cdub wrote:About right for a crowd strongly against this to start name calling like 10 year -olds.
You can debate the need if you want to, there certainly is a basis and a history in all cities for requiring minimum standards among the trades. However, if you think this is about making money, you are mistaken I assure you.
Sorry, but you simply don't know what you're talking about.
As a landlord & house renovator I am sick to death of having to remove and redo horrible work done by "professionals." Â It's ridiculous. Â Having a "professional" do something guarantees nothing other than a much higher price.
This proposed ordinance is about money, nothing more and nothing less.
The City wants permits pulled for every single little thing done on any house or apartment building. Â It won't be long before they require a building permit before you replace your toilet seat. Â Why do they do this? Â Because they then can increase the assessed value of your house, based on repairs done, and increase your property tax.
The City wants an ordinance that requires "licensed professionals" to come in, charge an arm and a leg for any little project, then pay taxes on their earnings. Â Again, it's about the money.
What this ridiculous ordinance is REALLY going to do is lower the quality of housing in Omaha. Â Landlords & homeowners are simply not going to do improvements to their houses, because it's cost prohibitive? Â Think about it. Â
- Why in sam hill should I be required to pay a "professional" painter $2500 to paint the inside of a rental house when I can do a better job myself for about $250? Â So what am I going to do? Â I'm not going to paint! Â And who loses? Â Everyone.
- Why should I pay a "professional" $950 to replace a double-hung window that I can replace myself for $250 - and I'll do a better job, because I have something invested in the house. Â So what am I going to do? Â I'm going to leave the old window in. Â And who loses? Â Everyone.
- Why should I be required to pay a licensed plumber $110 per hour to auger out a floor drain, when I can rent an auger for $40 and do it myself?
- Why should I pay a "professional" $3000 to come remove old carpet, sand and refinish hardwood floors, when I can do it myself for $500? Â So what am I going to do? Â I'm going to leave the old carpet in the house. Â And who loses? Â Everyone.
We don't need stupid ordinances like this latest one they've proposed. Â We simply need the building and planning dolts to do their job with INSPECTIONS. Â If the job is done right, it doesn't matter who did it. Â What matters is that it's done right!