Mastering Contracts: Your Key to Contractor Success

It’s called Contracting for a reason: Nearly every part of the project is governed by a contract. As a licensed contractor, you’re required to have a written contract with your customer. For most of you, the specialty trades are performed under a contract. For many of you, most if not all of the trades are performed by folks who are not employees; those relationships need to be governed by a contract. Most general contractors in the residential area spend less time building and more time coordinating performance under a contract. This course pulls back the curtain of the contract to take the mystery out. Rather than some mysterious legal document meant to protect you, you’ll discover that every contract, just like the projects it governs, has similar formula – the step-by-step set of instructions for building a successful project. This course breaks down the parts of a explores the importance of using contracts. This course helps attendees understand the benefits and protections contracts provide. In addition, this course will explain the customization options for project-specific contracts.

• Introduction
• What Is A Contract
• What does a contract do
• Terms every contract should include
• Required terms in Minnesota and Wisconsin
• What templates should be in your suite
• Conclusion
• Q&A

• Learn why the contract is more important for a successful project than the plans and specs
• Recognize the magic words every well-drafted contract contains and how to use them
• Know the magic words required in a customer contract for a licensed contractor
• Recognize the benefits, and dangers, of a “One-size-fits-all” contract template
• Identify contract templates you should have in your library and when to use them

In order to earn CE credit(s) for in-person courses, students must attend the entire course during the time span(s) listed. Credit(s) will not be issued for the following:

• Non-attendance
• Arriving more than 5 minutes after a course has begun
• Leaving before completion of the course
• Leaving the classroom for more than 5 minutes during a course hour
• Non-payment of the course
• Failure to sign-in and/or sign-out

Students must sign-in/sign-out, and be prepared to show their driver’s license or other legal identification with their photo if requested.

A quiz is not required for those attending for Minnesota contractor, building official, and Realtor continuing education, or Wisconsin continuing education. Students attending for International Accreditors for Continuing Education and Training (IACET) CEU(s) must complete a quiz following the course and achieve 70% correct answers.

This course is approved for one hour of MN residential contractor, remodeler, and roofer continuing education by the Minnesota Department of Labor & Industry, including the required business management credit. This course is also approved for one hour of WI Dwelling Contractor Qualifier CE by the Wisconsin Dept. of Safety & Professional Services. This course has been approved for one hour of MN realtor continuing education by the Minnesota Department of Commerce.

If you are eligible to receive continuing education credits, your information will be electronically reported to the appropriate agency within 3 business days of course completion.

A quiz is not required for those attending for Minnesota contractor, building official, and Realtor continuing education, or Wisconsin continuing education. Students attending for International Accreditors for Continuing Education and Training (IACET) CEU(s) must complete a quiz following the course and achieve 70% correct answers.

Questions and comments related to the curriculum for this course may be submitted to the instructor at education@housingfirstmn.org.