Remodel Contract Template

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A contractor typically designs a remodeling contract to show what the project work will is going to look like. This is just one of the major home improvement contracts that exist.

Both parties usually agree on a remodeling contract before any work is begun to ensure that both the contractor and buyer agree on what they want the finished product to look like.

A remodeling contract is crucial because it sets the standards of the project and will set the tone for the duration of it.

A template can be vital to your success in forming a remodeling agreement. This can guarantee that pretty much everything that you need is going to be on it.

Note: Try Bonsai's invoice template for remodeling to start billing clients for your contracts. Our templates are professionally designed and come with a ton of features like setting up recurring payments, partial invoices, and our software allows you to automate the entire process. Try a free trial here.

Do both parties agree to those terms?

This remodel contract is the perfect way to show that on paper to ensure that both parties agree. All of the terms should be laid out in the same manner.

This mutual agreement is laid out in the contract. First, the contractor commits, and then the customer commits on the same paper.

A remodel contract is designed for both parties to ensure they are treated fairly in the contract. Like any other binding contract, it sets the standards for the project and lists out what that looks like. So from start to finish, you will know precisely what your remodel looks like.

What is so important about a home remodeling contract?

It is important that all elements of the remodel are included to ensure that the message is conveyed correctly and accurately.

It lays out the entire agreement from start to finish and what the contract includes.It is one of the most important parts of hiring a contractor. They will know exactly what their work entails and what you will receive from them.

What should be included in the remodeling contract template?

A few things should be included in the remodeling contract, and we list a few below. These elements are included to ensure the contract has everything it needs and covers the necessary content.

Beyond this, it can vary from contract to contract, but these core elements should be included in the form.

Here are the top six pieces that should be included in your remodel contract:

The actual work itself.

Remodeling services are services that are performed to improve the condition of a building or home. This can be anything from an appliance to a room for the entire home. Such services can be provided at the customer's discretion.

The customer's request can be anything from the blueprint of the finished product to the plan outline for whatever you have remodeled. The contractor's services should be clearly stated for both parties to read. The contractor and the customer agree to the work that they are given those terms.

During one of the remodeling projects, it is essential that both the contractor and the customer agree to the work being done to avoid discrepancies further along in the project.

That will look different for each project type depending on what you are contracting out. But these things will remain the same, including the materials used, the procedure utilized, and how the procedure will be done.

Contractor agreements

These agreements give information about who will pay the contractor and on what schedule they are doing that. Remodeling services can vary in nature, and it is vital to be aware of everything in the contract to ensure that both parties abide by it.

In this section, both parties will have information about the known and potential hazards of the project. It is crucial to make the customer aware of this information and, potentially, provide them with a liability waiver to avoid legal action ensues.

In this contract, it is essential that the agreement clearly states that the contract supersedes any verbal form of communication. Therefore, the document must reflect the agreement between the two parties.

It should list something in this section that states what will happen if there is a minor breach of contract, like giving written notice, or if there are multiple breaches of contract, such as, ending the contract early without a refund.

Payment schedule

When entering into a remodeling contract, it is essential to ensure that the project’s timeline is listed out to ensure both parties are aware of what that looks like.

It is also essential to make sure that the when and where payments are required are stated clearly. Making sure that the schedule agreeable is communicated is vital to the success of a completed project.

The good thing about a remodeling agreement is that the approximate dates do not have to be included, but it is important to include the length of time each section will take.

External factors can always disturb the project timeline, but this will help the people involved get an idea of what the project will look like.

At the end of this section, there will be a complete remodeling schedule and a full completion date.

Extra information

This extra information can include anything from clauses that are now going to be a part of the contract that list specific requirements of the participants to information that was not previously stated.

This can even include information about a dispute between the parties to show what would happen in that situation.

If the contractor allows reasonable changes, this will also be listed in this section. This will be alongside lien releases, laws provisions, and applicable laws.

There should always be a place for this kind of information because you'll find that there are odds and ends of information scattered throughout that you'll want to address.

Ending the project

There should also be a section in the contract that would tell the customer or contractor what they need to do if they feel that they no longer want to proceed forward.

