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Construction Contract

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CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT

THIS CONTRACT IS ENTERED INTO THIS THE DAY OF , 20 , by and between , hereafter "Contractor" and hereafter "Owner".

For valuable consideration the parties do hereby agree as follows:

1. SCOPE OF WORK: Contractor shall provide all labor and materials, and shall construct for Owners the residence as described by the plans and specifications (hereafter "the Project") selected by Owners and more particularly described as

Copies of said plans and specifications have been executed by Contractor and Owner on the date hereof and are hereby made a part of this contract.

2. WORK SITE: The Project shall be constructed on the property of Owner located at

and more particularly described as

(hereafter "the Work Site"). Owner hereby authorizes Contractor to commence and complete the usual and customary excavation and grading on the Work Site as may be required in the judgment of the Contractor to complete the Project. Unless called for in the specifications no landscaping, finish grading, filling or excavation is to be performed at the Work Site by the Contractor except as is so required.

3. PERMITS: Contractor shall apply for and obtain such permits and regulatory approvals as may be required by the local municipal/county government, the cost thereof shall be an expense of the Project.

4. SOIL CONDITIONS: Contractor shall have no responsibility for the condition of the soils at the Work Site. Any excavation, filling or other work required by the Owner other than the usual and customary excavation and grading shall be an additional expense of the Owner. Owner shall determine before construction begins if additional site work is required because of the soil conditions at the Work Site and shall provide Contractor written specifications as to such additional site work. Contractor shall not be responsible for any damages suffered by Owner as a result of the soil conditions at the Work Site.

5. INSURANCE: Contractor shall maintain general liability, workers compensation and builder's risk insurance to insure against risks covered by such insurance. Contractor shall be responsible for any worker's compensation coverage or payments required and shall indemnify and hold Owner harmless for the payment of same or any such claims against Owner.

6. SURVEY AND TITLE: Prior to commencement of construction Owner shall provide Contractor with a boundary survey performed by a licensed surveyor, a title opinion by a licensed attorney and a copy of all protective covenants which effect the Work Site.

7. CHANGES TO SCOPE OF WORK: Owner may make changes to the scope of the work including changes to the plans and specifications from time to time during the construction of the Project. However, any such change or modification shall only be made by written "Change Order", in the form of a letter to Contractor specifying the changes. Owner agrees to pay any increase in the cost of the Project as a result of all Change Orders. In the event the cost of the Change Order is not known at the time a Change Order is executed the Contractor shall estimate the cost thereof and Owner agrees to pay the actual cost whether or not it is in excess of the estimated cost.

8. CONTRACTORS FEE:

{COST PLUS}

Owner agrees to pay Contractor the actual cost to Contractor of materials plus the sum of $ for performing the services set forth in the scope of the work.

Contractor shall be paid as follows:

{FIXED FEE}

Owner agrees to pay Contractor the sum of $ for performing the services set forth in the scope of the work.

Contractor shall be paid as follows:

9. LATE PAYMENT/DEFAULT: Owner agrees to pay a late charge of 1% of all payments which are more than ten (10) days late plus all costs of collection including reasonable attorneys fees in the event payment is not made in accordance with the terms of this contract.

10. WARRANTY: Contractor's warranty shall be limited to defects in workmanship within the scope of work performed by Contractor and which arise and become known within one (1) year from the date hereof. All said defects arising after one (1) year and defects in material are not warranted by Contractor. Contractor hereby assigns to Owner all warranties on materials as provided by the manufacturer thereof.

WITNESS THE SIGNATURES OF THE PARTIES HERETO ON THE DATE FIRST WRITTEN ABOVE.

CONTRACTOR:

OWNER

Enter text✕

What a Construction Contract Is and when it’s used

A Construction Contract is a written agreement between parties—typically an owner and a contractor—that defines the scope of work, schedule, payment terms, insurance and bonds, change-order procedures, completion criteria, and dispute resolution. It governs responsibilities, allocates risk, and creates enforceable rights to payment and remedies such as liens. Construction Contracts range from simple lump-sum agreements to detailed design-build or GMP (guaranteed maximum price) forms used on large projects and are often supplemented by drawings, specifications, schedules, and exhibits.

