The contract agreement is a legally binding contract which binds the parties of the agreement together, setting out their obligations and rights. Unfortunately, some agreements are one-sided which offer little protection to one of the parties or places undue risk on them. Contract agreements should be fair, assigning risks to the party that best controls them, while offering protection to both parties should the other party not fulfil their obligations. If this document is poorly worded, inconsistent, or incomplete, you may find that you have little protection should the contractor fail to deliver the project or not meet all their contractual obligations, possibly causing you additional expenses and leading to protracted legal arguments.

The contract must be appropriate for the type of work. Construction projects vary, from ones that only have one trade and are worth a few hundred dollars, to contracts to construct the complete house, which could be worth several hundred thousand dollars. Clearly the project worth a few hundred dollars shouldn’t warrant a contract document more than a few paragraphs. While the contract for a complete house is usually a more complex document.

The contract can take many forms and it may be a simple one page document, or a weighty, lengthy legal document. However, care should be taken with lengthy documents that there aren’t conflicting clauses, and that the document doesn’t contain so many specifics that by implication what’s not mentioned becomes an exclusion. The contract document normally doesn’t have to be hugely lengthy – less than a dozen pages should suffice. It’s also not necessary to be using extravagant legal language. Simple everyday language is normally sufficient. Terminologies and abbreviations used in the contract documents must be used with consistency and explained in the contract document so there’re no misunderstandings.  Contracts must avoid confusing and ambiguous language and there should be no contradictory clauses.

For a contract to exist there must be a formal offer which must be accepted in an unequivocal way.  Usually acceptance and offer are confirmed by both parties - the contractor and the owner - signing the contract.

The contract can be verbal which can be as legally binding as a written agreement, though a verbal agreement is often problematic since it’s difficult to prove what was said and agreed. Stay clear of verbal contracts and be cautious that you do not agree to something verbally. It will be your word against theirs!

Next week we discuss what should be included in the contract document.

​This is an extract from 'An Introduction to Building and Renovating Houses: Volume 1'  written by Paul Netscher.
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​Paul Netscher has written 2 easy to read books 'An Introduction to Building and Renovating Houses - Volumes 1 and 2'. An Introduction to Building and Renovating Houses Volume 1 deals with Hiring Contractors, Managing Construction and Finishing Your Home.  and Designing your ideal home Volume 2 deals with Finding Your Ideal Property and Designing Your Dream Home. 
​("Great for those that DIY. Very helpful in home renovations!" said a Reader on Amazon.com 5*****)
These books are available from Amazon and other online bookstores in paper and ebook.
© 2020 This article is not to be reproduced for commercial purposes without written permission from the author.

​Frequently home construction projects go wrong and the contractor and the owner engage each other in lengthy and costly legal battles. These may arise because:

• There’s a poor contract in place which doesn’t adequately describe the scope of the work and the contractor’s and owner’s (your) obligations. Or, the contract is flawed with loop-holes and contradictory clauses.
• You don’t understand the contract fully, including your rights and obligations in terms of the contract.
• The contractor doesn’t understand the contract.
• One, or both parties doesn’t act in good faith, or in terms of the contract.
• There’s a lack of communication between the parties.
• One of the parties is obstinate, or doesn’t want to admit they’re wrong.

​It’s essential that:

• You understand that changes, delays and instructions caused by you, or those acting on your behalf, can have a profound impact on the project giving rise to delays and variations. Even the simplest change could have a knock-on impact on other activities which you haven’t considered or aren’t aware of.
• Your expectations should be clear, consistent and achievable from the start of the project.
• You know that failure to understand the contract, or assumptions made incorrectly, is no excuse for non-compliance of the obligations and terms of the contract.
• You understand that the contract is the law on the construction project, and all actions are judged using this document. It’s not about who will be nice, who will forgive, rather it’s about complying with the terms of the contract. The fact that the contractor has a legitimate variation claim should be no reason to argue that they’re being unfair, or to assume that they’re crooks only out to steal money from you.
• All parties continually communicate with each other, immediately notifying the other party of concerns, changes and possible impacts on the project.
• You understand that even if the contractor hasn’t said that there will be an extra cost, that this doesn’t mean there won’t be a claim from them later.
• When in doubt you ask for expert advice. 

​This is an extract from 'An Introduction to Building and Renovating Houses: Volume 1' from the chapter 'Understanding Building Processes' written by Paul Netscher.
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Plumbing and electrical installations have to be coordinated with the other trades and contractors, and it usually requires a number of visits from plumbers and electricians. So for instance, these installations could include:

• Before casting the ground floor slab plumbers would have to install pipes under and in the floor slab. Electricians would have to install wires or cable ducts under and in the floor slab.

​It can be seen that plumbers and electricians may have to return to the project four or more times, and air-conditioning contractors usually two or three times. It’s important to check that all electrical wires and ducts and all plumbing pipes have been installed correctly, at the right location, with no visible leaks and faults, before:

• Concrete is poured.
• Framed walls are closed.
• Waterproofing is applied in bathrooms.
• Brick and block walls are rendered.
• Tiles are installed.
• Ceilings are installed.

​But even these trades must be coordinated between them. Plumbing waste and sewer pipes have to be installed at the exact locations and levels. They usually have little room to change so they should be installed first. Air-conditioning ducting is usually premade in sections, unless it’s flexible ducting installed for smaller airflow or at the ends of the main ducts. So non-flexible air-conditioning ducts should be installed next. Water pipes can go up or down and there’s some flexibility in location so they’re installed next. Electrical wiring has the most flexibility, so can be installed last. However, having said this, it’s important to note that pipes and ducts can’t obstruct where lights, switches and outlets must go.
​
This is an extract from 'An Introduction to Building and Renovating Houses: Volume 1' from the chapter 'Understanding Building Processes' written by Paul Netscher.
Please like, share and comment.