That can look like a collectively referred situation in which both parties agree to end the contractor a fee that needs to be paid to the opposite party if they feel like they would like to end the contract.

Of course, that will look different for everyone depending on the work being done, but it should be decided in the contract.

If these terms are not agreed on ahead of time, the opposite party can take legal action for breaching the contract. That comes with a lot of legal fees and legal documents. This is something that can be easily avoided if it is stated in the legal and binding contract. It may even be beneficial to hire the help of legal experts to construct the contract.

Signatures

Last but not least, the most crucial part of any contract is the signatures. This is because there are applicable laws in place that dictate that the contract is valid when those signatures are in place.

A signature shows that both parties agreed to the contract and that they have both consented. It is hard to prove anything without those signatures in place because the signature is what makes the arrangement a legal document.

Conclusion

As you can see, a remodeling contract is not that different from any other agreement. It is important to have critical elements of the project such as the timeline, the work being done, and any other information that is vital to the project.

However, it is also essential to include signatures to make the contract legally binding to protect both parties.

This contract's purpose is to ensure that both sides of the party understand the work being done along with the cost. Once that is done, the remodel contract is complete.

Frequently Asked Questions
Questions about this template.

Are there free contract templates for remodeling?

Yes, Bonsai has a library of free templates you could use. Try a template today to customize, edit and send off. Lawyers and attorneys look at our documents to make sure you are covered from A to Z.

What's the best contract template for remodelers?

The best template available for remodelers is hands down, Bonsai. Bonsai's software makes it easy to create and customize professionally-looking legal documents. See for yourself and sign up at no cost today.

Organize on a document: name and address of the client, terms of service, responsibilities or tasks to be performed, payment details, and cost. You could also try Bonsai's free templates. Easily customize our pre-made, lawyer-reviewed templates.

Organize on a document: name and address of the client, terms of service, responsibilities or tasks to be performed, payment details, and cost. You could also try Bonsai's free templates. Easily customize our pre-made, lawyer-reviewed templates.

Template preview

Remodel Contract Template

Remodel Contract

Contractot
First Name
Last Name
Acme LLC.
Client
First Name
Last Name
Corporation Corp.

This Contract is between Client (the "Client") and Acme LLC, a California limited liability company (the "Contractor").

The Contract is dated [the date both parties sign].

1. WORK AND PAYMENT.

1.1 Project. The Client is hiring the Contractor to do the following: [SERVICE DESCRIPTION]

1.2 Schedule. The Contractor will begin work on [DATE] and will continue until the work is completed. This Contract can be ended by either Client or Contractor at any time, pursuant to the terms of Section 6, Term and Termination.

1.3 Payment. The Client will pay the Contractor a flat fee of [PROJECT RATE]. Of this, the Client will pay the Contractor [DEPOSIT AMOUNT] before work begins.

1.4 Expenses. The Client will reimburse the Contractor's expenses. Expenses do not need to be pre-approved by the Client.

1.5 Invoices. The Contractor will invoice the Client at [INVOICE FREQUENCY]. The Client agrees to pay the amount owed within [X] days of receiving the invoice. Payment after that date will incur a late fee of [LATE FEE PERCENTAGE]% per month on the outstanding amount.

1.6 Support. The Contractor will not provide support for any deliverable once the Client accepts it, unless otherwise agreed in writing.

2. OWNERSHIP AND LICENSES.

2.1 Client Owns All Work Product. As part of this job, the Contractor is creating “work product” for the Client. To avoid confusion, work product is the finished product, as well as drafts, notes, materials, mockups, hardware, designs, inventions, patents, code, and anything else that the Contractor works on—that is, conceives, creates, designs, develops, invents, works on, or reduces to practice—as part of this project, whether before the date of this Contract or after. The Contractor hereby gives the Client this work product once the Client pays for it in full. This means the Contractor is giving the Client all of its rights, titles, and interests in and to the work product (including intellectual property rights), and the Client will be the sole owner of it. The Client can use the work product however it wants or it can decide not to use the work product at all. The Client, for example, can modify, destroy, or sell it, as it sees fit.

