| If you are a licensed B1 contractor in California, | | | | the California legislature has done will add to the |
| you probably know all about Cal B&P 7159. | | | | list of good, reputable, honest home improvement |
| It's caused more than a little grief for more than | | | | contractors. Second, I'm a California attorney and |
| a few California contractors, some of them now | | | | I agree completely, the crew for a kitchen or |
| former California contractors. Cal B&P 7159 is | | | | bath job shouldn't require a lawyer. |
| Sacramento's effort to rewrite every contract | | | | My impression is that many - perhaps most - |
| for home improvement, remodeling and repair | | | | California residential contractors simply ignore the |
| work throughout the state, adding about eight | | | | law, like my friend who's keeping his fingers |
| pages to even the shortest agreement. | | | | crossed. Their feeling: "The law is simply too |
| If there was an award for legislative ineptitude, | | | | complex and asks too much. Only a few dozen |
| California would be among the prime contenders. | | | | contractors get their license suspended each |
| Their $billion budget deficits put California in a class | | | | month. My chance of skating by is pretty good." |
| by itself. But this legislature that can't shoot | | | | True. But there's another perspective. Suppose |
| straight has no trouble targeting home | | | | your homeowner client turns out to be a real |
| improvement contractors. Cal B&P 7159 is | | | | nutcase. Or, suppose your client is a perfect angel |
| the result. | | | | but runs short of cash before the job is done. |
| A California contractor put it to me this way: "I'm | | | | What then? Most likely, your dispute will end up on |
| a contractor. I'm not a lawyer. I shouldn't have to | | | | the desk of two attorneys, yours and your |
| hire a lawyer before taking on a kitchen or bath | | | | client's. |
| job. I value my reputation as a builder and have | | | | When a job goes bad, your contract better be |
| nothing but satisfied clients. That's the best any | | | | good. |
| contractor can do. But those guys at the state | | | | Anything less and the attorney for your client is |
| license board are looking for a way to pull my B1 | | | | going to turn you every which way but loose. |
| ticket. Until that happens, I'm going to go on doing | | | | Doing home improvement work without a |
| business on a handshake, and keep my fingers | | | | letter-perfect contract is like driving without a |
| crossed." | | | | license. Nothing bad happens until something goes |
| I can empathize, on two grounds. First, nothing | | | | wrong. Then it can go very wrong. |