If you’ve ever had a renovation done on any part of your home, you’ve seen a contract for the work. If you’ve ever read a renovations Perth contract, then you’ve seen the jargon that comes with them. There is a strong temptation just to sign away and let it be done. This is unwise.

To help people better understand what they’re getting when they sign a renovation contract, we’re going to outline the terms that most often show up in these documents.

While it won’t help you master “building speak,” it can make reading a renovations Perth contract easier.

The Scope of Work comes up often. This one’s easy. All it means is the extent of the work done by the contractor.

Specific Exclusions can be tricky.

The term covers what the contractor won’t be doing during the renovations Perth. It could be anything from supplying specific materials to exclusions particular to the job. For instance, if you don’t provide much information about the project, you’ll probably see exclusions in the agreement.

Allowances are dollar amounts.

This part of the contract covers the breakdown of costs. Labor, materials, phases of work, and the like will be listed under allowances. Note that these are educated guesses, rather than specifics set in stone. As things evolve, the budget allowance is going to change – it could go up or down.

Lead Time is the amount of time needed for materials to hit the job site. This is critical to the process, as it can limit your options for suppliers and designers.

Rough-in means the placement of various systems. We’re talking mechanical, HVAC, electrical, and the like. Walls, ceilings, and floor spaces might see them placed during renovations Perth.

Close-in is the covering or enclosure of things behind walls, floors, or ceilings. You’re only going to see this step of the process if inspectors have approved the work done.

F/I is shorthand for “furnish and install.”

The term refers to items that come from the contract, both for supplying and installation. Install-only is a related term, meaning that while the item has to come from elsewhere, your contractor will handle the installation.

Owner Furnished is just what it implies. The item is going to come from you.

Finally, there’s Specification. This term is used to describe, in detail, various items. Manufacturer, model numbers, dimensions, weight, and size are all going to be included here. This will be as detailed as possible, so the crew knows what it’s going to work with.