Contracts are integral components of day-to-day business in the building industry. In a perfect world, customers would always be satisfied and contractors would always get paid on time. In reality, any number of issues may arise to spark a construction dispute, although there are several things to keep in mind that may help prevent such problems.
The contract itself is no doubt one of the most important factors to consider when the goal is to avoid disputes. It is critical that anyone adding his or her signature to a contract clearly understands the terminology contained therein, as well as the implications the contract has for him or her, personally. It is better not to sign and to ask questions than to gloss over a specific issue without clearly understanding its meaning.
Fulfill all schedule obligations
Most construction contracts include an estimated date of completion or, in some cases, a specific deadline. Various factors might cause delays in production, such as weather, lack of supplies or a change of scope and sequence in the building plan. Remembering that a contract is legally enforceable works as an incentive to fulfill all responsibilities regarding a project’s schedule.
Conduct a post-project audit and review
In addition to carefully reviewing a contract before signing and fulfilling all obligations regarding scheduled work, a third way to prevent construction disputes is to conduct a thorough audit and review of each completed project, which enables a customer to address any concerns that are relevant to craftsmanship, agreed-upon design or other issues. If prevention measures fail and a legal dispute arises that cannot be resolved out of court, it is a good idea to consult with a construction law attorney before proceedings begin.