[quote=Brutus]Don’t get a permit unless the project is easily visible from the street. The job of an inspector is to find things that are wrong. They are not happy until you aren’t.
Use good plumbers and electricians and make sure everything is up to code. Make the house safe.
Don’t use permits.
I learned this the same way you are: experience.
Say after me: Inspectors suck. Inspectors always suck. Inspectors always will suck.[/quote]
I did a lot of my own work in my house in Santa Clara and found the building department to be wonderful. The inspectors were patient and in no way abusive of their power. I understand that this is the exception.
The “Code Check” books from Taunton Press are a wonderful resource for the building codes. Illustrated and terse, I learned almost everything I know about building codes from them. So if you are going to be looking over your contractor’s shoulder (and you should!), you should build your own expertise in the codes.