Q: I will be engaging a carpenter to do some furniture for my new house. We have already verbally agreed on the kind of furniture I want and how much it will cost.

The carpenter said he would send me a contract to sign. Is there anything I should make sure is included in the contract, especially when it comes to the carpenter’s responsibilities?

A: When making such purchases, which are usually both time-consuming and expensive, it is important to take certain precautions to avoid possible problems.

First of all, you need to make sure all that was agreed upon during the sale is written down in the contract of sale. This kind of contract should include the following:

• Who the carpenter is and his contact details;

• A clear and detailed description of the furniture ordered;

• The date when the goods will be delivered;

• A clause stating that if the ordered furniture is not delivered by the agreed date, the trader willbe charged a penalty until it isdelivered;

• The price agreed, including delivery and installation charges;

• The amount of deposit paid and when and how the rest of the payment will be made.

It is also in your interest to make sure that a percentage of the total payment is made after the furniture is installed and carefully inspected.

Finally, before signing you should carefully read and understand the terms and conditions. You should also be given a copy of the contract.