· Michael Blair
Almost every serious dispute between a homeowner and a builder is a scope dispute. Both parties believed something different was included, and nothing written down settles it.
Scope in detail
Not "renovate bathroom" but the specific work, the specific materials by make and model, and explicitly what is excluded.
Exclusions matter as much as inclusions. A contract that lists what is not covered is a better contract, not a more cautious one.
Money and schedule
A payment schedule tied to milestones rather than dates, so payment follows progress. Retainage held until completion of the punch list is normal and worth including.
Start and substantial completion dates, and what happens if they slip.
- Detailed scope, with explicit exclusions
- Named materials, models and allowances
- Payment tied to milestones, not calendar dates
- How change orders are priced and approved
- Who pulls permits and schedules inspections
- Warranty period and what it covers
Change orders
Every project has them. What matters is that the mechanism is defined up front: written, priced and signed before the work happens.
Verbal changes agreed on site are the second most common source of dispute after scope.
Allowances
An allowance is a placeholder for something not yet selected — tile, fixtures, appliances. If it is set unrealistically low, the quote looks competitive and the final price is not.
Ask what the allowance actually buys and at which supplier, and reconcile it against real prices before signing.