Lesson Summary. A contract is a legal agreement between two or more parties in which they agree to each other's rights and responsibilities. Offer, acceptance, awareness, consideration, and capacity are the five elements of an enforceable contract.
Licensed contractors are required by law to provide a written contract for residential work, signed by both parties. Don't rely on verbal agreements. Get all guarantees, warranties, and promises in writing. Limit your down payment or deposit.
Virginia doesn't license individuals, only businesses. That means you must start a general contracting business to obtain a general contractor license in this state.
To be legally enforceable, an agreement must contain all of the following criteria: An offer and acceptance; Certainty of terms; Consideration; An intention to create legal relations; Capacity of the parties; and, Legality of purpose.
The Code of Virginia allows any person who performs or supervises the construction, removal, repair or improvement of no more than one primary residence owned by him and for his own use during any 24-month period.
A legally enforceable contract must include an offer, acceptance, consideration, capacity, legality, and mutual assent.
How to draft a contract in 13 simple steps Start with a contract template. Understand the purpose and requirements. Identify all parties involved. Outline key terms and conditions. Define deliverables and milestones. Establish payment terms. Add termination conditions. Incorporate dispute resolution.
Ing to Boundy (2012), typically, a written contract will include: Date of agreement. Names of parties to the agreement. Preliminary clauses. Defined terms. Main contract clauses. Schedules/appendices and signature provisions (para. 5).
When writing a contract, you should include an introductory section that lists and defines all of the interested parties. A well-constructed contract will cover its duration and the specifics regarding the terms of the agreement between the parties. The tone of a contract should be formal and concise.