| When asked, "Which comes first, the words or the | | | | party forgets a small detail it can grow into a bigger |
| music?" the lyricist Ira Gershwin replied, "What usually | | | | problem later on down the road. |
| comes first is the contract." | | | | One of the most important features to have in any |
| This holds true for contractors as well. A written | | | | contract is the price and payment dates. Most |
| contract is the best protection for not only the home | | | | contractors require a payment up front before the |
| owner but also the contractor. Any home project is | | | | job starts that they use to buy materials and bank |
| subject to delays and problems and having a bond in | | | | roll the job. How much varies but it is not unrealistic |
| place is the best way to make sure a meeting of | | | | to expect to pay at least fifty percent of the final |
| minds has taken place between the consumer and | | | | price up front. By the mid way point on bigger jobs |
| service provider. | | | | another payment would be due and the final |
| There are a few basic things a contractor should | | | | payment would be given once the job is complete. |
| contain including the start date of the project as well | | | | Most contractors have a crew that they need to pay |
| as an estimated completion date. Contractors are at | | | | and supplies to buy to get a job done so they are |
| the mercy to a variety of things that can interfere | | | | just as motivated as the home owner to make |
| with a completion date including the weather, delays | | | | progress on a job and realize a profit. |
| in special orders arriving that are needed for the | | | | Finally keep a copy of the contract since it may |
| project or even the home owner changing aspects | | | | come in handy for tax purposes to write off some |
| of the project. It is helpful to view a completion date | | | | of your home improvement cost. It is also useful to |
| with a two week plus or minus timeframe to have a | | | | have in case there is a written warranty on the |
| realistic target date in place. | | | | workmanship that needs to be addressed down the |
| Other than a start and finish date, a contractual | | | | road. If the contractor does offer a warranty on his |
| agreement should also include exactly what the job | | | | work make sure to get that in writing as well so |
| will involve. If the contractor plans to remove and | | | | there are no misunderstandings. He can warranty his |
| replace the existing molding when he replaces the | | | | work but he can not warrant the materials but they |
| kitchen cabinets for example the contract should | | | | may have a separate warranty from the |
| state this. Without it in writing there is no evidence | | | | manufacturer that your contractor will be aware of. |
| that this was the planned arrangement and if either | | | | |