Home Improvements

Do Home Improvements Add Value?

Find out which home improvements will add the most value to your home.

Is Building an Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) a Good Investment?

Considerations when deciding whether to invest in constructing an ADU on one's property for purposes of renting out.

Financing Your Home Improvement Project

Learn about the different ways to pay for your home improvement project.

Contractor Does Lousy Work, Files Mechanics' Lien for Nonpayment: Now What?

You say the contractor doesn't deserve payment, but now the contractor has put a lien on your house: What's next?

Choosing the Best Contractor for Home Improvements

By choosing a good home improvement contractor, you can ensure the work is done well and to your specifications, avoid payment disputes, reduce problems during the job, and weed out scammers.

Zoning Rules Changed After I Bought House: Can I Still Add On?

What happens when your long-planned improvements suddenly don't fit within local zoning allowances.

Home Contractors: What to Do About Non-Paying Homeowners

You did the home construction work, but the homeowner won't pay up: Now what?

I Did Home Repairs Under Oral Agreement, Now Homeowner Won't Pay. What Now?

Even without a written contract, you can pursue, not to mention sue, a non-paying homeowner.

The Essential Guide for First-Time Homeowners: Maximize Your Investment & Enjoy Your New Home

Get in-depth information on remodeling, working with contractors, avoiding legal issues concerning home improvements, which improvements reduce capital gains tax, and more.

California Mechanics' Lien Kit for Homeowners

Don't let contractors place a mechanics' lien on your property -- shorten their deadline for filing using the legal forms and instructions in Nolo's California Mechanics' Lien Kit for Homeowners.