The Home Improvement Site

Before You Sign A Contract For Home Improvement Work

January 30th, 2007 Subscribe To Our Feed

What should you know before you sign a contract for home improvement work?

As spring approaches each year, home owners everywhere start thinking about the changes and additions they’d like to make to their home. Or they watch a home improvement television show and get some great ideas for remodeling. Home improvements can range from pruning in the garden, remodeling a kitchen or bathroom, painting the house to instaling a pool. Many of these services will require the services of a home improvement contractor.

Your contractor will want you to sign a contract for any home improvement work so what should you look for and where should you start?

Well, the first thing you need to do is your homework. Ask around with people you know and trust to get names. Once you have names, get license numbers so that you can check with your local state or county Consumer Affairs Business License Division. Does the name and address on the license match what the records say? Is the license still valid? Have there been any complaints made about the contractor?

Once you’ve established all of this and have chosen your contractor, it’s time to sign the home improvement contract. According to experts, there is a list of items that you should look for in a written contract for home improvement. Most notably, these conditions are the full information of the contractor that includes their professional license number.

Also included in this contract should be all of the details of the project, dates to start and be finished by, payment arrangements that include cost and most especially a ‘right to cancel’ agreement that gives you the right to change your mind about the contract that you have signed. Generally the agreement is for 3 days, and another benefit to this agreement is that it will detail what will happen if something unexpected happens after work on the project has commenced.

Don’t forget to include the small items as well. When contractors are working on your property, they are going to require certain facilities. Are you comfortable with them using your home toilet and telephone, or would you rather they use their own?

You should always take great pains to protect both yourself and your property. When you have a home improvement contract presented to you, you should never sign it unless it is completely filled in. Don’t be afraid to ask questions about things that confuse you. This is your home we’re talking about, don’t be shy!

Protect yourself financially

Keep a copy of the contract for home improvement work on file, even after the project has been completed. Don’t pay more than the minimum guaranteed down payment and don’t pay off the remainder until the project has been completely finished and all the debris has been cleared away.

This is not a comprehensive article and should be taken as a guide only, however, it will provide a starting point for your home improvements.