Contact Information
General Terms
Work Hours and Schedule
Permits and Inspections
Customer Responsibilities
Scope of Work and Additional Costs
Payments
Material Allowances
Warranties
California Law and Dispute Resolution
Right to Cancel
Here’s what you can tell Albert about his right to cancel a home improvement contract in California:
Three-Day Right to Cancel
Generally, in California, Albert has a three-day right to cancel a home improvement contract if the contract was negotiated at his home, and not at the contractor’s business location. This applies to contracts for repair, renovation, or remodeling of his residence.
There are a couple of exceptions:
Five-Day Right to Cancel for Seniors
If Albert is 65 years or older, the cancellation period is extended to five business days.
How to Cancel
To cancel the contract, Albert must provide written notice to the contractor within the three or five-day window. The notice should clearly state his intent to cancel the contract. It’s recommended to send the cancellation notice via certified mail with a return receipt to have documented proof.
Additional Resources
For more information on home improvement contracts and cancellation rights, Albert can refer to these resources:
1 SMART BUILD, INC. TERMS AND CONDITIONS
This Agreement (“Agreement”) is made and entered into as of [DATE] by and between 1 Smart Build, Inc., a California corporation (“Contractor”), and [CLIENT NAME], residing at [CLIENT ADDRESS] (“Client”).
Contractor agrees to furnish all labor, materials, tools, equipment, and services necessary to complete the project as set forth in the attached plans and specifications (collectively, the “Project Documents”), in accordance with applicable building codes and industry standards.
The standard work hours are Monday through Friday, from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm, Pacific Standard Time. The parties may agree to a different schedule in writing. Days designated for city inspections and inclement weather will be excluded from the work schedule.
Contractor shall obtain all necessary permits and approvals for the Project. Client shall reimburse Contractor for all permit fees. Client is responsible for any additional inspections or corrections required by the city, and shall pay any associated costs.
Client shall:
Client shall be responsible for any additional costs arising from:
Payment shall be made in accordance with the attached payment schedule. Late payments will incur a penalty of $250 per day.
Contractor warrants that all work performed will be free from defects in materials and workmanship for a period of one (1) year from the date of completion. This warranty does not apply to:
Client has the right to cancel this Agreement within three (3) business days from the date of signature, if the Agreement was negotiated at Client’s residence. Cancellation must be made in writing.
Neither party shall be liable for any delay or failure to perform its obligations under this Agreement due to causes beyond its reasonable control, including acts of God, fire, explosion, vandalism, storm, pandemic, or other similar occurrences, orders or acts of military or civil authority, national emergencies, insurrections, riots, wars, strikes, lockouts, work stoppages, or other labor disputes, or supplier failures.
Any dispute arising out of or relating to this Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of California and resolved by binding arbitration in accordance with the Construction Industry Arbitration Rules of the American Arbitration Association.
This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior or contemporaneous communications, representations, or agreements, whether oral or written.
All notices and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given when delivered personally, sent by certified or registered mail, postage prepaid, return receipt requested, or sent by overnight courier, addressed as follows:
If to Contractor:
1 Smart Build, Inc. [ADDRESS]
If to Client:
[CLIENT ADDRESS]
No waiver by either party of any breach or default hereunder shall be deemed to be a waiver of any subsequent breach or default.
If any provision of this Agreement is held to be invalid or unenforceable, such provision shall be struck and the remaining provisions shall remain in full force and effect.
1 Smart Build, Inc. – Payment Terms and Conditions
1.1. Client shall make all payments to 1 Smart Build, Inc. (“Company”) by one of the following methods:
* Check
* Same-Day Wire Transfer
* Credit Card (subject to Section 1.2)
* Cash
* Zelle
1.2. Credit Card Payments
1.2.1. Company accepts credit card payments for a maximum amount of Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00) per transaction. 1.2.2. Accepted credit cards are limited to Visa, Mastercard, and American Express. 1.2.3. A five percent (5%) processing fee will be applied to all credit card transactions.
2.1. Any delay in payment for a stage payment beyond the agreed-upon due date, without a valid justification, will incur a late fee of Two Hundred Fifty Dollars ($250.00) per day.
3.1. All stage payments are due upon completion of the respective work stage, as defined in the Agreement between Company and Client.
3.2. City Inspection Approval Not Required for Payment
3.2.1. Client’s obligation to make payment is not contingent upon the approval or denial of a final inspection by a city inspector.
4.1. These Payment Terms and Conditions (“Terms”) constitute a binding agreement between Client and Company.
5.1. These Terms govern all payments made through Company’s online payment portal.
6.1. Company accepts the following online payment methods:
* Debit Cards (subject to Section 6.2)
* Credit Cards (subject to Section 6.2)
* Electronic Bank Transfers
* Personal Checks
* Zelle
* Wire Transfers
6.2. Debit and Credit Card Limitations
6.2.1. The maximum online payment amount for debit and credit cards is Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00) per transaction.
7.1. Client represents and warrants that:
* They are at least eighteen (18) years of age.
* They possess the necessary authority to accept these Terms.
* Any credit card used for online payments is issued in their name or they are authorized to use it.
