shit here, one wrong move on a 500 job and texas nails ya.
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ChillMaster4⚒️ Journeyman5mo
11
california's $500 limit is total BS designed to screw over the little guy and force everyone into their bloated licensing racket, i say push the envelope and fight the fines in court if you have to.
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SawdustSavant11⭐ Expert4mo
22
californias rules are just another way to bleed the little guy, seen guys hit with fines for a $600 job that shoulda been fine.
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PaintSplatter2⚒️ Journeyman5mo
13
in my area, handymen cant touch anything over $500 without a license, so i always quote the full job to cover the redo. saves you the headache of calling me out twice.
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FrameForge⚒️ Journeyman5mo
16
those handymen are total scumbags undercutting us with their BS 'quick fix' crap and leaving legit contractors to clean up the mess while dodging fines left and right.
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EaveExpert2⚒️ Journeyman5mo
11
those handymen are the WORST, slappin' together garbage fixes and leavin' us to deal with the pissed off customers and code violations. if they got a real license they'd last a week before gettin' shut down.
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GarageGuru⚒️ Journeyman5mo
9
handymen aint the problem, its the states lettin em do jobs over $500 without any damn oversight that screws everyone. in california they can patch roofs or swap panels up to $1k and call it 'minor work,' leavin real contractors to clean up the code nightmares. tbh, if they wanna play in our sandbox, make em pass a basic exam or get licensed. fight me on that, but i've seen too many botched installs turn into lawsuits.
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CircuitScreamer⭐ Expert5mo
12
man, i hear you on those handymen turning every job into a crapshoot for the rest of us. had one botch a basic 240v outlet swap last month and the inspector tore into me like i did it. it's always the same story, they slap on some quick fix without pulling permits and we're left explaining code 210.8 to furious homeowners. been chasing down their messes in three states this year alone, and it never ends. feels like we're the cleanup crew for every unlicensed hack out there. tbh, wish there was a way to blacklist em nationwide.
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DoorJamJam2⚒️ Journeyman5mo
15
yeah man, same crap here, chasing handyman screwups all last summer and getting blamed for their code violations. feels like we're the ones stuck holding the bag every damn time.
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V5759🌱 Newcomer5mo
21
fml, these handymen leave me with half-assed wire splices and leaky pex lines that i gotta redo for twice the price, and the homeowners still act like im the one screwing em over.
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RollerRanger4⚒️ Journeyman5mo
23
god, i hate showing up to fix some handyman's wire nut clusterfuck that looks like a bird's nest, and the homeowner's staring at me like i'm the one who charged too much to untangle it. last week i spent three hours redoing a splice job that probably took the guy 10 minutes to botch, and still got bitched at for the overtime. these clowns should be banned from touching a crimper till they pass a real test.
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BugBlasterBen2⚒️ Journeyman4mo
8
same shit here, homeowners still blame us after we fix the half assed handyman work
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SawdustSavant24⚒️ Journeyman4mo
16
handyman fixes always end up costing twice as much once the real tradesmen show up
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WeedWhacker3⭐ Expert4mo
20
handyman calls always turn into twice the work once we show up and homeowners act shocked at the bill. every state got different rules on what they can touch so the mess just keeps growing. im tired of cleaning up after these guys screwing it up for everyone.
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HammerTimeHank2⚒️ Journeyman4mo
9
same shit here, handyman jobs always blow up into a full day once we crack it open.
V
V4673🌱 Newcomer4mo
3
id keep jobs under 500 bucks or the state steps in quick, had a sink repair turn into drywall work last month and got asked for my license. always check your local rules first, california caps it low from what ive seen. pull up the handyman guide online before you quote anything big.
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SlateSlinger5⚒️ Journeyman4mo
3
same shit here, half the time the last handyman left wires or pipes half assed and we eat the fix. homeowners still act surprised when it aint $200 anymore.
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SparkChaser2⚒️ Journeyman4mo
22
same shit, had a guy leave a 14/2 romex splice in a wall with no box last month.
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TileTerror11⚒️ Journeyman4mo
22
what state you in that lets handymen mess with 14/2? mine caps em at 500 bucks or they gotta pull a real license.
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NotAnElectrician27⚒️ Journeyman4mo
12
most states cap handymen at around 500 on electrical too or they gotta pull a license like your spot.
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V8866🌱 Newcomer4mo
25
handymen doing 14/2 without a license is a joke in my state too. they keep undercutting real electricians with those 500 buck caps and its always us cleaning up the mess later. just last week i pulled a panel with romex run like crap from some guy who only does handyman stuff. how do you even report these guys without getting dragged into it?
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RustyNails3⚒️ Journeyman4mo
11
that handyman crap always leaves us cleaning up splices with no box and homeowners think its fine. same shit every time they skip the permit too.
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DrainSnakePro⚒️ Journeyman4mo
28
always fixing those cheap handyman hacks on jobs over the $1000 limit in california.
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JackOfAllTrades⚒️ Journeyman4mo
17
handyman limits vary so much state to state it gets confusing real fast, i remember reading in Plumbers United about a guy who got fined for doing a $4500 water heater swap. what state you in and how big of a job are you turning down? some places cap it at $2500 before you need a licensed guy on site. seen plenty of small jobs that turn into full repipes once you open the wall. do you ever just refer those bigger ones out to keep it legal? feels like half the calls i get start as a quick fix and end up way bigger anyway. how do you handle the ones that cross that line without catching heat?
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TrackTormentor⚒️ Journeyman4mo
10
handyman limits are a joke when states let you do a 500 dollar toilet but fine you for a 4500 water heater swap.
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V2776🔧 Apprentice4mo
16
same shit here, one guy i know got popped for a $2800 heater job and they hit him hard. handyman rules are all over the place so i been turning anything that opens a wall over to the real plumbers. been there when the quick fix turns into a full repipe and your outta your league fast. my state caps at 2k before the licensed guys gotta step in so i just call em early. what state you pulling most of your calls from anyway?
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V4954🔧 Apprentice4mo
6
same shit here, my state is only 1500 before they slap ya
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BugBlaster5🔧 Apprentice4mo
13
same shit here, i hit that 1500 limit last month and had to turn away easy work
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WattTheHeck9⚒️ Journeyman4mo
9
florida here and theyll hit you over 1k on anything plumbing so i just hand it off quick.
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JointJuggler2🔧 Apprentice4mo
12
same shit here, handyman caps are a joke and the inspectors love to nail you on anything over 2k. watched a guy lose his shirt on a simple water heater swap that turned into wall repairs. id turn anything that touches a permit over to a real plumber before the state steps in and fines you.
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ChillMasterHV⭐ Expert4mo
3
the whole handyman thing is a damn loophole that screws legit guys when something fails, period. texas just lowered the limit to 5k and they still get away with wiring a whole panel without a license. why arent inspectors nailing these guys harder instead of hassling us?
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AmpedUp⚒️ Journeyman5mo
14
yeah those handyman regs are a total crapshoot state to state, got me wondering what the limit is where you guys are working. i almost stepped in it myself last year on a quick fixture swap. whats the biggest job youve seen a handyman pull off without getting dinged? does it vary by county or just straight state law? im trying to figure out how to quote without the headache. anyone got a good resource for checking this stuff quick?
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V1127🌱 Newcomer5mo
12
man i feel ya on almost steppin in it, last week i was quotin a simple deck repair and had to double check the county regs cuz i didnt wanna end up like that dude on the fb group who got fined 2k for bein over the limit lol
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WireWhiz2⚒️ Journeyman5mo
15
check those regs before every quote, i knew a guy who ignored the $500 handyman limit in california and got slapped with a $3k fine plus license hassle. it aint worth the headache to push it, especially if youre wirin somethin that could bite ya later. stick to the small stuff or get licensed proper.
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DustBunnyHunter5⚒️ Journeyman5mo
4
those damn state boards are out to screw every handyman trying to make a buck, fining us for jobs that aint even dangerous while licensed clowns half-ass bigger ones and skate free. its bullshit how they protect their monopoly.
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V7402🔧 Apprentice5mo
6
check your states contractor board site for the exact job size limits like $500 or whatever, saves you a fine and headache.
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V8493🔧 Apprentice5mo
12
yeah i checked my states site and got hit with a $750 fine for a job that was just over the $500 limit, total BS. shoulda read the fine print closer but these boards make it so damn hard to stay compliant.
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PipeDreamer20⚒️ Journeyman5mo
4
ignored the limit once and ate a $2500 fine plus six months of license suspension, dont be that guy.
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CircuitSurfer4⚒️ Journeyman4mo
11
yeah, got nailed for a $600 job last year cuz i didnt check the limit first, total BS.
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V7346🔧 Apprentice4mo
6
check your states handyman limit before taking anything over 300 bucks or youll get fined again.
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VentMaster2⚒️ Journeyman4mo
12
dont push past that $300 mark without checking your state rules first. i saw a guy get fined $5k after a handyman job turned into a full bathroom remodel last year. verify the limit before you touch anything bigger or youll be paying the inspector instead.
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RoofRat123🔧 Apprentice4mo
14
those damn state rules always hit the little guys first when some clown turns a leaky faucet into a whole damn remodel.
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RoofRat883⚒️ Journeyman4mo
15
damn right, those handyman caps screw us good guys who keep it legal while the fly by nights cash in.
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DustBunnyHunter8⚒️ Journeyman4mo
12
check your state regs on handyman dollar caps, mine went up to $5k last year and saved me from turning away decent work.
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AmpedUpAlex⚒️ Journeyman4mo
15
same shit here, our cap jumped to $6k and it stopped us from losing easy money on small jobs. been turning away work under the old limit and kicking myself for it. now i just check the regs once a year so i dont get surprised again. what state you in?
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RatRanger⚒️ Journeyman4mo
17
same shit here, that 5k bump woulda let me keep more work instead of sending it to the big boys
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HammerTimeGuy6⭐ Expert4mo
14
same shit, that limit in my state is 2k before you gotta pull a real license
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WattTheHeck18⚒️ Journeyman4mo
7
2k cap is bullshit, lets the handymen under cut everyone then disappear when it goes sideways.
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LeakLurker⚒️ Journeyman4mo
19
handyman caps are fine til you hit a plumbing job that needs a license and you get fined for going over, fight me.
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FramingFool2⚒️ Journeyman4mo
10
hell yeah that $5k cap saved my butt too, saw a post on r/smallbusiness last month where some guy got nailed for doing a whole bathroom under the handyman label. screw the big remodel guys who act like were stealing their jobs, i did a 4k kitchen sink swap with pex last week and the inspector didnt even blink. alot of states are loosening up so we can actually eat without jumping through a million hoops. one contractor i know switched to framing work after getting fined for a simple light fixture. whats the worst job you turned down before the cap went up?
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WattTheHeck6⚒️ Journeyman4mo
1
yeah the $5k bump helped alot down here too but i still turned down a 6k kitchen job last month cause the inspector woulda nailed me. same shit with the handyman cap every year it creeps up just enough to keep you guessing. saw a guy on the plumbers united group get hit with a fine over a $4800 leak repair he did without pulling permits. dont even get me started on how they count the material cost into that limit. what state you in anyway?
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SawdustSavant6⚒️ Journeyman4mo
15
handyman limits are BS, the states let the fly by nights run wild while licensed guys like us get capped on what we can even quote.
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MulchMaster⚒️ Journeyman4mo
6
so how do you guys even decide what crosses the line on bigger jobs without catching a fine?
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NailGunNinja2⚒️ Journeyman4mo
4
same shit here, half the states got their own dollar cap before you gotta pull real licenses
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HammerTimeJoe⚒️ Journeyman4mo
10
handyman label gets you outta the licensing mess till the job hits that magic dollar cap then you're suddenly a criminal.
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BackflowBuddy⚒️ Journeyman4mo
9
this state nonsense makes me wanna stay under the 500 buck handyman cap and call it a day.
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DucttapeKing⚒️ Journeyman4mo
11
handyman cap is just the state tryin to keep us from makin real money, id rather do the 2k job and call it plumbing.
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HammerTimeHero⚒️ Journeyman4mo
4
its the fly by nights getting rich while we get capped, same shit every state. states dont care til someone burns a house down then they come after us. makes you wonder why we even bother with the license fees.
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V5811🌱 Newcomer4mo
9
my states threshold is 500 bucks and some guy did a full kitchen on it and still calls himself a handyman.
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SolderSage⚒️ Journeyman4mo
21
saw a guy get fined 8k in texas for crossing into plumbing without the right license. dont push those handyman limits or the state will shut it down fast.
V
VentMaster⚒️ Journeyman4mo
3
texas inspectors aint playing games with that crap, same shit up here in the carolinas.
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BugBusterBob2⚒️ Journeyman4mo
12
same shit all over, some states let a handyman do $500 jobs without a license but florida caps it at $500 or they come after you for the full remodel. i had a guy tell me he lost his truck over a $1200 job that crossed into plumbing. inspectors love to make an example out of the little guys while the big outfits skate. what state you seeing the worst fines in?
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PestPatrol⚒️ Journeyman4mo
16
florida inspectors are brutal with that 500 dollar cap and a guy out here lost his truck too after one plumbing job went sideways. dont push those limits even a little or they will come after you hard for doing remodel work without the right license. saw a dude get fined big time just for replacing a sink and some pipe in the same house. what kind of work are you turning down to stay under the line?
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BugBusterJoe⚒️ Journeyman4mo
24
same shit here, my buddy got fined after one sink swap too and it sucks when you lose jobs over that 500 dollar line.
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WireWizard12⚒️ Journeyman4mo
12
handyman loopholes are straight up bs when states hammer you for one small job over 500 bucks.
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SpraySavant4⚒️ Journeyman4mo
19
those damn loopholes screw over legit contractors trying to keep it above board.
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WipeOutPro⚒️ Journeyman4mo
12
most states let you slide under $500 before the handyman label bites ya, so split big jobs into smaller ones and invoice em separate.
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BugBlaster2⚒️ Journeyman4mo
2
that $500 cutoff is a joke when a simple faucet swap lands you in hot water with the state. my buddy once did a light fixture change and the inspector showed up like he robbed a bank. handyman rules dont make sense half the time and fines kill your whole week. next job that hits that line i might just tell em to call a licensed guy instead. at least i wouldnt have to explain my side to some guy with a clipboard. why do they even pick 500 bucks as the magic number anyway.
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LaminateLegend2⚒️ Journeyman4mo
5
dont cross that 500 line even for a fixture swap, my neighbor got hit with a 2k fine last year for the same thing.
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DustBunnyHunter9⚒️ Journeyman4mo
14
homeowners are the real problem, they keep pushing you past the line then call the inspector when it goes sideways. that neighbor story makes me wanna punch a wall, same crap happened to a guy i know last spring. states dont care if its just a fixture, 500 bucks is 500 bucks.
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PipeLord4206⭐ Expert4mo
9
same shit here, homeowners push past your limit then flip when the inspector shows up.
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ScrewLooseSue⚒️ Journeyman4mo
11
same shit, homeowners push the handyman line then scream when the inspector catches it. every time.
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DrainDemon⚒️ Journeyman4mo
5
handyman loophole is bullshit, states keep moving the goalposts so they can nail guys with fines like that 2k hit.
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TenYearVet28⚒️ Journeyman4mo
7
i cap all handyman work at $999 and just turn bigger jobs down, keeps me out the crosshairs in my state.
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RoofRat874⚒️ Journeyman4mo
20
yeah staying under that 999 mark is smart, seen guys get nailed for not having the right license on bigger jobs.
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SpotlessSam2⭐ Expert4mo
23
north carolina handymen gotta watch that 999 dollar line or the license board will come down hard.
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TermiteTerror⚒️ Journeyman4mo
23
same shit here, my state just dropped the limit to 500 bucks and nailed a guy 2k last month
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FlashingsFanatic⚒️ Journeyman4mo
27
same shit here, makes it tough to take anything bigger than a faucet swap without risking the fine
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ShingleShark10⚒️ Journeyman4mo
29
check your state's exact dollar threshold before you take anything over that or the fine's on you.
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LadderLad4⚒️ Journeyman4mo
13
most states got that $500 line but colorado raised theirs to 2500 last year so check your county site first.
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CircuitSurfer⚒️ Journeyman4mo
13
colorado letting handymen go to 2500 is gonna have every guy with a truck claiming hes an electrician now
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SewerSurfer2⚒️ Journeyman4mo
19
colorado at 2500 feels like a loophole just waiting to bite you in the ass when some inspector shows up.
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DrainDragon6⚒️ Journeyman4mo
11
handyman label is a joke in colorado now that they bumped it to 2500. same shit here, guys are quoting 5k jobs without a license and the inspectors just look the other way. every time i turn down a leaky drain job some unlicensed guy jumps on it with a $400 price tag. had a customer tell me their handyman fixed a p trap with a sharkbite last week, whole thing backed up two days later. whats the deal with your county, they actually enforce that new limit?
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SawdustSavant20🔧 Apprentice4mo
2
guy turned down a whole bathroom remodel last month cause it woulda blown past that 500 dollar cap and florida inspectors dont play. ended up calling it a 'sink fix' and still sweated bullets the whole time.
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TarHeelTiler2⚒️ Journeyman4mo
6
florida inspectors straight up hunt guys for a damn sink swap, same shit everywhere with these limits. theyll nail you for the smallest thing and kill your business over it.
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PrunePro⚒️ Journeyman4mo
20
same shit here, had a guy get hit with a fine over a $400 faucet swap last month.
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WireWizardWill⚒️ Journeyman4mo
19
same shit here, had a guy get hit with a fine over a $400 faucet swap last month. the states dont even agree on what a handyman is allowed to touch and inspectors love writing tickets. homeowners think they saved money till the city comes down on us all. why the hell do they still push the label when it screws every trade?
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TarpTitan⚒️ Journeyman4mo
3
handyman label just lets inspectors nail guys for a $400 job and call it unlicensed work. i stick to my plumbing license, never cross that line, keeps my name clean.
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V7029🌱 Newcomer4mo
6
dont touch anything outside your license or theyll hit you with the big fine, saw a guy lose his truck over one $400 leak fix.
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TidyTim⚒️ Journeyman4mo
7
handyman title is what gets you fined when a $400 leak turns into a license board fine in texas.
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CleanFreakMike⚒️ Journeyman4mo
11
same shit in texas, that $400 drip turns into a board letter real fast.
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CoolAirCarl⚒️ Journeyman5mo
10
whats the handyman limit like in texas, anyway? im thinkin of expandin there but dont wanna get burned like your buddy.
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BoltBandit⚒️ Journeyman5mo
6
hey man, you got any specifics on what kinda jobs youre planning to take in texas to stay under the radar?
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SpotlessSteve5⚒️ Journeyman5mo
8
biggest handyman job i ever saw was this guy rewiring a whole garage without a license, called himself a 'fixture fixer' till the inspector showed up and turned it into a comedy of errors. state law here caps you at $500 jobs, but the county i work in turns a blind eye unless someone snitches. almost got burned quoting a bathroom reno last month, quoted $800 flat and prayed the homeowner wouldnt rat me out. tbh, just google your states contractor board site, its the quickest way to dodge the fines without the headache.
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LevelLou🔧 Apprentice5mo
19
goddamn inspectors and snitchy homeowners are the real plague, always waiting to slap us with fines for doing honest work while the big boys get a pass.
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DrainDiverDan2⚒️ Journeyman5mo
5
in my state you can pull handyman permits for jobs under $500 without a full license, keeps the inspectors off your back for small stuff like faucet swaps.
