[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"detail-sidebar-cat-1-en-105":3,"doc-seo-338930-105":53,"doc-detail-338930-en":126},{"code":4,"msg":5,"data":6},0,"success",[7,14,19,24,29,34,39,44,49],{"id":8,"doc_module":9,"doc_module_name":10,"category_name":11,"show_sort_weight":12,"slug":13},11,1,"Template","Presentations",90,"presentations",{"id":15,"doc_module":9,"doc_module_name":10,"category_name":16,"show_sort_weight":17,"slug":18},12,"Resumes",80,"resumes",{"id":20,"doc_module":9,"doc_module_name":10,"category_name":21,"show_sort_weight":22,"slug":23},14,"Invoices",70,"invoices",{"id":25,"doc_module":9,"doc_module_name":10,"category_name":26,"show_sort_weight":27,"slug":28},15,"Posters",60,"posters",{"id":30,"doc_module":9,"doc_module_name":10,"category_name":31,"show_sort_weight":32,"slug":33},16,"Social Media",50,"social-media",{"id":35,"doc_module":9,"doc_module_name":10,"category_name":36,"show_sort_weight":37,"slug":38},17,"Forms",40,"forms",{"id":40,"doc_module":9,"doc_module_name":10,"category_name":41,"show_sort_weight":42,"slug":43},18,"Letters",30,"letters",{"id":45,"doc_module":9,"doc_module_name":10,"category_name":46,"show_sort_weight":47,"slug":48},21,"Paper Templates",5,"papers-templates",{"id":50,"doc_module":9,"doc_module_name":10,"category_name":51,"show_sort_weight":4,"slug":52},158,"General","general-158",{"code":4,"msg":54,"data":55},"ok",{"site_id":56,"language":57,"slug":58,"title":59,"keywords":60,"description":61,"schema_data":62,"social_meta":119,"head_meta":121,"extra_data":123,"updated_unix":125},105,"en","contracting-for-success-a-contractors-guide-to-home-improvement-contracts","Contracting for Success - A Contractor’s Guide to Home Improvement Contracts","","Contracting for Success is a contractor-focused guide to California home improvement contracting. It outlines the legal ground rules every home improvement contract (and related changes) must follow in writing, including required signed copies, readability and type-size rules, payment limits and down payment caps, commission payment conditions, and salesperson identification requirements. It also explains how to assemble key contract elements such as contractor information, contract identification, consumer notifications, and detailed work and materials descriptions, and highlights common problems and required disclosures.",{"@graph":63,"@context":118},[64,80,101],{"@type":65,"itemListElement":66},"BreadcrumbList",[67,71,74,77],{"item":68,"name":69,"@type":70,"position":9},"https://docshare.wps.com","Home","ListItem",{"item":72,"name":10,"@type":70,"position":73},"https://docshare.wps.com/template/",2,{"item":75,"name":41,"@type":70,"position":76},"https://docshare.wps.com/template/letters/",3,{"item":78,"name":59,"@type":70,"position":79},"https://docshare.wps.com/template/contracting-for-success-a-contractors-guide-to-home-improvement-contracts/338930/",4,{"url":78,"name":59,"@type":81,"image":82,"author":87,"headline":59,"publisher":90,"fileFormat":93,"inLanguage":57,"description":61,"dateModified":94,"datePublished":95,"encodingFormat":93,"isAccessibleForFree":96,"interactionStatistic":97},"DigitalDocument",{"url":83,"@type":84,"width":85,"height":86},"https://docshare.wps.com/thumbnails/contracting-for-success-a-contractors-guide-to-home-improvement-contracts/338930.png","ImageObject",442,249,{"name":88,"@type":89},"Jordan Avery","Person",{"url":68,"name":91,"@type":92},"DocShare","Organization","application/pdf","2026-09-29","2026-09-21",true,{"@type":98,"interactionType":99,"userInteractionCount":76},"InteractionCounter",{"@type":100},"ViewAction",{"@type":102,"mainEntity":103},"FAQPage",[104,110,114],{"name":105,"@type":106,"acceptedAnswer":107},"What basic legal elements must California home improvement contracts include?","Question",{"text":108,"@type":109},"The contract and any changes must be in writing and signed by all parties, the contract must be legible and readable, and the buyer must receive a signed and dated contractor/buyer copy before work starts. 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It does not contain definitive statements ofthe law or a precise copy of a legal contract. If you have questions about the application of the law for specific situations, you should contact an attorney whois familiar with the construction business.  \nDear Contractor,  \nA contract is one of the most important tools you have to help you have a successful business. A well written contract can help open the lines of communication between you and your client. A badly written contract can quickly lead to miscommunication and misunderstandings; problems that could land you in court or under investigation by the Contractors State License Board (CSLB) .  \nContracting for Success was written to help you understand the different elements that are required to be in all home improvement contracts. It also explains the state requirements for Service and Repair contracts. Please review this booklet closely and make sure your contracts follow California law. We also encourage you to use the other materials available to you for free on the CSLB website: [www.cslb.ca.gov](www.cslb.ca.gov).  \nThe CSLB hopes that by making this information available, we can help you strengthen your management and service skills. Please help us by doing your part to protect California consumers.  \nSincerely,  \nContractors State License Board  \nCONTRACTS – THE GROUND RULES  \nThere are several basic elements that all Home Improvement Contracts must legally contain:  \n> A home improvement contract and any changes to the contract must be in writing and signed by all parties. The writing must be legible and printed forms must be readable.  \n> Before any work is started, the contractor must give the buyera copy of the contract signed and dated by both the contractor and the buyer.  \n> Unless a larger typeface is specified in the law (Business and Professions Code 7159) , text in any printed form shall be in at least 10-point typeface and the headings shall be in at least 10-point boldface type. (Example of 10-point bold)  \n> Except for a down payment, a contractor can’t demand or accept payment for work or materials until the work is actually done or the materials are delivered. The down payment may not exceed $1,000 or 10 percent of the contract amount, whichever is less.  \n> If the contract includes a salesperson's commission in the contract price, the payment to the salesperson shall be made on a pro rata basis in proportion to the schedule of payments made to the contractor.  \n> The contract must also contain the name and registration number of the salesperson.  \n[A] NUTS AND BOLT  \nPUTTING THE CONTRACT TOGETHER  \nContracts can vary according to personal and business needs. California law (Civil Code: 1689.7) does require the following elements in all home improvement and swimming pool contracts. Service and Repair Contracts are different. (For details on those differences see page 20.)  \n[A.1] CONTRACTOR INFORMATION  \nThe name, business address, and license number of the contractor. If applicable, the name and registration number of the home improvement salesperson that solicited or negotiated the contract.  \nExample:  \n[A.2] IDENTIFY THE CONTRACT  \nIdentify the type of contract in at least 10-point boldface type: “Home Improvement”(Also see “Service a","cbCaihnEOoHht42e","https://ap.wps.com/l/cbCaihnEOoHht42e","pdf",359015,28,"English","# Introduction\n# Contracts – The Ground Rules\n# Nuts and Bolts - Putting the Contract Together\n## Description of Work to be Done\n## Progress Payment Schedule Worksheet\n## Sample Contract\n## Notifications and Disclosure Statements\n## Change Orders\n## Three-Day Right to Cancel\n## Seven-Day Right to Cancel\n# Common Problems With Home Improvement Contracts\n# Service and Repair Contracts\n# Resources","[{\"question\":\"What basic legal elements must California home improvement contracts include?\",\"answer\":\"The contract and any changes must be in writing and signed by all parties, the contract must be legible and readable, and the buyer must receive a signed and dated contractor/buyer copy before work starts. The guide also specifies type-size/boldface requirements, payment restrictions, and commission and salesperson identification requirements.\"},{\"question\":\"When can a contractor request or accept payment under the contract?\",\"answer\":\"Except for a down payment, a contractor cannot demand or accept payment for work or materials until the work is actually done or the materials are delivered. The down payment cannot exceed $1,000 or 10% of the contract amount, whichever is less.\"},{\"question\":\"How should contractors put together the contract’s description of work?\",\"answer\":\"Contractors must include a clear “Description of the Project and Description of the Significant Materials to be Used and Equipment to be Installed,” followed by detailed project descriptions, materials, and equipment. The guide notes that more detail reduces misunderstandings, and swimming pools require additional plan and scale drawing information.\"}]","Contracting for Success - A Contractor’s Guide to Home Improvement Contracts | PDF",1790026596,10]