A client’s responsibilities vary from job to job, but the shortlist is, read the contract in full, be an active participant in your project, ask questions and provide information in a timely manner.
Many contracts will include the “clients responsibilities” section or some variation of it.
Clients are often responsible for providing utilities to the project space, allowing access during scheduled times, and often providing items like home finishings, or in some cases arranging another trade to complete a service in order for the “main” work to be completed. But in every case, a client’s main responsibility is going to be to provide information in a timely manner.
Contractors use contracts to outline how a project is going to transpire. Contracts are a legal document, you have a responsibility to read the contract in full and to fulfill your portion of it. Having not read it is not an excuse to delay payments or get angry at a contractor for items that were outlined. We are inundated by contracts in today’s world and I understand that this can be overwhelming. I also understand the appeal of a contract that says X price for Y service.
Homes are a complex building full of systems, unknowns, prior renovations, personal preferences when building, and cut corners.
If your contractor is not taking these things into account in their contracts it is important to ask for clarity.
Questions you should have an answer to prior to starting a project that relates to a contract.
- What are the payment terms?
- What happens if something changes?
- What happens if I am not happy with the finished product?
- What is your policy for trade damage and deficiencies?
- What happens if you can’t complete the work?
- What happens if we have a dispute?
- What happens if I cancel the job?
A contract should leave a client with a clear understanding of What they will pay, when they need to pay it, what they are getting for the money, timelines, products used, how it will look and how it will function and what they can except form the contractor from start to finish.
If you don’t have clarity on any of these items, ask these questions until you feel comfortable with the answers. Home renovations can be overwhelming, but they become increasingly stressful when we have unknowns and uncertainty. A good contract creates clarity and clarity is the foundation of every good relationship.