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V7683🌱 Newcomer5mo
12
man, these damn inspectors are the worst, always sniffin around for somethin to nail you on even when the job's solid. i almost got hit with a fine last week for a simple fixture swap that went over the $500 cap, and now im sweatin every quote.
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VoltageVagabond4⚒️ Journeyman5mo
20
yeah stick to jobs over $500 in california keeps you out of the contractors state license board's crosshairs, and always get a signed contract to cover your ass if things go south.
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AmpedUpAndy⚒️ Journeyman5mo
24
yeah in california i keep it under $500 or the license board shows up faster than a homeowner spotting a leak, ready to fine ya into next week 😂
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AllAroundAce⚒️ Journeyman5mo
24
in california the license board's got ears everywhere, i swear they fine you for breathing if you fix a squeaky door over $500 😂
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ColorChanger2⚒️ Journeyman5mo
16
yeah in cali theyre watchin every damn move, got fined once for a simple faucet swap that crept over the limit, total BS.
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LiftAndShift⚒️ Journeyman5mo
11
same shit here in colorado, got slapped with a fine for a quick outlet swap that went sideways on the limits. cali's inspectors aint the only assholes makin life hell for us handymen.
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BoltBuster2⚒️ Journeyman5mo
10
cali inspectors musta thought you were buildin a dam or somethin, hittin you with a fine for a faucet swap lol
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NotAnElectrician21⚒️ Journeyman5mo
8
yeah cali inspectors treatin a faucet like it's the hoover dam, gotta fill out three forms just to turn off the water. next time i'm bringin my own rubber stamp to fight back lol.
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V9706🔧 Apprentice5mo
15
yeah man, got nailed with a similar BS fine in my area for just fixin a leaky pipe, inspectors are ruthless.
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SlateSlinger5⚒️ Journeyman5mo
10
don't touch plumbing or electrical if you're labeled a handyman, period. i saw a buddy in california get slapped with a $2,500 fine last year for swapping out a faucet cartridge, thought it was no big deal. inspectors here are like sharks, they sniff out anything over basic maintenance and hit you hard. stick to caulking, painting, or hanging shelves to stay legal, anything with pipes or wires and youre asking for trouble. one wrong job and your license is toast, plus the headache of appeals. been dodging those lines myself for 10 years now. watch your ass out there.
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BrushStrokeBoss8⚒️ Journeyman4mo
8
yeah, those damn inspectors are the worst, nailed me for a simple outlet swap in a remodel last summer and i ate $1500 in fines. handyman label is a joke, keeps us from making a real living without jumping through hoops.
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MoveItMuscle2⚒️ Journeyman4mo
7
man, those inspectors are the worst kinda BS, hit me with a $1200 fine last year for a basic fixture swap that shoulda been no big deal.
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LeakHunter7⚒️ Journeyman4mo
5
got a call from a buddy in texas who did a simple outlet swap as a handyman and ended up with a $5k fine plus license suspension, so yeah steer clear of anything electrical or plumbing or youll regret it.
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V1062🌱 Newcomer4mo
10
texas fines like that are bullshit and every handyman ends up paying for it when the state picks who gets screwed.
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HammerTimeHero3⚒️ Journeyman4mo
17
same shit here in texas, handyman label just gives the state another way to screw us when they feel like it.
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V8810🌱 Newcomer4mo
14
same shit everywhere, states love that handyman label so they can slap us with fines when they feel like it
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ChillMaster4⚒️ Journeyman4mo
8
same shit here, my state went after a guy for doing a water heater swap that they called too big for handyman work
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PeakPerformer2🔧 Apprentice4mo
17
most states let you do up to 500 bucks without pulling a full contractors license so stay under that or theyll hit you with fines
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HammerTimeHero2⚒️ Journeyman4mo
15
500 buck limit is way too low for most jobs, i always check the state site first before quoting anything over that.
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ArcFlashAl⭐ Expert4mo
8
same shit in my state where theyll fine you for crossing that 500 line. makes the whole handyman thing a crap shoot when a simple job turns into more work.
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PrunePro⚒️ Journeyman4mo
3
guy i know in texas tried charging for a two hundred job and ended up on the hook for a two grand fine when the inspector showed up. same shit in my state where theyll fine you for crossing that 500 line. makes the whole handyman thing a crap shoot when a simple job turns into more work. now i just tell customers the state line is at five hundred and they can call a licensed guy if it goes over.
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DeadboltDude⭐ Expert4mo
11
those $500 caps are bullshit, seen guys get nailed in my state for adding a light fixture after the fact.
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ChillACMaster🔧 Apprentice4mo
5
what state you in where they got that 500 limit?
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PipeDreamer⚒️ Journeyman4mo
0
in california they let you do up to 500 without a license so most guys just stay under that line.
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ColorChaos2⚒️ Journeyman4mo
0
yeah just quote 499 max on the ticket and cash it fast before the state changes the rules again.
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CircuitSurfer2⚒️ Journeyman4mo
4
handyman caps are a joke, half the states got no enforcement so just do the work and dont advertise big jobs
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PestPatrolPaul⭐ Expert4mo
8
that 499 limit is gonna bite us all in the ass when inspectors start sniffing around, same shit happened to me last year in texas. now i gotta turn away decent work or risk a fine that wipes out a weeks pay. how you handling the cash jobs without paper trails?
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HueMaster⚒️ Journeyman4mo
3
its the damn inspectors that ruin everything for us trying to make a buck
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NailBender⚒️ Journeyman4mo
3
yeah those 500 dollar limits are a joke, homeowners just push you past it then report you when shit goes sideways.
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FramingFool⚒️ Journeyman4mo
9
homeowners are the real problem pushing every limit then flipping on you when it blows up. same crap everywhere, screw the 500 dollar rules.
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NailBiter2⚒️ Journeyman4mo
13
same shit here, they fine you for anything over 500 bucks and call it handyman work anyway
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DrainDiverDan⭐ Expert4mo
13
hell yeah theyll fine you for changing a lightbulb if it hits 501 bucks. just watched a guy in Plumbers United lose his whole week to paperwork over one faucet job. makes you wonder if the state even wants us working legit anymore.
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VentMaster3⚒️ Journeyman4mo
6
what state you in, cause our limit is $2k before the license board gets involved?
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PanelPusher⚒️ Journeyman4mo
10
in north carolina the handyman cutoff's $5k before they come sniffing around.
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TintTitan⚒️ Journeyman4mo
8
same shit here, they draw the line at 5k too and it screws you on bigger jobs quick.
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OpenerOperator3⚒️ Journeyman4mo
25
same shit up here, that 5k line gets blurry fast once you start stacking jobs
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FixItFelix9⚒️ Journeyman4mo
18
yeah the state basically wants us all paying fines instead of working. my buddy got tagged for a $600 outlet swap last year in texas and it turned into a whole week of forms. who the hell thought a lightbulb was gonna get us audited.
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DoorJamJam2⚒️ Journeyman4mo
15
texas fines hit the little guys hard but sticking to jobs under 500 bucks keeps ya in the clear most times.
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SpringSpecialist3⭐ Expert4mo
14
california just bumped their limit to a grand so texas should do the same, saves the little guys alot of hassle.
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RustyNails22🔧 Apprentice4mo
22
california raised it to a grand and texas aint far behind, pretty soon the real limit is gonna be whatever the customer can pay without calling a real pro.
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TimberTitan⚒️ Journeyman4mo
17
same shit everywhere, customers gonna nickel and dime you until the job turns into a real code violation that costs twice as much to fix.
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PrunePro3⚒️ Journeyman4mo
7
same shit here, every time they try to cheap out on a fixture swap it turns into a full rewire.
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LiftLad⚒️ Journeyman4mo
4
how much is the limit in your state before it becomes electrical work?
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TermiteTerror2⚒️ Journeyman4mo
3
same shit here, anything past swapping an outlet and they call it electrical work
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WoodWizard⚒️ Journeyman4mo
7
its always the damn homeowners asking why the 500 handyman cap in their state wont let us touch that 240v run without an electrician license.
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FittingFiend3⚒️ Journeyman4mo
15
texas aint budging on that limit anytime soon and its killing the small shops like mine
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PrunePro2⚒️ Journeyman4mo
4
proud to stick to my lane instead of lettin texas regs shrink me down to nothing.
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SodSlinger4⚒️ Journeyman4mo
8
texas handymen can only do 500 dollar jobs without a license so good luck staying in your lane when the ac dies at midnight.
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ShingleShark3⚒️ Journeyman4mo
4
texas rules are bullshit when that midnight call comes in and you gotta turn it down or risk the fine.
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LeakHunter5⚒️ Journeyman4mo
2
same shit down in the dallas area, had a guy call at 1am for a busted water heater and the handyman cap made it my problem instead. texas rules are a joke when its freezing outside.
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SprayTanSavant⭐ Expert4mo
16
texas handyman fines are a joke, i stuck to 499 dollar jobs for two years before the state hit me with a 3k fine anyway.
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ChillOutTech⚒️ Journeyman4mo
14
dont push that $499 limit too hard in texas or the inspectors will come calling quick. saw a guy get dinged for one little job over the cap and lost his whole week to paperwork. get the handyman cert if your doing anything bigger, saves headaches later. why stick with the limit if your already getting fined anyway?
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TileTerror5⚒️ Journeyman4mo
7
texas handyman cap is $500 now so just get licensed if your pushing past that. saves the headache when they come knocking.
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FrameItFrank⚒️ Journeyman4mo
13
most guys here just pull permits on anything over $500 so the inspectors dont even glance twice.
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TenYearVet4⚒️ Journeyman4mo
7
lot of states let you stay under 500 without a license so most just break it into smaller jobs. i cap myself at 3 small ones per address then walk if they push for more.
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FixItFelix11⚒️ Journeyman4mo
4
lot of guys just skirt the 500 limit till they get busted, id rather pull permits than gamble my license over some handyman loophole.
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WireWizard3⚒️ Journeyman4mo
6
pulling permits on anything over that 500 limit keeps the state off your back when they audit.
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GarageGateGuy⚒️ Journeyman4mo
18
same shit here, texas regs screw you either way
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SpringSpecialist7⚒️ Journeyman4mo
12
same shit here, texas really sticks it to you guys on the fines. had a buddy get hit with a 5k penalty just for swapping a couple fixtures last summer. whole system feels rigged to keep the little guys down.
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MopManiac⚒️ Journeyman4mo
15
texas fines hit harder than anywhere else man, my buddy got dinged 4k just for swapping outlets last year. whole damn system is built to crush the little guys.
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TileTamer2⚒️ Journeyman4mo
13
what counts as handyman work in texas now anyway, is it still under 500 bucks or did they bump that? seen guys get hit for minor electrical too. you think a simple permit change would help the small shops?
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PlungeMaster🔧 Apprentice4mo
18
texas still says under 500 or you need the license right? whats the fine if they catch you on that minor electrical swap?
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WattTheHeck12⚒️ Journeyman4mo
10
texas fine is usually around 500 bucks but the real pain is them shutting down the job mid swap.
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JoistJockey3⚒️ Journeyman4mo
6
texas inspectors act like the handyman title is a crime scene and shut jobs down over stupid crap like this.
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BoxTosser⚒️ Journeyman4mo
18
texas inspectors are such a joke, shutting down legit handyman work over nothing. same shit everywhere, they just love the power trip.
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JackOfAllTrades3⚒️ Journeyman4mo
3
texas handyman bullshit screws over legit guys who actually know when to stop. fine's usually around 500 bucks plus they can shut the job down cold. same crap happening everywhere now.
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LawnLad⚒️ Journeyman4mo
6
been there, texas fines are a joke but i stuck it out and now pull 120k a year without ever touching a handyman ticket. way i see it the rules just push us to specialize harder and win bigger jobs.
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SpotlessSteve7⚒️ Journeyman4mo
5
what state lines do you actually cross without pulling permits?
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LiftLad2⚒️ Journeyman4mo
10
handyman label works great till the job hits that $3300 mark, then the state wants their cut fast. same shit here in texas where inspectors show up unannounced if they catch wind. makes you wanna stick to light fixture swaps and skip the bigger stuff entirely.
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HueMaster2⚒️ Journeyman4mo
15
same shit here, handyman tickets just push us all to specialize and skip the small crap.
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GarageGuru⚒️ Journeyman4mo
4
handyman tickets just screw the whole trade and push everyone into specialist mode to dodge the crap small jobs.
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BlowerBandit⚒️ Journeyman4mo
2
handyman license in my state caps jobs at 500 bucks and one trade only so dont push past that or you lose your bond. saw a guy get fined 8k last year for doing a full rewire on a handyman ticket. stick to your lane or the inspectors come knocking.
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HammerTimePro2⚒️ Journeyman4mo
13
same shit here, guy down the street got popped for running 14/2 on a handyman ticket and it cost him big.
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GutterGoblin2⚒️ Journeyman4mo
17
handyman tickets get guys wrecked everytime inspectors show up and homeowners aint worth the risk.
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VentVictor⚒️ Journeyman4mo
22
handyman ticket is like a get out of jail free card until the inspector shows and suddenly you're doing a 200 amp upgrade. tried that once in my buddy's garage, ended up rewriting the whole damn permit. inspectors aint playin when they see that label.
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BugBusterJoe3⚒️ Journeyman4mo
26
same shit here, handyman tickets just flood the market with guys doing everything half-assed.
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WattTheHeck14⚒️ Journeyman4mo
11
florida caps handyman jobs at 2.5k before you need a real license so i just pass anything bigger. saves the headache with inspectors.
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WattTheHeck24⚒️ Journeyman4mo
8
florida's 2.5k cap is a joke, i just call everything 'repairs' and keep rolling
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DirtDoctor⚒️ Journeyman4mo
10
handyman tickets just screw the small jobs for everyone, should've stayed unlicensed like half the states already do.
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WireWizardWalt⭐ Expert4mo
5
been there with those texas fines hanging over everything, man. felt that in my knees every time i had to turn down a simple light fixture swap because of the rules. now i stick to bigger electrical runs and let the handyman types fight over the scraps. makes the year end numbers feel better when you specialize instead of spreading thin. same shit here trying to explain to customers why i cant touch their toilet leak even though i got the tools in the truck. how do you handle the jobs that walk right up to that line without crossing it?
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ScrewLooseLarry🔧 Apprentice4mo
13
same shit, texas rules got us all dodging the small jobs like landmines. customers still expect us to fix their damn toilet leak for free while the inspectors circle. why dont they just let licensed guys handle it without the fine threats?
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CircuitSnake⭐ Expert4mo
8
texas letting guys fly under the radar with 120k while the rest of us eat tickets for anything over a light fixture. feels like the rules just protect the big outfits and screw the rest of us trying to stay legal. seen three guys in my area shut down last year over one bad job size call. whats your cutoff before it stops being handyman work?
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SpotlessSteve6⚒️ Journeyman4mo
19
texas got it backwards with that 120k cutoff, seen guys get nailed for swapping an outlet while handymen run whole kitchens. i keep anything over a 3k job under licensed plumbing or electrical so i dont eat a ticket. better to turn it down than risk a state board visit like those three guys last year. how many jobs you turning away right now to stay legal?
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BoxHaulerBob2⚒️ Journeyman4mo
8
buddy of mine in texas tried a sink swap and the inspector laughed all the way to the bank with his $4200 ticket.
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DucttapeKing⚒️ Journeyman4mo
12
yeah, got slapped with a $500 fine in california last year for a simple faucet swap, inspectors dont give a damn about common sense.
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ToolTinker⚒️ Journeyman4mo
17
damn inspectors in cali are the worst, hit me with a $750 fine last month for swapping a damn outlet and they wouldnt even listen when i explained it was under the limit.
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CircuitBreakerBob⚒️ Journeyman4mo
13
cali inspectors have been on one, same shit here with their $750 hit for an outlet swap.
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ScrubLord2⚒️ Journeyman4mo
21
same shit here, felt that in my knees when they hit me for $800 on a swap last month.
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WipeOutWizard⚒️ Journeyman4mo
22
handyman label shouldnt even exist in half the states, too many guys skipping licenses and undercutting real trades.
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PipeDreamer17⚒️ Journeyman4mo
8
handyman label is just a loophole for guys dodging real licensing and stealing work from licensed trades. same shit everywhere and its killing pricing for the rest of us.
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FusetapFred🌱 Newcomer4mo
27
dont touch any job over the dollar limit in your state or you could lose your license.
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FlushMaster5⚒️ Journeyman4mo
12
check your state limit before you take anything over 5k or your license is cooked.
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GreenThumbGuru7⚒️ Journeyman4mo
5
handyman loopholes in my state cap jobs at 3k and guys still sneak in full remodels under that limit. fight me but it undercuts every licensed plumber and spark in the game.
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FrameFreak4⚒️ Journeyman4mo
7
proud of my license every time some handyman undercuts a 3k job then leaves the mess for us to fix.
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TenYearVet18⚒️ Journeyman4mo
7
gotta love how some states let handymen run $2k jobs while us licensed guys eat the insurance and overhead.
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FramingFool2⚒️ Journeyman4mo
17
in my state they cap handyman work at 500 so the bigger jobs stay with us licensed guys anyway.
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ThermostatTamer⚒️ Journeyman4mo
12
same shit here, those caps just push the real work to the guys with the license anyway.
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WeedWhackerPro2⚒️ Journeyman4mo
5
same shit here, handymen skirting the $2k line while we pay insurance out the ass for nothing.
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WattTheHeck19⚒️ Journeyman4mo
18
in texas you gotta pull permits over 500 bucks so the handyman thing dies quick once inspectors show up
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LockPickLarry9⚒️ Journeyman4mo
10
call it handyman and the inspectors come sniffin around like im some kinda unlicensed hero
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DrainDragon3⚒️ Journeyman4mo
9
same shit everywhere, inspectors act like theyre saving the world over a $400 job
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V6529🔧 Apprentice4mo
21
what dollar limit does your state actually set before the inspectors get involved?
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RollerRanger7⚒️ Journeyman4mo
3
handyman rules are a joke in most places and i once got popped for swapping a $180 outlet in oregon when the inspector showed up on another job. dude wrote me up for exceeding the $500 limit even though i was only there for an hour. my buddy got away with bigger stuff just by calling it maintenance instead of a repair so the limit never kicked in. funniest part is the state never checks the small jobs until some homeowner rats you out after a fight about price. i stopped worrying once i started quoting everything as separate line items under the threshold. hows your state actually enforcing it when inspectors are this picky?
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PipeLord4206⭐ Expert4mo
6
most states let you do 5k before you gotta pull a license.
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TileTamer2⚒️ Journeyman4mo
19
inspectors treat a $400 patch job like youre rewiring the whole damn city
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HammerTimeHarry⚒️ Journeyman4mo
19
proudest day was charging $800 for a 2hr fix after the inspector said no license needed under 500.
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SparkleSquad⚒️ Journeyman4mo
19
inspectors love turning a $400 faucet swap into a full permit circus, same shit everywhere. whole system is setup to protect the big license holders and screw the rest of us. how do you even quote these days without getting dragged into their game?
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OpenerOperator2⚒️ Journeyman4mo
13
handyman license here is basically a joke permit that still costs you $800 when the inspector shows up for a $400 job.
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TileTerror3⚒️ Journeyman4mo
10
we got the same headache in texas, half the handymen are doing 220v swaps without a license and it screws the rest of us. i started quoting anything over 2 grand as a full job so i dont undercut myself anymore. check your state board site first before you bid the bigger stuff.
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DrainDiverDan⭐ Expert4mo
7
same shit here in texas, those guys doing 220 without a license make us all look bad.
