Recently a Doylestown Township man was charged with defrauding a pair of Tinicum homeowners of $126,000 through home improvement fraud and investment schemes over the course of two years. What is the Pennsylvania law that covers home improvement contractors? The Home Improvement Consumer Protection Act (“HICPA”) was adopted by Pennsylvania’s General Assembly in October, 2008, and signed by the Governor as Act 132 of 2008.  The law establishes a mandatory registration program for contractors w... read more

Bringing more light into your home He that will enjoy the brightness of sunshine, must quit the coolness of the shade. -Samuel Johnson This time of year means open windows, breezes and sunshine! But for some of us that live in wooded areas having leaves back on the trees means more shadow during the day. Or you may live in an older home whose design did not take natural light into account. Or you may live in the city where the building next door keeps your windows in perpetual shade. How to brighten up the room? 1.... read more

Creating an Outdoor Living Space “Go play outside!” Mom was right – getting out of the house is good for you. And at this time of year our thoughts turn to outdoor projects. If you have been feeling the walls closing in how about creating a new “room” to spend time in? It doesn’t matter if your outdoor space is a small patio or a sprawling backyard.  Big or small, the most important design rule when you create an outdoor room is to pay attention to the scale of the available... read more

Purchasing your next Home using a 203-K Renovation Loan  Purchasing a home using a renovation loan can be an amazing opportunity or a huge nightmare.  The difference lies in being educated about the process, your budget and making smart decisions! Recently, clients of mine purchased a home that was their dream home.  They just knew it was the one for them.  It had the perfect school district, great community, quiet neighborhood and just the right layout and space for their family.  But, t... read more

Are you considering major home renovations? Here are a few things that will make your Builder/Contractor smile and maybe make the process a whole lot easier.   Do your homework You don’t even make dinner reservations until you cross reference the reviews on Yelp and Open Table – shouldn’t you spend some time checking the reviews on the builders you will be speaking to? The time it takes to come to the property and give you a quote is time he or she will not be making money. Have your question... read more