Help - I need a DC permit expediter

[Anonymous]

Have you found one. I have an excellent expediter

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Your contractor should pull the permit and include it in the cost. Contractors are pain in the ass, make sure you check their license and have all the paper works.

And make sure they are insured!!!!

Trust me on that! Ours was a great guy but one of crews he hired messed up our house (we had to leave our house for 1 month) and the insurance company still dragged their feet.

OP, why do you need an emergency permit? Or expedited? Our contractor handled all of that. I hope you have a clear contract.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Help - I'm thinking about renovating my house in Capitol Hill. Can anyone recommend an expeditor who can help me get building permits from DC gov't?

Sorry everyone but I am new on this forum... and even though this is an old post, I will answer it clarify a few things. Recently I retired as a Class A General Contractor to run my own permit expediting company. It is a new venture company and the reason I decided to venture into this new arena is because, as a contractor, I know that in Virginia, DC and Maryland, to be an expediter does not require any kind of license or insurance!!! My last commercial job, an expediter charged my client $700.00 to file a tenant layout containing 8 pages... As a General Contractor I really had to bust my butt to make that kind of money in 8 hrs of work and on top of that I had to be Licensed and Insured, passed a State test and show my financial statements in order to get a license... Oh, yes... that $700.00... I'd have to pay taxes on it too... checks were not made to my person... States like New York and Philadelphia requires their expediters to be licensed and insured, no test but at least it's something that prevents crooks from taking consumer's money and running away. I am very much pro licensing and even though VA, MD and DC does not require a license to be an expediter, I will market my business as a Licensed and Insured Expediter (by holding on to my GC License / even though I am no longer in Construction).

My first post, and I will get better as we go along...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Since I'm hearing crickets, can anyone tell me how to quickly get building permits in DC? I hear it's a lot easier in VA.

It's only been posted for 4 hours. Don't be so pushy.

[Anonymous]

What does an expediter even do?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Since I'm hearing crickets, can anyone tell me how to quickly get building permits in DC? I hear it's a lot easier in VA.

It's only been posted for 4 hours. Don't be so pushy.

The post is over 2 yrs old!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's easier to get DC permits than it was pre-Mayor Williams. Before then, permit "expediting" was a bit like the technique of getting a table from the maitre d' in a hot restaurant.

I was thinking that a more apt comparison was like getting a basic government service in a Third World country (with all ineptitude and corruption that comes with it).

Anthony Williams changed a lot of the DC government culture and enhanced the level of services in most departments -- even though some services still have much room for improvement. The redvelopment and long term improvements that one sees in Washington are the result of Williams' vision and that of his key aides. He was DC's best mayor ever. I wish he were running again.

[Anonymous]

I used Colin Clark, Clarks Permit Services, 202-237-6991 for one major renovation. We are also on Capitol Hill.

That being said, on another home, I went to the homeowners center, run by Mr. Bhogul, at DCRA is probably your best bet. He is straightforward and moves very quickly. He will even call you back to follow up if there were questions.

Both experiences were within the last 10 months.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:run away from that contractor. he should be the one getting the permits (and should know how to do it quickly if he normally works in DC). agree that this is a red flag. I assume you interviewed several contractors. ask the others about permits, so you can have an idea if this is normal (based on my experience is not)

I would disagree completely. the fact that he doesn't want to deal with the DC permit office, which is off the charts dysfunctional, doesn't mean he isn't a good contractor.

The contracting market is very strong right now. These guys would rather be making money than standing in line pulling permits. He probably has other jobs on the table where he doesn't have to deal with this.

Would not rule him out because of this issue.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:run away from that contractor. he should be the one getting the permits (and should know how to do it quickly if he normally works in DC). agree that this is a red flag. I assume you interviewed several contractors. ask the others about permits, so you can have an idea if this is normal (based on my experience is not)

this is just false....dc permits are very hard to get in a timely manner, and who you know is paramount in this third world city

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:That being said, on another home, I went to the homeowners center, run by Mr. Bhogul, at DCRA is probably your best bet. He is straightforward and moves very quickly. He will even call you back to follow up if there were questions.

If the renovation is within the scope that they allow, this is the right way to go. However, if it's something big (like adding a floor to a house), homeowner center is not an option.

[Anonymous]

This is who we used for our Capitol Hill home. We are in the Historic District but didn't have anything exterior. Our architect put us in contact with him:

Colin Clark
Clarks Permit Services

In business since 1992
A LSDBE Certified Company

4529 44th ST NW
Washington, DC 20016

Office:202-237-6991

Fax: [phone]

Cell: 202-669-5984

[e-mail]

[Anonymous]

Lol post bumped for no good reason???!

[Anonymous]

I am a professional permit expediter and can handle any permits throughout DC-VA-MD. I can be reached at [e-mail] or 443 355 7074. I'm real good.

[Anonymous]

I used Amar Group in DC they were great, reasonable, and really nice. They also are architects. [phone]