Why a clear Construction Contract matters

A well-drafted Construction Contract reduces disputes, clarifies payment timing, preserves lien and bonding rights, and sets expectations for scope and schedule.

Why a clear Construction Contract matters

Who typically prepares, reviews, and signs these contracts

Common participants include owners, general contractors, subcontractors, design professionals, lenders, and legal counsel involved in project delivery.

  • Owners and developers who fund and approve scope, schedule, and substantial completion milestones.
  • General contractors who manage subcontractors, coordinate schedules, and ensure compliance with safety and permitting.
  • Subcontractors and suppliers who rely on payment provisions, lien waivers, and scope clarity to protect cash flow.

Each party should confirm authority to bind the organization and verify insurance, license, and bonding requirements before signing.

Typical signatory roles and responsibilities

General Contractor

Project Manager or authorized officer signs on behalf of the contractor; responsible for performance, subcontractor management, scheduling and maintaining required insurance and bonds. Signature should be by a person listed in corporate resolution or with delegated signing authority to avoid later challenges.

Owner / Developer

Owner, CEO, or authorized representative signs for the property owner or developer; responsible for payment, change-order approvals, and timely issuance of notices such as Notice to Proceed and approvals required to avoid delay claims.

Essential sections every Construction Contract should include

A professional Construction Contract groups critical protective clauses so parties understand expectations, risk allocation, and remedies when performance differs from the plan.

Scope of Work

Precisely describe tasks, deliverables, reference drawings and specifications, and list excluded work to limit disputes over interpretation and change order scope.

Schedule & Milestones

Set Notice to Proceed, substantive completion, and final completion dates, include liquidated damages if needed, and describe delays, extensions, and weather impacts.

Payment Terms

Define contract sum, progress payment intervals, retainage percentages, invoice requirements, and procedures for withholding or suspending work for nonpayment.

Change Orders

Detail how changes are priced, routed, authorized, and documented to ensure scope changes and cost impacts are handled consistently and enforceably.

Insurance & Bonds

Specify required insurance types and limits, builder’s risk, and performance/payment bond requirements where applicable to protect parties and subcontractors.

Disputes & Termination

State governing law, notice and cure procedures, mediation/arbitration paths, and termination rights to reduce litigation risk and define remedies.

Step-by-step: how to complete and execute a Construction Contract

Follow a consistent sequence to prepare, review, and sign the contract to reduce errors and ensure enforceability.

  • 01
    Prepare draft: Populate parties, scope, price, schedule and exhibits before circulation.
  • 02
    Review terms: Legal and insurance reviews focus on indemnities, bonds, and payment mechanics.
  • 03
    Authorize signer: Confirm the person signing has delegation or corporate resolution authority.
  • 04
    Execute and distribute: Sign, date, and send executed copies to all parties and stakeholders.

Who receives the executed Construction Contract and when

Routing executed copies promptly preserves notice and payment timelines and informs schedules for mobilization and procurement.

  • Owner: Keeps original executed copy and issues Notice to Proceed per contract terms.
  • General Contractor: Retains the contract for jobsite records, procurement, and subcontractor coordination.
  • Subcontractors: Receive copies of relevant portions, change orders, and payment schedules as applicable.
  • Lender / Surety: Gets contract copies when required for funding or bond underwriting conditions.

Common online workflow settings for Construction Contracts

Configure signing order, authentication, and storage to match project approval needs and compliance requirements.

Field Configuration
Signing Order Set sequential or parallel signing per approval hierarchy.
Authentication Use email link, SMS code, or stronger ID verification where required.
Reminders Enable automated reminders and expiry to accelerate completion.
Storage Archive signed PDF with audit trail to secure cloud or project repository.

Digital signing and file-format considerations

Ensure the eSignature platform supports PDF and DOCX, produces an audit trail, and meets your compliance needs.

