When a contractor works on a parent's house, the estimate often feels like the agreement. It is not. The estimate is a proposal. The signed contract is the document that governs the work, the schedule, the money, and the exit. Treat the two as different papers, and read the second one before anyone picks up a tool.
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Scope, line by line
Compare the scope section of the contract with the estimate. Every item in the estimate should appear in the contract, and every item in the contract should be something you can point to in the house. Watch for phrases such as "as needed," "standard," or "allowance" without a clear definition. Ask the contractor to describe in plain words what finished looks like for each line, and write that description into the contract.
Change orders
A change order is the written record of work added or removed after the contract is signed. Ask how changes are requested, how they are priced, and whether any change can start before you have signed it. A good contract says that changes need your written approval before work begins. If the contract is silent on change orders, add a line that says so.
Deposit and payment schedule
Check how much is due at signing and what each later payment is tied to. Payments tied to completed milestones protect you more than payments tied to dates. Confirm that the payment schedule is written in the contract, not only on the estimate. Do not pay for materials that have not arrived, and ask for receipts as the work moves forward.
Licensing, insurance, and warranty
Look up the contractor's license with your state's licensing board before you sign, and ask for a current certificate of liability insurance. Ask who pulls any required permits, and get the answer in writing. Ask for the warranty length and what it covers, and whether the warranty comes from the contractor or from a manufacturer. A warranty that exists only in conversation is not a warranty.
Exit terms
Read the cancellation clause and the section on what happens if the job stops. Find out who keeps unfinished materials, whether you can withhold final payment for defective work, and how disputes are handled. If any of this is unclear, a local attorney can read the document with you. This guide does not replace that review.
Keep the paper together
Put the estimate, the signed contract, every change order, the payment receipts, the insurance certificate, and the warranty in one folder. Keep a copy somewhere the parent's other family members can find it. Our Sources page lists the public references we use when we explain these terms.