Louisiana Home Improvement Contract

Louisiana Home Improvement Contract

Contract date: [__/__/____]

Owner: [FULL LEGAL NAME], [MAILING ADDRESS], [PHONE], [EMAIL].

Contractor: [FULL LEGAL NAME], [BUSINESS ADDRESS], [PHONE], [EMAIL].

Contractor Louisiana license or registration number: [NUMBER AND TYPE].

Project address: [STREET ADDRESS, CITY, PARISH, LOUISIANA ZIP].

Owner engages Contractor to complete the home improvement described here and in the attached exhibits. Contractor accepts the work on the terms the parties sign below.

1. Complete agreement and attached documents

This agreement includes only the documents checked and identified below. Each attached document is incorporated into this agreement.

☐ Exhibit A — detailed scope, plans, materials, and exclusions, dated [__/__/____].

☐ Exhibit B — price schedule or cost-plus/time-and-materials estimate, dated [__/__/____].

☐ Exhibit C — work schedule, dated [__/__/____].

☐ Exhibit D — property insurance claim repair estimate, if applicable, dated [__/__/____].

☐ Exhibit E — required current insurance certificates, identified as [________________].

☐ Other document: [TITLE, DATE, AND DESCRIPTION].

An exhibit identified but not attached at signing does not become part of the agreement until both parties sign a written addition identifying it. If an exhibit conflicts with this agreement, the parties will resolve the conflict by a signed change order.

2. Work and materials

Contractor will perform: [DETAILED WORK DESCRIPTION; REFER TO EXHIBIT A].

Materials, manufacturers, models, grades, and finish selections: [DETAILS OR EXHIBIT A].

Work expressly excluded: [DETAILS / NONE].

Owner will provide access, utilities, and site information as follows: [DETAILS]. Contractor will protect the work area and remove project debris as follows: [DETAILS].

Permits and inspections. Contractor will obtain [SPECIFY PERMITS] and coordinate [SPECIFY INSPECTIONS]. Owner will obtain [SPECIFY OWNER-RESPONSIBILITY ITEMS / NONE]. Permit charges are allocated in Section 3.

3. Price and payment

Choose one pricing method and complete the corresponding details:

☐ Fixed price. Total price for the work described above: $[AMOUNT], including [IDENTIFY INCLUDED TAXES, PERMIT FEES, AND ALLOWANCES].

☐ Cost-plus. Owner's approximate expected cost: $[AMOUNT]. Contractor's fee or markup: [FORMULA]. Reimbursable costs and supporting records: [DETAILS / EXHIBIT B].

☐ Time and materials. Owner's approximate expected cost: $[AMOUNT]. Labor rates, material pricing, markup, and supporting records: [DETAILS / EXHIBIT B].

Payment schedule: [DEPOSIT, MILESTONES, AMOUNTS, AND FINAL BALANCE]. Payment is due [NUMBER] days after the applicable invoice and supporting records are delivered. Owner may identify a disputed item in writing; the parties will address it while paying undisputed sums under the agreed schedule.

Price changes require the written change order in Section 5. A payment or estimate does not itself approve changed scope.

4. Schedule

Expected start date: [__/__/____], after both parties sign and required permits and attachments are ready.

Expected substantial completion date: [__/__/____]. Final completion items and inspection: [DETAILS / EXHIBIT C].

If a delay occurs, the affected party will promptly describe its cause, expected length, and proposed schedule change in writing. An extension or added cost requires a written change order signed by both parties.

5. Changes to the work

Before changed work begins, both parties will sign a change order identifying the changed scope, materials, price or pricing method, payment timing, and any schedule effect. Change order number: [____]. A change order becomes part of this agreement when both parties sign it.

6. Contractor insurance and personnel

Contractor will provide current certificates showing workers' compensation coverage and the amount of liability coverage maintained whenever insurance is required for its license or registration. Attach the certificates as Exhibit E before signing. Contractor remains responsible for its workers and subcontractors under this agreement. Identified subcontractors: [NAMES AND WORK / TO BE IDENTIFIED IN WRITING].

7. Property insurance claim work, if applicable

☐ This work is connected to Owner's property damage insurance claim. Before Owner authorizes the repairs, Contractor has given Owner the good faith, itemized estimate of service and material costs in Exhibit D. Claim number, if Owner chooses to disclose it: [NUMBER].

☐ This project is not undertaken pursuant to a property damage insurance claim; Exhibit D is not used.

Contractor will not interpret Owner's policy or adjust the claim for Owner. Owner and the insurer, not Contractor, decide coverage and claim payment. The parties may agree in a signed change order to repair work that differs from the initial estimate after the claim is adjusted.

8. Completion, defects, and warranties

Contractor will notify Owner when work is ready for inspection. The parties will record any incomplete or defective items and a reasonable completion plan in a signed punch list. Final payment is due under Section 3 after the agreed final-completion milestone, subject to any written dispute.

Contractor's express workmanship warranty, if any: [SCOPE, DURATION, CLAIM CONTACT, AND REMEDY / NONE STATED]. Manufacturer warranties delivered to Owner: [LIST / NONE]. This section does not waive any right that applicable law does not permit the parties to waive.

9. Suspension and termination

If a party materially fails to perform, the other party may give written notice describing the failure and a proposed resolution. If the matter is not resolved within [NUMBER] days after receipt, the nonbreaching party may terminate by further written notice, subject to applicable law. The parties will account for completed work, materials ordered, payments made, and documented losses under the agreed terms and applicable law.

10. Notices and disputes

Contract notices must be sent to the addresses or email contacts in the opening block, unless a party gives a replacement contact in writing. Delivery method and effective receipt: [AGREED METHOD AND RECORD]. The parties will first exchange a written description of any dispute and attempt to resolve it within [NUMBER] days. Louisiana law governs this agreement, subject to any mandatory rule applicable to the project. Court venue, if the parties agree on one: [PARISH AND COURT, SUBJECT TO LAW].

11. Signatures and signed copies

The parties confirm that they received the exhibits and certificates checked in Section 1. Each party receives a copy of the complete signed agreement at signing. Contractor will not begin work before all parties sign.

Owner: [SIGNATURE] Printed name: [NAME] Date: [__/__/____]

Additional Owner, if any: [SIGNATURE] Printed name: [NAME] Date: [__/__/____]

Contractor's authorized signer: [SIGNATURE] Printed name and title: [NAME, TITLE] Date: [__/__/____]

Sources and references

• La. R.S. 37:2159 — contracting agreement contents and copies
• La. R.S. 37:2159.1 — prohibited property insurance claim practices