Home renovation projects are rarely cheap, nor are they usually simple. When discussing the work that is to be done with your contractor, it’s important that you make sure everything that you go over is included in your contract. As trustworthy as your contractor may seem to be, not including every last detail in your contract can lead to serious arguments concerning the renovation work or the payment of said work – arguments that you won’t be able to argue in court since you won’t be able to back it up with your contract.
Keeping that in mind, the following are some of the details that you absolutely have to have included in your contract:
- The contractor’s information – Their name, address, phone number and license number should all be included.
- The start and end dates – While there may be a few hiccups during the renovation that could push the end date further, these dates should be fairly accurate.
- The renovation plan – A detailed outline of the entire renovation should be included, whether it’s simply replacing your kitchen cabinets or completely overhauling your master bathroom.
- Details concerning the renovation work – Everything that you want the contractor to do needs to be listed. Include absolutely everything, even if it’s as small of a detail as adding trim to the kitchen walls as part of a larger kitchen renovation. If the contractor has agreed to clean up after the renovation is done, make sure that this is included as well.
- A list of materials to be used – A disreputable contractor may find cheaper alternatives to use in order to make a little extra money. To avoid this, or to simply avoid any misunderstandings about agreed-upon materials, a list of all the materials that are used in the renovation should be included.
- A right to cancel the contract – You’ll want to have the right to cancel the contract within three days of the starting date without penalty. This will help protect you in case a life changing event forces you to put the renovation on hold, your finances fall through or you simply change your mind about wanting the renovation work done. A notice of this right needs to be included.
- The financial terms – The financial terms in the contract should include everything that you’ve agreed upon with the contractor, such as the total price of the renovation, any cancelation penalties and a payment schedule. The payment schedule will outline the percentage of the price that is paid up front, after certain milestones and after all the work is completed.
- Terms of the warranty – A warranty should be included that covers the materials and workmanship for at least a year. Warranties are either full or limited.
- The signatures – Both you and the contractor will need to sign the contract in order to legalize the agreement.
Make sure that these details are included in your renovation contract. To schedule a free renovation consultation with one of our contractors, be sure to contact us at Marrokal today.