Home renovation projects often come with legal repercussions. This includes room additions or outside renovations that could encroach on somebody else’s property lines, for example. It’s important to understand the legality of doing any kind of renovation to make sure that you’re compliant. You also have to make sure that everyone who works on the property knows that. Here’s how to deal with legal issues when dealing with home renovations.

Working with the Right Contractor

The very first thing you need to do is make sure that you are working with a trustworthy contractor who operates within the confines of the law. You have to make sure that everyone they work with has the proper paperwork and coverage. They should be covered by workers’ compensation, or you could find yourself on the hook if workers end up getting injured. You could also have to deal with legal issues if they were covered but injured as a result of your negligence.

If you happen to be a worker who has been injured on a project and your employer did not cover you, then know that there’s a possibility to sue them and the homeowner. If you want more information about that, you can visit mottazsiskinjurylaw.com.

In addition, the contractor should be insured and preferably bonded. Bonds are there to make sure that they complete the project as they will cover any remaining costs if the contractor ends up going belly up or can’t perform their functions.

Contract Issues

Another very common issue is when dealing with contracts. You have to make sure that you know how much you will have to pay and that it’s clearly written on paper. You have to know the pricing structure, how much should be deposited, and the provisions in case you have to go over budget. 

You should never pay more than a 10% deposit on any project. If you find a contractor that asks you for more than that, you should be very suspicious and make sure that they’re 100% legitimate and well established. Even then, you should never pay over 20% upfront. Next, payments should be established based on clear milestones. This way, you will only be paying for work done and if they default, you still won’t have lost much.

How to Deal with Disputes

There are cases when disputes are inevitable, so you have to know what to expect. First, you should forget about arbitration as the outcomes are too uncertain and you might have to pay a lot of money. Not only will you have to pay filing fees, but both parties will have to cover for the arbitrator’s time as well. Make sure that you have the right to a jury trial and pre-suit mediation and work with a lawyer who will be able to navigate you through the whole process.

Legal issues are very common, so you have to make sure that you stay on top of things before and during renovation projects. You don’t want litigation to put a wrench in any project.