There’s much talk about choosing the right contractor for a job. Oddly the importance of a proper contract is rarely discussed. While contracts have some drawbacks, and it has been said that “contracts are for suckers”, the State of Massachusetts requires them, and specific protections for homeowners in them.
Some of these protections require much above and beyond the standard scope of work. Contracts should offer a payment schedule, start date and finish date, a right to cancel clause, and more. The Right to Cancel Clause must state that the homeowner has 3 days to cancel from the date of signing the contract! A good contract offers an explanation of the homeowners rights, including exclusions from these rights when hiring a non registered and unlicensed contractor!
The contract ideally includes info on who’s responsible for pulling the permit. Note, if a contractor asks YOU to pull the permit, they are likely not properly licensed. By pulling your own permit, you lose all protections from the Home Improvement Guaranty Fund. And of course, the contractor should assume sole responsibility for completing work, in a timely and professional manner.
Many home improvement projects cost $10,000 or more, so please make sure you protect yourself with a proper contract. To learn more, visit this site.
