Home Construction Contracts, Explained: Why a Timeline is a Must
Contractors don’t have a crystal ball—but Ohio law seems to think they do
Homeowners expect their projects to start and, even more importantly, finish on time. Fair enough.
But as every contractor knows, many factors can throw off a timeline—bad weather, material delays, subcontractors sleeping through their alarms, etc.
And of course, the big one: Changes made by the homeowner.
Despite these uncertainties, Ohio law is clear: A residential construction contract *must* include an anticipated completion date or time period.
Yes, “must.”
For new home builds, the Home Construction Service Suppliers Act (HCSSA) requires your contract to have planned start and finish dates, or at least an estimated duration for the project.
For home remodels or repair projects, the Consumer Sales Practices Act (CSPA) has similar requirements. You also have no more than 8 weeks from receipt of the deposit to start the work.
Now, you can protect yourself by adding language that covers things outside your control—like the weather, materials, homeowner changes and so on. But you can’t leave your contract open-ended. (At least you can’t do it and be on solid ground legally.)
If something outside of your control puts your schedule at risk, be sure to notify the homeowner right away and explain how long the delay will be. It’s not just a smart business practice—it’s the law.
And put it in writing. If it’s not in writing, it didn’t happen.
You don’t need magic to keep your contracts buttoned up.
It just takes an understanding of the law and its nuances.
If you’re a home construction contractor and would like help with your residential construction contract, fill out our contact us form. Reference this article and you’ll get a complimentary consultation with one of our legal team members.
You can also find more related information in our Guide to Avoiding Residential Construction Contract Nightmares.
