Even if it’s messy, at least it’s fast and saves on postage and printer ink (which is crazy expensive).
Couldn’t agree more about the cost of ink—feels like it’s liquid gold. I do miss having a hard copy sometimes, though, just for my own records. But honestly, the speed of digital wins out. Ever had a permit get lost in the mail back in the day? That was a nightmare. Curious if anyone’s actually had a city reject a form because of a messy signature or is that just not a thing anymore?
Never had a city kick back a form for my chicken-scratch signature, but I’ve definitely worried about it. Digital’s way more forgiving—at least they can’t complain about my handwriting. Still, there’s something about flipping through old paper files that feels more “official,” you know?
I totally get what you mean about the “official” vibe of paper files. There’s something about the weight of a stack of forms and the sound of flipping through them that makes it feel like you’re really getting stuff done. But then again, I’ve had city offices lose my paperwork before—like, literally just gone, vanished into the abyss. At least with digital, there’s a record somewhere (hopefully) and you can track what’s been submitted.
But here’s what I keep wondering: does anyone else feel like digital applications make it easier to miss little details? I’ve caught myself skimming through online forms way faster than I would on paper, and sometimes I miss a checkbox or a field. With paper, maybe because it’s more tactile, I slow down and double-check things. Or maybe that’s just me being old-school.
Also, has anyone tried submitting plans with eco-friendly materials or alternative designs? I’ve noticed some cities are more open to digital submissions for “standard” stuff, but when you throw in something unconventional—like reclaimed wood or rainwater systems—they want hard copies, extra diagrams, the whole nine yards. Is that just my city being picky, or is it a thing everywhere?
Curious if anyone’s found a sweet spot between the two. Like, do you print out digital forms for your own records, or just trust the cloud?
I hear you on the digital forms—I've definitely missed a field or two just because I was zipping through. My trick is to fill them out, print a copy, and then read it over with a pen in hand. Feels old-school, but it catches stuff I’d miss on a screen. As for eco-friendly plans, yeah, every time I try something “innovative,” the city wants hard copies, extra engineering letters, and sometimes even in-person meetings. Seems like anything outside the box still makes them nervous. I keep both digital and paper records—clouds are great until you can’t find your login...
Honestly, I get why you double-check on paper—screens make it way too easy to miss stuff. But man, the city’s obsession with hard copies drives me nuts. I tried submitting everything digitally for my reno, and they still wanted me to show up with a stack of paper. Feels like we’re stuck in the 90s. I keep backups everywhere now, but it’s a pain juggling both. If they want innovation, maybe they should update their own systems first...
