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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 matters

A Construction Contract is a written agreement that defines the parties, scope of work, schedule, payment terms, risk allocation, insurance and dispute-resolution rules for a building project. It creates enforceable obligations between an owner, contractor, and any subcontractors or suppliers, and typically incorporates plans, specifications, and change-order procedures. Well-drafted contracts reduce ambiguity about deliverables, set timing and payment milestones, and allocate responsibilities for defects, delays, and cost adjustments throughout construction and closeout.

Why a clear Construction Contract protects project outcomes

A clear contract clarifies scope, assigns risk, and sets payment and schedule triggers so parties know rights and remedies. This reduces disputes, supports lien and insurance claims, and improves enforceability in court or arbitration when issues arise.

Why a clear Construction Contract protects project outcomes

Who typically prepares and signs a Construction Contract

Legal counsel, project managers, and surety providers frequently review contracts before execution, especially on larger or bonded projects.

  • Owners and developers who commission work and control funding and acceptance criteria for the project.
  • General contractors who manage construction, subcontractor engagement, and compliance with plans and permits.
  • Subcontractors and suppliers who accept scope, schedule, payment terms, and warranty obligations.

Essential data elements to include in the contract

Project Parties: Owner, contractor, subcontractors
Scope Description: Detailed tasks and deliverables
Payment Terms: Price, schedule, retainage
Schedule: Start date and milestones
Insurance & Bonds: Coverage types and limits
Change Orders: Procedure and approval path

Common preparation mistakes that lead to disputes

  • Vague scope descriptions that omit drawings or specifications and leave room for differing expectations about deliverables and quality.
  • Unclear payment triggers or failure to specify retainage and invoice requirements, which commonly cause cash-flow disputes and stop-work claims.
  • Missing insurance, bonding, or certificate requirements that impair recovery after accidents, defects, or contractor default.
  • Failure to document change-order authority and pricing, leading to unauthorized work and contested compensation.

Key legal risks and penalties from incorrect contracts

Late Payments: Interest, lien actions
Missing Insurance: Indemnity and coverage gaps
Improper Notices: Lost lien or claim rights
Unclear Scope: Breach and rework claims
Tax Withholding: Backup withholding risk
Employment Forms: I-9 or wage violations

Step-by-step: completing and executing a Construction Contract

Follow a consistent sequence from draft to execution to ensure all parties, permits, and insurance are in place before work starts.

  • 01
    Prepare: Assemble plans, specs, and permit requirements.
  • 02
    Define Scope: Draft clear deliverables, exclusions, and payment schedule.
  • 03
    Review: Have counsel and surety review insurance and bonds.
  • 04
    Execute: All authorized signers sign and date the final document.

Where to send copies and who must receive the contract

Distribute executed copies to stakeholders and retain evidence of delivery for lien and warranty purposes.

  • Send to Owner: Owner receives executed original for project records.
  • Send to Contractor: Contractor retains signed copy and project schedule.
  • File with Lien Agent: If applicable, provide copies to designated lien agents.
  • Provide to Insurer: Send to insurance carriers for certificate issuance.

Typical online workflow settings for contract execution

Configure your signing workflow so signatures occur in order and required documents are attached and authenticated.

Field Configuration
Signature Order Sequential or parallel signing
Authentication Email, SMS code, or KBA
Templates Save contract templates for reuse
Conditional Fields Show fields based on choices

Technical considerations for digital completion and e-signature

Confirm the platform supports export of a tamper-evident PDF with an audit trail and options for enhanced signer authentication when required.

  • Supported Integrations: Salesforce, Procore, NetSuite, Microsoft 365
  • File Formats: PDF, DOCX, and editable templates
  • Authentication Options: Email link, SMS code, or two-factor

Common contract timing elements and deadlines

Construction contracts contain dates and deadlines that trigger performance, payment, and warranty obligations; track these carefully to preserve rights.

Notice to Proceed:

Start date after permits and insurance are confirmed.

Substantial Completion:

Milestone for owner occupancy and partial final payment.

Final Completion:

All punch list items finished; retention release begins.

Payment Applications:

Monthly invoice deadlines and required supporting documents.

Warranty Periods:

Begin at acceptance; specific durations per contract.

Key project milestones from award through closeout

Track major project stages as numbered milestones to coordinate mobilization, inspections and final acceptance.

01

Bid Acceptance

Owner awards contract and issues notice of award.

02

Contract Execution

Parties sign, bonds and insurance are delivered.

03

Mobilization

Contractor begins site preparations and procurement.

04

Project Closeout

Punch list completion, final payment, and lien waivers processed.

Six clauses to include for a professionally enforceable contract

Include clear clauses covering scope, price, timing, risk allocation, and dispute resolution to reduce ambiguity and litigation risk.

Scope & Specifications

Attach plans, technical specifications, and a work breakdown so that obligations and measurable acceptance criteria are explicit and not subject to later interpretation.

Payment Provisions

Define contract sum, progress payment schedule, retainage, conditions for release, and remedies for late payment to preserve contractor cash flow and owner protections.

Schedule & Delays

State baseline schedule, allow for excusable delays, and define notice and extension procedures for events such as weather, permits, or owner-directed changes.

Warranties & Remedies

Specify warranty terms, correction obligations, and limitations of liability so parties know repair responsibilities and claim windows after acceptance.

Insurance & Bonds

Require specific insurance types, limits, and performance/payment bonds when appropriate to protect project stakeholders against default and third-party claims.

Dispute Resolution

Select governing law and a primary dispute process (mediation, arbitration, court) and define venue, which affects cost and enforceability of awards or judgments.

Real-world examples of online contract execution

These short examples show how teams used online execution to complete construction-related documents and maintain compliance.

Tim Martin — Martin Properties

Tim Martin, Founder of Martin Properties, adopted digital execution to process agreements online.

  • He noted full compliance when working mobile.
  • This reduced the time to finalize contracts and ensured secure, auditable records for property transactions without in-person signings.

Brian Fitzgibbons — Optica Ventures LLC

Brian Fitzgibbons, COO at Optica Ventures LLC, moved contract signing to an online workflow to simplify customer interactions.

  • Customers sign remotely with documented consent.
  • The approach made it easier to manage multiple project contracts while preserving signature attribution and a verifiable audit trail.

eSignature vendor comparison for signing construction contracts

Pricing and feature availability affect per-document and per-user costs for contract execution; signNow appears first for direct comparison.

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 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

Frequently asked questions about Construction Contracts and e-signing

Answers to common legal and practical questions about executing construction contracts, electronic signatures, and recordkeeping.


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