You paid a contractor to renovate your kitchen, replace your roof, or finish your basement. Instead you got half-finished work, shoddy work that has to be torn out, or a contractor who took the deposit and stopped answering the phone. It is one of the most frustrating positions a homeowner can be in, and one of the most common.
Maryland gives homeowners real tools here. You are not stuck.
Maryland licenses contractors for a reason
Most residential home improvement work in Maryland must be performed by a contractor licensed through the Maryland Home Improvement Commission (MHIC). Licensing is not a formality. When a licensed contractor takes your money and fails to perform, or does incompetent or unworkmanlike work, you may be able to recover your actual losses from the Maryland Home Improvement Guaranty Fund, in addition to any claim you bring directly against the contractor.
Common situations I see
- The contractor collected a large deposit and never returned, or abandoned the job partway through.
- The work is defective and has to be corrected or redone by someone else.
- The contractor was unlicensed, or used unlicensed workers, and the job went wrong.
- The final bill ballooned far beyond the written estimate, or there was never a proper contract.
How Blackridge Advisors helps
I represent Maryland homeowners in disputes with contractors, from a demand letter that gets attention to a Guaranty Fund claim, a breach of contract action, or a claim under the Maryland Consumer Protection Act where the contractor’s conduct was deceptive. I help you document what you paid, what you got, and what it will cost to make it right, then pursue the recovery route that fits your situation. Deadlines apply to Guaranty Fund claims, so it is worth getting advice sooner rather than later.
Talk to a Maryland attorney about your contractor dispute
If this sounds like your situation, the sooner you get advice, the more options you tend to have. Call Blackridge Advisors at 443-295-3202 or email ddouglas@blackridgeadvisors.com to talk through the facts and what a realistic path forward looks like.
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Blackridge Advisors LLC | 7939 Honeygo Blvd, Ste 116, Nottingham, MD 21236 | 443-295-3202 | ddouglas@blackridgeadvisors.com
This page is attorney advertising provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Every case is different and prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Reading this page or contacting Blackridge Advisors LLC does not create an attorney-client relationship.