It’s not something most homeowners think about when they decide on an extension. After all, it’s easy to forget about paperwork when you’re taking on such a big project. Yet the contract you agree with your contractor is one of the most important things you have in your control. Compared to everything leading up to it, construction is not only the most expensive part of your project, it’s also the part when the biggest headaches can occur.
From dodgy payment plans, poor quality workmanship, to unfinished builds, a good contract can protect you from these construction horror stories. So where do most homeowners go wrong? Let’s find out…
Neglecting insurance
One of the most important elements in a contract is insurance. By neglecting to ensure the proper insurance is in place, homeowners put themselves at risk of huge costs, court proceedings, and all the legal fees and damages that go alongside this.
To make sure you’re protected, we recommend making sure you have the following insurance in place…
- Public liability insurance - this will ensure that you’re covered in the event that someone is hurt on your site, or if property is damaged.
- Employers’ liability insurance - it’s against the law for any contractor, who works for a company (whether someone else’s or their own), to not have this coverage. It’s there in the event the contractor is hurt on the job.
- Developer insolvency insurance - not essential but certainly recommended, this will protect you in the event your contractor goes bust, which is common amongst builder rogues.