A home improvement project can help you increase the value of your house. You can remodel your garage, add a bathroom or install a new central heating system. If you have enough equity in your home, you can finance your projects with a home equity line of credit.
When you’re looking for a contractor, make sure you’re dealing with a licensed professional. You should also check to see if the contractor has insurance. You can check with your local licensing agency or a professional trade association for advice.
Several counties in New York state require that contractors have a license. This includes Suffolk County, Westchester County, and New York City. The law also requires that you have a written contract. If you don’t have a written contract, you could face fines up to $100 for a first offense, up to $500 for a second, and up to $5,000 for a third.
In addition, you should make sure your contractor has an escrow account. This account can be used only for the project until it is fully completed. It is possible to open a personal loan for your renovation project, but the interest rates are higher than those of traditional loans.
Before you start a home improvement project, consider whether you want to pay for the work outright or borrow money. A personal loan is usually a good option if you have good to excellent credit, don’t need to place collateral on the loan, and have no use restrictions.