Buying a home is a big undertaking for many California residents. In the Bay Area, the down payment for a single family home can be a significant sum of money, and the monthly commitment of a mortgage may constitute a large percentage of the purchaser’s income. Before...
A duty to defend clause can complicate your design contract
As a design professional in California, you bear an enormous amount of responsibility, not all of which should rest solely on your shoulders. Through properly drawn contracts, you can mitigate some of that responsibility. However, many contracts try to place undue...
Designer or architect, what’s the difference?
People use the words "designer" and "architect" interchangeably. But there is are important differences. Many people contribute to the design of a home. The client may have ideas or suggestions, an architect may do a design sketch and an interior designer may help the...
Grounds for construction defect claims
Claims of construction defects are serious legal issues for professionals that are involved in the planning, assessment, and building of new real property projects. In California, design professionals, contractors, and other industry specialists can face costly...