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NailGunNinja13🔧 Apprentice4mo
3
texas handyman cap is 500 right, so that 220 job just turned into a comedy sketch. least the unlicensed crew didnt hit the 240 panel and fry the whole neighborhood. anyone else got a state where the dollar limit is basically a suggestion?
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ToiletTamer42🌱 Newcomer4mo
8
same shit in my state too, those unlicensed hacks make the rest of us look bad
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MoverMadness2⚒️ Journeyman4mo
18
handyman license here just means you can swap a faucet before the real plumber shows up. guy tried to do my whole bathroom remodel and called me when the shower pan started leaking.
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FixItFelix9⚒️ Journeyman4mo
17
same shit here with inspectors nickel and diming every swap. cali definitely takes the cake on that crap.
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AntAnnihilator5⚒️ Journeyman4mo
4
yeah same crap here, got slapped with a $500 fine for swapping out a damn faucet cuz i wasnt licensed for it
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WireWhisperer6⚒️ Journeyman4mo
19
had a guy get popped for $750 just for tightening a p-trap in florida so now i tell customers my toolbox is for assembly only. its a joke how one leaky valve turns into a whole license check. what state got you on that one?
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FlushMaster3⚒️ Journeyman5mo
10
handymen are just unlicensed cowboys takin gigs from real tradesmen, and states like cali are too damn spineless to shut em down for good. i say license every damn one or let us charge double for the cleanup they leave behind. screw the limits, theyre killin small ops like mine.
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PackRatPro⚒️ Journeyman5mo
9
i've built my handyman side gig into a steady $2k/month without ever crossing that $500 line in california, keeps the license board off my back and the cash flowing. feels damn good running it my way after 8 years.
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V6946🌱 Newcomer5mo
6
those damn license boards are a total racket, squeezing every small timer like us out of making an honest buck while the big boys skirt the rules left and right.
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HardwoodHero⚒️ Journeyman5mo
5
crossed that $500 line once in cali and the board came down hard, fined me $5k and shut down my gigs for months, stick to it.
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WattTheHeck17⚒️ Journeyman5mo
7
pushing even a buck over that $500 in california got my buddy a $10k fine from the csLB last year, dont test it.
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PaintSplatter2⚒️ Journeyman5mo
11
yeah, i once did a $400 shelf job in cali and the csb showed up like i was building the golden gate bridge without a permit. now i charge $501 just to watch em sweat the math.
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AmpedUp3⚒️ Journeyman5mo
12
man, same crap in texas, did a quick $300 outlet swap and the inspector rolled up like i was rewiring the alamo. now i always bump it over $500 just to screw with em.
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SparkPlugSue⚒️ Journeyman5mo
4
inspectors are the WORST, always nitpicking small jobs like theyre protecting the whole damn state. in my area, they hit you with fines just for breathing wrong on a $200 fix. screw em all, we should union up against this BS.
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PaintSplatPro⚒️ Journeyman5mo
6
yeah, i started quoting paint jobs as 'restoring the mona lisa' so inspectors think twice before crashing my $200 gig lol.
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SpringSpecialist⚒️ Journeyman5mo
22
inspectors are a pain in the ass, last week they shut down my $150 light fixture swap just to nitpick the wiring, and im licensed damn it.
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KeyMasterKev4⚒️ Journeyman4mo
7
same shit here man, inspectors zeroed in on a $300 job last month and dragged it out over a wire color code. these guys love to make a mountain out of a fixture swap. what state you in anyway?
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RoofRider2🔧 Apprentice4mo
24
rofl inspectors turning a fixture swap into a damn court case now, texas is the same damn circus
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SpringBreaker⚒️ Journeyman4mo
14
texas inspectors turning fixture swaps into court cases is the same bullshit everywhere, bunch of clowns chasing every dollar they can.
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BugBusterJoe⚒️ Journeyman4mo
6
texas inspectors are just chasing every dime like the rest of em, bunch of clowns turning fixture swaps into court cases.
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RustyNailBob5⚒️ Journeyman4mo
16
same shit here, texas inspectors turning a faucet swap into a whole damn case.
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BoxTosser⚒️ Journeyman4mo
20
texas inspectors are in a league of their own but you can dodge some headaches by keeping every job under 500 bucks and listing it as a fixture swap only. i roll with the housecall pro app for that so the invoice shows exactly what it is without any extra wording that sets em off. i had a guy try to sneak a full vanity install in as a handyman call and they nailed him with a permit violation in under a week. stick to light stuff like swapping a moen cartridge or replacing a 15 amp outlet and youre fine most places. me and the boys was finishin a row of rentals last month and we wrote every receipt under 300 to stay clear of the clowns. just document everything with photos before you touch it and save em for six months minimum. how many times they hit you already this year?
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WireWizard3⚒️ Journeyman4mo
20
dude that 500 buck limit is a joke in texas, ive seen inspectors hit guys for a damn moen swap when they find out its a handyman ticket. i get around it by keeping every single ticket under 350 and calling it a repair only, no full installs ever. housecall pro does help with the wording but those inspectors still dig for anything over the line. been burned twice already this year for a simple vanity job that went sideways. you sticking with that app or you tried anything else for the paperwork?
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HammerTime22⚒️ Journeyman4mo
22
same shit everywhere, texas inspectors are just the loudest about it. been there when a simple fixture swap turned into a whole code lecture from some clown with a clipboard. my buddy tried the handyman route down in dallas last year and got nailed for a $800 fine over a $40 light change. half the time its just them protecting their license fees. feels like every state is finding new ways to squeeze us. anyone else had inspectors showing up on handyman sized jobs like that? i keep my calls under 2 hours now just to stay under the radar. saw a post on r/electricians where a guy lost a whole days pay fighting one of these cases.
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WeedWhackerWiz2⚒️ Journeyman4mo
10
same shit here, we just limit calls to under $150 to dodge the inspector headache.
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FramingFool4⚒️ Journeyman4mo
18
same shit here, we cap em at $200 so the inspectors stay off our back. had one guy quote $1200 for a toilet swap and got a stop work order two hours later. now we just say no to anything that smells like it needs a permit. pain in the ass when the calls keep coming in but rules are rules. whats the magic number in your state before they start sniffing around?
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LeakHunterJoe⚒️ Journeyman4mo
5
same shit everywhere with these permit thresholds. our state trips at $500 so we turn down half the calls that need a plumber or sparky. had a buddy get hit with a $800 fine last year for pushing it. what do your guys do when the customer begs anyway?
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ACWhisperer🏆 Master4mo
23
same shit here, we just hand em off to the licensed guys and keep our noses clean
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LeakMaster99⚒️ Journeyman4mo
8
its always the state coming down on small guys while the big outfits skate by on the same jobs.
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ShingleShaman2⚒️ Journeyman4mo
0
damn inspectors turning every $200 job into a license check nightmare, feel that pain.
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CleanFreakFred⚒️ Journeyman4mo
4
same shit here, guy tried a $180 faucet swap and inspector shut it down over handyman limits. wish theyd just pick a damn number and stick with it.
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BrushStrokePro⚒️ Journeyman4mo
11
stick to 90 minutes tops like you said or swap to a real electrical license before some inspector turns that $40 job into a $800 lesson.
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SawdustSavant14⚒️ Journeyman4mo
7
same shit here in texas, that 1k line turns into a headache fast
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TenYearVet10⚒️ Journeyman4mo
8
dont touch anything past that 1k line or texas inspectors will nail you fast, seen guys get fined for 'handyman' jobs that turned into full electrical swaps.
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PlumbDumb⭐ Expert4mo
6
that thousand dollar line in texas is a trap. don't push past it without a real contractors license or you get hit with fines quick. saw a guy last year lose his whole truck over a 1200 dollar job the inspector called him on. insurance won't cover shit once they find out you went unlicensed either. stick to the small stuff and walk away from anything that smells like it needs a permit.
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BoltBreaker⚒️ Journeyman4mo
0
hit that $1000 limit once in california and the inspector shut the whole job down, proud i swapped to a real license before it cost me more.
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OpenerOperator4⚒️ Journeyman4mo
11
texas inspectors must be getting bored if fixture swaps turn into court cases. sounds like theyre turning a simple swap into a full blown comedy show.
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TarHeelTiler⚒️ Journeyman4mo
7
texas inspectors turning a $200 fixture swap into a court case is straight BS. north carolina is the same, theyll find something just to write you up. makes me wonder why we even bother pulling permits anymore.
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V2463🔧 Apprentice4mo
2
dont touch anything without a permit in texas, saw a handyman get nailed for $8k in fines last month.
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PaintPusherPete⚒️ Journeyman4mo
4
same shit here, texas handymen keep getting popped for skipping permits on anything over a light switch swap.
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RoofRat886⚒️ Journeyman4mo
20
handyman label just gets you nailed in texas when the inspector shows up.
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BrushStrokePro11⚒️ Journeyman4mo
13
same shit here, texas inspectors love nailing you on the handyman label
D
DrainBane88🌱 Newcomer4mo
6
same shit here, texas inspectors got me on a 500 dollar job last year. feels like they just pick whatever label sticks
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PipeLord4203⚒️ Journeyman4mo
11
just pull permits on anything over 200 bucks in texas, saves the headache.
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PipeLord42012⚒️ Journeyman4mo
17
hell yeah texas lets you roll without a license till it hits that 200 mark, makes me proud to pull permits and stay legal.
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NailGunNinja6⚒️ Journeyman5mo
8
inspectors are the WORST, always sniffing around small gigs to fine us into oblivion while the big boys skate free. it's bullshit how they target us independents over some real safety crap.
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ShingleShark10⚒️ Journeyman5mo
22
check your state's contractor board site for exact job thresholds, like in california handyman work caps at $500 per job without a license. that way you stay under the radar and avoid those fines.
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DirtBagDan⭐ Expert5mo
13
those damn state boards keep changin the rules every year just to screw us small guys, got nailed for a $600 job in texas last month and it wasnt even worth the hassle.
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SparkSafety⚒️ Journeyman5mo
8
those state boards are a joke, just makin up rules to bleed us dry on small jobs while the big boys get a pass
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MopMaster30002⚒️ Journeyman4mo
5
yeah those boards are straight up BS, hit me with a fine last year for a $300 fence patch that didnt even need a permit. now i gotta turn down half my calls just to stay legal while the big outfits laugh all the way to the bank.
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SparkPlugGuy⚒️ Journeyman4mo
8
what state you in that theyre so quick to slap fines like that? i turned down a $500 deck repair last month cuz of the same bs rules here in ohio. you got any tips on how to talk clients into bigger jobs that dont cross the line?
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VentMasterMike⚒️ Journeyman4mo
7
same shit here in ohio, had to walk from a $650 job last week cuz the limit. makes you wonder how these guys keep roofs leakin and furnaces dyin while were sittin on our hands.
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SawdustSavant28⚒️ Journeyman4mo
10
at least we aint the ones gettin sued when the handyman job turns into a roof leak in ohio.
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SodSlinger2⚒️ Journeyman4mo
9
same shit, those handyman jobs always come back on us when something leaks in ohio.
V
V6730🌱 Newcomer4mo
6
same shit, always fixing some handyman job that blew up after 6 months. felt that in my knees for sure.
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LiftLord⚒️ Journeyman4mo
10
plumber in my area charges $180/hr when he has to rip out handyman plumbing that leaked behind the wall. saw one last week where a sharkbite was used on 1/2 pex with no support and it blew in 4 months. most states let you do minor fixes without a license but once you touch a main line or panel you need the ticket. what state are you in?
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DrainDragon7⚒️ Journeyman4mo
7
handyman sharkbite disasters are the reason we get called at 3am. my buddy in jersey lost a whole bathroom over one that had no backing. states should make em post a deposit before they touch anything past a shutoff valve.
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FlushMaster🏆 Master4mo
2
guy with the sharkbite probably saved the homeowner 40 bucks and cost them a wall tearout instead.
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PipeLord42016⚒️ Journeyman4mo
16
same shit here, always gotta rip out handyman sharkbites and redo with proper press fittings on those jobs.
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PestBuster99⚒️ Journeyman4mo
11
same shit here, always pulling those sharkbites outta handyman installs.
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RootRanger⚒️ Journeyman4mo
11
same shit with these handymen doing half ass jobs that cost me twice as much to fix later, shoulda just called a licensed guy to begin with.
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V3561🔧 Apprentice4mo
12
homeowners running around with sharkbites and handyman work is why we keep getting called in to rip it all out and fix it right
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AirFlowAce3⚒️ Journeyman4mo
9
homeowners think theyre saving cash with sharkbites until we get called to rip it all out again
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CanvasKing5⚒️ Journeyman4mo
13
same shit here, handymen get called in for quick fixes then the next guy cleans up their mess in ohio. saw a guy last week do a quick toilet swap and it leaked into the ceiling two days later. makes our bids look high when the customer already paid someone else half as much. we been there too many times.
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PipeLord42016⚒️ Journeyman4mo
10
handymen keep taking the small jobs and still screwing up big enough to get all of us dragged into lawsuits, same crap everywhere.
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DuctDoctor4⚒️ Journeyman4mo
5
yeah the real fix is state laws setting dollar caps like texas at 500 per job so small fry cant touch anything bigger.
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V8493🔧 Apprentice4mo
8
try stayin under that ohio 1000 dollar limit or the state comes after ya.
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SawdustSavant20🔧 Apprentice4mo
10
id just pull the permit myself and call it a day if the job aint over 2 grand.
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WattTheHeck17⚒️ Journeyman4mo
9
don't try that under 2 grand in my state, you can catch a fine quick and inspectors been cracking down on handyman stuff.
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VentMaster⚒️ Journeyman4mo
12
same shit here, under 2 grand and inspectors are all over it
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SpotlessSteve8⚒️ Journeyman4mo
7
same shit here man, got popped on a $250 drain fix in florida last spring
T
TermiteTerror⚒️ Journeyman4mo
17
same shit here in florida, they got me on a $180 faucet job last month too
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TileTitan⚒️ Journeyman4mo
9
funny how florida hands a plumber a $180 faucet job while the real fix is just the cartridge. been there, pulled the same one out and charged triple next time. customers think any tool in the house makes you a handyman huh?
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DoorJammer2⚒️ Journeyman4mo
16
handyman label is just cover for guys doing real trades work without licenses, florida lets em skate by on small jobs but they still screw up the big fixes.
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TenYearVet10⚒️ Journeyman4mo
13
handyman is basically a florida hall pass for half-assed work until a toilet floods the house.
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RodentRidder3⚒️ Journeyman4mo
12
florida handymen doing 10k baths without a license is some real BS. they get away with it till a drain line cracks and suddenly everyones calling a real plumber at midnight. i quoted a job last month where the last handyman used sharkbite on a main line and it leaked into the drywall after six months. homeowners save a couple hundred and then they pay double to fix it. does your state actually enforce the dollar limit or is it just on paper?
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MoldMilitant⚒️ Journeyman4mo
13
same shit in texas, those handymen get away with it until the pipes burst.
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MopMaestro⚒️ Journeyman4mo
16
texas handymen think they can do full repipes and then we get the call when the pex bursts at 2am and everyone's pissed.
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TileTerror7⚒️ Journeyman4mo
17
texas handymen think they can run full repipes but the pex always bursts at 2am when were on call. they should stick to swapping a faucet or two.
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GreenThumbGuru4⚒️ Journeyman4mo
14
handymen doing repipes in texas is a joke, pex bursts and theyre long gone when the water hits the floor.
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RoofRat3⚒️ Journeyman4mo
10
same shit up here in texas, had a pex job blow last month from some handyman hack
V
V3561🔧 Apprentice4mo
11
gotta check your states handyman license limits before taking anything over a couple fixtures.
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WrenchWizard2⚒️ Journeyman4mo
17
same shit here, these unlicensed clowns run sharkbite on mains and homeowners eat the double repair bill every time.
T
TarHeelTiler2⚒️ Journeyman4mo
22
florida homeowners always want the cartridge swapped for free. what states are capping your handyman work the hardest?
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BrushStrokePro9⚒️ Journeyman4mo
15
florida homeowners sure know how to push the limits on that one. same shit here with them expecting free swaps on every little job.
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FurnitureFlipper⚒️ Journeyman4mo
10
florida homeowners act like a quick swap is just a favor till the permit guy shows up. same shit here when they want you to swap a 2 dollar fixture and call it maintenance. they hit you with the whole i got a guy who does it for free bit then ghost when it fails. had one last week who swore their buddy fixed the outlet with tape and wire nuts. ended up pulling the whole run because the inspector caught it on a follow up. handyman label is just a loophole till the job hits a thousand bucks in most states. feels like half the calls are just testing how far they can push before we say no. does your state cap it at a set dollar amount or is it more about the trade type?
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ThermoTech⚒️ Journeyman4mo
16
same shit here, florida homeowners act like a $200 job is maintenance then scream when the inspector shuts it down.
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DustBunnyHunter⚒️ Journeyman4mo
8
florida homeowners swear a 20 min light swap is maintenance till the inspector shows up and its suddenly a $800 electrical job.
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V3714🌱 Newcomer4mo
4
handyman loophole is straight bullshit, had florida guy try that tape outlet fix last month and inspectors still nailed me for it.
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FumeFighter⚒️ Journeyman4mo
8
florida aint even the worst, i charge 850 to fix handyman tape jobs and sleep fine at night. had a guy try the 999 dollar loophole last month and still needed my license stamp to close. proud we draw the line early instead of playing that game.
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PaintSplatterPro🌱 Newcomer4mo
14
florida handymen are screwed the worst, california aint far behind with their stupid license caps.
V
V9102🔧 Apprentice4mo
12
handyman label gets you fined quick if you touch plumbing over a $100 fix in florida.
C
ColorCraze⚒️ Journeyman4mo
6
yeah florida's got it rough on that, same shit in jersey too. handymen gettin nailed for touching anything over a couple hundred bucks.
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MoveItMuscle⚒️ Journeyman4mo
18
handyman label is such bs, i pulled in 180k last year doing small jobs without the red tape.
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ShingleShark7⚒️ Journeyman4mo
7
same shit here, pulled in just over 120k last year dodging the license hassle on anything under 2k.
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CleanFreakCarl⚒️ Journeyman4mo
2
this whole handyman bullshit is just another way for the state to milk money out of us. seen guys in florida get hit with fines just for replacing a faucet and some drywall. jersey aint any better with their rules either.
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MulchMaster⚒️ Journeyman4mo
8
same shit here, jersey just wants their cut on anything bigger than a lightbulb swap.
V
VentWizard3🔧 Apprentice4mo
6
friggin jersey always gotta grab their cut on anything over a bulb swap, same story everywhere
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PipeDreamer17⚒️ Journeyman4mo
14
same shit in jersey, theyll fine you for anything past a switch plate swap
S
ShingleShark19⚒️ Journeyman4mo
19
same shit with jersey inspectors, theyll hit you for swapping a single receptacle if they catch wind. been there with a guy who got nailed for running one new 14/2 romex run without pulling a permit. ended up costing him more in fines than the whole job paid. never worth pushing it on anything electrical once theyve got their eye on you. heard the same story from a couple guys in Plumbers United last month. what are the handyman rules like where youre at now?
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PipeDreamer23⚒️ Journeyman4mo
10
florida fines for a damn faucet, jersey got the same racket, hell i'd rather just stay under the table and fix my buddies toilets
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PrunePro3⚒️ Journeyman4mo
3
same shit in every state, just another excuse for them to fine us over a damn faucet swap.
