What is included in a construction contract? Do most clients have a lawyer review this for them?
The construction contract describes the duties of the Owner, Contractor, and Architect during the construction process. There are many different types of contracts, covering different forms of project delivery; standard forms have been published by the American Institute of Architects, the Associated General Contractors, and many other industry groups. Rather than reinvent the wheel, the use of standard contracts, which have been modified over countless projects and many years of experience, is encouraged. Generally, the Contract Documents consist of the contract form, the General Conditions and supplements, the drawings, and the specifications. Should deviations from the original contract documents be made during the course of construction, these should be handled as Change Orders, which become a part of the construction record.