  • Formats supported: PDF, Word DOCX and other standard formats for exhibit attachments.
  • Integrations: Connectors for Procore, NetSuite, Google Workspace and common project tools.
  • Authentication: Options include email, SMS, two-factor, and KBA for added identity assurance.

Match platform features to project controls: storage location, retention rules, and evidence needed for dispute resolution.

Typical eSignature pricing and capability comparison for construction workflows

Compare vendor entry pricing and core capabilities relevant to construction teams, including envelope limits and HIPAA/enterprise compliance where required.

signNow DocuSign Adobe Sign PandaDoc HelloSign
Starting Price $8/user/mo $15/user/mo $14/user/mo $19/user/mo $15/user/mo
Free Trial 7-day free trial Varies by plan Varies by plan Varies by plan Varies by plan
Bulk Send Yes (Business Premium) Varies by tier Enterprise option Yes Varies by plan
Audit Trail Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
HIPAA Compliant Yes Yes Yes Varies Varies
Envelope Cap No envelope cap 100 envelopes/user/year Varies by plan Varies by plan Varies by plan

Key legal and commercial risks from incorrect contracts

Unenforceable Signature: May invalidate obligations
Missed Lien Rights: Waived if notice requirements fail
Payment Delays: Cashflow disruption
Scope Ambiguity: Leads to disputes
Incomplete Insurance: Coverage gaps for losses
Statute Exposure: Late filings or tax penalties

Common mistakes to avoid when preparing a Construction Contract

  • Using vague scope language that leaves key deliverables undefined and increases the likelihood of costly change-order disputes.
  • Failing to verify signer authority or corporate resolution, which can make the contract subject to challenge in enforcement actions.
  • Omitting required attachments such as insurance certificates, bonds, or detailed schedules that the contract references as binding exhibits.
  • Not aligning payment terms with project milestones, causing cash-flow problems and increased friction between owner and contractor.

Key contract dates and timing expectations

Contracts should clearly set dates and procedures for notices, mobilization, approvals, and final acceptance to avoid ambiguity.

Effective Date:

Contract obligations and warranty periods begin on this date

Notice to Proceed:

Triggers mobilization and schedule counting

Progress Payment Dates:

Define invoice cutoffs and payment due windows

Substantial Completion:

Marks owner takeover and triggers final invoicing

Final Completion:

Closeout milestones, warranty start, and final releases

Typical milestones from bid to final closeout

A sequential milestone view helps teams understand approvals and delivery checkpoints across the project lifecycle.

01

Bid and Award

Contractor submits bid; owner awards contract and signs agreement

02

Notice to Proceed

Owner issues NTP to start work and schedule

03

Substantial Completion

Work sufficiently complete for owner use, start of punchlist

04

Final Completion

All punchlist items resolved; final payment processed

Real-world examples of using digital execution on construction documents

Examples show how firms use digital contracts to reduce turnaround time and maintain compliance across mobile and office workflows.

Martin Properties

The interface is simple and easy-to-use for our team; more importantly, it is just as easy for our customers.

  • Project delivery speed improved by reducing in-person signing steps.
  • I can process and execute all of these documents online with 100% compliance and built-in security, whether on mobile or offline, enabling efficient return of signed agreements to all necessary parties.

BIS

We felt most comfortable with a platform meeting strict security requirements and audit trails.

  • Enterprise controls reduced manual tracking.
  • Using secure electronic execution allowed us to centralize signed contract storage, speed approvals, and demonstrate chain-of-custody during audits and client reviews.

Security, compliance, and technical assurances for executed contracts

Encryption: TLS 1.2/1.3 in transit; AES-256 at rest
ESIGN & UETA: Compliant with ESIGN and UETA standards
Audit Trail: Captures timestamps, IP, and action history
HIPAA Ready: HIPAA support available with BAA
Certifications: SOC 2 Type II and ISO 27001 certified
21 CFR: 21 CFR Part 11 support available

Frequently asked questions about Construction Contracts and e-signing

Answers to common execution, enforceability, and process questions for construction teams and contract administrators.


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