Find your consumer protection contacts here.

Homeowners aren’t the only ones who engage in spring cleaning. Traveling home repair crews look forward to it, too. Their goal is to clean out your wallet. The scams usually involve a worker in a truck or van and several accomplices, often the worker’s own children. The accomplices will […]

[Read more →]

Here’s some advice for anyone thinking about accepting an unsolicited offer for a free or low-cost chimney cleaning. Don’t do it. Do not say yes. Do not think you’re getting a bargain. Do not, under any circumstances, think you have nothing to lose but the $40 or $50 you pay for the chimney cleaning.
As long […]

[Read more →]

Jobs are scarce, money is short and the average consumer is struggling to control anger and fear. In the words of former Talking Head David Byrne:”You may ask yourself–well…how did I get here?”

[Read more →]

Nothing is so lovely as a tree—or so likely to cause disputes between otherwise happy neighbors. “My neighbor’s trees hang over my yard, fence and house. I cut them back, but then he throws the clippings back on my side,” Michael Johnson of New York City explained. “Who’s really responsible?”
Experts say few homeowners understand the […]

[Read more →]

When a storm knocks down a tree, homeowners tend to ask the same question: Who is responsible for the damage to my house/car/patio furniture? Carollee Cabot, an insurance specialist at the Rollins Agency Inc. in suburban New York City, said storm damage is typically covered by homeowners’ insurance policies. However, the specifics of coverage vary.

Some […]

[Read more →]

When Arnold Maresca rented a trash container from “The Home Depot Dumpster Rentals,” he assumed he was renting from the Home Depot. He wasn’t. Although the big box home improvement store promotes dumpster rentals in its stores and on its website, third party companies administer the service. And contrary to what Maresca believed-and never […]

[Read more →]

Does It Pay to Invest in Green Remodeling?
When you think green construction, you probably think environmentally friendly. But don’t forget green homes are also more efficient-meaning they’re also energy-efficient. In fact, the longterm savings will generally make up for the slightly higher costs of green building or remodeling. According to the National Association of […]

[Read more →]

Green home remodeling is going mainstream…at least in theory. Vermont-based green building consultant Peter Yost said the concept has grown significantly in the past decade, especially because of the soaring cost of energy. In 1999, people didn’t talk about carbon-neutral or zero-energy homes, few Americans worried about global warming and there were only 7,000 Energy […]

[Read more →]

The biggest challenges for homeowners after a flood are staying ahead of potential mold problems and finding reliable home repair contractors.

[Read more →]

Is It Good to Have a Contract? Forget the architectural plans or state-of-the-art materials. The most important part of a home remodeling project is the contract. A written contract is the glue that holds the job together. It puts the homeowner and the contractor on the same page and makes sure they share the same […]

[Read more →]