Most disputes between owners and contractors trace back to something that was never written down. Before you sign, check these seven things.
- The drawings are complete. Anything the contractor could not see, they could not price, and it will come back as a variation.
- There is a priced bill of quantities. Without one, you cannot check bills or price changes.
- The programme is in the contract. With milestones, and a penalty for delay that is realistic enough to enforce.
- Payments follow work, not dates. Running bills on measured work, certified before payment.
- Retention is held. A small percentage of each bill, released after the defects period.
- Variations need written approval. Nothing extra is paid without a signed instruction before the work.
- The site team is named. The people who will run your job, not just the company profile.
Our free contractor selection guide covers tendering and bid comparison in more detail.
