How To Write A Home Improvement Contract
When you are hiring someone to do improvements on your home, you should make sure that you have a contract. Even if you feel like the person can be trusted to get the job done, having a contract will protect you in the event that something goes wrong. If you have no idea how to write a quality contract, you should read the advice in the article below.
Everything should go in writing, even if it feels like it is something trivial. It may feel like you are nitpicking when you write every detail in a contract, but any good contractor expects this to happen. Verbal contracts are legally binding in many places, but it is hard to determine what happened in a conversation when both parties have a different account of events.
Attach relevant documents to the contract. If you have blueprints that should be followed, make a copy and attach it. You should also include things like receipts and estimates. If you end up going to court due to any issues with the work, you have a better chance of winning if you have a lot more documentation. Have the contractor initial the bottom of each attachment to authenticate it.
Write a great description of the work that is supposed to be done. For example, if you are having a backsplash added in your kitchen and some new cabinets installed, you should not be vague and describe it as "kitchen work." You need to be perfectly clear about what job the contractor is being paid to do. Use as much detail as possible so there will be no confusion.
Make a copy of the insurance certification that is provided by your contractor. There are many shady people out there that will pretend to have the proper insurance in order to get your business. It is important that you ask them to provide proof, and make sure to keep it close to the contract. If there are any issues later with insurance, you will have proof that you were told they were insured.
Include a payment schedule as part of the contract. You may think that contracts are there to only protect you, but there should be protection for the contractor as well. He doesn't want to do a ton of work then you don't pay him as scheduled. This way there will be no arguments about how much the contractor should have been paid and on what day.
In order for a contract to be valid, it needs to be signed by both parties. If you have everything in place, but the only signature available is yours, there is no way that things will go your way in a dispute. You should sign the document and have the contractor sign it at the same time. Having a witness available to sign it will make it more rock-solid.
Writing a contract is nearly as important as getting the actual work done. Having one will protect everyone involved should there be any type of issues. You should have a good idea about what needs to be included after reading the tips in the above article.
