I have an attorney putting together a contract for me to use, and I’m trying to come up with some unlikely-but-still-dangerous scenarios to try to cover (yes, he is providing input on this). One example is the client’s death during the job, or other circumstance that prevents them from making decisions or paying (illness, disability, jail, I dunno what else). Another might be MY death during a job (don’t want my wife to have to finish it for me). Another is the client wanting to cancel during the job, or having to because they lose their job and the bank cancels their loan.
Can you folks toss in some examples of major unforeseen scenarios that you’ve either dealt with, heard of, or dreamed up? I know there are a lot of stories out there and would like to hear them.
Replies
Manufacturer discontinues a product after it has been spec'd and/or ordered.
Material lost/stolen in shipment, delays the job.
Whenever you are asked if you can do a job, tell'em "Certainly, I can!" Then get busy and find out how to do it. T. Roosevelt
The Journal of Light Construction has a monthly article on legal matters, and covered this a few years ago. The lawyer who writes the article is also a licensed contractor, involved in the View Imagefamily business. She has written a book called the Contractor's Plain English Legal Guide. I haven't read the book but the articles are consistently excellent.
http://www.bookfinder.us/review7/1572181060.html
i have "the contractors legal kit" by gary ransone, also a JLC book and i would highly reccomend it to anyone looking for general information on what to include/exclude. book comes with CD with forms etc.
Ditto on that. I use Contractors Legal Kit also. Best $60 I ever spent. It not only gives you a contract but allows you to add and subtract information based on the job at hand. DanT
Tell him you want a clause that will protect you from doing work for scumbag lawyers who refuse to pay because they know you will spend more on legal fees to get any money from them.
:)
Mr T
Happiness is a cold wet nose
Life is is never to busy to stop and pet the Doggies!!
Actually, I've had very good luck working for lawyers. Favorite client ever was a lawyer with his own jet and skyscraper. You'd think he climbed up everyone else's backs to get that, but he was the nicest and most reasonable man I ever met. Only client who ever gave me a Christmas present--he showed up at the job with a back seat ($90K Mercedes) full of wrapped gifts and gave stuff to everyone on the job.
it's the 99% that give the rest a bad name...
m