Recent Blog Posts
What is Normal Wear & Tear on a Rental Property and When Can a Security Deposit be Withheld?
Renting has been an increasingly preferred housing option in recent years. Part of this is due to the Great Recession of the late 2000s, when so many homeowners were stung by the collapse in the housing market. As a result, many homes ended up in foreclosure, forcing large numbers of consumers to rent. The… Read More »
What Should I Do if I Suspect my Contractor is Using Defective Materials?
Construction disputes can be complex and highly contentious, often involving multiple issues that parties have vehement disagreements about. Most of these have to do with perceived failures to meet contractual obligations, failures to meet performance standards, and similar matters. One issue that may come up during a construction project is the quality of the… Read More »
What is a Reservation of Rights (ROR) Letter and How do I Respond?
Your organization obtains insurance to transfer various risks to the insurer and limit your liability exposure. You expect that when something goes wrong that is covered under your policy, the insurance company will be there to take care of it for you. However, when a situation arises in which an insurance claim is filed… Read More »
Zoning and Agricultural Projects
Over the past century or so, farming has changed in some very significant ways. In Maryland and across the country, rural farmland has dwindled as the suburbs have expanded. At the same time, technological advances have allowed farmers to produce much more food out of the limited amount of land that still remains. In… Read More »
How do Short Rentals Impact Condo Owners Associations?
Short-term renting is not an entirely new concept for homeowners and owners of townhomes and condominiums. In the past, owners have rented their dwellings on a short-term basis for special events in their city (such as the Super Bowl or the Final Four), or during certain times of the year (such as hunting season)…. Read More »
Common Licensing Violations Committed By Certified Contractors
Hiring a contractor to do work on your home or commercial property can be risky. With so many “fly by night” operators that are here today and gone tomorrow, you need to do you due diligence and thoroughly vet the contractor who will be working on your project. Some of the steps to take… Read More »
New Maryland Law Makes General Contractors Responsible for Subcontractor Wage Violations
At a typical construction site, there are numerous workers doing various tasks to help complete the project. The workers could be employed by a general contractor, or they could be employed by a subcontractor who was hired by the general contractor. Up until now, general contractors only needed to worry about making sure they… Read More »
Who Pays When a Contractor Damages My Home
Hiring a contractor to perform work on a home is something that countless people do each year. Perhaps you’ve always wanted to finish your basement, remodel your kitchen, or install the luxury bathroom you’ve been dreaming of. Whatever it is, when you hire a contractor for work on your home, you have high expectations;… Read More »
How to Sell Your Home
Are you thinking about selling your own home? It’s not uncommon for home sellers to question whether it’s a good idea to sell a home on their own versus hiring a real estate agent to manage the process. Your results may vary. Real estate markets fluctuate, and you might live in an area or… Read More »
Buying a Vacant Lot to Build a Home – What to Watch Out For
If you can’t find your dream home, you might have decided to create paradise from scratch by purchasing some vacant land and constructing a house. But before you get serious about looking at vacant lots, it’s important to know what surprises a transaction like this might bring to the table. Dealing with a land… Read More »