2.2 Contractor's Use Of Work Product. Once the Contractor gives the work product to the Client, the Contractor does not have any rights to it, except those that the Client explicitly gives the Contractor here. The Client gives permission to use the work product as part of portfolios and websites, in galleries, and in other media, so long as it is to showcase the work and not for any other purpose. The Client does not give permission to sell or otherwise use the work product to make money or for any other commercial use. The Client is not allowed to take back this license, even after the Contract ends.

2.3 Contractor's Help Securing Ownership. In the future, the Client may need the Contractor's help to show that the Client owns the work product or to complete the transfer. The Contractor agrees to help with that. For example, the Contractor may have to sign a patent application. The Client will pay any required expenses for this. If the Client can’t find the Contractor, the Contractor agrees that the Client can act on the Contractor's behalf to accomplish the same thing. The following language gives the Client that right: if the Client can’t find the Contractor after spending reasonable effort trying to do so, the Contractor hereby irrevocably designates and appoints the Client as the Contractor's agent and attorney-in-fact, which appointment is coupled with an interest, to act for the Contractor and on the Contractor's behalf to execute, verify, and file the required documents and to take any other legal action to accomplish the purposes of paragraph 2.1 (Client Owns All Work Product).

2.4 Contractor's IP That Is Not Work Product. During the course of this project, the Contractor might use intellectual property that the Contractor owns or has licensed from a third party, but that does not qualify as “work product.” This is called “background IP.” Possible examples of background IP are pre-existing code, type fonts, properly-licensed stock photos, and web application tools. The Contractor is not giving the Client this background IP. But, as part of the Contract, the Contractor is giving the Client a right to use and license (with the right to sublicense) the background IP to develop, market, sell, and support the Client’s products and services. The Client may use this background IP worldwide and free of charge, but it cannot transfer its rights to the background IP (except as allowed in Section 11.1 (Assignment)). The Client cannot sell or license the background IP separately from its products or services. The Contractor cannot take back this grant, and this grant does not end when the Contract is over.

2.5 Contractor's Right To Use Client IP. The Contractor may need to use the Client’s intellectual property to do its job. For example, if the Client is hiring the Contractor to build a website, the Contractor may have to use the Client’s logo. The Client agrees to let the Contractor use the Client’s intellectual property and other intellectual property that the Client controls to the extent reasonably necessary to do the Contractor's job. Beyond that, the Client is not giving the Contractor any intellectual property rights, unless specifically stated otherwise in this Contract.

3. COMPETITIVE ENGAGEMENTS.

The Contractor won’t work for a competitor of the Client until this Contract ends. To avoid confusion, a competitor is any third party that develops, manufactures, promotes, sells, licenses, distributes, or provides products or services that are substantially similar to the Client’s products or services. A competitor is also a third party that plans to do any of those things. The one exception to this restriction is if the Contractor asks for permission beforehand and the Client agrees to it in writing. If the Contractor uses employees or subcontractors, the Contractor must make sure they follow the obligations in this paragraph, as well.

4. NON-SOLICITATION.

Until this Contract ends, the Contractor won’t: (a) encourage Client employees or service providers to stop working for the Client; (b) encourage Client customers or clients to stop doing business with the Client; or (c) hire anyone who worked for the Client over the 12-month period before the Contract ended. The one exception is if the Contractor puts out a general ad and someone who happened to work for the Client responds. In that case, the Contractor may hire that candidate. The Contractor promises that it won’t do anything in this paragraph on behalf of itself or a third party.

5. REPRESENTATIONS.

5.1 Overview. This section contains important promises between the parties.

5.2 Authority To Sign. Each party promises to the other party that it has the authority to enter into this Contract and to perform all of its obligations under this Contract.

5.3 Contractor Has Right To Give Client Work Product. The Contractor promises that it owns the work product, that the Contractor is able to give the work product to the Client, and that no other party will claim that it owns the work product. If the Contractor uses employees or subcontractors, the Contractor also promises that these employees and subcontractors have signed contracts with the Contractor giving the Contractor any rights that the employees or subcontractors have related to the Contractor's background IP and work product.

5.4 Contractor Will Comply With Laws. The Contractor promises that the manner it does this job, its work product, and any background IP it uses comply with applicable U.S. and foreign laws and regulations.

