Establishing secure connection…Loading editor…Preparing document…

Custom Builders Agreement

This template is fully customizable. Edit the text, fill out the fields, and send it for signature. Give it a try!

Custom Builders Agreement

Parties

Owner Name:   Owner Email:

Builder Name:   Contractor License No.:

Builder Phone:   Builder Email:

Property Identification

Scope of Work

Builder shall furnish all labor, materials, equipment and services necessary to perform the work described in this Agreement ("Work") at the Property in accordance with the plans and specifications attached or listed below. Work shall conform to industry standards and applicable codes.

Contract Price and Payment

Total Contract Price: $   Down Payment (Deposit): $

Retainage:    Late Payment Interest:

Schedule; Commencement; Completion

Anticipated Start Date:   Substantial Completion Date:   Final Completion Date:

Time is of the essence in this Agreement. Builder shall proceed with reasonable dispatch. Delays caused by events beyond Builder's reasonable control shall extend time for performance by the period of such delay, provided Builder gives prompt written notice and supporting information.

Change Orders

Any change to the Scope of Work or Contract Price must be made by a written Change Order signed by both parties. Change Orders shall state the change in work, adjustment to the Contract Price, and any adjustment to the schedule.

Permits, Approvals and Codes

Builder shall obtain and pay for all permits and inspections required by applicable law unless otherwise agreed in writing. Builder represents that Work will comply with applicable building codes and regulations.

Who obtains permits:    Permit Cost Responsibility:

Warranties

Builder warrants that Work performed under this Agreement will be free from defects in workmanship and materials for a period of months from final completion, except for normal wear and tear and items covered by manufacturers' warranties which will be transferred to Owner as provided by manufacturer.

Insurance and Indemnity

Builder shall maintain commercial general liability insurance, workers' compensation, and automobile liability insurance in amounts customary for the trade. Builder shall name Owner as an additional insured on commercial general liability insurance for the duration of the Work.

To the fullest extent permitted by law, Builder shall indemnify and hold harmless Owner from and against claims, damages, losses and expenses arising out of or resulting from the performance of the Work, provided such claim is caused in whole or in part by any negligent act or omission of Builder or its subcontractors.

Inspections; Punch List; Final Acceptance

Owner shall have the right to inspect the Work. Upon Substantial Completion, the parties shall prepare a punch list of items to be completed or corrected. Final payment shall not be due until all punch list items are completed, except for minor items agreed to be completed after final payment.

Default, Remedies and Termination

If either party materially defaults, the non-defaulting party shall provide written notice and a period of days to cure. If the default is not cured within such period, the non-defaulting party may pursue remedies available at law or in equity, including termination, damages, and specific performance where appropriate.

Disclosures

The parties acknowledge the following known conditions affecting the Property at the time of this Agreement:

Lead-based paint known to exist on the Property

Known mold or moisture intrusion issues

Prior structural or water damage disclosed by Owner

Known hazardous materials (asbestos, underground storage tanks, etc.)

Financing Contingency

This Agreement is contingent upon Owner obtaining construction financing. If checked, Owner shall use good faith efforts to obtain financing; if financing is not obtained within the period agreed by the parties, either party may terminate this Agreement without penalty and receive an accounting of any funds paid.

Dispute Resolution; Governing Law

The parties agree to attempt in good faith to resolve disputes arising under this Agreement by negotiation. If unresolved, disputes shall be submitted to binding arbitration administered in accordance with the parties' agreement at the time of dispute. This Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the state of , without regard to conflict of law principles.

Notices

All notices required under this Agreement shall be in writing and delivered to the addresses below by personal delivery, certified mail, or overnight courier and shall be effective upon receipt.

Entire Agreement; Assignment

This Agreement, including attachments and Change Orders, constitutes the entire agreement between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior negotiations and understandings. Neither party may assign its rights under this Agreement without the prior written consent of the other, except that Builder may assign receivables to a lender.

Miscellaneous Provisions

If any provision of this Agreement is held invalid or unenforceable, the remaining provisions will continue in full force. Headings are for convenience only and do not affect interpretation. Contractor's subcontracts shall be subject to the terms of this Agreement where applicable.

Owner Printed Name:

By:

Date:

Builder Printed Name:

By:

Date:

Enter text✕

What a Custom Builders Agreement Covers

A Custom Builders Agreement is a written contract that documents the commercial relationship between an owner or developer and a builder or general contractor for a bespoke construction project. It defines the scope of work, technical specifications, materials, schedule, milestones, payment terms, dispute resolution, warranties, insurance requirements, and responsibilities for permits and inspections. Well-drafted agreements also include change order procedures and acceptance criteria for completed work. The agreement creates enforceable obligations that reduce ambiguity, allocate risk, and form the basis for lien rights, claims for delay or defective work, and final closeout.

Why documenting terms in a Custom Builders Agreement matters

A clear Custom Builders Agreement limits disputes, protects payment rights, and aligns expectations on scope, schedule, and quality. It supports enforcement of lien and warranty claims and provides a written basis for insurance and bonding requirements.

Why documenting terms in a Custom Builders Agreement matters

Who typically prepares and signs this agreement

Key project participants who prepare, review, or sign a Custom Builders Agreement are listed below.

  • General contractor or builder responsible for performance, schedule, permits, and subcontractor management.
  • Property owner or developer who funds the work, approves change orders, and accepts completed milestones.
  • Subcontractors or specialty contractors invited to sign as parties to portions of the scope or as referenced counterparties.

