It's surprisingly easy to safeguard yourself so you you can get on with your project with confidence. Find out how long the company has been in business. Check references. Really. Negotiate payment terms. Protect Yourself. Understand the scope of work before you sign a contract.
A contractor who contracts with any subcontractors or material suppliers to provide labor, skill or materials for the improvement shall upon request provide the subcontractor or material supplier with the name and address of the owner within 10 days of the initial request.
Beyond this, Minnesota's statute of limitations states that defects discovered more than 10 years after the completion of construction can not be litigated, and — more importantly — the customer must pursue litigation no more than two years after the discovery.
It is illegal for an employer to classify a worker as an independent contractor if the worker qualifies as an employee. An employer also cannot make a worker an independent contractor by having workers to sign a contract saying that they are independent contractors, when in reality they are employees.
Minnesota's civil statute of limitations sets time limits for filing lawsuits to ensure timely and reliable adjudication. Personal injury and wrongful death claims must be filed within two years, while breaches of contract have a six-year limit.
Minnesota's statute of repose prohibits suing a contractor for most construction defects after between 10-12 years after the home is substantially completed. First, the statute provides that a claim can be asserted only for causes of action that “accrue” during the 10 years after the home is substantially completed.
A contractor who provides services in more than one special skill area must be licensed. Specialty contractors who provide only one special skill are not required to have a state license (except residential roofers).
In Minnesota, a mechanics lien must generally be filed with the county recorder. However, if the lien is claimed against registered land, it must be recorded with the Registrar of Titles (in some counties, the Registrar and Recorder are the same person).
The question of whether construction costs will go down in 2025 does not have a simple answer. While certain material costs may stabilize, other factors—such as tariffs, labor shortages, and sustained demand—suggest overall costs will remain high or increase further.