Design Contract- Anyone have one that they're happy with?

[JECORMIER]

Hello All-

 

I obviously have a contract that I use on every job, but I got to thinking the other day....What could I be missing that is either leaving me exposed or not charging enough for additional services? Does anyone have a really solid contract that they feel covers just about everything from custom homes, spec. homes for builders, additions / renovations, exit strategies spelled out if a customer becomes really unreasonable, etc.?

 

Thanks and I look forward to some examples.

 

JC

[parkwest]

Dan Baumann has one on his chief expert academy website.

 

Also, Contractor's Legal Kit has a pre-construction Service Agreement that might work for you.

[JECORMIER]

Parkwest...

 

Thanks for the quick turn around on this. I'll look into both later today,

 

Take care-

J

[Michael_Gia]

I think you have to think like a lawyer. 

 

That is, work with retainers, if you can. Otherwise a contract is only worth the paper it’s written on. 

[lbuttery]

also, have a section that lists what you will NOT be doing

 

I worked in the DC metro area and among many things that we did not do was Cheseapeake Bay Water Impact studies

 

there were other things that we did not want to offer as services

and yet you don't want to hear the client say "but I expected that to be included ..."

 

I also found that some builders didn't even review the plans and just tried to print and submit them 

even after telling them they were just draft's

 

so I added a clause that by printing and/or submitting they found the plans acceptable

 

also a clause that they had the rights to the plans.  

I had no way to verify if they did or didn't - with them signing this clause the onus was on them

 

Lew