HYATTSVILLE, Md. – The rain is only making things worse at Marion Robinson’s home in Hyattsville, Maryland. Missing gutters are causing water to pool around the foundation. Inside, there’s exposed wires, blue tarp, dust and debris.

“When I get up and look at it in the morning, it makes me sick,” says Robinson.

The wreckage was caused not by a storm, but by an unlicensed contractor says the Maryland Home Improvement Commission.

Executive Director Steve Smitson ticks off the violations:

“This contractor does not hold a home improvement contractors license, he does not hold a master electricians license and he’s not licensed to do heating, ventilation and air conditioning work.”

He also abandoned the jobs, says Smitson, are yet another violation.
It’s not the result Robinson dreamed of when she paid $40,000 for an addition to her kitchen and dining room. The entire contents of those rooms, shelves, cookbooks, chairs, and a refrigerator are piled in her living room. The cabinets are off the walls, the sink is missing doors. She’s wiped off layers of dust, and has carved out a tiny space in the corner to sit.

“All this stuff was moved from the kitchen and the wall was torn down in January. They came out and did two hours of work every day up until the last of March, and that’s when they quit,” says Robinson.

She’s been dealing with the mess, ever since.

“I really trusted him, I thought he would finish the job,” she says.

Though the contractor showed Robinson a license, it was not valid in the State of Maryland.

That’s why Smitson says it’s so important to check, either online or by calling the Home Improvement Commission. Smitson says he’s seen this kind of disaster happen to many elderly homeowners

Article Source: MyFoxDC.com

Moral of this story? Make sure the Maryland home improvement contractor you select has a MHIC license!

In these tough times, savvy homeowners are not moving up and out: rather, they are staying put in their homes and adding value to their existing investment by making much-needed Maryland Home Improvements. If you have made the decision to remodel your home’s exterior by refacing its walls, here are some tips for choosing the ideal contractor to do the job.

Years of Experience

Choose a contractor in your area whose longevity in the business alone is a testament to the quality of his work. After all, in this competitive industry, no one stays in for long who does not build a reputation for quality, dependability, and overall excellent customer service. He should also be recognized as an award-winning leader in the remodeling field whose commitment to excellence is unsurpassed.

You Get Just What You Want

When you deal with a contractor who handles only vinyl siding, your choices are already severely restricted. A good contractor will offer a variety of facing mediums to choose from so that you get just what you want without having to accept less. You should have your choice of siding, stucco, hardcoat, as well as the current favorites: brickface and stoneface.

Warranties

For your own protection, insist on hiring a company that offers comprehensive and long-lasting warranties. A company that installs all its own products with its own certified craftsmen instead of hiring sub-contractors may be able to offer a strong lifetime warranty. If money is tight, you may also want to find one that offers deferred interest financing for your convenience.

When it comes to investing money in your home, you cannot afford to take chances on a contractor who may or may not come through for you. Do some research, then choose carefully.

Garden State Brick (http://www.brickface.com/) is about NY home remodeling. Ryan Coisson is a freelance writer.