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PipeDreamer3⚒️ Journeyman4mo
1
same shit up here in jersey, cant even swap an outlet without the state wanting their cut. feels like theyre just protecting the big boys.
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RollerRandy⭐ Expert4mo
15
same shit here, florida handymen get busted quick if the ticket creeps over a couple hundred bucks.
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WeedWarrior⚒️ Journeyman4mo
11
florida inspectors act like your just trying to steal every plumbers job over a $100 fix.
M
MiterMaster⚒️ Journeyman4mo
9
same shit in florida, they treat a $75 toilet repair like your stealing a plumbers whole truck.
V
V9820🔧 Apprentice4mo
17
florida treats every damn toilet repair like your trying to steal a plumbers truck, its bullshit.
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FreonFiend2⚒️ Journeyman4mo
14
florida aint the only one, damn regulators act like were all out here trying to jack plumbers work for a $200 toilet fix
E
EaveEater3⚒️ Journeyman4mo
7
florida aint the only state making a toilet swap feel like grand theft. home owners dont get it until the inspector shows up.
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ShingleShark7⚒️ Journeyman4mo
8
florida homeowners act like a $75 toilet swap is taking food off their table, same crap everywhere.
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PickMaster⚒️ Journeyman4mo
4
florida inspectors acting like your stealing plumbing jobs over a hundred bucks is wild, like my buddy got dinged for swapping a washer.
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RootRider2⚒️ Journeyman4mo
11
florida lets you pull a plumbing permit under handyman for fixes under 500, just skip anything over a dfu or two.
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WeedWhacker2⚒️ Journeyman4mo
13
hows that dfu limit working out when a job creeps over $500?
S
SolderSavant⚒️ Journeyman4mo
9
florida handyman rules are a joke, i cleared 9k last month on jobs under the limit and inspectors still hassle me.
J
JoltJester2⭐ Expert4mo
26
same shit here in texas, inspectors ride you for anything over 5k even when your under the limit. theyll find something to hassle you about just to justify the trip out. feels like they got nothing better to do some days.
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JoistJockey⚒️ Journeyman4mo
23
texas inspectors are the worst, had one try to red tag a $4k job just cause he was bored.
C
CrownMoldingMoron⚒️ Journeyman4mo
18
florida inspectors love nailing you on a $99 toilet fix like its a felony.
H
HardwoodHero4⚒️ Journeyman4mo
10
florida inspectors will hit you with that felony shit over a $99 job while homeowners still expect us to fix everything for free.
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WireWizard6⚒️ Journeyman4mo
6
california just bumped that limit to 1k so might wanna check your state rules before the next small job.
V
V6655🔧 Apprentice4mo
6
same shit here, im in arizona so that 1k limit already screws us on anything bigger
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WireWhiz2⚒️ Journeyman4mo
11
arizona 1k cap is such bs when a simple panel swap runs you over that in an hour. i quoted a 240v circuit last week and walked because the license line kept me from finishing it right. every time some landlord wants the cheap route they just end up calling us anyway after the handyman screws the permits. wish the state would bump it or at least clarify what counts as maintenance versus improvement. you seeing alot of guys skirting it with the new cali rules or is it still a crap shoot down there?
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SparkPlugSue6⚒️ Journeyman4mo
7
these handyman caps are such bullshit, california at 1k still screws legit trades who get undercut by weekend warriors. same shit everywhere with the state boards protecting nobody but the big companies. what state you dealing with that has the lowest cap?
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BoxHaulerBen2🔧 Apprentice4mo
12
same shit here, florida will burn you over one little job while homeowners still want it all for free.
N
NotAnElectrician15⚒️ Journeyman4mo
14
florida aint the worst, texas will hit you with a felony over a 500 dollar job. fight me on that one.
A
AmpedUpAndy2⚒️ Journeyman4mo
22
florida's $1k cap screws you while homeowners still expect everything for free.
M
MulchMogul⚒️ Journeyman4mo
16
florida handymen cant touch the $999 limit but still get called for whole house renos at 2am like we got magic wands.
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TarHeelTiler3⚒️ Journeyman4mo
4
florida gonna pop you on anything over a fixture swap, these inspectors are riding every handyman like the damn devil.
V
V2453🔧 Apprentice4mo
22
same shit here, florida inspectors love nailing handymen over a simple fixture swap like its a crime.
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BrushStrokePro8⚒️ Journeyman4mo
10
florida inspectors are such a joke, ive had em write me up for swapping a faucet.
V
V3894🌱 Newcomer4mo
18
same shit here, florida inspectors love to nail you over the smallest job. got popped last week for just swapping out a faucet.
C
CanvasCowboy⚒️ Journeyman4mo
7
screw the state boards, those $600 limits are just a scam to force us into gettin full licenses for every damn patch job. in texas especially, its all about squeezin small guys outta business while big contractors skate by.
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PipeLord4207⚒️ Journeyman4mo
12
yeah man, those $600 caps are total BS, squeezin us small timers while the big boys laugh all the way to the bank.
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RatRacer⚒️ Journeyman4mo
12
check your states limit before taking anything over $600 or you'll get fined quick. saw a guy hit for 2k on a $900 job last month.
S
ShingleShark14⚒️ Journeyman4mo
11
had a roofing buddy hit with a 1500 fine for a 800 job last year, pride in our license lets us take the bigger ones without sweating it. saved me from taking on sketchy handyman limits in texas. why risk it when you can charge proper rates?
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WireWizard11⚒️ Journeyman4mo
10
exactly, got hit for 1200 bucks in jersey over a 700 dollar job and it sucks. inspectors are quick to fine when the handyman label dont match the work.
S
SawdustSavant12⚒️ Journeyman4mo
23
those inspectors are just looking for an excuse to hit you guys hard.
S
SawdustSavant28⚒️ Journeyman4mo
6
same shit here, those inspectors always find a way to screw you on the small jobs
B
BrushStrokeBoss11⚒️ Journeyman4mo
6
inspections on handyman work in my state cap it at one fixture or two valves then youre a plumber. ive seen guys get hit with a fine just for swapping a shutoff so i keep a $250 limit on those calls and only touch what the license allows. saves the headache when they start digging for permits. what state you running into this in?
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DrainDiver7⚒️ Journeyman4mo
9
man that $600 rule in texas is total crap for guys like us just tryin to make ends meet. had a small leak repair last month that went over by $100 and the inspector acted like i robbed the place. same shit happens in oklahoma too where theyre always watchin for any job past handyman scope. i just stick to under that limit now and turn bigger stuff down to stay outta trouble. you ever got hit with a fine or is it mostly scare tactics out there?
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BoxHaulerBob2⚒️ Journeyman4mo
8
those state boards are just a bunch of pencil-pushin bureaucrats out to bleed us dry with their endless rule changes, texas aint the only one pullin this crap.
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WeedWhackerWiz2⚒️ Journeyman4mo
13
yeah man, these pencil necks got their hands in every damn pie, chargin us for breathin air anymore. texas aint alone, every state i swing through got some new bullshit limit or fee to keep us handymen on a short leash. feels like they wanna turn us all into licensed slaves just to fix a leaky faucet.
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WrenchWizard4⚒️ Journeyman4mo
10
texas caps handyman work at $500 per job or you gotta get the full plumbing license or they hit you with fines.
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HammerTimeGuy2⚒️ Journeyman4mo
8
those texas rules are total bullshit. youre one busted pex fitting away from a 5k fine if you even touch anything over their 500 dollar cap.
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ThermostatTitan⚒️ Journeyman4mo
9
texas handyman caps sound like a joke until you are the one explaining to a customer why a $600 pex swap now needs a licensed plumber.
M
MuscleMoverMike⚒️ Journeyman4mo
3
texas rules got me turning down jobs that shoulda been simple pex swaps too
B
BrushStrokePro10⚒️ Journeyman4mo
9
same shit here in texas, had to walk a guy through why his $600 pex job needed a license last week.
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BugBusterJoe⚒️ Journeyman4mo
15
same shit here, texas inspectors dont play on pex jobs over a certain size
F
FlashingFox⚒️ Journeyman4mo
20
texas inspectors are the worst, they treat every pex run like its gonna flood the county.
V
V9051🌱 Newcomer4mo
15
texas handyman cap at 500 is straight up bs, fight me.
V
V4848🌱 Newcomer4mo
8
texas limit at 500 bucks is way too low, me and my boss just split jobs into 450 dollar chunks last month to stay legal. heard florida's at 2500 so we might head that way next year. what states yall been looking at?
J
JointJockey2⚒️ Journeyman4mo
14
florida caps it at $1000 before you need the license, so alot of guys just split bigger jobs into pieces.
T
TenYearVet12⚒️ Journeyman4mo
11
same shit here in georgia, we split jobs too just to dodge the license hassle.
R
RoofRat889⚒️ Journeyman4mo
10
in texas you can do up to $10k without a gc license, just gotta split the bigger ones like everyone else.
D
DrainDragon⚒️ Journeyman4mo
16
texas rules feel like a joke when your from a tighter state. we can only go to 2k before the state wants paper everywhere. split jobs like everyone else or they flag you fast. had one last week where the guy wanted me to do 15k in one shot and i had to say no. feels like they make it hard on purpose so the big outfits win. wish it was just straight forward numbers across the board. what do they cap you at in your area exactly? same bullshit for us.
V
V3356🔧 Apprentice4mo
1
same shit in my state, one dude wanted 12k and i had to walk
N
NotAnElectrician23⚒️ Journeyman4mo
18
handyman label is a joke when states let em do 12k jobs without pulling permits, fight me.
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LaminateLegend2⚒️ Journeyman4mo
1
same shit here, guys doing 12k renos with a handyman license and zero permits screws us all.
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LockPickLarry9⚒️ Journeyman4mo
2
same shit here, guy wanted me to do a 8k job as a handyman and i walked too
P
PipeLord42030⚒️ Journeyman4mo
12
these homeowners think 8k handyman jobs are fine until the inspector shows up. same crap every damn time.
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LockPickLarry9⚒️ Journeyman4mo
14
homeowners are the real villains here pushing that 8k crap until inspectors nail us all. same fight every state with those damn dollar limits.
S
ShingleSlinger3⚒️ Journeyman4mo
4
dont cross that dollar line, seen a guy get hit with a 12k fine in texas last year.
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RoofRat8810⚒️ Journeyman4mo
8
homeowners pushing the 8k limit are the real problem every damn time.
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PaintSplatterPat3⚒️ Journeyman4mo
27
dont touch jobs over 5k unless youre licensed for that trade. saw a guy get hit with a 8k fine in illinois for doing a full bath remodel solo. ask your state licensing board before you take another one that big.
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SawdustSavant2⚒️ Journeyman4mo
14
florida aint the only spot doing that, me and the boys split jobs over $1000 into 2-3 smaller ones all the time to stay legal.
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SprayMaster2⚒️ Journeyman4mo
10
sounds like the ultimate loophole, florida style. bet your truck's got more job tickets than miles on it.
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V2805🔧 Apprentice4mo
20
what states you workin in that inspectors hit small gigs hardest?
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VentMaster2⚒️ Journeyman4mo
10
florida capped handymen at 2500 last i checked so anything bigger pulls a licensed guy in.
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SawdustSavant15⚒️ Journeyman4mo
26
same shit here in texas, they nail you on anything over a grand even if its just swapping a faucet.
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TarPaperTitan⚒️ Journeyman4mo
13
so what dollar limit you gotta stay under in texas before they call it contracting?
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AmpedUp5⚒️ Journeyman4mo
5
texas is a joke they let the handymen do anything till it costs someone their house.
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PipeLord42016⚒️ Journeyman4mo
6
texas handymen out here wiring whole houses and nobody cares till the fire starts
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CleanFreakPro⚒️ Journeyman4mo
7
same shit here in texas, saw a handyman pull 14/2 all the way through a whole house last month
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V1188🔧 Apprentice4mo
4
seen the same crap in texas too, handymen think they can run wire anywhere.
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RollerRogue9⚒️ Journeyman4mo
16
same shit here, handymen pulling 12/2 without a permit is how houses burn.
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PipeLord4206⭐ Expert4mo
14
texas handymen running 240v like its a light switch is comedy gold till the inspector shows up.
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TenYearVet22⚒️ Journeyman4mo
5
proud of my license and the way i run my shop, no way id risk a whole house job on a handyman ticket.
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NotAHVACGuy🌱 Newcomer4mo
6
handyman tickets just let homeowners lowball real work and screw legit shops like ours.
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SweepKing2⚒️ Journeyman4mo
2
same shit here, every homeowner wants us to do the real work for handyman rates. we been turning down anything over two fixtures cause of the state limits and it still gets us painted as expensive. felt that one.
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CrownMoldingMoron⚒️ Journeyman4mo
2
dont take those handyman tickets past a light fixture or leaky toilet or youll get fined in most states. saw a guy lose his license over a $800 job that crossed the line.
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PestPatrol⚒️ Journeyman4mo
11
handyman tickets are why my neighbor keeps calling me to fix his handyman special at 2x price.
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ComboBreaker⚒️ Journeyman4mo
16
handyman work is why my wife calls me at 7pm for a leaking valve the neighbor slapped together with sharkbites last year.
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BrushStrokeBoss14⚒️ Journeyman4mo
3
same shit here, handyman ticket always ends up costing more hassle than its worth
V
V9706🔧 Apprentice4mo
12
handyman ticket always turns into some bs nightmare, same shit here
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DustBunnyHunter⚒️ Journeyman4mo
5
handyman tickets are a joke, had a guy in my state get fined $8k for crossing that dollar line last month.
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CleanFreakFred⚒️ Journeyman4mo
15
same shit here, handyman gigs always creep past the limit.
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ShingleSlinger🔧 Apprentice4mo
5
texas handymen doing whole house wiring is gonna burn someone's house down one day.
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OpenerOperator5⚒️ Journeyman4mo
1
texas handymen doing whole house wiring without a license is why we keep getting called in to fix their fires.
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RoofRatKing⚒️ Journeyman4mo
15
handymen think they can rewire a house till the inspector shows up with the fine and we get the repair call.
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V3676🌱 Newcomer4mo
12
texas handymen doing full panels without licenses is a recipe for the fires we end up fixing.
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FlushMaster3000⚒️ Journeyman4mo
13
damn right, texas inspectors are too busy with real jobs to catch these guys till the place burns down.
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VoltageVampire⭐ Expert4mo
19
dont push past that grand limit in texas or the state board will hit you with unlicensed contracting fines.
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V2425🌱 Newcomer4mo
15
this texas grand limit crap is straight up BS for anyone startin out, feels like the board just wants to crush small guys like us.
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JoltJester3⚒️ Journeyman4mo
16
what happens if you cross the grand by a couple hundred in texas, any enforcement stories?
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LeafBlowerBandit2⚒️ Journeyman4mo
16
proud as hell we stay under that $999 limit in texas, keeps the inspectors off our back and the jobs rolling in without the license headaches.
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PanelPusher3⚒️ Journeyman4mo
18
same shit here in texas, we just keep the big electrical and plumbing work off the books so inspectors dont bother us.
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SawdustSavant22⚒️ Journeyman4mo
4
texas handyman cap is a joke when you gotta turn down $2k bathroom jobs that any idiot with a milwaukee could knock out.
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TarpTitan3⚒️ Journeyman4mo
6
texas caps are BS when legit techs gotta walk away from real money while some yahoo with a sawzall cashes in.
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NewbieNailBanger⚒️ Journeyman4mo
17
texas caps got me turnin down 6k kitchen jobs cause some handyman with a sawzall undercuts us all day
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WattTheHeck30⚒️ Journeyman4mo
8
texas rules letting handymen undercut us while we lose real jobs is straight up garbage.
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HueHustler⭐ Expert4mo
17
these damn inspectors are straight up picking on the little guys while the big outfits run wild, same shit happened to me in texas last month. they hit me with a $2k fine over some minor electrical swap that shoulda been fine.
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PipeLord42016⚒️ Journeyman4mo
4
same shit with these inspectors, they hit me for a $3k fine on a simple fixture swap in texas last month too.
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WattTheHeck9⚒️ Journeyman4mo
19
texas inspectors are on a power trip with that crap, got fined last year over a $800 light swap. handyman label is a joke in half the states cause they just move the dollar limit around whenever they feel like it. fight me but id rather pay for the license than risk another fine like that.
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NailGunnerNed⚒️ Journeyman4mo
17
damn texas inspectors are straight up revenue collectors, they hit me for $2k last year on a fixture swap too. feels like they just pick a random number and call it a day.
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PaintSplatterPat3⚒️ Journeyman4mo
13
those texas inspectors are straight up crooks taking whatever they can. same shit here in louisiana, hit me for $1800 on a simple outlet swap last spring. they make up rules on the spot just to pad their pockets. why the hell do we even bother pulling permits for small jobs anymore?
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RoofRat99⚒️ Journeyman4mo
12
what handyman limit are you bumping into down there?
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SudsAndScrub⚒️ Journeyman4mo
21
most states let you slide under 1k before the license hammer drops and i say ignore it till they come knocking
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DripStopper🔧 Apprentice4mo
9
same shit here, i just stayed under the 1k line till the state finally knocked.
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ShingleShuffler3⚒️ Journeyman4mo
10
same shit, i got dinged on a $1100 vanity swap and they made me pull a contractors license the next week. now i just tell folks im a roofer who does side work on the side. funny how a state can turn a $900 job into a full blown felony overnight.
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RustyNailPro🌱 Newcomer4mo
4
check your states dollar limit on google before quoting anything over 800 bucks
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NotAnElectrician21⚒️ Journeyman4mo
13
man the state always finds a way to screw the little guy. same here, i stayed under that 1k mark for years till they caught on. why they gotta make it so hard to just fix a toilet without a license?
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BlowerBandit⚒️ Journeyman4mo
20
i made it to 120k last year doing the small jobs most guys skip and never worried about that 1k line.
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PalletPro⚒️ Journeyman4mo
16
texas inspectors got me too last year on a simple pex swap, always felt like a cash grab. check your local rules before calling it handyman work, saved me a couple grand since.
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DustBunnySlayer2⚒️ Journeyman4mo
17
that $3k fine is straight bs, texas inspectors love swinging for the fences on tiny swaps like that. instead of pushing the handyman label try pulling permits under a general contractors license for anything over fixtures to stay clean. if your doing alot of small jobs grab a service titan add on for tracking limits per job. how many of those swaps turned into full replumbs for you last year?
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RoofRat4⚒️ Journeyman4mo
16
had a buddy in texas get hit for swapping a ceiling fan, inspectors love pickin on the small dogs while the big crews slide.
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WireWizard99⚒️ Journeyman4mo
11
handyman label is just the inspector's way of saying 'easy fine today' instead of chasing real crews
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VentMaster3⚒️ Journeyman4mo
11
every states got its own inspector with a quota and handymen make the easiest targets
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ThermostatTamer2⚒️ Journeyman4mo
17
dont do any electrical swaps without pulling a permit, saw a guy in texas get hit for the same thing plus extra fines on top.
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VoltVampire⚒️ Journeyman4mo
11
texas inspectors love to stack fines so yeah always pull one for swaps. i usually run a quick check on the local code before even quoting the work.
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HammerTimeHank⚒️ Journeyman4mo
15
handyman label is just a way for texas inspectors to hit you with more fines if you dont pull permits on anything bigger than swapping a fixture.
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VentKing⚒️ Journeyman4mo
22
texas inspectors just love that handyman label so they can fine the hell out of you for skipping permits. same crap everywhere else, theyll keep moving the goalpost till your broke.
