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

Starting this month, Steven J. Zuilkowski will be writing blog posts here explaining various topics relating to the rights and legal obligations of home improvement contractors under General Laws chapter 142A, the Massachusetts Home Improvement Contractor Law.   This past November, I staffed the Office   …Continue Reading A Good Sign: Demystifying the HIC Requirements for Advertising