SOS ... Run in with the buildings department!!
So here goes: A couple of months ago, my wife and I bought our first house. We planned to do a bunch of renovations ourselves (I’m a designer, and handy), but the more we got into it, the more we realized we needed to do. Eventually we got ourselves into a situation where we had…
So here goes: A couple of months ago, my wife and I bought our first house. We planned to do a bunch of renovations ourselves (I’m a designer, and handy), but the more we got into it, the more we realized we needed to do. Eventually we got ourselves into a situation where we had done too much work to file, but needed to do even more to do it right. So now …. with many walls open and plenty of new plumbing and new electric (none of it filed), we got a visit from the DOB. An inspector came by today and asked if he could come into the property. I said I would prefer not, and he proceeded to give me a “notice to call for inspection”. he told me I needed to call to schedule an inspection, or they would revisit. panic. assuming I’ve already received 50 posts about how I really messed up, blew it, what was I thinking, can anybody give me a little insight about how I might deal with this situation. if I don’t call, how soon before they show up again? if I do call, how long can I put off my inspection for? can I schedule out a month or so, or are they going to want to come next week? Should I just put my cards on the table, take the fines (how big are they??) and file for the work I’ve done; or should I try to delay them for long enough to cover electric and plumbing with sheetrock?
oh yes, are first child is due in a couple of months. I’m dead. any advice would be GREATLY appreciated.
To Anonymous at August 1, 2007 3:43:
Most electrical work is quite easy and safe. Really — get a good book and try it some time. There is no reason to hire an electrician at $100/hour to do simple things like installing a new outlet.
There is a reason there are inspections. It’s for your safety and that of your neighbors. Get it inspected and don’t risk your safety.
Nothing will happen. Our neighbor had complaints against him, and the inspector came twice and could not gain access. Then they were listed on the website as resolved. Do not let them in. Finish the work. And make good with your neighbors. Look at it from their perspective, you may be impacting their lives with your renovations and that’s why they complained. DOB does not bother too much if it is a 2-family. 3 and above different story. My 2 c.
First of all congratulations! Now try not to panic, as I did! More than likely they will eventually just go away after a 2nd or 3rd try. Do not call to make an appointment and do not let them in. Continue to finish the work, hope for the best and try to plan for the worst. I would get an electrician to finish and/or at least sign off on the electrical work. Hopefully, the charge or violation will be dropped when they do not gain access and if not by the time they do bother to get a warrant (which I highly doubt they will) you will be finished with most of the work. They cannot gain access without your permission unless they do get a warrant. Good luck!
You were the poster a few days ago? I answered you. I am the landlord who said, they will do act in proportion to the complaint. If you’re on the radar, I would say try to go straightaway from here. I understand the renegade mentality mentione by a posted above – but trust me, it is not worth it. The people employed, who already have come to see you, will be relentless. I’m not saying panic – but do have a plan. Maybe start asking plumbers/electricians to be willing to sign permits you apply for now? Itr’s another back door but one a lot of people use. Just talking aloud and throwing out ideas. But don’t just rush the guts of your building that will eventually cause bigger and more expensive issues (ESPECIALLY if you have a new baby coming) to get over on the DOB!
who tipped them off? just give us a name and we take care of it.
Another Renegade here. They came SEVERAL times to my place. (while I wasn’t home tho’) I called and they told me they would send someone out. They came back…. I wasn’t there…. Never heard from them again. I checked my DOB bis status and the complaints were closed. that was over 8 months ago, and I’ve still heard nothing. I made no C of O changes. I wouldn’t file anything if I were you. Just chill… finish the work as inconspicuously as possible… Don’t have dumpsters sittin’ out front of your house.
Good Luck!
Your a fool for doing electricial work yourself. You should let the inspector in and maybe you wont’t kill yourself in a fire.
From one renegade to another.
Stay cool. You don’t have to let them in today.
That said, they wont just go away. You will need to deal with them.
Go to the DOB sit and check your status. It will say how they got on to you.
The key is to get as much of the inspection necessary stuff (i.e. Plumbing, electric) done as posible before you let them in. If they see construction without a permit you will get a stop work order. The fines aren’t that bad and a re based on the scope of the work so the more you get done as “existing†the better.
Then get yourself an architect and an expediter and a permit. You will be glad you did.