Michigan Votes Forum

Introduced in the Senate on June 7, 2007, to prohibit a person who is not a licensed contractor and who acts as the general contractor for a residence, and who moves in after the structure is complete, from selling it within 120 days. If he or she does not move in, it can be offered for sale immediately. Also, to require the fact that the structure was built by an owner-builder to be disclosed to the buyer if it is sold within two years

The vote was 36 in favor, 0 opposed and 2 not voting

(Senate Roll Call 434 at Senate Journal 110)

Click here to view bill details.

Can someone please post the reasoning behind this legislation?

Nope. Can't think of an intelligent reason in the world for this one. Oh, I see. Gilbert must be connected to builders and is trying to keep individuals from being their own contractor.

Nope, it didn't surprise me to find campaign contributions such as "ASSO BUILDERS & CONTRACTORS OF MI".

they have way too much free time. Lets buy them all x-boxes and maybe they'll leave us alone.

Why let you sell it before you move in, But if you move in you have to wait for 120 days to sell? If you sell right away, then are you not considered a contractor, and all contractor fees and rules should apply, right? But bottom line follow the money, and who is giving money for reelection!

The essence of anti-consumer, anti-entrepreneur, pure special interest protectionism. Clearly the product of what this Adam Smith quote describes, and a compliant legislator: "People of the same trade seldom meet together, even for merriment and diversion, but the conversation ends in a conspiracy against the public, or in some contrivance to raise prices." The description of the bill should be amended as follows: "Introduced by Sen. Jud Gilbert, A CONTRIVANCE to prohibit a person who is not a licensed contractor and who acts as the general contractor for a residence, and who moves in after the structure is complete, from selling it within 120 days.?

The only jobs available are $10/hr no benefits. And they work on stupid bills like this

Senate Bill 577 (Impose home owner/builder restrictions. What the devil is this bill? Who benefits or profits from this? Does anyone put one foot in front of the other? What is the hidden agenda behind this bill? HUH!!!??????

bastards passed it, didn't they. We have lost control of our lives. Heat the tar.

This bill will erode the checks and balances set in place by the state construction code. If passed as written this bill will promote fraudulent permit applications in order to circumvent licensing laws. If passed as written this bill will encourage and permit unlicensed, unqualified individuals to install plumbing, mechanical, and electrical systems as well as building systems, all of which are regulated by national standards that require special training in order to keep up with the everchanging requirements in those codes. It is naive to think a homeowner, or more likely an unlicensed individual fraudulently installing these systems under the protection of a homeowner permit, is qualified to stay abreast of these complicated codes. Please reconsider this legislation. Do not allow more lattitude for fraudulent application and illegal installations of systems that require special training and skills to understand and install. This bill will do a disservice to the general public, the individuals purchasing homes renovated or built by non qualified individuals, and the inspecting authorities and jurisdictions where this work will be done. As an electrical inspector I recieve permit applications from individuals who are incapable of doing work that say they are going to have their co-worker, relative, or friend do the installation for them. When I inform the individuals that I can not issue the permit to them because they are not doing the work themselves, they often times will change their position and say that they will do the work themselves just so they can get the permit for their friends to do the work. One example, and I could site you many creative examples; a lady's boyfriend applied to install a wood burning heating system for her property, one of those outside wood burning structures that boils water and circulates it through plastic tubing to the furnace, water heater, and other heat exchangers the owner opts to install. When I told her boyfriend I could not issue the permit to him because he was not the homeowner, he said that was rediculous because his girl friend was blind and couldn't install the system. Of course the boyfriend became very agitated and after two days of repeated changes in his permit application, he provided a signed affidavit from the lady saying that she was going to do the work herself and he was going to hold her hands so she could assemble the system. This type of misrepresentation is not uncommon and once the homeowners, or more likely the handyman,figures out a new loophole in the construction code, they will exploit it to the fullest and tie the hands of jurisdictions and inspectors statewide on a daily basis. If you expand the latitude afforded a homeowner it will only contribute to the increased occurance of fraudulent applications and circumvention of the licensing laws put in place to protect the public and property of our state. Please withdraw this legislation.

This is another glaring example of the failure of our politicians to govern in the best interest of the citizens of this state. And it is an excellent argument for a part time legislature that has nothing better to do than to sit around trying to think of new laws when we can barely enforce the one's on the books.

Rep. Caswell, having reserved the right to explain his protest against the passage of the bill, made the following statement: “Mr. Speaker and members of the House: In the current economic climate I cannot in good conscience make it any more difficult for anyone to sell their home. These questions can be asked now. A new law is not needed.”

Rep. Agema, having reserved the right to explain his protest against the passage of the bill, made the following statement: “Mr. Speaker and members of the House: We don’t need more restrictions to stifle homes sales. Also, often owner builders are more meticulous than builders. The question is, is this really necessary.”

Rep. Sheen, having reserved the right to explain his protest against the passage of the bill, made the following statement: “Mr. Speaker and members of the House: It is already difficult enough to sell a home in the state of Michigan. We do not need to create any more additional doubts or concerns in a home buyers mind. Having built portions of two homes and knowing many other people who have, owner built homes are many times more in sync with regulations than contractor built homes. Most people who build their own home, go way beyond what is necessary or the basic requirements, because they want to make everything just right. They are also way more concerned and paranoid about making a mistake, because they know a building inspector will be going over their work, than a contractor who does this every day. This is not a criticism of contractors or building professionals, who I have built two homes with. I am concerned that this will put owner built homes at a disadvantage to contractor built homes, and I do not want to see that stigma attached to them.”