A Massachusetts Consumer Guide to Home Improvement

Every year, consumers spend millions of dollars on home improvements. Far too often, unsuspecting homeowners are cheated by home improvement contractors. In 1992, the Home Improvement Law was created to protect consumers and regulate the practices of home improvement contractors.

Remodeling and improving your come can be a huge undertaking. Fortunately, by understanding your rights under the law and taking a few precautions, you can help avoid potential problems. Be sure to plan carefully before investing thousands of dollars into home improvements.

• Interview at least 3 contractors and request a written, detailed estimate.
• Confirm references for each contractor. Check the contractor's complaint history with the Attorney General's Office or Better Business Bureau.
• Always ask for a detailed written contract, even for small projects. It will protect you and help ensure that you and the contractor understand the scope of the job and the price. State law requires that home improvement contracts over $1,000 be in writing.
• Be sure the contractor obtains the building permit.
• By law, the contractor cannot collect more than one-third of the cost of the contract in advance.

For more details about the protections afforded to you through the 1992 Home Improvement Contractor Law, go to mass.gov/consumer/home improvement.