A-03Legend
Legend
The vocabulary of home projects, one symbol at a time.
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Addendum | A written change or addition to an agreement, signed by both sides. |
| Allowance | A set amount in an estimate for items not yet chosen, such as tile or lighting. |
| Building department | The local office that reviews plans, issues permits and inspects work. |
| Change order | A written record of a change to the scope, with its price and schedule effect. |
| Code | The set of local rules for how buildings must be built and altered. |
| Contingency | Money set aside, apart from the main budget, for surprises found during work. |
| Deposit | An up-front payment. Limits and customs vary by state. |
| Estimate | A written, approximate price for described work. May or may not be fixed. |
| Exclusion | Something the price does not include. |
| Inspection | A check by the local authority that work meets code at a set stage. |
| License | Official permission to work in a trade, where a state or locality requires it. |
| Lien | A legal claim against property for unpaid work or materials. Rules vary by state. |
| Permit | Official approval from the local authority to carry out certain work. |
| Punch list | A written list of small items left to finish or fix at the end of a project. |
| Scope of work | The written description of the tasks included in a project. |
| Soft costs | Project costs other than materials and labor, such as permits and design. |
| Subcontractor | A tradesperson hired by the main contractor for part of the work. |
| Warranty | A written promise about the work or product, with its length and limits. |
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