After a record setting winter, the spring and summer should see a large number of homeowners contacting home improvement contractors in Massachusetts.  As a result, it is important for homeowners to use caution and protect their interests when choosing a home improvement contractor in Massachusetts.  Below are some tips homeowners should follow when considering a home improvement project.

  • When planning the budget for the project, even before contacting a contractor, it is important to build in an additional 10-15% for contingencies and unknowns. There are often issues that come up which could not have been foreseen by the homeowner or the contractor until the project has commenced.
  • It is important to interview at least 3 contractors before choosing one. Have each prospective contractor attend a walkthrough of your home and submit a written and detailed estimate of the work to be done.  When interviewing contractors, be sure to obtain and contact multiple references from each of the contractors.
  • You should ALWAYS ensure that the contractor is licensed and registered. Choosing a licensed home improvement contractor entitles you to certain protections under the Massachusetts Home Improvement Law if a problem arises.  The state issues two categories of licenses:  a Home Improvement Contractor (HIC) License covers most work, except structural work, and a Construction Supervisor License (CSL) which is required for structural work.  Additionally, before you select a contractor, you can search for Massachusetts HIC and CLS licensed contractors online to establish if the contractor has any outstanding complaints or the contractor’s license has been suspended at any point.
  • You should sign a written construction contract in compliance with Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 142A. The contract must be written, include the date, be signed by both parties, contain the start and “substantial completion” date, provide a detailed description of the work and materials (it is best to have an itemized description of the exact materials agreed upon), and include the total contract amount and the timing of payment (a contractor is strictly prohibited from requiring a deposit over 33% of the total contract price unless special materials are ordered).
  • The contractor should ALWAYS be the party to pull the permits for the construction. If the owner secures their own permits, they are ineligible for certain protections under c. 142A.  If a contractor is hesitant to pull the permits it is a big red flag and likely that they are working under a suspended license and are unable to pull permits.
  • Have the contractor provide you with the cover page of their general liability policy and have them add the owner of the home as an “additional insured”. It is also important to obtain the contractor’s workers compensation insurance coverage sheet.
  • Make sure any changes made after the project has commenced are in WRITING. This is often done on a “change order” form and similar to the original contract, should contain a detailed description of the new work and additional costs.

In addition to the previous tips it is equally as important to keep the lines of communication open.  Most issues arise because the lines of communication have disintegrated.  It is usually best practice to keep communications to email, as it allows you to document the correspondence.  When thinking about a home improvement project it is often wise to have an attorney assure that the proposed contract complies with Massachusetts law.