Home Improvement Building Contract - Written Or Verbal?
Let's say your garage roof is leaking and you want to replace it with a nice new fibre-glass roof. The builder turns up and quotes you £1000 and you agree. Your builder has never done a roof in fibre-glass although he has seen it done. The materials cost him far more than he had thought they would and the job takes him longer than he had allowed for.
He finally gets it finished and gives you an invoice for £2000. You tell him the agreed price was half that but he says he's sure he had said between £1K and £2K. You stand your ground and give him the agreed £1K which he takes.
He then takes you to the small claims court saying you owe him another £1K. Why worry? You know what the agreed amount was and you paid it to him on completion, you honoured the verbal contract so you turn up for court confident you will be ok.
He tells the court he had told you it would cost £2k and explains how much the materials cost, labour etc. You tell the court the price agreed was £1k and that is why you only gave him that much.
The court splits the difference (they almost always do when its one persons word against another) and orders you to pay him £500 plus costs.
With a written contract in place the builder would have had to accept the agreed figure and simply put it down to experience.
Some maintenance builders will tell you "you don't need a written contract for a job this small" but you should always insist on using one. A good builder knows a written contract protects him as well as you and will have no problems in signing your contract.
Some unscrupulous service engineers will tell you they need you to sign an agreement so they can go and pick up the parts to fix your boiler/heater etc. You know the type of thing, "Your warp drive abreviators shot to bits i'm afraid. Can you sign this so my boss knows i've got your permission to pick up a new one? It'll cost about £50"
What you are doing is signing a contract that hasn't had the details entered in. He'll take off to the cafe or to another job and come back in a few hours. He'll fit the new part then hand you the contract that you have already signed but this time with the costs entered. £50 call out fee, 3x£50 per hour labour and £50 plus vat for parts. You can argue he led you to believe it was going to cost you about £50 and not £250 but it wouldn't do you any good because your signature is on the contract. If you refuse to pay you wouldn't have a chance in court because the engineer is in possession of a contract that you have signed.
Either insist all the details are entered before you sign, refuse or use your own maintenance contract.
Both a maintenance building contract and a large works building contract can be downloaded for free from http://www.building-contract.co.uk
Related Tags: home improvement, maintenance, builder, builders, engineer, building contract, maintenance contract
Adrian Kinley is the author of the e-book "Builder Secrets Exposed" http://www.building-contract.co.uk/building-contract-package.htm
Download your free building contract from http://www.building-contract.co.uk
Your Article Search Directory : Find in ArticlesRecent articles in this category:
- Lawn Mowers Electric Vs Petrol - Which Is Better?
When searching for the perfect lawn mower, many homeowners find themselves wondering which kind is b - Popular Types Of Mattresses
It is needless to describe the utility of mattresses for having a sound night's sleep; bed mattresse - Furniture Sofa Legs - Making The Old Sofa New Again
Home decorators get excited when confronted with an old sofa with a lot of potential. For those who - Finding The Right Granite For Your Home
The massive amount of options that are available can make choosing the right granite countertop for - The Truth About Black Mold Toxicity
The term "toxic mold" is not accurate. While certain molds are toxigenic, meaning they can produce t - Bunk Beds For Older Individuals - Are They Genuinely Worthwhile Acquiring?
Typically people think it a little random when adults get to sleep in loft beds. Nonetheless, in the - Kitchen Countertop Ideas: Ceramic And Granite
Ceramic tiles for kitchen countertops have become a must have in home buyers' kitchens.Whether you p - Why Front Door Security Is Important
It is an important aspect to realize the fact that even by having a fully fledged home security syst - Use Fire Seals On Fire Doors And Save Lives
Basically, a fire door is designed to save lives. This is the reason why there is such a big require - The Importance Of Front Door Security
The importance of your home's security hinges upon your door's quality and the lock system. For that
Most viewed articles in this category:
- Learn About The Basics of Basement Dehumidifier
Ever wonder how people keep their basement dry? Let me tell you a little secret. With proper air con - Cable Lock Foundation Repair
Foundation repairs are the most expensive, and sometimes the hardest type of damage to detect. This - What's Covering Your Windows?
At one time, curtain rods were used for only one purpose – hanging curtains. Today they are mu - Wooden Railings and Their Many Uses
Wooden railings remain one of the most common types of railings throughout the country. They not onl - Feng Shui To Greater Luck In This New Year
There are at least six ways to learn Feng Shui Luck. First you must learn and understand the very b - Adding A Pleasant Marble Coffee Table To Your Home
Usually, the couch or entertainment center get most of the attention in one's house, but there is no - Scroll Saw Basics
Scroll Saw Basics by Lee Bowman If you are wanting to try your hand at scroll work, a - How To Clean Wood Furniture
A room full of beautiful wood furniture brings warmth and elegance to any room, however, it's inevit - Welding And Metalwork: Strength And Function, Part 2
Metalwork is the art of making various objects out of metal. Most metalworkers are also called machi - The Bahamas Hurricane Shutter
Every year, hurricanes are formed in the ocean and wreak havoc when reaching land. This usually occu