Improve Your Home Improvement Experience

Join me and Montgomery County's Advisory Committee on Consumer Protection for a public forum entitled Improve Your Home Improvement Experience. Topics include everything from avoiding scams to state licensing requirements. The expert panel discussion will be held on Wednesday, June 20 from 7 to 9 p.m., at the Council Office Building, 100 Maryland Avenue, Rockville, 1st floor Auditorium. 

This free forum will be moderated by Eric Friedman, director of the County’s Office of Consumer Protection. He will lead a discussion with experts on home improvements, including Marceline White, executive director of the Maryland Consumer Rights Coalition; Steven Smitson, executive director of the Maryland Home Improvement Commission (a division of the Maryland Department of Labor, Licensing, and Regulation); the Montgomery County Department of Permitting Services; and the National Association of the Remodeling Industry.

As we approach the summer building season, our Office of Consumer Protection generally sees a rise in complaints involving home improvement, so I look forward to having an opportunity to help educate our residents on ways to avoid getting scammed. The Office of Consumer Protection is such a valuable resource for our residents, and I am pleased to be able to participate in this important forum.

The forum will address a number of topics including common scams, how to be sure your contractor is properly licensed, how to structure your home improvement contract, permitting requirements for homeowners, and what remedies are available for consumers. Light refreshments will be served.