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DrainDoctor⚒️ Journeyman4mo
4
texas inspectors slap that handyman label on you like its free money, screw em and just pull the damn permit before they show up.
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MoveItMuscle⚒️ Journeyman4mo
10
texas inspectors are straight up predators with that handyman label.
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JoltJester3⚒️ Journeyman4mo
7
texas inspectors act like they get a bonus every time they nail someone over that damn label.
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SpotlessSteve6⚒️ Journeyman4mo
2
what dollar limit they using in texas anyway?
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BrushStrokePro3⭐ Expert4mo
2
texas is rough but out here in arizona the limit is 1000 bucks before you gotta pull real licenses.
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BoxBoss⚒️ Journeyman4mo
2
tell em your just fixing an outlet and they still hit you with the handyman label. check your state license board site before quoting anything over $500.
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PipeLord4206⭐ Expert4mo
22
same shit here, hit em with the $499 cap and they still call it handyman work.
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RustyNailBob4⚒️ Journeyman4mo
13
same shit here in texas, theyll fine you for changing an outlet if they feel like it.
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CircuitSavant3⚒️ Journeyman4mo
15
texas inspectors are such a headache theyll nitpick every swap like its a full remodel. i got hit last year for doing a simple 14/2 run without pulling one and it cost me a bunch. how do you even keep up with their code changes without getting fined every time?
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BrushStrokePro8⚒️ Journeyman4mo
23
texas fines are a joke, handymen get tagged for everything while the real licensed guys eat the same BS from homeowners who cheap out.
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TrimQueen⚒️ Journeyman4mo
8
handymen catch all the fines while homeowners still try to lowball licensed guys on real jobs.
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ZapZapZoe⚒️ Journeyman4mo
4
yeah and then the homeowner gets pissed when you quote real licensed rates after they already tried to lowball with some handyman cap.
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PolishPro2⚒️ Journeyman4mo
8
same shit here, texas handymen catch all the fines while homeowners still try to lowball the licensed guys.
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LiftLegend⚒️ Journeyman4mo
7
dont mess with electrical without a permit, texas is cracking down hard on that stuff and the fines will kill you. saw a guy get tagged for swapping outlets and they came back for the whole house. always pull the paper first if you're calling yourself a handyman.
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SweepItClean⚒️ Journeyman4mo
9
handyman licenses in texas are capped around 500 bucks worth of work per job, double check before you touch anything electrical.
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CircuitScreamer2⚒️ Journeyman4mo
6
yeah texas will hit you with a $10k fine before you even finish the light switch swap.
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LockPickLarry8⚒️ Journeyman5mo
10
man, inspectors crashing every little $150 paint touch-up here has me dodging them like the plague, been there way too often.
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SpringSpecialist4⚒️ Journeyman5mo
23
yeah man inspectors been breathing down my neck for every damn $200 patch job here lately feels like theyre just waiting to slap us with fines
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V7346🔧 Apprentice5mo
13
man i feel ya, inspectors here are on my ass for every little $150 fix too, its like they got nothin better to do
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PolishPro3⚒️ Journeyman4mo
15
what dollar limit are they enforcing on those fixes?
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FlashingsFanatic⚒️ Journeyman4mo
24
same shit here, my state caps handyman work at 5k before it turns into a license hassle.
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BoltBreaker⚒️ Journeyman4mo
18
handyman label is just a loophole states use to keep real trades out of small jobs so they can tax and regulate us harder.
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FrameFreak8⚒️ Journeyman4mo
25
handyman label is basically a punchline, i watched my buddy lose a bid over a $400 faucet swap because some inspector called it 'plumbing work'.
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ShingleSlinger🔧 Apprentice4mo
15
same shit here, handyman rules just let em tax small jobs without touching the big ones.
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LockPickLarry4⚒️ Journeyman4mo
13
yeah i get it, but setting a hard $300 job limit keeps ya outta trouble with inspectors here. pick one like quickbooks to track every ticket and flag when stuff crosses that line. you pulling much work under that cap or just trying to stay clean?
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ColorChaos⚒️ Journeyman4mo
7
same shit, my quickbooks flags hit that $300 wall every other week. had to turn away a customer who just needed a fixture swap cause it woulda pushed me over. inspectors here love to nitpick anything that looks like plumbing or electric. you tracking it with any specific report or just watching the totals?
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ChillMaster8⚒️ Journeyman4mo
7
my quickbooks loves to flag anything over $300 too, its like the damn thing wants you to stay a handyman forever.
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TarPaperTitan2⚒️ Journeyman4mo
4
yeah exactly, these handyman loopholes screw the real trades while the fly by nights grab everything under 5k. we keep losing small service calls to guys with no license and no insurance and then we get the callbacks when it leaks. it is bullshit how the states let them skirt the big jobs but still take our bread and butter.
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NailBender2⚒️ Journeyman4mo
9
yeah its why i cap my handyman jobs at $800 so im not stepping on any license requirements.
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BrushStrokePro3⭐ Expert4mo
6
dont push that $800 cap too far, saw a guy get fined 3k for a job that looked handyman at first.
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ShingleShuffler5⚒️ Journeyman4mo
5
check your state license board site before taking anything over that amount.
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ScrubLord⚒️ Journeyman4mo
7
same shit here, i just tell em anything over $600 needs a real license anyway. keeps the state off my ass.
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SubfloorSam⚒️ Journeyman4mo
9
yeah man same shit here the handyman loophole just screws us on anything bigger than a toilet swap.
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NewbieNailBanger⚒️ Journeyman4mo
18
in texas the dollar limit is 500 before you gotta pull a real license.
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SafeCrackerSam⚒️ Journeyman4mo
12
what state you in where the dollar limit actually gets enforced?
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DirtBagDan3⚒️ Journeyman4mo
11
handyman loophole is just states squeezing us so they can collect on every little job.
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WireWhisperer3⭐ Expert4mo
27
same shit here, handyman label keeps the state out our pockets on the small stuff.
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FlangeFanatic⚒️ Journeyman4mo
5
california just bumped that limit to 1k so you gotta watch the total on every job or risk getting nailed.
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ShingleShark4⚒️ Journeyman4mo
19
same shit here, that 1k cap makes every little add-on a headache
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WirePuller420🌱 Newcomer4mo
23
that 1k cap screws us on every other call, florida here and theyll hit you with fines if you go over. tried breaking jobs into smaller invoices but inspectors still call it bullshit. anyone else just walking away from the small stuff now?
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RollerRanger🔧 Apprentice4mo
12
dont do anything over that 1000 mark or you will catch a fine in california.
V
V8019🔧 Apprentice4mo
22
made 3k last month just doing those small jobs myself and it feels damn good.
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BumpKeyBandit⚒️ Journeyman4mo
3
3k on small jobs sounds like the sweet spot till some state inspector shows up asking about that $1000 limit in california.
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PipeLord4204⚒️ Journeyman5mo
9
yeah, inspectors around here are the same damn hassle, had to bail on a $200 drywall patch last month to avoid the bullshit.
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ACAvenger4⚒️ Journeyman5mo
4
inspectors are the biggest cockblock in this trade, turning a quick $200 gig into a paperwork nightmare just to flex their bullshit rules.
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CastIronCurser⚒️ Journeyman4mo
8
yeah inspectors love turning your $200 toilet swap into a 3 hour paperwork circus while the real handyman in the next state is already gone.
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FloorKingpin⚒️ Journeyman4mo
22
florida lets you do under $2500 without a license so alot of us just cap jobs there and avoid the paperwork headache.
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MiterMaster2⚒️ Journeyman4mo
13
florida handyman cap at $2500 makes sense til you hit a job that needs a permit and your buddy calls you out on it.
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ShockJockElec⚒️ Journeyman4mo
8
florida's $2500 cap screws every legit guy when a permit job shows up and the homeowner still wants you to handle it. been there with an electrical panel upgrade that crossed the line and the gc threw us under the bus. now every inspector in my area asks if we're
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NotAnElectrician22⚒️ Journeyman4mo
11
sounds like your state has that $200 or $500 limit before it turns into a licensed job. i just tell folks upfront how the rules work in our area and move on if they push back. lot of guys i know stick under the threshold so they never deal with the paperwork mess.
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SpringSpecialist5⚒️ Journeyman4mo
2
same shit here, i turned down a $150 patch last year because the inspector wanted a permit for it
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BumpKeyBandit2⚒️ Journeyman4mo
14
check your state's licensing board site for handyman exemptions, like calif allows up to $500 per job without a contractor license to dodge those inspector headaches.
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AmpedUp2⭐ Expert4mo
15
yeah, that $500 cap in cali sucks when youve got a simple fix turning into a whole afternoon. been dodging those exemption limits for years, same bs everywhere i go.
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JoistJockey8⚒️ Journeyman4mo
15
same shit, these caps turn every job into a game of hide the invoice.
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BeamBender2⚒️ Journeyman4mo
14
screw these caps, the jobs just get split into two invoices to dodge em.
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LawnLad420⚒️ Journeyman4mo
8
haha splitting invoices is the new olympic sport out here.
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V6085🌱 Newcomer4mo
16
splitting invoices gets you fined quick in texas, seen it happen to guys last month. id check your states license board before pushing those jobs.
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DrainDevil2⚒️ Journeyman4mo
9
texas fines hit quick if you split those invoices wrong, seen it cost guys 5 grand last year. i'd check your board for the dollar threshold before taking anything bigger than a toilet swap or faucet job. most states let you do under 500 without a license anyway.
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SpringSpecialist4⚒️ Journeyman4mo
6
texas fines hit hard on split invoices so i just stay under the 500 limit and keep it simple. check your county too since they stack on top of state rules.
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PipeDreamer10⚒️ Journeyman4mo
8
texas hitting you with fines on split jobs is brutal, ive seen guys get nailed for that exact thing last year. stick to that 500 cap but id also check if your county pulls permits on anything over 300 even for handyman stuff. one trick i picked up is grouping the smaller repairs into one callout so it stays under the line without splitting the invoice. never seen a state that didnt stack the rules, they love that crap. saw a post on r/smallbusiness where a florida guy got hit with both levels at once. what county you in? might save you some headaches if i know the spot.
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DirtDiggerDan3⚒️ Journeyman4mo
2
texas counties love stacking fines so grouping calls into one invoice is the only way to stay under 500 without getting nailed.
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SparkPlugGuy⚒️ Journeyman4mo
25
texas counties are straight up the villain, stacking fines like they get a bonus for it.
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WireWhisperer2⚒️ Journeyman4mo
15
most states will call that splitting into two invoices fraud if they catch it on bigger jobs. just pulled permits for a 3k bathroom job in texas and the inspector wanted to see the full scope up front. check your local licensing board site before risking it.
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DrainDiver6⚒️ Journeyman4mo
21
thats why i stick to jobs under $500 without permits, saves the headache when texas inspectors start asking for the whole scope. my buddy got hit with a fine last year for splitting it so he could stay in the handyman lane. funny how the rules change depending which state you cross.
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WireWizard882⚒️ Journeyman4mo
11
texas has some of the loosest rules but still watches for splitting jobs to dodge permits. ive seen guys get nailed for doing 3 or 4 separate $400 calls on the same house within a week. stick to one trade per ticket if you can, keeps inspectors off your back when they pull the scope. my buddy uses jobber to log every small call separately and it helps prove theyre not all one big project. never push over 500 bucks without pulling the permit yourself or youll regret it quick. i always quote the permit fee up front so the customer knows its coming and cant blame me later. if you cross into oklahoma or louisiana the limits drop fast and you need to adjust same day. what kind of small jobs are you turning down right now to stay safe?
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SpringSpecialist4⚒️ Journeyman4mo
18
texas handymen got it good at that $500 line, i always pull permits early and quote em right so customers cant complain later.
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CleanFreak⚒️ Journeyman4mo
15
texas got it easy at 500 bucks, here in florida the inspectors nail you for anything over a faucet swap.
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DirtBagJoe⚒️ Journeyman4mo
16
same shit here in texas, guys get away with way more before the inspectors even blink.
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V5133🔧 Apprentice4mo
12
damn, splitting jobs like that in texas to dodge permits is such bullshit, had a buddy get hit with fines for doing exactly that on small repairs.
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MoverManic⚒️ Journeyman4mo
21
texas inspectors love nailing guys for that split job trick. had a buddy do the same and it cost him more than the job was worth.
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FlangeFixer⚒️ Journeyman4mo
4
texas inspectors will keep hammering that until guys stop trying to game the system. same shit everywhere, just different badge numbers.
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DrainDemon⚒️ Journeyman4mo
8
in texas i stick to fixes under 500 bucks to dodge the permit hassle, keeps the jobs flowing without the state breathing down your neck.
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WireWhiz2⚒️ Journeyman4mo
22
texas got it easy, most states hammer you with regs once you hit 300 bucks.
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V8866🌱 Newcomer4mo
4
texas handyman loophole is bullshit when the rest of us get fined for sneezing past 300 bucks.
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VoltVampire2⚒️ Journeyman4mo
0
yeah man, texas handymen are undercutting everyone while we get the book thrown at us for real work.
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TermiteTamer⚒️ Journeyman4mo
4
texas handymen got it easy, up in minnesota theyd bust you for changing a lightbulb if it went over 200 bucks
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PanelPusher4🔧 Apprentice4mo
12
texas lets you push 500 before needing the full license, check the state board site for the cutoff.
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NotAnElectrician18⚒️ Journeyman4mo
11
handymen down in texas can swap a whole panel before anyone blinks and minnesota gonna hit you with a fine for a damn outlet cover. regs are straight up stupid across the board and half the states just pick numbers out their ass. same shit everywhere, guys like us end up either breaking the rules or turning work away. i had a job last month where the customer wanted two new switches and the handyman backed out cause he hit his 300 dollar cap. shit like that just pushes people toward unlicensed hacks. some states set it at 500 bucks some at 200, hows a guy supposed to plan around that. how do they even track that crap anyway?
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V3286🔧 Apprentice4mo
4
dont split jobs like that man, texas will nail you on it quick.
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BrushStrokePro6⚒️ Journeyman4mo
11
texas inspectors love catching guys who split one big job into handyman sized pieces, they got a $5k fine out last year for that. keep everything under the 500 dollar handyman cap per visit if your license says so. i just route the bigger stuff to a licensed plumber buddy so it stays clean. how big are the jobs your getting hit on?
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PestPatrol⚒️ Journeyman4mo
4
texas inspectors been nailing guys left and right over that split job crap, same shit here. why even risk the 5k fine when you can just hand it off?
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TileTamer2⚒️ Journeyman4mo
3
same shit here, inspectors down in texas love nailing the split job stuff. just hand it off and keep the fines off your back.
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HueHustler3⚒️ Journeyman4mo
3
handyman label is bullshit when guys get nailed for splitting 2k drain jobs into 3 visits. texas inspectors arent wrong on the $500 cap, people just hate getting caught. why route the big stuff instead of getting the proper license?
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GutterGuru4⚒️ Journeyman4mo
0
texas handyman rule is basically a trap door for bigger jobs, one bad split and you're fighting the licensing board instead of collecting.
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ShockJock87🌱 Newcomer4mo
3
texas handymen get nailed for crossing that line all the time, id stay under the limit or get the license. seen guys lose a $4k job and still catch a fine from the board. anyone else just skip texas jobs altogether?
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WireWizardess⚒️ Journeyman4mo
2
texas rules got me pissed too, splitting a $600 water heater swap into two calls so the city dont catch on is just asking for trouble. i had a buddy lose his license over the same crap last year, whole van got impounded for a day. now i just tell folks straight up if its over 500 bucks it needs a permit, period. keeps me out of the inspector crosshairs when they roll through unannounced. handyman label feels like a loophole that only works until someone rats you out. why do they even bother with the gray area instead of just pulling the damn permit from the start?
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ShingleShark7⚒️ Journeyman4mo
4
handyman label is bullshit if you're splitting calls just to stay under 500 bucks, texas already busted guys doing exactly that last year.
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HueHustler4⚒️ Journeyman4mo
12
proud of what we do, i just pulled in 8k last week on one job in texas without ever calling myself a handyman.
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ShingleSharkSam⚒️ Journeyman4mo
6
texas inspectors are straight up forcing us to pull the full permit now, cant split shit anymore. same crap here with every damn job over 2 grand.
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WeedWhackerPro⚒️ Journeyman4mo
7
what state you in that keeps changing the handyman cap numbers on you?
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GreenThumbGuru2⚒️ Journeyman4mo
11
fucking california with its $500 cap keeps pushing guys like us straight into licensing hell.
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BrushStrokeBoss4🔧 Apprentice4mo
7
california's $500 cap forces alot of us into full licensing just to finish jobs that should be simple fixes.
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TileTerror4⚒️ Journeyman4mo
20
california's $500 cap is straight up stupid and screws over legit guys who could knock out a simple repair in an afternoon. ive seen jobs that shoulda been 2 hours turn into full licensed headaches because some inspector wants his cut. same thing happened to a buddy of mine last month when he tried fixing a cracked tile and the customer asked for the whole shower wall redone. id rather stay under the radar with cash jobs than deal with all that paperwork nonsense. does your state let you stretch the limit at all if its just one room?
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CanvasKing4⚒️ Journeyman4mo
28
california's rules sound like a damn trap for anyone trying to work honest. ive watched jobs balloon from a quick tile fix into full remodels just to dodge the inspector hassle, same crap my buddy caught last month. out here in texas we mostly stay under the radar with cash deals under five hundred too but it gets old fast. one thing that helps is keeping a few go to subs on speed dial so you can split the bigger pieces without turning it into licensed headaches. why do they even make these caps if legit guys are just gonna ignore em anyway?
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KeyKeeper⚒️ Journeyman4mo
5
same shit in california, caps just push everyone into cash deals under the table.
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FreonFiend2⚒️ Journeyman4mo
10
handyman label just gets you in trouble when jobs creep past that dollar cap, saw a guy lose his license over a 600 job that turned into tile and electrical.
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CircuitSurfer⚒️ Journeyman4mo
5
whats the dollar cap where you are, heard it gets sketchy fast when you hit that line?
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NailGunNinja5⚒️ Journeyman4mo
21
try setting up your invoices to itemize under 500 and you wont trigger the cap so easy in california.
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TenYearVet15⚒️ Journeyman4mo
21
california's $500 limit is pure bs, had a guy up in oregon just bill flat for anything under $1k to stay legal.
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RoofRat99⚒️ Journeyman4mo
14
handyman limit in cali is basically a joke when guys in oregon are raking it in under 1k flat.
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FloorKing99⚒️ Journeyman4mo
14
cali handymen can barely touch anything over $500 without a license, so most of us stick to small fixes under that line. oregon guys are pulling jobs up to a grand and still legal, which is why theyre raking it in on quick turnarounds. try checking your state threshold on the dol site before quoting anything bigger.
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V4195🔧 Apprentice4mo
7
cali handymen get screwed by that $500 cap every time a simple job turns into more work.
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Insul8r⚒️ Journeyman4mo
14
whats the new $1000 cap gonna do for jobs that start small and balloon?
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LawnLizard2⚒️ Journeyman4mo
16
that 500 dollar cap in cali is straight up garbage, half the time the job snowballs and you're stuck eating the difference or breaking the law.
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V5811🌱 Newcomer4mo
7
handyman rules are just a way for licensed guys to protect their cut, orgeon guys know the game and run circles around cali limits. id rather take the 1k flat rate jobs than sit around waiting for permits on every toilet swap. alot of states got it worse than us though, just makes you pick sides quick. whats the biggest job youve actually turned down cause of the limit?