5.5 Work Product Does Not Infringe. The Contractor promises that its work product does not and will not infringe on someone else’s intellectual property rights, that the Contractor has the right to let the Client use the background IP, and that this Contract does not and will not violate any contract that the Contractor has entered into or will enter into with someone else.

5.6 Client Will Review Work. The Client promises to review the work product, to be reasonably available to the Contractor if the Contractor has questions regarding this project, and to provide timely feedback and decisions.

5.7 Client-Supplied Material Does Not Infringe. If the Client provides the Contractor with material to incorporate into the work product, the Client promises that this material does not infringe on someone else’s intellectual property rights.

6. TERM AND TERMINATION.

This Contract is ongoing until the work is completed. Either party may end this Contract for any reason by sending an email or letter to the other party, informing the recipient that the sender is ending the Contract and that the Contract will end in 7 days. The Contract officially ends once that time has passed. The party that is ending the Contract must provide notice by taking the steps explained in Section 11.4. The Contractor must immediately stop working as soon as it receives this notice, unless the notice says otherwise. The Client will pay the Contractor for the work done up until when the Contract ends and will reimburse the Contractor for any agreed-upon, non-cancellable expenses. The following sections don’t end even after the Contract ends: 2 (Ownership and Licenses); 3 (Competitive Engagements); 4 (Non-Solicitation); 5 (Representations); 8 (Confidential Information); 9 (Limitation of Liability); 10 (Indemnity); and 11 (General).

7. INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR.

The Client is hiring the Contractor as an independent contractor. The following statements accurately reflect their relationship:

  • The Contractor will use its own equipment, tools, and material to do the work.
  • The Client will not control how the job is performed on a day-to-day basis. Rather, the Contractor is responsible for determining when, where, and how it will carry out the work.
  • The Client will not provide the Contractor with any training.
  • The Client and the Contractor do not have a partnership or employer-employee relationship.
  • The Contractor cannot enter into contracts, make promises, or act on behalf of the Client.
  • The Contractor is not entitled to the Client’s benefits (e.g., group insurance, retirement benefits, retirement plans, vacation days).
  • The Contractor is responsible for its own taxes.
  • The Client will not withhold social security and Medicare taxes or make payments for disability insurance, unemployment insurance, or workers compensation for the Contractor or any of the Contractor's employees or subcontractors.

8. CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION.

8.1 Overview. This Contract imposes special restrictions on how the Client and the Contractor must handle confidential information. These obligations are explained in this section.

8.2 The Client’s Confidential Information. While working for the Client, the Contractor may come across, or be given, Client information that is confidential. This is information like customer lists, business strategies, research & development notes, statistics about a website, and other information that is private. The Contractor promises to treat this information as if it is the Contractor's own confidential information. The Contractor may use this information to do its job under this Contract, but not for anything else. For example, if the Client lets the Contractor use a customer list to send out a newsletter, the Contractor cannot use those email addresses for any other purpose. The one exception to this is if the Client gives the Contractor written permission to use the information for another purpose, the Contractor may use the information for that purpose, as well. When this Contract ends, the Contractor must give back or destroy all confidential information, and confirm that it has done so. The Contractor promises that it will not share confidential information with a third party, unless the Client gives the Contractor written permission first. The Contractor must continue to follow these obligations, even after the Contract ends. The Contractor's responsibilities only stop if the Contractor can show any of the following: (i) that the information was already public when the Contractor came across it; (ii) the information became public after the Contractor came across it, but not because of anything the Contractor did or didn’t do; (iii) the Contractor already knew the information when the Contractor came across it and the Contractor didn’t have any obligation to keep it secret; (iv) a third party provided the Contractor with the information without requiring that the Contractor keep it a secret; or (v) the Contractor created the information on its own, without using anything belonging to the Client.

8.3 Third-Party Confidential Information. It’s possible the Client and the Contractor each have access to confidential information that belongs to third parties. The Client and the Contractor each promise that it will not share with the other party confidential information that belongs to third parties, unless it is allowed to do so. If the Client or the Contractor is allowed to share confidential information with the other party and does so, the sharing party promises to tell the other party in writing of any special restrictions regarding that information.

