Twelve questions to ask before you sign an interiors contract

Interiors is one of the few large purchases where most buyers sign without a specification sheet. These are the questions that surface the difference between two quotes that look identical.

• Which grade of plywood, named, for each room? Ask to see the IS stamp.
• Which hardware brand, and what is the warranty period on hinges and channels specifically?
• Is the countertop included, and in which material and thickness?
• What is excluded? Ask for the exclusions list in writing.
• What is the penalty if you miss the delivery date?
• Who pays if a site condition changes the scope?
• Is the 3D design binding on the final build?
• How many free design revisions before sign-off?
• What is the payment schedule, and what triggers each stage?
• Who is my single point of contact, and what happens if they leave?
• What exactly does the warranty exclude?
• Will you provide a written snag list process before final payment?

If a company will not put its exclusions in writing, the exclusions are the business model.