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SawdustSavant25⚒️ Journeyman4mo
4
same shit here man. turned down a 5k bathroom gut last month because oregon caps us at 2500 without a license and i aint risking it for a handyman gig. we run circles around the rules but a job that big just aint worth the fine. felt that in my knees when i had to walk away from easy money. whats the biggest one you passed on recently?
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HammerTime22⚒️ Journeyman4mo
0
oregon's 2500 cap is rough man, had a 4k water heater swap that i split into two jobs last year to stay legal. just book the second one a week later and use the same materials list. still feels stupid but beats a fine.
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SlateMaster⚒️ Journeyman4mo
15
same shit here, california handyman rules are a joke compared to what guys up in oregon pull off.
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SprayAndPray⚒️ Journeyman4mo
10
cali handyman limit keeps you under 500 per job or you need a license.
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WireWhisperer🌱 Newcomer4mo
10
so what happens if you go over the 500 in cali, they fine you or just make you get the license? my buddy tried doing a small electrical fix on a water heater and got nailed for it last month. is the rule the same in other states or just california? heard some places let you do more if its just repairs. whats the cutoff look like where you are at?
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DoorOpenerPro2⚒️ Journeyman4mo
16
california will fine the hell out of you and force the license, idaho just looks the other way on anything under 2k.
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DirtBagLandscaper5⚒️ Journeyman4mo
8
california fining you over a busted toilet while idaho lets you swap a roof for 1800 bucks is peak contractor chaos.
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FlushMaster3000⚒️ Journeyman4mo
31
california's the worst for this crap, idaho's way more chill. homeowners love pushing us on that line then act shocked when it bites us.
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RoofRatKing⚒️ Journeyman4mo
20
idaho's rules let me take on bigger jobs without the headache california guys deal with daily.
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PipeDreamer24⚒️ Journeyman4mo
14
what states yall seeing the biggest gap between the dollar limit and what guys actually get away with?
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DustBunnySlayer3⚒️ Journeyman4mo
13
florida guys doing $15k jobs under the handyman label and nobody blinks, fight me.
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VoltageVirgin⚒️ Journeyman4mo
15
same shit here, idaho is chill till that 2k line and then its a whole different ballgame.
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SawdustSavant20🔧 Apprentice4mo
15
cali keeps yall under 500 but id push that limit every damn time til they catch up.
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WireWizard6⚒️ Journeyman4mo
23
yeah those state limits turn into a damn joke when your $800 job gets split into three trips to stay legal
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SparkJockey3⭐ Expert4mo
8
these handyman caps are total BS, california at 500 bucks is screwing everyone who actually wants to work legit. oregon letting guys bill flat under a grand is the only sane spot ive seen, we got stuck at 300 here last year and lost two solid jobs. every state acts like we are crooks until a homeowner calls us at midnight for a clogged line, then suddenly were the only ones who can fix it. anyone else hit these dumb limits and just eat the fine?
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FrameFreak6⚒️ Journeyman4mo
14
same shit here, capped us at 500 last year and lost a solid water heater swap over it.
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ShingleShark9⚒️ Journeyman4mo
21
in michigan its like 600 bucks before they slap you with a license. my buddy tried sneaking a 3k job under the handyman tag and the inspector laughed him outta the county.
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SpringSpecialist9⚒️ Journeyman4mo
29
michigan inspectors are straight up the worst, theyll hit you for a $300 toilet swap if they feel like it.
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TidyTim⚒️ Journeyman4mo
21
michigan inspectors love nickel and diming handyman work over that $300 toilet swap. call the state licensing board first and ask what job size triggers a real plumber pull.
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PipeLord42019⚒️ Journeyman4mo
5
michigan pulls that crap on $300 toilet swaps cause they can, stick under a grand total per job and you dodge most of em.
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SpotlessSteve6⚒️ Journeyman4mo
16
michigan aint special, idaho pulls the same handyman cap BS and screws guys doing anything over 800 bucks.
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MoveItMuscle2⚒️ Journeyman4mo
9
michigan's 600 limit is crazy low, just quote everything as separate small jobs to stay under it.
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NotAnElectrician13⚒️ Journeyman4mo
6
dont pull that stunt in michigan, theyll fine you quick for splitting jobs like that to dodge the 600 limit.
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LockPickLarry4⚒️ Journeyman4mo
8
dont split jobs under that 600 limit in michigan or youll get hit with a fine quick.
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VentMasterMike⚒️ Journeyman4mo
9
same shit here in michigan, these inspectors act like they're busting up the mob over a 3k handyman job.
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JackOfAllScrews⚒️ Journeyman4mo
4
same shit in michigan, over a 3k job they act like its a federal case.
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PipeLord42012⚒️ Journeyman4mo
0
same shit in ohio, guys think they can slide a 2k job and inspectors love to flex on em.
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JointJockey⚒️ Journeyman4mo
2
what states you covering mostly?
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RodentRider⚒️ Journeyman4mo
14
same shit here, the handyman title gets real blurry once you cross state lines. in texas a guy doing a toilet swap plus a light fixture might be fine but move to florida and your suddenly pushing electrical limits without the right license. been there where a job starts small then turns into pulling permits and you either walk or get fined. i just cap myself at anything needing more than a 15 amp circuit or 1/2 inch pex and tell them to call a licensed guy. clients always push for the cheap fix anyway so its easier to draw the line early. whats the worst state line mess youve run into so far?
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DustDevil⚒️ Journeyman4mo
4
those damn inspectors are the worst, hit me with a fine last month for a $200 fence repair that didnt even need a permit. its like they got nothing better to do than harass us small timers.
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DuctTapeKing⚒️ Journeyman4mo
9
handyman label is bullshit when states let inspectors hammer a $150 touch up but skip the real sloppy electrical hacks.
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BrushStrokeBoss13⚒️ Journeyman4mo
13
exactly, inspectors go after the little $150 fix while some bozo wires a panel with no permits and nobody cares.
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WattTheHeck23⚒️ Journeyman4mo
16
id say stick to jobs under $500 without pulling permits or you risk inspectors nailing you on the small stuff like that.
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FilterFanatic⚒️ Journeyman4mo
13
in texas you can go up to 5k before needing a contractor license so stick with that.
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KeyMasterMike2⚒️ Journeyman4mo
4
same shit here, state caps handyman jobs at 3k so i been turning down anything bigger to dodge the inspectors. feels like every small paint job turns into paperwork hell.
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WattTheHeck15⚒️ Journeyman5mo
10
man, same crap here in colorado - did a quick $350 outlet swap and the inspector rolled up like i was rewiring the whole damn state without a license.
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SodSlinger⚒️ Journeyman5mo
10
in colorado you can do handyman work up to $500 per job without a contractor license, just dont touch anything structural or major electrical/plumbing to stay under the radar.
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FrameFreak6⚒️ Journeyman5mo
13
yeah man, same shit here with these handymen undercuttin us left and right, makin it impossible to get a fair quote anymore. homeowners come to me expectin that cheap crap and i gotta explain why real work costs more. sucks big time, been losin jobs over it lately.
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DeadboltDude⭐ Expert5mo
23
stick to jobs under $500 in most states to stay in the handyman lane without needin a full contractor license. that way you avoid the fines and keep the small gigs rollin without the hassle.
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AntAnnihilator6⚒️ Journeyman5mo
20
those state boards are just money grubs, fined me $1200 last year for a $600 deck job that was barely over the limit and now im stuck on tiny gigs that dont even cover gas.
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PipeLord420🔧 Apprentice5mo
18
screw those state boards, they just wanna nickel and dime us on every little job while the real crooks with no license do full renos under the table and nobody says shit.
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SweepSquad3⚒️ Journeyman5mo
9
yeah, got hit with a $500 fine last year for a $400 deck repair in colorado, but the unlicensed hacks are out there flipping houses for 50k and the boards couldnt care less.
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BrushStrokeBandit🔧 Apprentice5mo
12
sticking to my handyman limits in colorado kept me out of that $500 fine mess, and now im pulling in steady $2k gigs on small fixes without the licensing headache. feels good knowin i play it smart while those house flippers get away with murder.
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WireWizard7⚒️ Journeyman5mo
11
smart move stickin to the rules in colorado, ive built my whole biz on those $1k handyman jobs without ever dodgin a fine. feels damn good sleepin easy while the reckless ones chase big scores and end up screwed.
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DirtBagLandscaper6⭐ Expert5mo
14
it's all BS how they nail us little guys with fines but let those unlicensed flippers rake in thousands without a peep. got screwed on a similar job here last summer, cost me two weeks' pay to fight it.
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CircuitSnake⭐ Expert5mo
17
stick to jobs under $500 and no permits to dodge the handyman fines in most states. i always check the local board's site first to know the cutoff, saved my ass more than once.
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TarPaperTiger2⚒️ Journeyman5mo
9
stuck to that $500 rule in my state for years and built a solid rep without a single fine, feels damn good.
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PipeLord420🔧 Apprentice4mo
7
those damn state boards are the real crooks, actin like they own every nail we drive while handymen get away with half-assed fixes that screw over homeowners. ive seen buddies get fined $1000 just for uncloggin a sink over the limit, all cause some bureaucrat wants to protect the big contractors wallets. its BS how they let cheapos with no license flood the market and undercut us legit guys. we bust our asses gettin certified and they slap us with rules that change every year. angi and those lead gen sites make it worse, pushin handyman BS on clueless clients who then call us for the mess. pissed me off last month when a neighbor got hosed by one, had to redo the whole leaky faucet job for free. we gotta fight back against this crap or theyll run us all outta business.
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PipeDreamer3⚒️ Journeyman4mo
3
dont touch anything over that $3300 line in your state or youll get the same $1000 fine the op mentioned.
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LeakHunterPro2⚒️ Journeyman4mo
16
handyman label is BS anyway, most states draw the line at 1500 bucks or theyll hit you with the fine like that op said.
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TileTerror7⚒️ Journeyman4mo
19
ha, the handyman loopholes got you paying for their sloppy work. in my state handymen can do 500 bucks of work max before they gotta get licensed.
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VentMasterMike⚒️ Journeyman4mo
20
same shit here, arizona lets handymen slide under 1k without any contractor license so theyre all over the small jobs.
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HueHustler⭐ Expert4mo
15
same shit here, every time a handyman undercuts us on those small jobs it just screws the rest of us trying to stay legit.
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GutterGuru3⚒️ Journeyman4mo
27
handymen in arizona dodging the 1k limit is a joke, had one try to install my gutters last year and left me fixing his mess.
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LeakHunter4🔧 Apprentice4mo
7
arizona's $1k rule is a joke, half these guys are doing full gutter jobs anyway. just write up the permit yourself if the job hits that number or use a licensed buddy to pull it. saves headaches when the inspector shows up.
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TermiteTerminator⚒️ Journeyman4mo
20
handymen doing 500 bucks of electrical work in your state just means theyre getting away with half a job thatll fail inspection. dont let em touch 240V stuff, saw one guy almost burn a house down last month.
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SawdustSavant10⚒️ Journeyman4mo
9
in texas a handyman can only do 500 too before they force a license on you, i just sub the big jobs out instead of chancing it.
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ShakeShingler⚒️ Journeyman4mo
6
texas handymen dodging that 500 dollar line is like tiptoeing around a live wire.
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WattTheHeck7⚒️ Journeyman4mo
2
texas inspectors will still nail you for unlicensed work even if the customer swears it was just a 300 dollar leak fix.
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CircuitSurfer⚒️ Journeyman4mo
16
same shit here, these guys blow 500 bucks on a half-assed outlet swap then im stuck fixing their mess.
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HammerTimePro3⚒️ Journeyman4mo
18
yeah, these half-assed outlet swaps always leave me cleaning up the mess for triple what they charged.
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RollerRabbit2⚒️ Journeyman4mo
11
had a guy pull the same stunt on a bathroom fan last month, now i steer clear of anything over a grand in permits without a license.
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SweepKing⚒️ Journeyman4mo
7
same shit here, these handyman gigs turn into permit nightmares and cost you more than they pay.
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OddJobOtto3⚒️ Journeyman4mo
5
handyman gigs always turn into the permit nightmare that screws the rest of us over.
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GreenThumbGus⚒️ Journeyman4mo
8
handyman gigs under 5k fly under the radar but cross that line once and the inspectors show up with fines. fight me but id rather stay legal than chase cheap jobs that turn into lawsuits.
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DoorOpener99⚒️ Journeyman4mo
11
handyman label is just asking for trouble once the job goes past swapping a fixture, seen guys get fined hard in my area for skipping permits. most states draw the line at anything needing a licensed trade and inspectors dont care that you quoted it cheap. why fight the rules when you can just turn down anything over a couple hundred bucks and keep your license clean?
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LiftLord⚒️ Journeyman4mo
2
same shit here, these handymen leave romex with no box and then i gotta explain to the customer why im charging em $600 to fix it.
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SpringSpecialist2⚒️ Journeyman4mo
6
handyman label lets these hacks screw up romex and then we eat the $600 fix.
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TileTerror11⚒️ Journeyman4mo
2
same shit, handymen in my state cant touch anything over 500 without a license anyway.
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WeedWhackerWarrior⚒️ Journeyman4mo
8
same shit here, had one blow out a gfci swap and i caught the backfeed on it
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DuctTapeKing2⚒️ Journeyman5mo
19
yeah i stuck to that $500 rule until i fixed a leaky faucet for $600 and the inspector showed up like 'handyman who?'... spent more on the fine than the damn job 😂
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LeakHunterX⚒️ Journeyman5mo
17
those inspectors are the real crooks, fining us for doing honest work while they sit on their asses collecting a paycheck.
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SparkleSquad2⚒️ Journeyman5mo
6
yeah man, inspectors are the WORST, always nitpicking our asses while they rake in that easy money. been fined twice last year for some BS paperwork i didnt even know about. its like theyre out to kill the little guy doin honest jobs. same shit everywhere, feels rigged against us.
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SpringSpecialist2⚒️ Journeyman4mo
24
yeah man, got slapped with a $500 fine last month for some paperwork BS i didnt even know existed, inspectors are straight up out to bury us little guys.
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WrenchWizard4⚒️ Journeyman4mo
27
inspectors are just money-grubbing assholes out to crush us small operators, got hit with a BS fine myself last year and it pisses me off every time.
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RustyNails3⚒️ Journeyman4mo
3
dont get caught without that license, i know a guy who ignored the $500 threshold in his state and ended up with a $5k fine plus court time. inspectors aint messin around anymore, stick to the limits or pay the price.
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ChillTech⚒️ Journeyman4mo
14
bet the guy with the $5k fine tells everyone he was just doin handyman work till the inspector showed up.
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ScrewLooseLarry🔧 Apprentice4mo
11
what state are you in where the handyman line is drawn so tight?
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PipeLord42014⚒️ Journeyman4mo
19
homeowners thinking any guy with a hammer can do 15k jobs is the real bullshit.
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PickMaster2⚒️ Journeyman4mo
6
homeowners thinking a hammer and a van makes you a 15k plumber is straight up delusional.
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SpraySquad2⚒️ Journeyman4mo
13
handyman label gets some guys thinking they can tackle a 15k plumbing job with a hammer and a van, which cracks me up every time.
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SawdustSavant19⚒️ Journeyman4mo
20
same shit here, had a guy with just a hammer try to quote a whole bathroom reno and it was a mess. seen it way too often where they skip the plumbing permit and mess up the rough in. yeah man, some states need to crack down on that.
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ColorChaos2⚒️ Journeyman4mo
0
handyman label is a gray area in alot of states, had one try to redo a shower valve without a permit last month and flooded the whole floor. call the state licensing board first, they'll tell you exactly what you can touch without a full contractors license.
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LockJock⚒️ Journeyman4mo
7
same shit here, handyman tried a whole bathroom remodel without a license last year and it was a total mess.
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RollerRogue8⚒️ Journeyman4mo
18
in jersey i stick to jobs under 2 grand so the plumbing board stays off my back and i keep my license clean.
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SafeCrackerSam2⚒️ Journeyman4mo
8
same shit in jersey man, keep it small so they dont come after you
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DrainDevil3⚒️ Journeyman4mo
19
yeah man i get it, same shit in my state too where anything over a grand flags the inspectors. its like the boards just waiting for guys like us to slip up on a toilet swap or fixture change so they can hit us with fines. i usually cap my handyman stuff around 1500 bucks and keep it to light plumbing or outlets to stay clean. seen too many guys lose their side gigs over one big ticket job they shoulda walked away from. the rules are different everywhere but they all feel stacked against the small operators. how you handling the ones that try to push you past that limit?
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GarageGuru8⚒️ Journeyman4mo
6
i just quote 1250 max and tell em straight up if they want more than that its a licensed plumber or sparky job. saves me the headache when they push for the whole bathroom.
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LawnLordLee⚒️ Journeyman4mo
13
damn jersey rules got us all tip toeing around real work just to dodge the board.
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HeatWaveHero⚒️ Journeyman4mo
6
i just bill under 3k a pop and stick to small jobs like swapping a faucet or fixture to stay legal.
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FlushKing2⚒️ Journeyman4mo
7
same shit here man, tried billing over the limit once and got a letter from the board in 3 days flat. kept it under 3k too but the inspector still showed up on a simple toilet swap because the homeowner filed a complaint. ended up paying a fine and had to redo the permit as a plumbing job anyway. i just stick to fixtures now and send anything bigger to a licensed guy i know. costs me jobs but the headache aint worth it. youre smart keeping the cap low, that label will bite you quick if the state decides youre playing contractor. what state you working out of anyway?
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JoistJester⚒️ Journeyman4mo
20
jersey aint the only state making us dance around real jobs just to stay legal, whole damn system screws the little guy
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DeckBuilderDan⭐ Expert4mo
21
same shit up here in new york, they got us splitting jobs just to dodge the handyman cap too.
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LeakHunter2⚒️ Journeyman4mo
13
same shit here, we been splitting jobs too just to stay under the cap.
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SpotlessSteve6⚒️ Journeyman4mo
16
same shit, half my jobs get turned down cause some dickhead at the state board decided what a handyman can touch
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TileTerror5⚒️ Journeyman4mo
16
dont push that 2k limit or the jersey plumbing board will hit you with fines quick.
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V8019🔧 Apprentice4mo
7
jersey board already hit my buddy last year for 2100 in pex work and it was pure bullshit
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ColorChanger⚒️ Journeyman4mo
18
exactly, these handyman types think a van and a hammer means they can do big plumbing without pulling permits or knowing code.
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DuctDoctor9⚒️ Journeyman4mo
5
these guys with a hammer and a van think they can run big plumbing without pulling permits or knowing code and its the same shit everywhere. homeowners hire em cheap then call us when the whole place is flooded or the inspector shuts it down. saw one last month flood a kitchen cause he skipped the vent and used the wrong fittings on a 3 inch line. now every legit outfit has to explain why we charge more and why we pull permits while these weekend warriors undercut the real work. its collective rage for sure when states dont crack down harder on the label. how do you handle it when one shows up on a job you already quoted?
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ShingleShuffler3⚒️ Journeyman4mo
9
same shit here, these guys roll up with a hammer and think they can rough in a whole bathroom without pulling permits. felt that in my knees when we had to rip everything out last month. how many states are you dealing with this in?
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BeamBoss5⚒️ Journeyman4mo
7
which states you hitting where the handyman dollar cap is actually enforced?
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DustBunnySlayer5⚒️ Journeyman4mo
1
same shit here, texas inspectors gonna hit you hard over that 500 dollar limit on handyman work.
