A Lawyer's Guide to Home Renovation

Each year, hundreds of thousands of people undertake home renovation projects ranging from a few thousand to millions of dollars. Some will have lawyers review contracts for the work and others will wish they had. This Real Life Legal(TM) guide, written by an attorney with over twenty years' experience counseling clients on home renovation projects, provides an insider's take on how to make these projects run smoothly. Learn why it's important to have contracts with your architect and contractor, and what they should provide to keep projects on track and costs within budget. While not every project needs a lawyer, as you navigate dealings with your lender, an architect, a general contractor, and government agencies that rule on land-use and zoning matters, an attorney's input may be a good idea. If you follow the suggestions in this book, there's no doubt that you'll reduce the stress that occurs when your home in upheaval. State laws will impact your project, and hidden costs, change orders and liens may affect your ability to sell your property. We cover that all here. And make it easy to understand. Real Life Legal(TM) wants you to be prepared.