Using a contractor who is registered with state of Connecticut is imperative. Not only is it necessary in order to pull any required building permits but The Department of Consumer Protection maintains the Home Improvement Guaranty Fund. This fund was created and is replenished from annual assessments of registered contractors and can be used to help satisfy an unpaid judgment to a homeowner. A homeowner may be eligible for up to $15,000 from the Fund if they had hired a registered home improvement contractor and the resulting problem meets certain criteria.