Free home improvement contract template.
A remodeling contract outline covering the clauses every residential renovation agreement needs. Copy it, then have a local attorney adapt it to your state. No signup required to use the template.
- Scope, price, and schedule
- Change order and warranty clauses
- Right to cancel language
A home improvement contract protects both sides and is required in writing above a dollar threshold in most states. Use the clause list below as your starting outline. Have a licensed attorney in your state review it before you use it on real jobs, because required notices and cancellation windows vary.
The template
Home Improvement Contract Template
Select the text and copy it, or use it as a checklist while you build your own.
Parties and property
- •Contractor legal name, address, license number, and license type
- •Homeowner name and the property address where work is performed
- •Contract date
Scope of work
- •Detailed description of the work, referencing the attached plans and specifications
- •Materials and finishes, with allowances where selections are pending
- •What is excluded
- •Permits: who pulls them and who pays the fees
Price and payment schedule
- •Total contract price
- •Deposit amount and due date (many states cap the deposit)
- •Progress payments tied to defined milestones
- •Final payment due at substantial completion, less any retainage
Schedule
- •Approximate start date and substantial completion date
- •Causes for excusable delay (weather, permit delays, client changes, supply chain)
Change orders
- •All changes must be in writing and signed by both parties before the work proceeds
- •How change order pricing is calculated (cost plus a stated markup, or unit prices)
Warranty
- •Workmanship warranty period (one year is common)
- •Manufacturer warranties on materials pass through to the homeowner
- •What voids the warranty
Insurance and liability
- •Contractor carries general liability and workers compensation
- •Certificate of insurance available on request
Termination and dispute resolution
- •How either party may terminate and how work completed is paid for
- •Mediation or arbitration before litigation
- •Governing state law
Required notices
- •Homeowner right to cancel within the state mandated window (often three business days)
- •Mechanics lien notice where required
- •Any state specific consumer disclosures
Signatures
- •Contractor signature and date
- •Homeowner signature and date
Clauses a remodeling contract must not skip
A specific scope with attached plans
Reference the exact plans and spec sheet by date. A vague scope is the single biggest source of change order fights.
A milestone payment schedule
Tie each payment to a defined, inspectable milestone. Avoid date based payments that come due whether the work is done or not.
A written change order clause
State that no change proceeds without a signed change order, and how changes are priced. This protects your margin and the client's budget.
A workmanship warranty
One year on workmanship is standard. Pass through manufacturer warranties on materials and state what voids coverage.
The homeowner's right to cancel
Most states require a three business day cancellation window on home solicitation contracts, with specific notice language. Include it.
Delay and force majeure language
List excusable delays so a weather week or a permit backlog is not a breach.
Dispute resolution and governing law
Name your state's law and require mediation or arbitration first. It keeps small disagreements out of court.
Contract template FAQ
Do I need a written contract for a home renovation?+
In most states a written contract is required for home improvement work above a set dollar amount, often a few hundred to a few thousand dollars. Even where it is not required, always use one.
Is this contract template legally binding as written?+
Treat it as a starting outline, not a finished legal document. Required notices, deposit caps, and cancellation windows vary by state, so have a licensed attorney in your state adapt it before use.
How large a deposit can a contractor ask for?+
Several states cap the deposit at 10 percent of the contract price or a fixed dollar amount, whichever is less. Check your state's home improvement statute.
How do I keep the contract and the billing in sync?+
Renovate ties invoices and milestone billing to the contract total, tracks approved change orders against it, and keeps the revised contract amount current on every invoice. From $29.99 a month.
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