How subcontractors and suppliers can put a lien on your home even after you've paid your contractor, and how lien waivers and good records protect you.
Paying a Nanny or Housekeeper: The Tax Rules
When a nanny, housekeeper or caregiver is your household employee, the 2026 Social Security and Medicare threshold, FUTA, Schedule H, W-2s and state rules.
Door-to-Door Repair Scams After Storms
How home repair scams work after storms and disasters, the warning signs the FTC and FEMA describe, what to do before signing, and where to report fraud.
Hiring Movers for an Interstate Move
How to check an interstate mover's USDOT number, tell brokers from movers, read binding and non-binding estimates, pick valuation and report problems.
How to Hire a Contractor Without Regrets
A step-by-step way to choose a contractor: written bids, license and insurance checks, references, a clear contract and a payment schedule that protects.
What Insurance Your Contractor Should Carry
Why liability insurance and workers' compensation matter when someone works on your home, how to check a certificate, and how bonds differ from insurance.
When a Contractor Job Goes Wrong
What to do when a contractor does poor work or vanishes: records, written demands, licensing boards, recovery funds, card disputes and small claims court.
What a Home Improvement Contract Should Say
A checklist for home improvement contracts: scope, materials, price, schedule, payments, change orders, permits, warranties, lien releases, canceling.
How to Check a Contractor’s License
Who licenses contractors in the U.S., how to look up a license and complaint history, what small-job exemptions mean, and the risks of unlicensed help.
Do You Need a Building Permit?
Which home projects usually need a permit, who should pull it, how inspections work, and the trouble unpermitted work causes when selling or insuring.