There are many homeowners who hire contractors to make repairs or upgrades on their homes. It is critical for home improvement contractors to follow all rules and regulations set forth by the law. These regulations have been set forth under the Home Improvement Consumer Protection Act, or HICPA. 

An Overview Of The Home Improvement Consumer Protection Act

The Home Improvement Consumer Protection Act was put forth to ensure that homeowners and contractors come to an appropriate agreement. Some of the rule and regulations that are included in the Home Improvement Consumer Protection Act include:

• All contractors need to obtain a registration number
• Home contractors are required to register with the Office of the Attorney General
• All home contractors need to pay the required registration fees

Finally, the Home Improvement Consumer Protection Act also specifies the various terms that need to be included in each agreement set forth by homeowners and contractors. Any contractors agreed to by contractors and homeowners need to comply with the Home Improvement Consumer Protection Act. The purpose of this act is to protect homeowners against fraudulent contractors. 

What Happens If An Agreement Does Not Follow The Rules?

If an agreement does not abide by the regulations included in the Home Improvement Consumer Protection Act, then there might be liability in a civil court. Furthermore, there could even be criminal charges that result. 

In the event that a homeowner enters into civil litigation against a home contractor, the first item that lawyers will look into include the regulations under the Home Improvement Consumer Protection Act. If the contractor violated any of the regulations, the HICPA may also specify penalties that might be levied against the contractor.

When Does The Home Improvement Consumer Protection Act Apply?

There are only a few exceptions where the HICPA would not apply to a home improvement job. Even though the definitions under the HICPA are very broad, this act does not apply to contractors who earn less than $5,000 of taxable income in a given year. Finally, the HICPA applies only to home improvements. It does not apply to the construction of a new home. The act also does not apply to the sale of any home appliances.

If you are in the market for a new home or interested in listing your current property, be sure to consult with your trusted real estate professional. 

Filed under: Mortgage by Julie Woodward
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The task of selling a home after someone passes away often falls to the deceased person’s children or other loved ones—and it’s not easy. But although it’s an unfortunate situation, there are a few things you can do to make it easier on yourself and everyone else involved.

How to Sell a House After a Loved One Dies

First things first: You’re probably going to want to change the locks on the home. You don’t have any way of knowing who has access to the house; whether your loved one had a caregiver, a pet-sitter, or even gave keys to other family members, you can give yourself peace-of-mind by changing the locks.

Forward Mail

Forward your loved one’s mail to your home or work. That way, you’ll be able to keep up with bills and other important correspondence, such as subscription information, and if necessary, let others know what happened.

Find Important Documents

It’s tough to go through your loved one’s belongings, but there are some documents you’ll need. You’ll want to search for:

• Homeowner’s insurance policy
• A will
• Insurance policies
• Bank statements
• Bill receipts and outstanding bills

Pay the Mortgage and Utilities

The lender is still going to need a mortgage payment; that doesn’t stop when someone passes away. You’ll be responsible for making the payments and keeping the utilities on until you’ve sold the home.

Prepare the House for Sale

In order to prepare the home for sale, you’ll likely need to make minor repairs and upgrades. You’ll also need to consider whether the items in the home are dated or worn out; if that’s the case, you need to remove them before you put the house on the market because they can make the house tougher to sell.
Watch for:

• Furniture
• Floor coverings
• Window coverings
• Walls and ceilings
• Pet-related items

You’ll also need to clean the home thoroughly to ensure it’s ready to appeal to the widest possible range of buyers.

Are You Selling Your Home in Port Aransas or North Padre Island?

If you’re selling your home, we’d love to help you do so quickly and at the right price. We’ll be happy to give you a free comparative market analysis so you know exactly how much your home is worth. While you’re here, you can also download our free home-selling eBook and read our useful tips for selling your home faster.
When you’re ready, call us at 361-563-7788 or contact us online to find out how we can help you sell your home in Port Aransas or North Padre Island.
 

Filed under: Blog, Selling by Julie Woodward
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