Tips for vetting firms

[JoeT]

I volunteer with Samaritan's Purse, and we're always looking for ways to move our permit applications through the system more efficiently. There are a few firms that claim to expedite permits. How do you check their claims? Do you have any tips for vetting these firms?

 

[Eric]

I volunteer with Samaritan's Purse, and we're always looking for ways to move our permit applications through the system more efficiently. There are a few firms that claim to expedite permits. How do you check their claims? Do you have any tips for vetting these firms?

You could try talking to permit office staff. Generally they're not allowed to recommend one firm over another, but they're people just like you and me and you never know what kind of mood you might catch someone in. They might at least be able to steer you away from some of the less reputable people/companies they've dealt with in the past.

 

[SiteConEng]

Reputable Professional service firms should not make claims of being able to expedite permit application approvals. They do not control the timeline, the permit issuing authority controls the timeline. I would second Eric's suggestion to check with the municipal authority or permit authority as to "how complete" a permit application is when they are submitted by a particular firm who claims to expedite a permit application.

Making the application is one thing, claiming fast approvals is another thing.

 

[O.G. of Permits]

What type of projects does Samaritan's Purse permit? Many claims are made by permit services, and they are hard to believe. Experience has been the best way we have been able to offer success to our customers. Faster is not always better. Expediting is not always efficient either. Take into account that after the permit is issued, expediting techniques can be detrimental to the building and inspections phase.

 

[Jake]

Reputable Professional service firms should not make claims of being able to expedite permit application approvals. They do not control the timeline, the permit issuing authority controls the timeline. I would second Eric's suggestion to check with the municipal authority or permit authority as to "how complete" a permit application is when they are submitted by a particular firm who claims to expedite a permit application.

Making the application is one thing, claiming fast approvals is another thing.

I like things to be expedited or moved along at a timely manner as much as the next person, but I also don't like the idea of permits being rushed through the approval process. Which is why, if a firm says anything like that, I would definitely steer clear of them. I want them to take their time looking over any permits I file to make sure they are 100% good and ready to go.

What type of projects does Samaritan's Purse permit? Many claims are made by permit services, and they are hard to believe. Experience has been the best way we have been able to offer success to our customers. Faster is not always better. Expediting is not always efficient either. Take into account that after the permit is issued, expediting techniques can be detrimental to the building and inspections phase.

The inspections phase is definitely a key point. I would not want anyone to rush through inspections just to get the process moving faster.

 

[Eric]

Reputable Professional service firms should not make claims of being able to expedite permit application approvals. They do not control the timeline, the permit issuing authority controls the timeline. I would second Eric's suggestion to check with the municipal authority or permit authority as to "how complete" a permit application is when they are submitted by a particular firm who claims to expedite a permit application.

Making the application is one thing, claiming fast approvals is another thing.

I think it'd be interesting if permit offices were to make statistics available for all the expediters/consultants they work with showing the average number of additional information requests ("correction notices") they've had to issue for each expediter/consultant over some period of time. By releasing data on expediters/consultants in this way, the permit office wouldn't be overtly recommending one expediter/consultant over another (which they're not allowed to do) but would instead merely be supplying prospective applicants with raw data to use when shopping around for permitting services. Sure, doing this would probably hurt expediters/consultants with higher numbers of info requests, and presumably lead to more business for those with fewer requests, but isn't that how things should be?

 

[Nomad]

The first thing you need to do is to verify these permit expediting firms by checking their credentials, reviews, and success rate. Ask for their previous clients so that you get real information. You also need to consult local building departments to check whether they are legitimate firms or not. You also need to check if they have necessary licensing and insurance.

 

[Becca]

I think it'd be interesting if permit offices were to make statistics available for all the expediters/consultants they work with showing the average number of additional information requests ("correction notices") they've had to issue for each expediter/consultant over some period of time. By releasing data on expediters/consultants in this way, the permit office wouldn't be overtly recommending one expediter/consultant over another (which they're not allowed to do) but would instead merely be supplying prospective applicants with raw data to use when shopping around for permitting services. Sure, doing this would probably hurt expediters/consultants with higher numbers of info requests, and presumably lead to more business for those with fewer requests, but isn't that how things should be?

VA DEQ creates automated reports on timeline of permits, including by "Agent." Check the "Reports" section of the Permitting Enhancement and Evaluation Program (PEEP), scroll down. https://portal.deq.virginia.gov/reports/tableau/deq-performance-report

 

[Eric]

That's really neat, thanks for sharing!

My only hesitation would be putting the blame for slow permitting all on the consultants b/c of something like this. There are plenty of slow/poor performing permitting staff out there too. I noticed sample size is pretty small for most agents in that table...if we were going to publish permitting efficiency stats like this, I'd probably only want to list for companies that had completed some minimum number of permits with us. There's too much variation between regulators (speaking for Corps anyway) to trust the data otherwise, in my opinion.

 

[chasnr]

I volunteer with Samaritan's Purse, and we're always looking for ways to move our permit applications through the system more efficiently. There are a few firms that claim to expedite permits. How do you check their claims? Do you have any tips for vetting these firms?

Expediting is really an old title used for our services. Kind of like "Permit Runner". Who Runs permits to the individual jurisdictions anymore? I mean, yes, there are still some antiquated jurisdictions requiring in person plans to be dropped off. Quite inconvenient these days.
When I'm speaking with a potential new client, I advise them that I cannot necessarily get a permit faster than someone else, but, I'm not going to let the permit application just sit around(You'd be amazed how often a permit submission sits in pre-screening) Meaning, I follow the progress, watch who the reviewers are and reach out to the reviewers or supervisors if necessary. So, in essence, I can get it faster, but, I do not brag of such as it really depends on the jurisdiction. There is a skill set and a fine line of being annoying and harassing the reviewers. They need to be my friend.