Contracts provide a legally-enforceable framework for guiding any and every type of business relationship, from employment agreements to orders for parts and supplies. While these agreements are key to guiding business relationships and ventures across all sectors, getting contracts right is especially important within construction, where the ability to complete a build on time, on budget and to code hinges upon all vendor arrangements going as expected. From the builder’s perspective, contracts are also important for preventing scope creep and to reducing the risk of cost overruns they may unexpectedly have to absorb. Construction management contracts encompass the work and/or materials required for a building project. Typically, they will address: 1)Project/deliverable specifications 2)Labor and material requirements 3)Timelines for completion/delivery 4)Compensation formula and amounts While construction management agreements will typically include the above, they can be structured differently, with numerous types of contracts that are designed to best meet the needs of all parties under all sorts of different scenarios. Familiarizing yourself with the types of contracts that are typically in play within building projects is an important first step to optimizing all contract-related processes within construction management.