Construction & TradesRead before you sign.
Construction contracts involve complex payment structures, risk allocation, and regulatory requirements. BeforeJD checks retainage terms, change order procedures, substantial completion criteria, and warranty periods. We flag missing mechanics lien protections, verify insurance certificate requirements, and ensure liquidated damages provisions are proportional to actual potential loss.
Informational only. Not legal advice.
Chapter 01
Documents this read covers
BeforeJD surfaces retainage traps, missing mechanics lien protections, and change order loopholes that shift risk.
General contractor agreements
Subcontractor agreements
AIA standard contracts
Design-build agreements
Lien waivers
Chapter 02
What a read has found
Three findings from real reads of this kind of contract.
01
Retainage at 10% with no release timeline after completion
02
Pay-when-paid clause shifting non-payment risk to subcontractor
03
No written change order requirement, enabling disputed scope additions
Chapter 03
Questions people ask
- What Construction & Trades documents can BeforeJD review?
- The read covers General contractor agreements, Subcontractor agreements, AIA standard contracts, Design-build agreements, Lien waivers, uploaded as a PDF, a Word file, or a photo. BeforeJD surfaces retainage traps, missing mechanics lien protections, and change order loopholes that shift risk.
- What does BeforeJD look for in Construction & Trades documents?
- Construction contracts involve complex payment structures, risk allocation, and regulatory requirements. BeforeJD checks retainage terms, change order procedures, substantial completion criteria, and warranty periods. We flag missing mechanics lien protections, verify insurance certificate requirements, and ensure liquidated damages provisions are proportional to actual potential loss.
- What does it cost to have Construction & Trades documents read, and how long does it take?
- $4.99 for one read, $19.99 for five, or $34.99 for ten, with no subscription. Most reads finish in under five minutes. You receive the report by email with the redline attached as a Word file.
Chapter 04
Guides on this kind of contract
Written by the BeforeJD team, in plain English.
Pay-When-Paid vs Pay-If-Paid: What Subcontractors Need to Know
Pay-when-paid delays your payment; pay-if-paid can erase it if the owner never pays the general contractor. Learn the difference before you sign a subcontract.Indemnification Clauses: What They Mean
Indemnification clauses shift risk between contract parties. Learn what hold harmless, duty to defend, and reimbursement mean for you.What Is a Liquidated Damages Clause, and Is It Fair?
A liquidated damages clause fixes what you owe for a breach in advance. Learn the test courts use, how to tell a fair estimate from a penalty, and what to push back on.
Whatever you are about to sign, you do not have to read it alone.
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A starting point for your conversation, not legal advice.