Reading a building contract before you sign

Most homeowners sign a contract they have not read, because it looks like legal furniture. In practice a domestic building contract is short, and only a few clauses ever get used.

The clauses that get used

Payment terms, the completion date and any extension of time provision, how variations are instructed and valued, retention, defects liability, and how either side can end the agreement.

Why a written contract protects both sides

A clear contract is not a sign of distrust. It gives your builder certainty about payment and gives you certainty about scope and time. Ambiguity is what turns a disagreement into a dispute.