Free Subcontractor Agreement Template

Kitchen renovation subcontractor services agreement

This is our working agreement for the kitchen gut renovation package described in the accepted proposal (and any written, signed change orders). It is written for how jobs actually run on site, including permits, inspections, weather, and the day to day handoffs between trades. By starting work, ordering materials, or signing the proposal, we are both agreeing to follow the terms in this agreement so the job stays clean, safe, and moving.

What you’re doing

You are our subcontractor for the kitchen gut renovation package we assign to you on this project. Deliverables included: Kitchen scope plan; Moisture check notes; Permits and inspection schedule; Rough framing and tie-in work; New windows and doors installed; Finished kitchen build-out. We will confirm your exact start date, working hours, and sequencing in writing as we lock the permit timeline and other trades. You will provide the labor, supervision, and trade coordination needed for your scope, and you will follow the plans, manufacturer instructions, and inspection requirements that apply to your work.

Deposit to book you

If we’re reserving specific dates for you, ordering long lead materials through you, or asking you to turn down other work to hold our schedule, we may take a deposit from us to you (or require a deposit from you to us for special order items). The deposit amount, what it covers, and who is holding it will be written on the proposal or the purchase order we issue. That deposit is there to secure the schedule and committed costs. It is refundable only to the extent we can recover it from suppliers or reassign the booked labor, less any non-cancellable costs already incurred.

Payment

We pay you by project milestones or progress billing, as shown on our proposal, purchase order, or approved schedule of values. You invoice us with enough detail for us to match it to the agreed scope and the current stage on site (for example: rough complete, inspection passed, setting complete, final complete). We do not pay for work that is not complete, not inspected where required, or not part of the agreed scope. Invoice due dates are as stated on the proposal or purchase order. If an invoice goes past due, we will tell you what is holding it up, and we may pause your next scheduled work until the account is current. If we incur collection costs because an invoice remains unpaid, you cover those reasonable costs.

Changes

Older homes surprise everyone once walls are open. If you see rot, termites, hidden plumbing or electrical issues, out of plumb framing, water intrusion, or anything that changes your scope, stop that affected area and tell our project lead the same day, with photos where possible. We do changes the same way every time: you price it first, we review it, and we both agree it in writing before you do the extra work. Your change request must say what is changing, what it adds or removes, any inspection impact, and any schedule impact. If you proceed without written approval, we will treat it as included in your original scope and price.

Site access and decisions

We will give you site access during the working hours we set for the project, and we will tell you who the homeowner contact is and what the HOA or building rules are that affect deliveries, parking, elevator use (if any), noise windows, and debris handling. You agree to follow those rules and keep pathways clear. Week to week, we need you to: show up when scheduled; confirm crew size and arrival time the day before; flag missing selections or long lead items early; and answer plan questions fast. Our project lead is your day to day point of contact for layout, inspections, and sequencing. Do not take direction from the homeowner directly unless we put it in writing.

Not included

Unless we write it into your scope, you are not responsible for: permit fees; engineering or design services; asbestos, mold, or lead testing and abatement; full home waterproofing or envelope remediation beyond the immediate work area; repairing pre-existing conditions outside your work footprint; moving or protecting homeowner personal property; temporary kitchen setups; or any work in areas we have not released to you. You are also not responsible for other trades’ work, even if your work depends on it. If another trade’s rough-in, inspection, or surface condition blocks you, tell us right away so we can reset the handoff and avoid rework.

Clean finish and punch list

You leave your work area broom clean at the end of each day, stack materials safely, and protect finished surfaces you are working near. When your scope is complete, you walk your work with our project lead and we write a punch list in plain language so everyone is clear on what is left. “Making good” for you means: touching up within your work area where your crew caused the damage; sealing and fastening per manufacturer requirements; and correcting missed items that are part of your agreed scope. It does not mean repainting whole rooms, refinishing unrelated surfaces, or correcting pre-existing defects. If a punch item is raised after handover, tell us what you can do and when, and we will schedule it so it does not disrupt the homeowner.

Responsibility

You are responsible for the quality and safety of your workmanship, your crew, your tools, and your means and methods. You are also responsible for damage you cause to the home, the site, neighboring property, or completed work by others. We are not responsible for delays or failures caused by conditions outside our control, including permit office timelines, failed inspections caused by prior work you did not perform, material backorders, utility outages, or severe weather. If a storm is forecast, you secure your materials and work area, and we coordinate the site plan so the home can be left safe and weather-tight as best as the current stage allows.

Ending the job early

If either of us needs to end this subcontract, we give written notice and a clear reason. We will set the notice period on the proposal or purchase order, because it depends on where we are in the sequence and what other trades are scheduled. Up to the termination date, you are paid for approved work properly completed and accepted, less any backcharges for damage, rework, missed inspections, or cleanup you were responsible for. You return any keys, access devices, and any of our materials you are holding. You also hand over what we need to keep the project moving, including as-built notes, product information, and any inspection paperwork related to your scope.