Some experts recommend bonuses for work finished early or on time, and penalties if the contractor blows the deadline. Few contractors, unless they are working for the government, will agree to such clauses. They know what can happen, and they need to get across to you what is real and what is fantasy when it comes to completion dates. Read more
Archive for Contractor
The Importance of Contract (2)
The Importance of Contract
Be sure that the contract states specifically that the remodeling contractor is independent and not your employee. Otherwise, you might responsible if a subcontractor or an employee of the contractor is injured on the job. Read more
The Importance of Written Contract (3)
The long and the short of it: We had no written contract, so in small claims court, it was the roofer’s word against mine. He even argued successfully that, by installing the flashing “dam,” he was adhering to the ten-year guarantee. The repairs made by the second roofer cost $1,000. But there was a written contract for that job, I assure you. Read more
The Importance of Written Contract (2)
I stupidly agreed to forgot the written agreement. At the start, everything worked out as promised, except that the contractor was not part of the crew, nor did he show up until the end to check out the work. He climbed a ladder, looked around, and said the work was fine. He then provided me with a document that guaranteed his job for ten years. Read more
The Importance of Written Contract
I’m not a lawyer, nor do I play one on TV. Therefore, I would be violating state law somewhere if I offered you legal advice.
I can, however, relate a couple of stories from experience emphasizing the importance of a written contract. I can also tell you that experts who suggest that you might be able to get away with just an oral agreement if the value of the work is less than, say, $1,500 must have a lot of money to throw away. For most of us, with mortgages, bills, childcare costs, and the like, $1,500 is a lot of money. Read more