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SawdustSavant12⚒️ Journeyman4mo
27
texas inspectors got nothing on the california ones, theyll fine you for a 200 dollar faucet swap. handyman license basically just a fancy business card down there.
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RustyNailBob5⚒️ Journeyman4mo
13
just had a florida guy hit with a 5k fine for a 1500 handyman job, whole states a joke.
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V6501🌱 Newcomer4mo
19
same shit here, they figure any guy with a hammer can swap a water heater and charge fifteen grand.
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OddJobOutlaw⚒️ Journeyman4mo
21
handyman label gets thrown around too easy and some guys clear fifteen grand before lunch.
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LaminateLegend🔧 Apprentice4mo
9
yeah man, gotta know your state limits before you touch anything bigger than a 2k job or the license board comes knocking.
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CircuitSnafu⚒️ Journeyman4mo
14
handyman label just lets guys skirt the license and charge real electrician money for half ass work.
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DirtDiggerDan⚒️ Journeyman4mo
8
so what dollar limit does your state actually set for a handyman before you gotta pull a full license?
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PaintSplatterPete⚒️ Journeyman4mo
7
texas lets handymen go up to $500 on a single job before needing a license. anything bigger and you're playing with fire on the inspection side.
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SawdustSavant24⚒️ Journeyman4mo
16
damn texas handymen dodging the license racket while the rest of us get buried in red tape and fees
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HammerTimeHank⚒️ Journeyman4mo
2
texas inspectors will still hit you for unlicensed work even under $500 if they feel like it. had a buddy get fined last year for a $380 job they called electrical.
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HammerTimeHank2⚒️ Journeyman4mo
18
texas is basically tellin handymen to stay under 500 or the inspectors get real nosy, kinda like hidin a deer stand from the game warden.
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CoilCooler2⚒️ Journeyman4mo
11
texas handymen playing under that 500 limit is basically the same game as everyone else, just dont get caught stacking jobs to dodge it.
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FixItFred🔧 Apprentice4mo
12
damn straight, handymen get hammered with fines while homeowners just call the next guy off nextdoor and keep it movin. whole system screws the licensed guys trying to play by the rules.
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CircuitSnafu2⚒️ Journeyman4mo
23
handymen dodge the rules and still pull jobs from us, then homeowners run to nextdoor the minute we say no. every time a guy skips the license just to undercut us it screws the rest of us who pay for insurance and inspections. damn system keeps protecting the shortcuts while we carry the weight. why do inspectors even bother checking licensed crews when the real violators just keep rolling?
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SweepStakeSue⚒️ Journeyman4mo
3
handymen working under 5k is legal in half the states so inspectors aint the real problem, its the homeowners chasing the cheapest bid every time.
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ChillMaster2⚒️ Journeyman4mo
10
handyman rules are bullshit in texas, i did a 3k job and nearly got fined last year
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ShingleSlinger🔧 Apprentice4mo
25
a $500 fine on a $2k job aint worth it, stick under 1000 bucks per job in most states to dodge the license mess.
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ShingleShuffler3⚒️ Journeyman4mo
24
how much are you charging per hour when you hit that 1k cap?
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CircuitSavant2⚒️ Journeyman4mo
9
yeah same shit here, got nailed with a $500 fine last month for some paperwork crap i didnt even know existed, inspectors are just out to screw the little guys.
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LumberLad⚒️ Journeyman4mo
15
what state you in and did they hit you on the handyman license or just the paperwork?
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DoorDoc2⚒️ Journeyman4mo
13
same shit, states are cracking down on us to push everything through licensed contractors so they can take their cut
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PeakProspector3⚒️ Journeyman4mo
23
handyman label lets em dodge licensing in alot of states but when shit hits the fan they just pass the blame to real contractors.
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PipeLord42030⚒️ Journeyman4mo
4
handyman shit always ends up on our plate after they botch the job and run. texas inspectors been calling me out for other guys messes for years now. feels like were just the cleanup crew for their shortcuts.
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ShingleShuffler2⚒️ Journeyman4mo
27
handyman rules make about as much sense as a cat owning a hardware store. some states will let you swap a lightbulb and call it illegal if you blink wrong.
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DoorOpenerDave⚒️ Journeyman4mo
19
in nc you can pull a handyman permit up to 5k per job without a license.
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CanvasCowboy⚒️ Journeyman4mo
17
same shit here in arizona, handyman rules got so damn tight that any job over 500 bucks lands you in paperwork hell with the state board.
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SolderSniper⚒️ Journeyman4mo
24
handyman regs in texas cap you at 499 on paper or they hit you with a full license check.
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VentVagabond⚒️ Journeyman4mo
20
texas inspectors love to use that 499 dollar cap to bury any handyman who steps on a real contractors toes.
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PlumbDumb⭐ Expert4mo
3
texas inspectors love that 499 dollar line to shut down any side work fast. i'd stay under 400 on the invoice and call it repair not install, keeps the paper trail clean. same crap here in the dallas area, they hit you with unlicensed contracting quick if you push past it. you running into this on bigger service calls or just small fix ups?
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ComboBreaker⚒️ Journeyman4mo
17
texas inspectors are straight up stingy as hell, always lookin for any reason to slap you with full contractor rules over some dumb 500 dollar job.
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ChillChampion2⚒️ Journeyman4mo
6
texas inspectors love to turn your $500 handyman gig into a full contractor deal, fight em on it or stay small.
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SparkleSquad2⚒️ Journeyman4mo
14
texas inspectors turning everything into a contractor job is such bullshit, they hit me with that last year on a simple faucet swap. same shit everywhere, the state just wants their cut no matter how small the work is. handyman label dont mean shit once they decide to rewrite your ticket. how many times they pulled that on you?
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DrainDemon2⚒️ Journeyman4mo
2
hit 40k last year on jobs under the 500 dollar line in texas without touching the full contractor headache.
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SweepItClean⚒️ Journeyman4mo
5
texas rules gonna bite you if you touch plumbing or electric over that $500 line.
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WireWizard7⚒️ Journeyman4mo
22
texas inspectors will call your 500 dollar fix a full remodel if it makes their day better.
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TenYearVet22⚒️ Journeyman4mo
10
texas inspectors will call your $80 toilet swap a full gut job just to make quota.
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TrimTim⚒️ Journeyman4mo
14
texas handyman limit is $500 per job before you need a license, so i just break it into two invoices if it's over.
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SparkPlugStan2⚒️ Journeyman4mo
9
texas pulling that 499 crap is just another way to keep the little guy from making real money without jumping through every hoop. same shit everywhere, regs always end up protecting the big outfits that can afford the licenses and insurance. half the time the customer is the one asking you to do more than the limit anyway then they act shocked when you say no. i had a guy last month wanting me to swap a panel and a couple outlets but wouldnt go over the cap so i walked. now hes probably on nextdoor complaining about handymen being useless. we keep getting squeezed by the state and the customers both and nobody wins except the guys with the full contractor licenses. how many of you actually got popped for going over in texas?
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FixItFelix⚒️ Journeyman4mo
8
texas'll hit you with a fine quick if they catch the overage, saw a guy get popped last year for swapping a panel under the cap.
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NailGunNinja2⚒️ Journeyman4mo
12
check your states handyman dollar cap before quoting anything electrical bigger than a switch swap.
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SpotlessSam2⭐ Expert4mo
10
handyman label keeps the inspectors off ya till you hit that texas dollar cap, then its felony bingo. saw one dude try sneaking a 200 amp swap and pay double in fines.
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SawdustSavant9⚒️ Journeyman4mo
16
that texas cap screws the small guys when the inspectors decide your 200 amp job is felony territory.
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NotAProYet🌱 Newcomer4mo
2
don't push that 499 limit in texas man, saw a guy get fined hard for swapping a panel.
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SpraySquad⚒️ Journeyman4mo
7
texas inspectors are straight up predators, saw a guy lose his truck over a damn 499 job too.
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GateGuard⚒️ Journeyman4mo
11
texas $499 limit is bullshit, set up an llc and pull a handyman permit in nc like the charlotte guys do.
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LockPickLarry6⚒️ Journeyman4mo
3
same shit in my state, had a guy want a whole subpanel swap last year and just walked when he tried pushing past the cap.
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NotAnElectrician2⚒️ Journeyman4mo
16
handyman caps are a joke, guy wanted a whole 200a service and acted shocked when we walked
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ColorCraze4⚒️ Journeyman4mo
15
dont touch that 200a job or youll end up explaining yourself to the inspectors.
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EaveExpert⚒️ Journeyman4mo
16
texas and the homeowners are both screwing the little guy on purpose.
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PaintSplatterPat4⚒️ Journeyman4mo
12
same shit here in texas, these handyman rules got homeowners thinking anyone with a drill can do electrical without pullin permits. seen too many jobs where they skip the licensed guy and then call us when it goes sideways. had one last month where they paid some dude cash for a panel swap and the inspector shut it down. theyll learn the hard way but it always costs us time.
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SparkleSquad⚒️ Journeyman4mo
21
texas caps and pissed off homeowners on nextdoor both suck, we all get squeezed the same way
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PipeLord42016⚒️ Journeyman4mo
15
texas has it rough but i pulled $14k last month on three jobs that handyman outfits turned down so the label aint slowing me down.
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ShockJock_E🌱 Newcomer4mo
14
same boat here, handymen keep passin on anything past $2k and im grabbin it all
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ScrubLord2⚒️ Journeyman4mo
17
same shit here, texas nextdoor homeowners bitchin about price and size caps then expect you to do a full remodel for handyman money. i just quote anything over 6 hours as a real job now and let em walk. really dont blame the other trades for gettin fed up with it.
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V6145🔧 Apprentice4mo
11
same shit here man, texas homeowners want full remodels for handyman rates then act shocked when you walk
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V2463🔧 Apprentice4mo
18
arizona handymen got it rough but at least your limit is 500 bucks, here in new jersey its only 200 and you still catch hell for anything electrical. i seen guys get hit with 5k fines just for swapping an outlet on a saturday call. states keep raising the bar so only the big contractors can play the game. feels like they want everyone to register as a full plumber or electrician even for basic fixes. you guys running into the same pushback when a customer asks for a quick bathroom repair? honestly im thinking of just calling myself a limited scope contractor to dodge some of this. dont know if that helps or makes it worse though.
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WrenchWizard3⚒️ Journeyman4mo
18
same shit here in jersey, had a guy threaten to report me over a quick toilet swap last month.
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ThermoTech⚒️ Journeyman4mo
1
dont touch plumbing work without a real license even for a toilet swap, saw a guy in jersey get fined 5k and lose his van for that exact thing.
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ZapMaster3000⚒️ Journeyman4mo
8
that jersey guy learned the hard way, my buddy got tagged just for swapping an aerator without a license. rules change state to state but the fines sure dont. whats the limit where youre at?
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ShingleShark3⚒️ Journeyman4mo
8
handyman label gets you fined quick for touching a toilet in jersey while texas guys swap whole panels before lunch. fight me on that one.
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JoltJockey⚒️ Journeyman4mo
10
jersey boards treat handyman like a four letter word, hit em with the full license or stay under 500 bucks.
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NailGunNed⚒️ Journeyman4mo
1
that jersey fine shoulda been a warning to every handyman out there. don't touch a licensed trade even for small jobs or youll lose more than a van.
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ColorChanger⚒️ Journeyman4mo
12
these homeowners really out here acting like the damn permit police over a toilet swap.
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V2805🔧 Apprentice4mo
7
dont fix nothing over 500 or you'll eat a fine bigger than the job like that guy in georgia did last year.
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ChillMaster3⭐ Expert4mo
11
i know a guy who pushed a $600 deck repair in california without a license and the board slapped him with a $5k fine plus had to redo the whole job, dont risk it.
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DrainDiverDan⭐ Expert4mo
2
california caps handymen at 500 bucks per job without a license, so anything bigger means pulling the permit or risk that 5k hit again.
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HammerTimeHank2⚒️ Journeyman4mo
13
california just loves to go after the little guys while big outfits skate by. handyman label gets you in trouble fast if you touch anything structural or over a certain dollar amount. same shit in most states, they wait til you finish the job then hit you with the fine. hows it handled where you are?
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LockLord⭐ Expert4mo
10
california's the worst but id still take their rules over letting handymen touch anything structural anywhere.
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FixItFelix4🔧 Apprentice4mo
9
same shit in texas, handymen keep messing up simple jobs and making us fix em later.
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HardwoodHero5⚒️ Journeyman4mo
10
same shit here, texas handymen botch simple leaks and im left fixing their crap for half the day.
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CircuitSnafu⚒️ Journeyman4mo
27
texas handymen keep undercutting us and leaving half ass electrical work that i have to fix every damn time. saw one last week that wired a 240v dryer with 14/2 romex, almost started a fire. why do homeowners still hire these guys when they always cost more in the end?
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FlushMaster3000⚒️ Journeyman4mo
14
same shit in texas, had to redo a dryer circuit last month that some handyman ran with 14/2 and left the homeowners holding the bag
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TileTerror11⚒️ Journeyman4mo
12
same shit here, texas inspectors are always bustin someone for 14/2 on a dryer circuit after the handyman ghosts
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AmpedUp⚒️ Journeyman4mo
2
handymans always ghostin and leaving us electricians to fix their 14/2 dryer runs, classic texas move
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BrushStrokePro3⭐ Expert4mo
21
tell em its 10/3 or nothing on a dryer, saves the callback headache.
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LockPickLarry7⚒️ Journeyman4mo
11
10/3 is definitely the move, way less callbacks on dryers when the voltage drops. just ran into that last week on a 30 amp circuit someone tried to stretch with 12/2, swapped it out and used a square d 30a breaker. if youre in a state that lets handymen touch it at all, double check the load calc first so you dont get the call at 8pm. seen guys use 8/3 on 50 foot runs to stay under 3% drop, that one worked good. also worth it to upsell the 4 prong receptacle while youre there, homeowners always appreciate that. dont skimp on the box depth either or the cord wont sit right. what kinda states are you guys seeing the biggest gray area on handyman limits?
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LockPickLarry3⚒️ Journeyman4mo
15
handyman label is just a loophole that ends with someone frying a panel at 2am.
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LawnLad3⚒️ Journeyman4mo
5
same shit, handyman runs 14/2 then we get the call to fix it
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V7091🔧 Apprentice4mo
20
texas needs to tighten that $500 handyman limit or its just gonna keep happenin with romex fires like that
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TurfTamer⚒️ Journeyman4mo
17
texas should bump that limit to at least 800 bucks so small jobs dont force unlicensed guys to pull romex. i seen a handyman run 14/2 right next to a hot water line last month and it was a damn mess. one fix is carry a cheap non contact voltage tester from supply house so you catch crossed wires before they start. if your county allows it just get the limited electrical card and skip the headaches altogether. half the time the fire starts because they skipped the box and just taped everything. same thing happens in louisiana every summer when the humidity messes with cheap splices. better to stay under whatever the state says than explain yourself to insurance later. you run into this alot or just in the houston area?
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V8810🌱 Newcomer4mo
16
texas needs to hammer that 500 limit already, too many hacks running romex and calling it handyman work
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V1247🔧 Apprentice4mo
6
texas 500 limit keeps the romex hacks from turning into electricians overnight.
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FixItFelix5⚒️ Journeyman4mo
14
texas handymen wiring houses like its a hobby kit is comedy gold until the panel smokes.
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SparkPlugJoe2⚒️ Journeyman4mo
8
homeowners keep hiring these clowns cuz theyre cheaper up front and then we clean up their 14/2 romex messes.
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JoistJester2⚒️ Journeyman4mo
5
same shit here man, i spent 3 days last month fixing some handymans 14/2 romex nightmare in a laundry room and had to rip the drywall just to meet code. homeowners think theyre saving money till the panel trips or insurance wont cover it. the dollar thresholds in some states are a joke, they let these guys do way more than they should. wish more of em would just stick to painting and shelf installs instead of touching live wires. you been seeing more of this lately or is it just my area?
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LatexLegend⭐ Expert4mo
10
homeowners love the cheap quote till their house catches fire from bad 14/2 work then they call us anyway
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FixItFelix5⚒️ Journeyman4mo
7
homeowners cheap out till it burns then we clean up the 14/2 mess they caused.
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LeakLurker⚒️ Journeyman4mo
2
same shit here in texas, homeowners learn the hard way after the 14/2 fires start.
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RustyNailBob5⚒️ Journeyman4mo
3
same shit here, handymen doing structural work always bites everyone in the ass.
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PeakPerformer⚒️ Journeyman4mo
16
yeah most states let handymen go up to like 500 bucks before they need a license.
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WattTheHeck2⚒️ Journeyman4mo
21
how much can you actually bill before they start watching in california? got a buddy who hit $500 on one job and they came down on him for doing plumbing without a license.
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SpotlessSteve10⚒️ Journeyman4mo
7
proud as hell that my state lets us bill up to 5k before they bother us about licenses.
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WrenchWarrior3⚒️ Journeyman4mo
13
5k is solid for a handyman, just watch those states where they drop the hammer at $1k instead.
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PrimerPal⚒️ Journeyman4mo
9
those state caps at $1k are bullshit, lost two jobs last month over it.
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KeyMaster99⚒️ Journeyman4mo
11
same shit here, hit the $1k cap in jersey and had to walk from a 3k job
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PipeLord42020⚒️ Journeyman4mo
13
same shit here, got a call last week that turned into a 3k job and the inspector shut it down
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PickLockPete⚒️ Journeyman4mo
20
check your states dollar cap before you even pick up the phone next time. some places its 2500 and inspectors are sticklers about crossing it.
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NotAnElectrician16⚒️ Journeyman4mo
4
same shit, inspector here pulled the same move on a 2.5k job last month
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V9149🌱 Newcomer4mo
12
some states draw the line at $500 before you need a real license, check your local regs before taking anything bigger.
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SparkPlugJoe2⚒️ Journeyman4mo
1
yeah we're stuck at 2500 here before they start asking questions and its a pain. felt that when jobs creep up right at the limit and you gotta turn em away or risk it. same shit when a customer wants one more thing added on and suddenly your over.
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WeedWhackerWill2⚒️ Journeyman4mo
6
proud as hell when i can do a 2400 job without a license and not deal with that mess.
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DuctDoctor8⚒️ Journeyman4mo
6
check your state threshold, i just did a 1800 job with my milwaukee setup and stayed legal.
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WattTheHeck29⭐ Expert4mo
17
same shit, that 1800 job woulda got me nailed in my state too
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HaulHero2⚒️ Journeyman4mo
7
check your state again, most places cap at 500 before you need the license.
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CircuitSavant4⚒️ Journeyman4mo
23
california sounds like a minefield if you touch the wrong thing. whats the dollar threshold out there before they come knocking? seen guys get hit for just replacing a panel in texas too. curious how the rest of you dodge those fines.
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NailGunNinja11⚒️ Journeyman4mo
11
check your states handyman dollar cap before you do any electrical, texas lets you do up to 500 without a license but panels are a hard no.
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BoltBoss⚒️ Journeyman4mo
2
hell yeah texas handyman cap keeps things simple without needing a license for the small stuff.
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WrenchWanderer⚒️ Journeyman4mo
17
yeah man, dodging those fines is a constant headache, had a buddy get nailed for a $600 job in texas even though he checked the site first. always feels like the boards are just waiting to screw us over with their fine print.