* They will be responsible for all charges incurred through online payments.
* All information provided is true and accurate.
7.2. Company utilizes Secure Socket Layer (SSL) technology to ensure the security of all online transactions.
7.3. Credit card information is protected by high-level encryption during transmission.
7.4. Company does not store client credit card details.
8.1. Upon successful payment processing, Client will receive a confirmation email. 8.2. In case of a failed payment, Client will be notified via email. Company will not be privy to the reason for the failure. Client should contact their bank or credit card provider for further details.
9.1. In case of a failed online payment, Client must utilize one of the alternative payment methods outlined on their invoice.
10.1. For any questions or concerns regarding these Terms, Client can contact Company at:
* Email: info@1smart.build
* Phone: 1-866-419-8840
11.1. Company reserves the right to modify these Terms at any time. The specific Terms applicable to a transaction will be the version in effect at the time of the transaction.
1 Smart Build, Inc. – Allowances and Cost Information
These allowances (“Allowances”) establish the maximum cost contribution provided by 1 Smart Build, Inc. (“Contractor”) for specific materials and services included in the construction project. Allowances are for informational purposes only and do not guarantee the final cost of materials or services.
If a Client desires materials or services exceeding the Allowances listed in this document, the Client shall be responsible for the additional cost. The additional cost will be the difference between the selected material/service cost and the corresponding Allowance amount.
Example:
Materials and services not included in the construction contract are the sole responsibility of the Client. The Client shall pay the Contractor for any additional expenses incurred due to Client-provided materials or services, including but not limited to:
The following table details Allowances for various materials and services. The Client is responsible for reviewing the Allowances carefully.
Allowances
The Allowances listed above are not exhaustive. The Client is responsible for any additional costs not covered by the Allowances, including but not limited to:
Material and service costs are subject to change. The Contractor will inform the Client of any significant price fluctuations that may impact the final project cost.
Certain services, such as architectural plans, engineering plans, and site surveys, may have minimum charges as listed.
A restocking fee of up to 25% of the order amount may be applied for cancelled or returned materials.
These Allowances are for budgeting purposes only and do not constitute a final cost estimate. The final project cost will be determined by the specific materials and services selected by the Client and any unforeseen circumstances encountered during construction.
1 Smart Build, Inc. – Warranty and City Fees
1.1 California Law Warranties
1 Smart Build, Inc. (“Contractor”) is obligated to provide the following warranties as mandated by California law:
Notice Requirement: To make a claim under this warranty, the Client must notify the Contractor in writing within one year from the completion date (California Business and Professions Code Section 7091-c).
Client Rights: In the event of a covered defect, the Client may file a claim against the Contractor for repairs and damages caused by the defective installation. Additionally, the Client may pursue legal action or file a complaint with the California State License Board if the Contractor fails to meet minimum installation requirements.
Latent Defects: Examples of latent defects covered under this warranty include foundation settling, excessive sagging of beams, and unusual site movement.
The Client is responsible for all city fees associated with the construction project. This includes permit fees, city service fees for obtaining permits, submitting plans, scheduling appointments, or any other city service required for the project.
City Service Fee: A city service fee will be added to every project to cover the aforementioned services. The fee ranges from $200.00 to $1000.00 and may be higher depending on the project’s specific needs.
The city service fee range provided is an estimate and the actual fee may vary. The Contractor will provide the Client with the exact city service fee amount before project commencement.
This section incorporates provisions from California Business and Professions Code Section 7091 regarding the timeframe for filing complaints against licensed contractors.
Clients with concerns about the quality of work performed by 1 Smart Build, Inc. (“Contractor”) are encouraged to follow this process:
If the Contractor fails to respond to the written notification or does not offer a reasonable settlement or repair within a reasonable timeframe, the Client may pursue legal action through the following options:
Clients may file a complaint with the CSLB against a licensed contractor within the legal deadlines. The CSLB has the authority to investigate complaints and take appropriate action.
The CSLB may not be able to assist clients with complaints against unlicensed contractors. In such cases, the Client’s sole remedy may be civil court action. Additionally, the Client may be liable for damages arising from injuries to the unlicensed contractor or their employees.
Clients can access California law regarding their rights at https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/.
The Contractor maintains a bond to guarantee job completion and payment for labor and materials. Clients may be eligible to file a claim against the bond to recover a judgment for substandard work that does not comply with local building codes. Further inquiries regarding bond claims should be directed to the CSLB.
1 Smart Build, Inc. does expressly disclaim warranties for the following:
1 Smart Build, Inc. reserves the right to decline payment if an account is in default.
1 Smart Build, Inc. reserves the right to modify its service offerings, including additions, deletions, or alterations, at its sole discretion.
1 Smart Build, Inc. reserves the right to refuse or withdraw service at any time at its sole discretion.
(Include this section only if applicable)
This contract may include an escalation clause that allows adjustments in fees to account for fluctuations in the costs of raw materials or labor. This clause would shift the burden for increased material and labor costs from the Contractor to the Client.
By signing this agreement, the Client acknowledges and agrees to all of 1 Smart Build, Inc.’s Terms and Conditions.