Each party should have authority to bind the organization and, where required, obtain legal or insurance reviews before signing.

Essential elements to include in a professional agreement

A comprehensive agreement groups obligations into practical sections so each party can locate responsibilities quickly during construction and closeout.

Scope of Work

Precise description of services, deliverables, drawings, and specifications; lists excluded items to avoid scope creep and payment disputes.

Payment Terms

Contract price, allowances, retainage percentage, progress payment schedule, required invoicing items, and conditions for final payment and release of retainage.

Schedule

Milestones, substantial-completion criteria, liquidated damages for delay if used, and procedures for extensions due to weather or change orders.

Change Orders

Formal approval workflow for scope changes, pricing adjustments, time impacts, and documentation required before work proceeds on changed items.

Warranties

Duration and coverage of workmanship and materials warranties, start date, remedies for defects, and notice procedures for claims.

Insurance and Liability

Required coverages (general liability, builder's risk, workers' comp), indemnity allocation, and limits tied to project size and risk profile.

Step-by-step: prepare and finalize the agreement

Follow this sequence to reduce omissions and ensure enforceability when assembling the contract package.

  • 01
    Gather documents: Collect plans, permits, insurance certificates, and bidder proposals.
  • 02
    Draft terms: Populate scope, schedule, price, and standard clauses with project specifics.
  • 03
    Review and negotiate: Circulate to stakeholders and adjust change order and payment mechanics.
  • 04
    Execute and distribute: Obtain authorized signatures, date the agreement, and share final copies with parties.

How to configure an online signing workflow

Set up an electronic workflow to collect signatures, validate signer identity, and preserve an audit trail for the agreement.

Field Configuration
Document Template Upload final PDF or DOCX and lock non-editable sections
Signature Fields Place signature, date, and initial fields for each party
Authentication Choose email link, SMS code, or stronger ID verification
Integrations Connect to storage or ERP systems for archiving

Typical flow for sending and receiving signed agreements

A concise signing flow clarifies handoffs and preserves evidence of execution.

  • Upload final draft: Sender uploads contract and attachments.
  • Place fields: Add signature, initials, date, and required checkboxes.
  • Invite signers: Send secure links or email invitations to each signer.
  • Archive: Store executed PDF and audit trail in project records.

Technical considerations for eSigning and storage

Confirm platform features, file formats, and integrations before eSigning construction agreements.

  • eSignature Support: Platform must produce a tamper-evident PDF with an audit trail.
  • File Formats: Support for PDF and DOCX ensures clean template imports and exports.
  • Integrations: Connectors to storage, ERP, and project systems reduce manual filing.

Verify compliance features such as audit logs, optional two-factor authentication, and secure storage before final execution.

Common timeframes and milestone deadlines to include

Include explicit dates or clear calculation methods for milestones so payments and remedies can be measured objectively.

Contract Effective Date:

Date when obligations start and warranty clocks begin.

Mobilization Deadline:

Date for site mobilization and initial deliverables.

Substantial Completion:

Target date for occupancy or primary usability.

Final Payment Trigger:

Conditions and date for release of final retainage.

Warranty Start:

Defines when warranty periods commence following acceptance.

Key project milestones from signing to closeout

Track major stages so contract administration deadlines are visible to all parties.

01

Proposal Acceptance

Owner accepts bid and requests contract preparation.

02

Agreement Execution

Parties sign the contract; insurance certificates delivered.

03

Construction Start

Site readiness and mobilization begin on agreed date.

04

Project Closeout

Punchlist completion, final inspection, and final accounting.

Common preparation errors to avoid

  • Vague scope or missing drawings that lead to differing expectations and frequent change orders causing schedule and cost overruns.
  • Using informal or mismatched party names which complicates contract enforcement and lien filings when parties are corporate entities.
  • Insufficient proof of insurance or omitted certificate requirements that can expose owners or contractors to uncovered liability claims.
  • Failing to specify change order approval steps and pricing method, which increases the risk of unapproved work and payment disputes.

Potential consequences of errors or omissions

Payment Withheld: Delay or denial of progress or final payment.
Mechanic's Lien: Liens may be filed against the property.
Litigation: Costly disputes and legal fees.
Delay Damages: Claims for schedule-related losses.
Regulatory Fines: Permitting or code violations may incur penalties.
Invalid Execution: Signatures without authority can void obligations.

eSignature pricing and capability snapshot relevant to this agreement

Compare starting price and a few capabilities across vendors when selecting a service to execute construction agreements.

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 Varies Varies Varies
Bulk Send Yes Yes Yes Yes No
Audit Trail Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
HIPAA Compliant Yes Yes Yes No No
Envelope Cap No cap 100 envelopes/user/year Varies Varies Varies

Real-world examples of electronic agreement use

Practical examples show how organizations used online signing to close construction or property agreements.

Martin Properties

Tim Martin streamlined execution for on-site agreements using mobile signing.

  • Project-specific templates reduced re-entry errors.
  • The organization maintained secure signed PDFs and audit trails for owner records and subcontractor payments, improving closeout speed and documentation consistency.

BIS

Dan Rotelli standardized contract templates across teams to speed approvals.

  • Centralized templates ensured uniform insurance and warranty language.
  • Standardization reduced review cycles and created consistent records for lien and warranty defense across multiple projects.

Frequently asked questions about Custom Builders Agreements

Answers to common practical and legal questions when preparing, signing, or storing a construction agreement.


Need help? Contact support

be ready to get more
Join over 28 million airSlate SignNow users