​Paul Netscher has written 2 easy to read books 'An Introduction to Building and Renovating Houses - Volumes 1 and 2'. An Introduction to Building and Renovating Houses Volume 1 deals with Hiring Contractors, Managing Construction and Finishing Your Home.  and Designing your ideal home Volume 2 deals with Finding Your Ideal Property and Designing Your Dream Home. 
​("Great for those that DIY. Very helpful in home renovations!" said a Reader on Amazon.com 5*****)
These books are available from Amazon and other online bookstores in paper and ebook.
© 2020 This article is not to be reproduced for commercial purposes without written permission from the author.

Hire a reputable contractor
The first step to protect your home during a renovation project is to hire a reputable company for the project. You need to do your research to find reliable and trusted contractors for your renovation project. A company with professionals who can take care of the safety of your home and your stuff while undertaking the tasks involved in remodeling.
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It might take some time to find the right company, but the time you spend will be worth it. You can ask your friends, colleagues, and neighbours to recommend a reputed remodeling company. Another option is to research online to find the top-rated companies offering services in your area.​

Maintain the external security
Although the internal things in your home can be a complete mess during the project, you need to upgrade and maintain the external security measures. You can install additional security cameras, hire a security person, and check that outside fences and gates are secure. If your outdoors are secure, it means the indoors are also secure to some extent.

Store your valuables
Holes in walls and open doors can lead to theft of your valuables. However, there are some options that you can use to secure your valuables. You can use a safe to put your valuables and place them at a secure place in your house. Another way to store and secure your valuables is to put them in a locker at your bank. If you have plenty of valuables that cannot be stored in a safe or locker, you should consider renting another house to store the valuables. However, you should also install security devices and use additional measures to keep the safe secure in the rented house.

Remove stuff from rooms
If you are planning a major renovation, you should shift all your stuff to a rented house or put it in storage. However, if you are going to renovate only some areas, you should shift the stuff to other areas or rooms. Removing things makes it easy for the contractor to work, and also protects the items from potential damage.
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Educate your children
Kids and pets are prone to get harmed during a renovation. Therefore, it is essential to educate the children about safety measures. Tell your children to stay away from the dangerous objects, sharp tools, and electrical tools of the workers.

Also, tell them to stay away from paints, and chemicals used by workers in the process. Once your kids know about the precautions they need to take, also educate them on keeping the pets safe from harm during the renovation.

Pets have the habit of roaming around the entire house. They are prone to harm while walking around sharp and dangerous tools. Therefore, it is best to restrict them in safe areas or your backyard during the remodeling project.

Monitor the access to your home
Even if you have hired a reputable renovation company you still should be careful. You should monitor the access to your home and ensure only trusted people have access to your home and that doors are secured when the contractor leaves the site. Communicate the same to the workers of the renovation company. 

You can install the home security systems that are a set of various devices like cameras, alarms, and motion sensors that monitor your home. Also, these systems have apps that you can install on your phone and receive alerts.

​Watch the project with cameras
Adding cameras to your work-site provides a variety of different ways to protect your property. For example, you'll have on-site videos of anything that happens. Security cameras usually store the video recordings for a few weeks. If something goes missing, you can search he video to see see what happened.

The presence of cameras is also a deterrent. You can also watch the video your cameras capture in real-time through a surveillance system. In addition to the obvious deterrent created by surveillance, the ability to view live and captured videos makes installing cameras to view your home during renovations a powerful safety measure.

​These were some tips to keep a home safe and secure in a remodeling project. The key to secure a home during any such project is to hire a trustworthy renovation service with positive customer feedback. Therefore, it is best to check the reviews and feedback before hiring a contractor for your home renovation project. The installation of security devices like cameras and home security systems will be like icing on the cake.

Plumbing systems consist of the water pipes which connect from the water supply (usually the town system or utility provider, or from your own source of water such as rainwater tanks or bore) to where it’s required at taps and toilets.

Pressure forces water along the pipes – either pressure from the town system, pressure created by a pump from your bore or tank, or your own raised tank. Water pipes must be able to withstand the pressure of the supply system. Water pipes are available in different grades to withstand various pressures. They are usually 12 to 25 millimetres (half to one inch) in diameter and made from various materials including copper, galvanised steel and various plastics. Because water is forced along the pipes under pressure water pipes don’t have to be installed at a specific level and can go up or down.
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The amount of water you get out of a tap or fitting in your house will depend on:

• The pressure in the town system. If your property is at the top of a hill you will have a lower water pressure than properties at the bottom of the hill. In addition the water pressure of town systems could vary during the course of the day depending on how many people are using water. So early in the day when everyone is using their bathrooms the water pressure could be lower than at other times.
• The size of the pipes feeding the fitting. Long pipes with a small diameter cause extra friction which reduces the flow.
• How many other fittings are drawing water in your house at the same time. I’m sure we’ve all experienced being in the shower and the water has suddenly got warmer when someone flushed the toilet taking the cold water.
• The actual fitting. Some fittings are designed to limit the amount of water exiting from the tap. In fact in some water poor regions it’s law that you must only fit low flow fittings. This can be really irritating if you’re trying to fill a bathtub with water.
• The water pressure will be less in the upper floors of a building. This might not be noticeable for a two storey house unless your area experiences very low water pressure.