Contracts With General Contractors: Licensure, Warranty, Payment Format

In part one of this two-part blog series, we went over some of the important portions of the contract that will typically be created between clients and general contractors. Such contracts are vital for both parties, ensuring the scope of work and all costs are covered while protecting both from possible legal issues.

At Crown Finish, we offer a comprehensive range of general contractor and handyman services, plus work exclusively on a contract basis — we’ll never ask you to pay up-front or simply accept our word for any services we’re providing, instead preferring to protect both you and ourselves through quality contracts that contain all the relevant details of your project. In today’s part two of our series, we’ll go over a few additional elements that should likely be included on any contract for general contracting work.

Licensing and Insurance

One vital component of any contract for handyman or contracting work is a clause that ensures you as the client are aware any potential contractors working on your project have all of their licenses and insurance in order. In most cases, a general contractor will already have his or her own license to work within the city they’re operating from.

This information must be confirmed and displayed on your contract, so there is no confusion on the matter. In some cases, a general contractor may have their own insurance going forward or subcontractors who are covered by their own coverage. In either case, all of these details must be included on your contract for contracting work.

Warranty Coverage

Whether it’s for the labor being performed or the materials used to create the final result, any piece of work completed by a general contractor may come with some form of warranty. This typically comes in the form of an assurance that all materials are properly installed and will stand up to traditional wear-and-tear for at least 1 year.

In addition, any potential warranties on labor should be included on your contract. Typically, this will be at least 1 year long, but may vary depending on the nature of your project and what materials are being used.

Payment Format

Finally, while we already went over costs and who covers which areas in part one of this series, the contract will also typically include basic information on how you’ll be paying for your project. Typically, in addition to the format used (credit card, cash, check, etc.), this will include the date of payment and what percentage is to be paid upfront; 30%, 50%, or other values may also apply.

It’s important to cover all of these bases in any contract from a general contractor so that both parties are properly informed on the ways work will be completed, allowing you to take advantage of the best standards in the industry while ensuring all services are performed to the highest standards.

For more information on these general contracting services, don’t hesitate to contact Crown Finish today!