9. LIMITATION OF LIABILITY.

Neither party is liable for breach-of-contract damages that the breaching party could not reasonably have foreseen when it entered this Contract.

10. INDEMNITY.

10.1 Overview. This section transfers certain risks between the parties if a third party sues or goes after the Client or the Contractor or both. For example, if the Client gets sued for something that the Contractor did, then the Contractor may promise to come to the Client’s defense or to reimburse the Client for any losses.

10.2 Client Indemnity. In this Contract, the Contractor agrees to indemnify the Client (and its affiliates and their directors, officers, employees, and agents) from and against all liabilities, losses, damages, and expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees) related to a third-party claim or proceeding arising out of: (i) the work the Contractor has done under this Contract; (ii) a breach by the Contractor of its obligations under this Contract; or (iii) a breach by the Contractor of the promises it is making in Section 5 (Representations).

10.3 Contractor Indemnity. In this Contract, the Client agrees to indemnify the Contractor (and its affiliates and their directors, officers, employees, and agents) from and against liabilities, losses, damages, and expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees) related to a third-party claim or proceeding arising out of a breach by the Client of its obligations under this Contract.

11. GENERAL.

11.1 Assignment. This Contract applies only to the Client and the Contractor. The Contractor cannot assign its rights or delegate its obligations under this Contract to a third-party (other than by will or intestate), without first receiving the Client’s written permission. In contrast, the Client may assign its rights and delegate its obligations under this Contract without the Contractor's permission. This is necessary in case, for example, another Client buys out the Client or if the Client decides to sell the work product that results from this Contract.

11.2 Arbitration. As the exclusive means of initiating adversarial proceedings to resolve any dispute arising under this Contract, a party may demand that the dispute be resolved by arbitration administered by the American Arbitration Association in accordance with its commercial arbitration rules.

11.3 Modification; Waiver. To change anything in this Contract, the Client and the Contractor must agree to that change in writing and sign a document showing their contract. Neither party can waive its rights under this Contract or release the other party from its obligations under this Contract, unless the waiving party acknowledges it is doing so in writing and signs a document that says so.

11.4 Notices.

(a) Over the course of this Contract, one party may need to send a notice to the other party. For the notice to be valid, it must be in writing and delivered in one of the following ways: personal delivery, email, or certified or registered mail (postage prepaid, return receipt requested). The notice must be delivered to the party’s address listed at the end of this Contract or to another address that the party has provided in writing as an appropriate address to receive notice.

(b) The timing of when a notice is received can be very important. To avoid confusion, a valid notice is considered received as follows: (i) if delivered personally, it is considered received immediately; (ii) if delivered by email, it is considered received upon acknowledgement of receipt; (iii) if delivered by registered or certified mail (postage prepaid, return receipt requested), it is considered received upon receipt as indicated by the date on the signed receipt. If a party refuses to accept notice or if notice cannot be delivered because of a change in address for which no notice was given, then it is considered received when the notice is rejected or unable to be delivered. If the notice is received after 5:00pm on a business day at the location specified in the address for that party, or on a day that is not a business day, then the notice is considered received at 9:00am on the next business day.

11.5 Severability. This section deals with what happens if a portion of the Contract is found to be unenforceable. If that’s the case, the unenforceable portion will be changed to the minimum extent necessary to make it enforceable, unless that change is not permitted by law, in which case the portion will be disregarded. If any portion of the Contract is changed or disregarded because it is unenforceable, the rest of the Contract is still enforceable.

11.6 Signatures. The Client and the Contractor must sign this document using Bonsai’s e-signing system. These electronic signatures count as originals for all purposes.

11.7 Governing Law. The laws of the state of California govern the rights and obligations of the Client and the Contractor under this Contract, without regard to conflict of law principles of that state.

11.8 Entire Contract. This Contract represents the parties’ final and complete understanding of this job and the subject matter discussed in this Contract. This Contract supersedes all other contracts (both written and oral) between the parties.

THE PARTIES HERETO AGREE TO THE FOREGOING AS EVIDENCED BY THEIR SIGNATURES BELOW.

Contractot
First Name
Last Name
Acme LLC.
Client
First Name
Last Name
Corporation Corp.