# Construction Contract Basics: What to Check Before You Sign

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/your-home-building-coach-with-bill-reid-7294250/construction-contract-basics-what-to-check-before-you-sign
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/your-home-building-coach-with-bill-reid-7294250/construction-contract-basics-what-to-check-before-you-sign.md
Podcast: [Your Home Building Coach with Bill Reid](https://stenobird.com/podcast/your-home-building-coach-with-bill-reid-7294250)
Published: 2026-05-30T16:00:00+00:00
Episode link: https://www.theawakenedhomeowner.com/captivate-podcast/construction-contract-basics-what-to-check-before-you-sign
Audio file: https://episodes.captivate.fm/episode/f46cbb6c-4323-4a21-bf5c-075bc7ecf5bb.mp3
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JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/your-home-building-coach-with-bill-reid-7294250/episodes/construction-contract-basics-what-to-check-before-you-sign
Duration seconds: 1509

## Resource

That construction contract sitting on your kitchen table is the single most important document in your entire project. You've earned your way to this moment—months in design, weeks comparing bids, careful contractor selection. Now there's just one piece of paper between you and breaking ground. After 35+ years as a residential construction expert, Bill Reid has seen what goes wrong when homeowners treat this signing moment as a formality instead of the protection it's meant to be. WHAT YOU'LL DISCOVER In this episode, Bill slows down the contract signing moment and walks you through three critical checks every homeowner must complete before picking up that pen. First, understand exactly who you're contracting with. You sign with one entity—the general contractor. The GC then contracts with subcontractors independently. You don't contract with subs, but here's the wrinkle most homeowners miss: mechanics liens mean unpaid subs or suppliers can still file claims against your house even when you've paid your general contractor in full. Bill explains the simple lien waiver discipline that prevents double-payment nightmares. Second, confirm what must be inside the document. Rule number one sounds obvious but gets violated constantly: have a contract. Verbal agreements and handshakes fall apart six months into construction when everyone remembers the version that favors them. Real contracts point to your actual plans, your specific scope of work, and your spec list—not generic boilerplate. Bill explains why the best projects include a supplemental scope of work document that gathers every email decision and conversation into one central reference the contract can point to. The payment section deserves your closest attention. Healthy contracts structure progress payments tied…

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## Transcript

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