The Home improvement industry is one of the largest industries in the United States. It is comprised of companies that perform a variety of remodeling, repair and maintenance tasks, such as painting, flooring, roofing, plumbing, electrical work, and more. The industry also includes those who supply the materials and tools needed for these projects. Despite its size, however, the home improvement market is highly competitive and it can be difficult for contractors to stand out from the crowd. To increase their chances of landing a project, contractors should focus on marketing and advertising themselves as experts in their field. In addition, they should also offer a wide range of services, such as plumbing, electrical and remodeling.
There are few certainties in life, but one of them is that homeowners will always have home repair and improvement projects to take on. These may show up in the form of a leaking roof, crumbling foundation or other can’t-wait task that isn’t able to be put off any longer. More recently, a growing number of people are taking on home improvement projects as a way to improve their living environment and boost their property’s value.
These types of projects often come with a high price tag, but the good news is that most homeowners find they are able to stick to their budgets when it comes to Home improvements. In fact, more than three-fourths of those who have completed projects in the past two years say they were easily able to pay for them without tapping into savings or going into debt.
In general, the best-returning projects are those that help increase functionality and add more square footage to a home. Some examples include expanding a kitchen or adding a bedroom to the house. Meanwhile, upgrades that typically provide a poor return are those that are purely aesthetic or heavily based on personal preference. For example, luxury entertainment upgrades like swimming pools and outdoor barbecues probably won’t get you a good return when it comes time to sell.
Many states require that both contractors and subcontractors have a Home improvement license. Those who do not have a license face severe civil and criminal penalties. A license to conduct home improvement work is usually issued by the state’s department of consumer affairs, as well as some other local government bodies.
Home improvement is defined as any renovation, remodel, upgrade, alteration, conversion, repair or improvement of a residential structure. The term may also refer to the construction, repair or replacement of driveways, sidewalks, patios, decks, fencing, garden sheds, porches and other structures. Some home improvement projects may be considered capital improvements and therefore exempt from sales tax. This is something that you should discuss with your CPA before claiming any such exemptions. This is because each state has its own definition of what qualifies as a capital improvement. In addition, it is important to understand that there are some projects that, if not done properly, could result in safety hazards and health issues for the homeowner.