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WattTheHeck29⭐ Expert5mo
10
damn right, those inspectors are quick to fine us for a $500 deck repair but ignore the unlicensed flippers slapping up $50k additions. got hit with a $2k penalty last year in california for something that shoulda been grandfathered in. it's all about protecting the big boys while we scrape by.
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GutterGuru4⚒️ Journeyman5mo
5
yeah, inspectors out here in cali treat us like we're the flippers' evil twins, slapping fines for a leaky faucet while some dude builds a whole palace with a handyman's toolbox. last week i fixed a porch light and half expected a swat team to bust down the door. gotta love how they protect the 'big boys' by making sure us little guys stay broke. 😂
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PickAndGrin2⚒️ Journeyman5mo
24
handyman label's just the unions way of keeping us small fries from eating into their $150k kitchen remodel gigs, screw that noise.
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WireWizard5⚒️ Journeyman5mo
16
it's all rigged for the big contractors and their lobbyists, screwing us small guys with bullshit fines while unlicensed hacks rake in cash. california's thresholds are a joke, let flippers build whole houses but nail me for a $2k deck. inspectors are just revenue hounds, man, protecting the system that keeps us down.
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RollerRogue8⚒️ Journeyman4mo
10
yeah, inspectors out here are like vampires suckin the life outta small jobs, but hey at least they dont bite when youre buildin that $2k deck for your own damn house 😂
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DoorOpenerPro⚒️ Journeyman4mo
11
damn inspectors here in texas hit me with a fine last month just for swapping a busted outlet without their blessing, it's all BS to keep us small guys down.
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V3714🌱 Newcomer4mo
8
screw the inspectors, theyre just power-trippin to protect the big contractors from us handymen makin a decent livin. in texas its like they want every damn outlet swap to need a full permit, total BS keepin small guys broke. i say ignore em and do the job, worst case you pay the fine and move on. fight me if you think licenses aint the real scam here.
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NotAnElectrician14⚒️ Journeyman5mo
15
yeah man, the BS with those fines is ridiculous, hit me for $500 last year over a simple deck repair that wasnt even worth half that. unlicensed flippers get away with murder while we grind our asses off just to stay legal.
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LiftMaster3⚒️ Journeyman4mo
6
unlicensed flippers are like cockroaches, they just keep comin back while we're payin the exterminator fines lol.
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NotAnElectrician2⚒️ Journeyman4mo
13
watch your ass on those deck jobs, bro, i got nailed for $1000 last summer fixing some stairs that crossed into contractor territory without realizing it. unlicensed flippers dodge that crap every day while we eat the fines. stick to under $500 gigs in most spots or you'll be paying more to the state than the customer.
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NailGunNinja3⚒️ Journeyman5mo
22
yeah man, those boards got me last year for a simple deck repair that wasnt even close to a full reno. its total BS how they ignore the unlicensed hacks pulling off kitchen gut jobs without a peep. meanwhile us legit guys gotta jump through hoops just to fix a leaky faucet. been there, feels like theyre out to screw the little guy every time.
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CleanFreak42⚒️ Journeyman5mo
11
it's total BS how those boards let the unlicensed hacks run wild on big jobs while bustin our balls for a damn deck fix. they dont give a crap about safety, just rakin in fines from us legit guys to pad their pockets. seen it in my area too many times, and it pisses me off every time i gotta file for some minor permit. screw the system, man, we need to band together and push back harder.
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WireWizard⭐ Expert5mo
14
yeah man, those boards are just a racket, fining us for a simple outlet swap while the handymen are out there wiring whole basements without a license. had to fight one last year for a $500 job that should've been mine, and they still let the hacks slide.
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FrameFailer⚒️ Journeyman5mo
28
yeah man, same BS here with those unlicensed clowns takin big jobs while i jump through hoops for a simple fix, its total crap.
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PlumbDum⚒️ Journeyman5mo
17
check your state's contractor board website for the exact job size limits, like in california anything over $500 needs a license for plumbing work. i've seen handymen get fined $5k for takin on bigger gigs without it. stick to reportin those clowns anonymously to keep the field fair.
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V5133🔧 Apprentice5mo
18
those unlicensed handymen are screwing us all, underbidding jobs and leavin us legit guys to clean up their messes. report every damn one i see, keeps the BS from ruinin the whole trade.
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NailBender⚒️ Journeyman5mo
21
yeah, those handymen underbidding and botchin jobs is the same crap i deal with every week, leavin us to fix their leaks and shorts. reportin em aint enough sometimes, but it beats doin nothin.
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FlushMaster500⭐ Expert5mo
16
check your state's licensing board site for the exact job limits, like in texas handymen cant touch plumbing over a certain dfu without a license. that way you got solid proof when reportin their ass to the authorities.
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RustyNailBob5⚒️ Journeyman4mo
15
check your state's limit - like in cali it's $500 for handyman jobs without a full license, so report anything over that to keep 'em honest.
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DustBunnySlayer4⚒️ Journeyman4mo
9
those damn handymen think they can undercut us on $1k jobs without a license, pisses me off how they dodge the rules and screw the whole trade.
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SawdustSavant8⚒️ Journeyman4mo
30
check your states rules on that, my buddy in texas said anything over 3k and you need a full license or the inspectors come sniffing around.
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DrainDragon6⚒️ Journeyman4mo
14
cali got it easy compared to arizona, there we gotta pull a full contractor license the second jobs hit over a grand. im proud we keep things straight by reporting the guys doing 5k handyman jobs on the side. keeps the playing field level for those of us who actually went through the licensing hassle.
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VoltVampire2⚒️ Journeyman5mo
25
handymen out here think they're bob the builder til the state board slaps 'em with a $5k fine for fixin a leaky faucet wrong, then they're cryin about unfair. i once watched one try to 'handy' a whole bathroom reno and end up callin me at midnight to bail him out, cost him double what he charged. stick to light bulbs and door knobs, fellas, or you'll be the punchline in contractor court. 😂
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AmpedApprentice3⚒️ Journeyman5mo
9
yeah man, seen too many handymen bite off more than they can chew and end up beggin for a real plumber to fix their mess at 2am.
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SpraySavant4⚒️ Journeyman4mo
15
in california handymen can do any job under $500 without a license, but anything bigger like that bathroom reno means you're lookin at a general contractor's bond and fines if you skip the permits.
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SparkPlugIdiot⚒️ Journeyman4mo
10
yeah man, those $500 limits in california are a total buzzkill, keeps you from takin on any decent sized jobs without jumpin through hoops.
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VentMaster30002🔧 Apprentice4mo
16
those damn state boards are the real crooks, strangleholdin us small guys with their BS limits while the big outfits laugh all the way to the bank.
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DirtDiggerDan2⚒️ Journeyman4mo
18
california aint the only place makin it tough, im sittin on a 3k job that i cant touch without a license and its pissing me off.
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V7213⚒️ Journeyman4mo
16
what state are you in, that 3k threshold changes everything?
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BugBlaster7🔧 Apprentice4mo
20
that 3k cap is straight up BS in my state, guys are getting fined for fixing a single toilet if the bill hits it.
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BoxHauler4⚒️ Journeyman4mo
9
same shit here, had a guy fined 4k last year for one toilet swap because he crossed that stupid 3k line. inspectors in our state love finding ways to hit you with it. seen it wipe out a whole week of work for guys who were just trying to keep food on the table. every time i see those limits posted on the board i just shake my head and move on to bigger jobs. not worth the risk when one wrong bill turns into a fine that sticks around. you seeing more of this crap lately or is it just the same few states?
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NotAnElectrician27⚒️ Journeyman4mo
3
these damn limits are just another way to squeeze us while the big outfits skate by.
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LeakHunter6🔧 Apprentice4mo
6
same shit, they keep the big boys happy while the rest of us get the shaft on every job size.
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DuctTapeKing4⚒️ Journeyman4mo
11
same shit, handymen get capped while the big companies slide right through
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V8366🌱 Newcomer4mo
19
in my state you can do up to 2500 without a license so just break the big jobs up
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VentVictor⚒️ Journeyman4mo
7
dont split jobs like that, inspectors nailed a guy in my area for it last year.
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ThermoTech⚒️ Journeyman4mo
22
Handyman license is a joke in texas, ive seen guys doing 8k jobs under that label with no plumbing or electrical certs. Its a liability nightmare waiting to happen when something goes wrong. Regulations need to draw a hard line at $2,500 or the whole thing falls apart. Hows it look in your state now?
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BenderBuddy⚒️ Journeyman4mo
15
homeowners always want a handyman for the big jobs then flip out when its over 3k in my state.
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V5133🔧 Apprentice4mo
16
homeowners always pull this crap then act shocked when the bill hits 3k and they call you a ripoff
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VentVet⭐ Expert4mo
22
same shit here, those homeowners never see the permits and inspections coming till the bill hits 3k. been there with jobs that started as a quick fix and blew up once they realized what code actually requires in my state. i just tell em straight up now before any tools come out of the truck. alot of em still act shocked like its my fault for following the rules. saw one on a Facebook group last month swearing up and down a handyman could swap a panel no problem till the inspector shut it down. feels like every state draws the line different and were always the bad guys for knowing it. what kinda dollar limit are you guys running into out there?
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V1136🔧 Apprentice4mo
8
same shit here, homeowners think a handyman can do the whole panel till the inspector shows up. costs em 3k extra every time.
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SudsAndScrubs⚒️ Journeyman4mo
9
same shit here, they want you to fix the whole damn kitchen for handyman prices then freak out once the bill hits four figures. i tell em right up front no job over 2500 gets the handyman rate, anything bigger needs a proper contractor pulled in. seen more than one guy get fined in my state for doing electrical or plumbing without the right license, not worth the risk. had a customer last month who tried to argue that swapping a panel was just a handyman task, had to walk away before it turned into a mess. most of these folks dont read the rules until the inspector shows up and suddenly its our problem. what state you dealing with anyway?
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DirtDevilDan⚒️ Journeyman4mo
3
customer once told me swapping a whole subpanel was just 'a couple wires' and handyman territory, laughed so hard i almost quoted it at the $800 rate. they get real quiet when you hit the state limit though, ours is 2500 like you said and after that inspectors get twitchy quick. seen a guy fined 6k last year for doing a mini split without pulling permits, not worth saving face over some kitchen sink drama. my rule is anything touching 240v or a main shutoff gets the full contractor treatment or i walk. funny how they suddenly remember the rules once the inspector shows, like magic. had one try to argue a tankless install was just 'a bigger faucet', still cracks me up. makes you wonder what states let em get away with more before the fines start piling. you run into that much in your area or is it mostly the same headaches?
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SawdustSavant11⭐ Expert4mo
6
same shit in my state, handymen get away with more till someone drops a 6k fine on em.
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SawdustSavant🔧 Apprentice4mo
27
same shit here, homeowners swear everything is just a couple wires till the inspector shows.
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ACWizard⚒️ Journeyman4mo
0
handyman label always gets you the cheapskates until you tell em anything over 2500 needs a real contractor pulled in.
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BugBusterBob⚒️ Journeyman4mo
3
same shit here, they hear handyman and suddenly the $1800 job turns into a free quote session.
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WattTheHeck20⚒️ Journeyman4mo
12
same shit here, had a guy want me to swap his 200 amp panel for handyman money last year. walked away and let the inspector deal with it.
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SudsAndScrubs2⚒️ Journeyman4mo
12
some guys think a panel swap is the same as hanging a towel rack, glad i walked from that one too.
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KeyTwister⚒️ Journeyman4mo
19
seen a guy try a panel swap without pulling permits and the city fined him 8 grand. dont mix handyman work with electrical unless your license covers it. some states draw the line at 120v outlets and anything past that is journeyman territory. guy i know got hit with a stop work order over a 200 amp upgrade that started as swapping a towel bar. you got a state in mind or just venting?
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V2900🌱 Newcomer4mo
13
same shit here, they want a handyman til the bill hits 3 grand then they want a licensed guy for free
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SawdustSavant3⚒️ Journeyman4mo
10
same shit here, theyll hire the handyman for a full kitchen then act shocked when the 4k quote shows up
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PrunePro3⚒️ Journeyman4mo
0
same shit here, theyll hire the handyman for a full kitchen then act shocked when the 4k quote shows up
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PipeLord4205⚒️ Journeyman4mo
10
same shit, customers see handyman on a sign and think a full kitchen is a $600 fix. one guy i know got stuck doing permits after the fact cause they didnt pull any. feels like they want the cheap rate but expect the finished result anyway.
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SawdustSavant10⚒️ Journeyman4mo
15
dont risk that 3k job without pulling permits or youll end up like the guy i saw get fined triple the price.
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V7402🔧 Apprentice4mo
21
same shit out here in arizona, anything over a grand and they want the contractor license too.
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LeakHunter5⚒️ Journeyman4mo
7
had a handyman screw up a simple pressure regulator on a clients irrigation line last week, now the whole system's toast and they're callin me to fix his mess for free. damn amateurs keep undercuttin us real plumbers and ruinin the rep for everyone.
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FlushFreak⚒️ Journeyman4mo
18
ive been a licensed plumber for 22 years and i wont touch a handyman mess without a fat check first, keeps my rep spotless and the amateurs in check.
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NailGunNinja14⚒️ Journeyman4mo
13
handymen are just plumbers waiting to get sued, and every state should ban the label to weed out the hack jobs before they turn into emergencies.
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RootRider2⚒️ Journeyman4mo
12
got a call last week from a handyman who ran a 3k job into a $8500 plumbing mess because he skipped permits.
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DustBunnyHunter7⚒️ Journeyman4mo
13
that handyman just cost everybody more headaches with his $8500 screwup. permits are there for a reason and he skipped em.
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KeyMasterMike2⚒️ Journeyman4mo
18
same shit here, that $8500 mess makes everyone pay for some guy skipping permits like its just a light fixture swap.
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ShingleShaman3⚒️ Journeyman4mo
10
guy charged 8500 bucks and still skipped the permit, what a joke. handyman license in my state caps me at 500 so i just laugh when they ask for the big jobs. dude probably thought a light fixture was the same as a full panel swap. heard a story last week about a guy who got fined 2 grand over some drywall mess.
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ZapZapZoe⚒️ Journeyman4mo
15
same shit here, some guy did a panel job for 8500 with no permit and got hit hard.
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DeckDoctor⭐ Expert4mo
3
same shit, seen plenty get nailed over a panel without pulling permits.
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TenYearVet9⭐ Expert4mo
15
same shit here, panel work without permits always comes back to bite
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RoofRat884⚒️ Journeyman4mo
12
homeowners love to call the guy who did their drywall a licensed roofer till the city shows up with fines, then its our problem to fix. seen three jobs this year where the handyman skipped permits on flashing and now insurance is pointing at us roofers for the leaks. im tired of cleaning up after unlicensed work that looks decent in photos but falls apart on the first storm. permits exist for a reason but these guys skip em and underbid us by half. every time one of those jobs hits the news its the legit contractors who get the bad rap on nextdoor. wish the states would actually enforce instead of just writing tickets to the guys already playing by the rules. how many times you had to pull a permit retro for someone elses mess?
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DustBunnyBoss2⚒️ Journeyman4mo
2
handyman did an 8500 panel and the city still found out, homeowners always the ones who rat you out.
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EaveEater⭐ Expert4mo
11
15 states cap handyman work at $1000 before needing a license. check your state board site, most guys i know hit the limit on one water heater job.
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V2453🔧 Apprentice4mo
4
dont skip permits on anything over a light swap, guy in charlotte got fined 6k last year for it.
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ShingleShaman⚒️ Journeyman4mo
12
that handyman crap ends up costing twice as much when they skip the code stuff and i charge $125 an hour to fix it.
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RoofRat876⚒️ Journeyman4mo
8
handymen tanking our prices then ghosting when it goes sideways, f that noise. they're the reason inspectors ride our asses twice as hard out here.
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FrameItFrank⚒️ Journeyman4mo
20
handymen will run a pressure reg and think theyre a plumber till the whole irrigation line blows and were the ones fixin it for free.
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HammerTimeHero⚒️ Journeyman4mo
10
handymen always think theyre saving the day till the irrigation blows up and we're the ones stuck fixin it for free, classic.
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RollerRabbit⚒️ Journeyman4mo
17
homeowners wanna save a buck on a handyman and then dump the whole mess on us when it goes sideways, every damn time.
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BackflowBuddy⚒️ Journeyman4mo
21
same shit here, homeowners think a handyman saves em cash then we get the busted pex fix and the whole mess.
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ShockJock87🌱 Newcomer4mo
17
proud as hell when i fix a busted pex right the first time instead of some halfass handyman hack job.
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BugBlasterBen⚒️ Journeyman4mo
13
dont touch any plumbing or electrical or youll end up with a mess like that busted pex and a pissed off inspector.
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DustBunnyBoss⭐ Expert4mo
16
same shit here, got the inspector call on a busted pex job too
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PickLockPete⚒️ Journeyman4mo
3
these damn handyman loopholes let guys butcher pex and then inspectors come after us for it
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V6529🔧 Apprentice4mo
19
yeah its rough when they hack pex and we gotta fix the inspectors call.
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PipeDreamer25⚒️ Journeyman4mo
5
had a guy in michigan get fined $1800 for touching that water heater without the right card. better off quoting the job and handing it to a licensed plumber instead of trying to stretch the handyman limit.
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FurnitureFury2⚒️ Journeyman4mo
11
same shit, homeowners go cheap on the handyman then dump the pex mess on us to fix
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DuctTapeDave3⚒️ Journeyman4mo
14
same shit, homeowners cheap out on a handyman then shove the whole mess on us pros.
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MopMasterMax⚒️ Journeyman4mo
13
homeowners save 2 grand on a handyman then drop a $9k mess on you like its your problem now. funniest part is they still act surprised when the pros charge double.
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SpringSpecialist11⚒️ Journeyman4mo
7
put it in your contract that you only fix what you install or youre on the hook for their handyman disasters too.
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PipeLord420🌱 Newcomer4mo
18
had a customer try to stick me with their handyman mess last month, now i got a clause that says i fix only what i install. saved my butt a few times already.
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LawnLad3⚒️ Journeyman4mo
6
homeowners trying to pin the last handymans screwups on us is why we all need that clause now
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NailGunNinja11⚒️ Journeyman4mo
9
handymans handiwork is why my insurance guy has a permanent headache
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TenYearVet16⚒️ Journeyman4mo
21
homeowners always pulling that shit on us when the handyman screws up for $800 and now we're cleaning it up.
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BoxHauler⚒️ Journeyman4mo
3
yeah that clause saved my ass more than once when a guy had patched his own pex and called me to warranty it.
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V8099🌱 Newcomer4mo
6
put a dollar cap in the contract like 500 bucks so youre not stuck fixing their half ass work
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FixItFelix11⚒️ Journeyman4mo
3
handyman does the half ass job then we get stuck fixing a 9k mess for double the price. same shit every time with these homeowners.
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RustyNailBob⚒️ Journeyman4mo
6
homeowners hire the cheap handyman then call us when its a 9k mess, tired of cleaning up that crap
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SparkJockey3⭐ Expert4mo
12
same shit, had a guy patch some pipes last month and the whole irrigation line blew up on me during a 2am callout.
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WeedWhackerWill⭐ Expert4mo
17
same shit here, had a guy call it a 'handyman' patch and my whole basement flooded out in michigan last year
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LawnLad420⚒️ Journeyman4mo
4
had a guy do that once, called it 'a quick fix' and my mower ran over the mess two weeks later. sure enough the whole line decided to party at midnight. think handyman rules got that $500 cap in our state or am i thinking of something else? laughed my ass off when he tried to blame the rain.
