Description
Contracts, Liabilities and Risk Management
Course Description
This five hour video course explains the principles of contract law and the important elements of a home building and remodeling contract. It is in the best interest of any contractor to be able to understand the basic principles of a contract, and how to craft one that is binding and legal. There are many elements to consider, from the initial process of placing a bid to the final signing of a mutually agreed upon contract. Understanding the concepts of offer and acceptance, consideration, fraud and breach of contract are necessary in order to create a document that meets the requirements of the law, and is to the satisfaction of all parties involved.
Learning Objectives are provided to facilitate student understanding and progress. Informal progress checks throughout the module help students review and measure their understanding of the material. The assessment at the end of each chapter accurately reflects Learning Objectives. A 70% passing score on each assessment is required to move on to the next chapter.
COURSE OUTLINE
Chapter 1 – Contract Rules and Elements (30 minutes)
*Learning Objectives: 1) Understand laws to remember when making agreements 2) Why clarity of the contract language is so important 3) Learn the basic elements of a contract 4) Understand what language should always be in a contract 5) Understand what language can be useful in certain situations.
A. Contractor law
B. Content of written agreements
C. Clarity
D. Required Documents
Chapter 2 – Contract Types (30 minutes)
*Learning Objectives: 1) Describe what other documents may be included with a contract 2) Understand what different positions a contractor may be in 3) Understand what constitutes a fixed price, unit price or cost-plus-fee contract, and what the differences are.
A. Contract Documents
B. Role of the Contractor
C. Fixed Price Contract
D. Unit Price Contract
E. Cost Plus Fee Contracts
Chapter 3 – Retainage and Scope Creep (30 minutes)
*Learning Objectives: 1) Identify liquidated damages and retainage 2) Understand how to manage scope creep 3) Be able to write an RFP and how to decline a proposal.
A. Liquidated Damages
B. Retainage
C. Scope Creep
D. Request for Proposal
Chapter 4 – Bidding and Letters of Intent (30 minutes)
*Learning Objectives: 1) List reasons for holding a pre-proposal meeting 2) Understand how to create and use a decision matrix 3) Know how to write a residential letter of intent 4) Describe the differences between a commercial letter of intent and a residential one 5) Identify a no-bid letter and understand how to use it.
A. Pre-proposal Meetings
B. Decision Matrix
C. Letter of Intent
D. No Bid Letter
E. Contract Sources
F. Bidding Large Jobs
Chapter 5 – Contract Formatting (20 minutes)
*Learning Objectives: 1) Identify the components of a contract 2) Define consideration as it relates to contracts 3) Understand the many formats a contract can take 4) Understand legal interpretation of written contracts.
A. Fundamentals
B. Consideration
C. Written vs. Oral
Chapter 6 – Offer and Acceptance (35 minutes)
*Learning Objectives: 1) Describe capacity and how it may affect an agreement 2) Identify what makes an offer valid and what constitutes an adequate acceptance 3) Know what conditions may apply to a contract 4) Describe reliance.
A. Capacity
B. Offer and Acceptance
C. Terms and Conditions
Chapter 7 – Consideration (30 minutes)
*Learning Objectives: 1) Understand mutuality of obligation in terms of consideration 2) Identify who and what agents represent 3) Describe delegation and assignment of responsibilities 4) Understand the concept of a “reasonable person”.
A. Consideration
B. Agents
C. Delegation of Responsibility
D. Reasonable Person
E. Beware Mistakes that Bind
Chapter 8 – Duress and Fraud (30 minutes)
*Learning Objectives: 1) Describe what things make a contract illegal 2) Define duress and undue influence 3) Describe the difference between fraud and a mistake 4) Understand how situational changes can affect a contract.
A. Illegal Contracts
B. Duress
C. Fraud
Chapter 9 – Breach of Contract (35 minutes)
*Learning Objectives: 1) Understand how the statute of limitations for malpractice and the statute of repose works for contractors 2) Identify the positive and negative forms of contracts 3) Appreciate the need to read the entire document and get all agreements in writing.
A. Time Limits
B. Form Contracts
C. Fine Print
D. Get it in Writing
E. Stopping Work Before a Dispute
F. Excluding Work from a Contract
G. Who Pays if Something is Wrong?
Course instructors will be available by email or telephone between 8am and 6pm Eastern Standard Time. They will assist you with questions regarding course content.
If you have any questions, please call us at 1-800-727-7104 or send an email to info@onlinecti.com. Email responses will usually be returned promptly, but guaranteed within one business day.
Student policies and procedures are always available by going to our website and scrolling to the bottom of the page (See Attendance, Privacy and Refund Policy).
