A lot of it is protectionism. And a bit of technocracy thrown in. TPTB really don't want you doing anything on your own.
Yes, $4200. Had thought of electric winch and a pair of 16ft 2x6s but $125/panel was doable, made wife happy, and allowed the crew to use their process. Neighbors, with long time solar, mentioned a half dozen or so helping each diy solar. My total cost less than half of the solar bids and have higher watt panels. This forum made it possible. San Francisco is a great area, used to visit my brother when the Navy was flying out of Moffet. Couldn't afford to be retired there.
I think it's that most companies cannot make money doing that. Once you take them "off script" they need new plans, new procedures, gotta tell their crew to do something different - and then they are liable for the install afterwards.
I too would hope they would, but for the reasons you and I describe it makes sense why they don't- reliance on pertinent authorities. California and cities within can be a minefield...my city requires resale inspections when you want to sell, they bring up a prior file history, all prior permits, etc. and then go about inspecting EVERYTHING. Anything not listed in their records becomes a 'correction', and if it required a permit, you pay more, and still need to bring work up to code. In many cases, good/functional construction has to be removed. No money saved. Work labeled installed 'improvement' (and governed by CSLB for professionals, AHJ for owner/builders) has to convey to new owners, and has to meet all prior requirements (and fees permits inspections) to convey. THAT is why I push back on the idea that 'illegal' installs will still be valid for form 5695. I would still direct everyone to contact their CPA, their AHJ and local installers, EVEN if they want to DIY, to see what is truly involved...otherwise we are armchair quarterbacking, and leading folks into poor and possibly costly decisions, just to save a few bucks. I'm damn the man a lot of times, sometimes you gotta work with the man. lol
Perfect. Complain about permits and then do it wrong...I did ignore it. Had to pay 2x permit fee when selling the house, and fan failed inspection since it sat about 2 inches too low. Yanked that effer out and put in a cheap light!
Now I know 6 foot 10 inches is too low! lol Minimum 7 foot clearance. I hate ceiling fans anyway. I was in my 20's, and VERY much into damn the man/anti-authority...still am, but maybe a bit less passionate about it. I did learn what a tape measure is for...
And a good inspector will find everything. That 1990's 50 gallon water heater doesn't match the date nor size of your last water heater permit, doesn't have earthquake strapping, etc. etc. Worse, if there was a recent update to codes, even a compliant permitted water heater may have to be upgraded. If the toilets aren't already low-flow flush, you simply aren't getting any new permits until they are. Sellers in my town have to budget for resale and compliance, on top of usual closing costs. A realtor may get you to spend another $5-10K just to get it up to saleable condition. It's not just my little militant town, either...most in urban/suburban areas follow the same routines.
For a regular 3/2, about a half day. Full day for larger homes. I've seen (and actively repaired many corrections) 15-20 pages of corrections. Much of the type devoted to the issue, description and solution paragraphs. I suppose there's 'an app for that' software.
City website shows $490 for inspection singe-family, rising for duplex/multi. I *believe* reinspections are included, towards the goal of 'certifying' the resale report, ie: Resale Certificate, which is included in the docs given to buyer. Buyer sees old report, FWIW. The city IS the AHJ. This is completely unrelated to a buyers usual and necessary pre-purchase home inspection and of course independent appraisal, both who may find other faults.
Or install the minimum necessary and expand later.
Funny to read so many of you express disapproval of that. I had always thought solar installers were businesses, not charities.
Based on the quotes my mother got for her house, they seem mostly to be financial scams based on long loans that negate any financial benefit and make the house hard to sell later.
