In Part I of this series, I gave homeowners three tips for avoiding circumstances that will disqualify them from the Guaranty Fund.  In today’s post, I give three more tips. To be eligible for the Guaranty Fund, you must submit your written Guaranty Fund Application   …Continue Reading Common Disqualifying Criteria for the Guaranty Fund: Part II

One of the most important programs administered by the Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation is the Home Improvement Contractor Guaranty Fund.  If a homeowner incurs actual losses during a transaction with a registered home improvement contractor and successfully sues their contractor, but the   …Continue Reading Common Disqualifying Criteria for the Guaranty Fund: Part I

Contractors are expected to have a basic understanding of what projects require a Home Improvement Contractor (HIC) registration.  When asked, most contractors can recite that projects exceeding $1,000 in value involving “pre-existing, owner-occupied, one-to-four-family residences” require an HIC registration.  We all know what a pre-existing   …Continue Reading How to Determine Whether a Home is Owner Occupied

This past November, I staffed the Office of Consumer Affairs’ booth at the Architecture Boston Expo (ABX), where we distributed brochures on the basic rules for home improvement contractors.  The trade show was well attended by contractors and I answered many of their questions.  As   …Continue Reading A Good Sign: Demystifying the HIC Requirements for Advertising