Home improvement is the repair, maintenance or restoration of residential real property, such as a house or garden. Some examples include painting, repaving the driveway, putting on a new roof or remodeling a kitchen, bathroom or bedroom. Home improvements may also include landscaping or installing a fence or pool.
Home renovation is a popular pastime for many homeowners. However, it is important to consider the return on investment before undertaking any major home improvement project. Many improvements do not offer a high return on investment and may even cost more than they are worth. In addition, some improvements have the potential to cause serious health and safety problems if not done properly.
A homeowner should never hire anyone to perform work on their home without a written contract and proper payment terms (including deposit and final payment amounts). Maryland’s Home Improvement Law requires that all contracts for home improvement contain the name, address and MHIC license number of both the contractor and consumer. In addition, all contractors must provide a description of the work to be performed and the materials to be used.
The main reason that people renovate their homes is to improve their comfort and enjoyment. However, if the primary motivation is to increase the value of the home, the result is often a house that looks out of place in its neighborhood and fails to meet the needs of modern living. For example, adding a swimming pool to a house that does not have access to a body of water is unlikely to add value.