Allegheny Home Improvement Loan Program 
The Process

Below is a brief overview of the AHILP Process. While the process includes a number of mandatory measures, our staff will assist you at every step along the way. Our goal is to make your experience as smooth as possible.

There are 4 steps:

1. Application
2. Home Inspection
3. Contractor Selection
4. Loan Closing

1. Application

We look forward to receiving and reviewing your application for AHILP funding. Click here to download the AHILP Application . Please take the time to fully complete the application and provide all of the required documentation. Once your completed application and all supporting documentation is received, it will be reviewed by AHILP staff or Parkvale Bank for completeness and eligibility. If you are eligible, you’re ready for the next step.

2. Home Inspection

After you receive preliminary loan approval, our Construction Advisor will contact you to schedule an initial home inspection. This is a homeowner-friendly process. The Construction Advisor will prepare a Property Evaluation Report detailing any required code-compliance work and will review this report with you.

If the report identifies chipping, peeling paint or a painted surface that may be disturbed during your home repairs, additional items, including Lead-Based Paint Testing and Lead-Hazard Control, may be required. (These requirements apply to homes built before 1978.) Please see HUD's Lead-Safe Housing Rule for more information regarding Lead Requirements.

3. Contractor Selection

Once you receive the list of code-compliance and Lead-Hazard Control items that must be repaired and supplement that with the improvements you wish to address, you’re ready to select a contractor. A few notes here:

  • Contractor Requirements. If Lead-Hazard Control is required, you’ll need to choose a contractor trained in Lead-Safe Work Practices.
  • Hire a Professional. Homeowners may not undertake the proposed work themselves. Work must be performed by a professional, insured contractor.
  • Solicit Recommendations. Professional home improvement contractors span a wide range of capabilities and specialties. To protect yourself, be thorough and cautious in hiring your contractor. A little time invested up front can save lots of anxiety later on. Get recommendations from people who’ve undertaken projects similar to yours. Ask them if they have any complaints . . . and ask to see the finished job. Try to get at least three bids. Remember, cheapest is not always best. Ask your prospective contractor for the names and phone numbers of a supplier and at least three previous customers, then call those references. Determine if the contractor uses subcontractors — and check their references as well.

4. Loan Closing

After your contractor’s proposal has been reviewed and approved by the Construction Advisor and all other construction-related documents have been submitted and reviewed, our staff will contact you to schedule your loan closing. Closings typically occur at ACED offices located in Downtown Pittsburgh at the Regional Enterprise Tower, 425 Sixth Avenue, 8th floor, Pittsburgh, PA 15219 (the former ALCOA building).

Three days after your loan closing, your contractor will be able to begin work.