What the law requires
According to the Department of Consumer Protection, a home improvement contract has to be in writing and has to carry:
- The contractor’s name and address.
- The contractor’s Connecticut registration number.
- Four dates: the date it is signed, the date work will start, the date work will be completed, and the cancellation deadline.
- The signatures of both parties, with a signed copy for you.
The same contract rule covers changes. A change to the job is a change to the contract, and it has to be in writing too.
The three-day right to cancel
Connecticut gives you three days to cancel a home improvement contract, and Saturday counts as a business day. The contract has to state the deadline as a date. If you decide to cancel, the safest route is a written notice, with proof of the date you sent it.
What else to put in writing
The legal minimum is a floor. These items are not all required by law, but each one prevents an argument later.
| Item | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| A description of the work | Says what is included and what is not, room by room and trade by trade. |
| Materials with brand, model and finish | Prevents a substitution you did not choose. |
| Allowances | A placeholder amount for something not yet chosen, such as tile. Say what happens if you choose something above or below it. |
| Payment schedule | Tie each payment to a stage of finished work you can see. |
| Permits | Say who applies, who pays the fees and who schedules the inspections. Both parties must agree on who pulls the building permit. |
| Licensed trades | Name the electrician, plumber and heating contractor who will do the work, with their license numbers. |
| Lead-safe practices | For a house built before 1978, say the firm is EPA lead-safe certified and will follow the rule. |
| Protection, debris and cleanup | Who protects floors and furniture, who hauls away the old kitchen, and who cleans up. |
| Working days and hours | Particularly important in condos and shared buildings. |
| How changes are handled | A written change order, with the price and the schedule effect, signed before the work happens. |
| Warranty | What is covered, for how long and who to call. |
Change orders
Changes are normal. A found rotten joist, a different tile or a moved outlet all change the price or the time. What matters is that each change is written down, with its cost and its effect on the dates, before the work is done. Verbal agreements are how a fair bill turns into a dispute.
Before you sign
What if I already signed a contract without the dates?
Ask the contractor to replace it with one that has them, and consider contacting the Department of Consumer Protection. Keep what you have, and do not let work start until it is fixed.
Does a written estimate count as a contract?
Not necessarily. An estimate is a price proposal. The contract is the document both of you sign, and it needs the items above. Ask which one you are looking at.
Can I cancel after the three days?
The three-day right is a specific window. After it, your rights depend on the contract and on what the contractor has done. The Department of Consumer Protection can tell you where you stand.