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Home Building Contract Checklist
Key Items in a Home Building Contract
By Mark J. Donovan
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Besides a full set of home addition
plans to work from you need a formal written building contract in place between
you and the home remodeling contractor. Up front the contract should spell out
who the parties are in the contract, namely your name and the contractor’s name
and business. In addition, it should be dated and summarize the purpose of the
building contract, e.g. to build a home addition onto a home located at your
particular address.
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Finally, the construction contract
should be signed and dated by both you and the home building contractor at the
end of the contract. Also, if there are multiple pages to the construction
contract it should be initialed and dated on each page of the contract.
Summarized below are the additional items in the construction contract
checklist.
The Work Phases – Each major phase of the home building construction
should be spelled out clearly.
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If any demolition work is necessary
prior to actual construction it should be specified upfront. It should also
spell out who is actually performing the work in each phase of the project and
who will be ultimately responsible for final touch ups and completing the punch
out list after the job is completed.
Building Schedule – The building contract should also specify a timeline
for the completion of the project and every major phase associated with it. The
overall project and each major phase should include specific start and stop
dates, and if any penalties will be imposed for not completing on time.
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Cost of Construction Project –
The construction contract should specify the schedule of payments and the
overall cost of the project. The schedule of payments should be tied to the
completion of certain milestones, and to yours and the building inspector’s
satisfaction. By paying after work is completed you have more leverage in
ensuring the work gets done correctly and on time.
Construction Materials – Every set of quality construction or home
addition plans should include a materials list. |
Photo by Mark Donovan |
The material list should spell out
exactly what construction materials to be used, including brand names, model
numbers, dimensions, style and colors. The home addition contract should either
include this same information or reference the construction plans material list
explicitly.
Jobsite and Jobsite Maintenance
– The work area and space required for building the home addition or home should
be specified in the building contract. In addition it should spell out how the
jobsite will be maintained and cleaned. A good contractor will include language
that specifies the jobsite will be broom cleaned at the end of each day and that
a dumpster will be located on the jobsite for holding trash.
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The home building contract should
also specify that the contractor will be responsible for maintaining a clean and
neat work area and that he is responsible for trash removal.
Construction Warranties - With
every construction or home construction contract there should be some language
about a warranty, regardless if there will be one or not. This way you’ll know
clearly what, if any, type of warranty you are getting.
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Verbal or somehow implied warranties mean very little, so getting it clearly
specified in the contract is your best bet.
Liability – Every home building contract should also include a copy of
the contractor’s insurance certificate. Make sure that the date of expiration is
also included on it and that it is well out beyond the expected date of
completion of the work. In addition, the home building contract should also
include language that states that the contractor will not hold the homeowner
liable for anything in the event of a personal injury or property damage while
working on your home construction project.
For more help on either hiring a general
contractor or acting as your own general contractor see my
home
addition and home remodeling bid sheets. They can save you a
fortune by helping you to properly plan your home construction project and hire
the right general contractor and/or subcontractors.
How to Finance your Home Remodeling Project -
can help provide funds for your new home improvement project if financing is
required.
Related Articles on Home Construction and Hiring the Right Home Building
Contractor
Additional Resources from Amazon.com on Home
Building
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