Sign a contract before decorating. If you don’t read these terms clearly, you will regret it.

Decoration contract disputes are the hardest hit area by consumer complaints. Many owners only find out after paying the down payment that there are too many ambiguities in the contract, such as additional costs, shoddy materials, and delays in the construction period... It is very difficult to pursue liability afterwards. Pay attention to these points before signing the contract.

First: The quotation details must be accurate to the material specifications.

This is the place where it is easiest to be "routine".

Unqualified quotation writing method:

"2 coats of latex paint, including labor" - no brand/model, no weight/square meter usage

Qualified writing:

"Wall primer (XX brand XXX type) 1 coat, xxx g/㎡; topcoat (XX brand XXX type) 2 coats, xxx g/㎡"

Why this matters:

The same "latex paint 2 coats", the price difference between different grades of products is 3–5 times
If the model is not written in the contract, you will not be able to protect your rights if the builder uses low-priced materials.
The same applies to woodworking boards (E0/E1/E2 level) and floor tiles (anti-slip level)

Practical Suggestions:

Require each item of material to be attached with a model or brand, and write it into the contract or attachment
Keep the purchase vouchers for the main materials (if purchased by the decorator, they need to provide them)

Second: Additional terms - the source of sky-high asking prices

Additions (extra-budgetary expenses) are the most common source of renovation disputes.

Common addition routines:

The "hidden project" was discovered after the construction started: After demolishing the wall, it was discovered that the water and electricity needed to be completely renovated, and the quotation was increased by 20,000-30,000 yuan.
Material Price Difference: Some materials in the contract are of the most basic specifications. It is "recommended to upgrade" during construction, and the price difference will be charged separately.
Manual increase: If the project quantity exceeds the estimate (the reason is unclear), additional construction fees will be charged.
VAT/Material Freight: Not mentioned when signing the contract, but suddenly appear when paying the final payment

Contract terms must be written clearly:

Clearly stipulates: When the unit price of the additional project exceeds XX% of the total original contract price, written confirmation from both parties is required before construction can begin.
Requests for additional items must have a confirmation signed by the owner**, verbal consent does not count.
The excess portion of concealed works (water and electricity) is clearly calculated based on the actual drawings, rather than "based on workers' estimates"

Third: The payment node should be linked to the progress of the project

Dangerous Payment Structure:

50% upon signing the contract, 30% upon commencement of construction, and 20% upon completion → 80% has been paid before the start of construction, and the risk of the decoration company leaving the site is extremely high

Recommended payment structure (tied to engineering nodes):

Stage	Payment ratio	Acceptance content
Sign a contract	10–15%	——
Water and electricity completion acceptance	20%	Water pressure test, circuit power test
Acceptance of masonry completion	20%	Tile flatness and hollowing inspection
Carpentry/painting completion	20%	Flatness, color difference, door opening smoothness
Completed delivery acceptance	20%	Whole house inspection
Warranty expiration	10%	Retained as warranty deposit

Warranty deposit (final payment): Keep at least 5–10% of the total contract price as payment after the warranty period (usually 1–2 years) expires. This is the owner’s most important bargaining chip after acceptance.

Fourth: Construction period terms and liquidated damages

Common vague writing methods:

"The construction period is about 90 working days" - the word "approximately" makes the construction period a decoration
"If there is a delay due to the construction party, we will negotiate based on the actual situation" - no specific compensation

The contract should be clear:

Construction start date and completion date (specific to year, month and day)
Liquidated damages for delays in the construction period (not caused by the owner) (recommendation: 0.1–0.5% of the total contract price for each day of delay)
Procedures and notification obligations for suspension and resumption of work

Scope of "Force Majeure": Many contracts also include "delay in supply of building materials" and "weather reasons" as force majeure, which is detrimental to the owner. When signing the contract, it is required to delete or reduce the scope of force majeure.

Fifth: Material inspection node

Do a good job in the site acceptance of the following key materials:

Waterproof Material:

The waterproofing of the bathroom must be done with a closed water test (water is released for 24-48 hours, and there will be no leakage downstairs)
Requires the closed water test results to be photographed and documented

Water and electricity pipelines:

Circuit: Check the pipe specifications (national standard 4mm² copper wire for air conditioning, 2.5mm² for lighting/socket)
Waterway: The water supply pipe must be a PPR pipe, check the hot-melt joint (cannot be glued), and do a pressure test (0.8MPa, maintain for 30 minutes without pressure reduction)

Tile laying:

Test with hollow drum sound (no hollow drum when struck, the hollow drum rate is required to be < 5%)

Sixth: Contract attachments and design drawings

Contract should contain:

Construction Contract (Main Clauses)
Detailed quotation (including material specifications)
Construction design drawings (including water and electricity route maps and elevations)
Material sample confirmation sheet or list

Why you need a hydropower diagram:

Only drawings can prove the direction of water pipes and wires in the wall
In the future, if you want to upgrade your decoration and drill holes, you won’t dare to drill holes in the wall without a picture.
After the owner leaves, the construction party may not construct according to the drawings, and the drawings are proof

Common dispute resolution methods

Path	Suitable
Negotiation	Small issues, both parties are sincere
Consumer Association	For minor disputes, apply for mediation
12315 Complaints	Obvious Violations
Arbitration Commission	The contract has an arbitration clause
People's Court	The amount is large and negotiations have failed

Important: Keep all evidence - WeChat chat records, payment screenshots, construction site photos, material receipts, and contract text. In the event of a dispute, evidence determines everything.

*This article refers to the "Construction Project Quality Management Regulations" and relevant consumer rights protection regulations and does not constitute legal advice. Please consult a legal professional for specific circumstances. *