Tips for Owners

The Owner’s Legal Checklist For A More Successful Construction Project In California

by Gary Ransone, Esq. and General Building Contractor

 

It's a fact that few transactions you'll ever enter into as an owner can lend themselves to potential communication problems, disagreements and in the worst case - lawsuits, quite as much as having a home built, major renovation added to your existing residence or work on a commercial structure. The information provided herein and on the blog for owners on this site is designed to help you avoid these disputes and have a more successful project.

STEP ONE:
If you are embarking on a large construction project (new home or renovation to existing home), I am available to draft the contract for you or edit and revise the contract is given to you before you sign it. I am also available to consult on how to protect your interest in the property from liens and claims. Remember, contracts reflect an agreement between the parties and are negotiable up until the point they are signed. You might want to read the blog for owners on this site to get an idea of a few important contract terms and procedures for owners.

STEP TWO:
The second way you can prevent or resolve many disputes is by utilizing legal consulting services offered through my office whenever a problem or legal question arises on a project, i.e. the 2 heads are better than 1 theory.

I like to provide convenient & easy access to construction related legal information (in office, phone consultations or email), assistance resolving payment disputes, and I specialize in construction contract review/drafting services. The idea is that an “ounce of prevention” at the right point in time can help an owner to avoid or resolve some serious disputes and/or financial losses and whenever possible – litigation. In California call me at (831) 476-8784 or email me if you want to have me draft a construction agreement for you or with you, have a legal consultation, have a dispute of some kind related to the construction business, if you want review and revise the contract that you are given by the contractor. I look forward to hearing from you and good luck with your projects!
No matter which side of the table you're sitting at, the best and most certain way to deal with the possibility of disagreements and disputes on a construction project is to plan ahead and take preventative steps to avoid them in the first place. Again, reviewing the checklist in the blog for owners is another good step in that direction.