PCC News Monthly August 2015 | Page 22

Hiring A Contractor Contracts & Agreements Here are some precautions to follow while dealing with contracts and binding agreements. A contract is a legal agreement between two or more people. A written agreement is one of the most important communication tools for both you and the licensed contractor. It insures there are no misunderstandings about what a job will include. A thorough contract tells how the work will be done, when it will be done, what materials will be used and how much it will cost. Disagreements over home improvement projects can cost time and money. Besides producing bad feelings, they also can lead to lawsuits or other legal action. A well-written contract can prevent that. All contracts must include specific information about your rights and responsibilities. In addition, any changes made to that contract must be in writing, be legible, be easy to understand, and inform you of your rights to cancel or rescind the contract. If you are promised something verbally, make sure that it is also included in writing. A contract should contain everything agreed upon by you and your licensed contractor. It should detail the work, price, when payments will be made, who gets the nece