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Cut $500 from an electrician bill with ChatGPT and building codes

WorkedEvidence: Described by posterPosted Last checked

Isaac Neibaur used ChatGPT to pull joist-boring codes; presenting them cut $500 from the electrician's final bill.

How to use this

  1. Tap Copy prompt.
  2. Open ChatGPT.
  3. Paste it into the message box.
  4. Send it, then read the answer before acting on it.
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A prompt is the message you send to the AI tool. Copy the one on this page, put your own details where it asks, and read the answer before you act on it.

Prompt

Recreated prompt

The source didn't share its exact prompt, so we wrote one from what it describes. The result shown is the source's, not ours.

What the prompt labels mean

The person didn't share their exact words, so we wrote this from what they described. We haven't tested it, and they didn't use this exact version.

An electrician bored holes in my joists during a rewiring project. Here are the materials and hole sizes. Find the exact structural or building-code rules that apply, quote them, and draft a calm message I can use if the work is out of code. Do not invent code sections.

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ChatGPT Used in sourceGemini Grok Claude

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Optional stronger version

Our rewrite with extra checks. The poster didn't test it.

Before you start, ask me 1–3 short questions about the details below and wait for my answers. Once I've answered, confirm the plan in one line and run the whole task start to finish.

Goal: Check whether joist boring in my rewiring job matches code and draft a calm ask.

Questions to ask me first:
- What jurisdiction and materials (joist size, species, hole diameter/location)?
- What did the electrician already say?
- Do I want a price reduction, a repair, or both?

Inputs (fill in or confirm):
- Jurisdiction: [CITY / STATE]
- Joist details: [SIZE / MATERIAL]
- Hole details: [DIAMETER / LOCATION]
- Electrician reply: [TEXT]

Rules:
- Quote real code language or say you could not verify.
- Stay calm and factual in the draft message.
- I send the message; you do not contact the contractor.
- Separate "likely OK" from "needs fix" clearly.

Checkpoint: Restate the joist and hole facts before citing any code.

If you get stuck: If you cannot find the controlling code, say so and suggest who to ask (inspector/engineer).

Verify before you finish: Every code cite includes a section label I can look up.

Output: Code findings plus a send-ready message.

Done when: I can decide whether to renegotiate or call an inspector.

AI tool

ChatGPT

Outcome

During a major rewiring project, Isaac Neibaur worried an electrician had bored joist holes incorrectly and first heard it was fine. ChatGPT pulled the structural codes for the specific materials; once those codes were presented, the electrician agreed and knocked $500 off the final bill.

Evidence: Described by posterThe person describes what happened in words, without screenshots or video.

Source

Posted
by Isaac Neibaur
Last checked
Method:
How we verify

https://www.linkedin.com/posts/isaacneibaur_here-is-how-ai-has-saved-me-money-over-the-activity-7468731364297859072-YlpV

Context: Third savings example from the same Isaac Neibaur LinkedIn post. Self-reported $500 reduction.

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