This isn't a lawyer's checklist.
It's the exact list I run through on every GC subcontract that hits my desk — built from 21 years of signing contracts, eating losses I shouldn't have eaten, and learning the hard way what these clauses actually mean when the job goes sideways.
What's Inside ➡
Every red flag in this guide comes from a real project. Every "what to do" is something I've actually negotiated. No theory. No legalese. Just the clauses that cost steel erectors the most money, and the specific language to push back with.
Three-column benefits block (use icons — simple line icons, not cartoon illustrations):
🛡️ Protect Your Margin Spot the clauses that quietly transfer the GC's risk onto your balance sheet — before you sign, not after.
⚡ Move Fast On Contracts Know exactly what to look for so a contract review takes 30 minutes, not 3 hours. Built for PMs and owners who don't have time to read every line.
💬 Negotiate With Confidence Each red flag comes with specific pushback language. Stop signing what's in front of you and start negotiating from a position of knowledge.
PAYMENT TRAPS 💰
Clauses that delay or eliminate the money you've already earned
🚩Red flags covered in this section: ✓ Pay-If-Paid vs. Pay-When-Paid ✓ Retainage Terms ✓ Change Order Notification Deadlines
"The clauses that decide whether you get paid in 30 days or 2 years."
RISK TRANSFER 🛡️
Clauses that quietly move the GC's liability onto your balance sheet
🚩Red flags covered: ✓ Broad Indemnification Language ✓ Liquidated Damages Flow-Down ✓ Insurance Requirements Beyond Your Coverage ✓ Termination For Convenience
"The clauses that make you pay for problems you didn't cause."
SCOPE & DISPUTE 📋
Clauses that let the GC redefine your work and trap you when things go sideways
🚩Red flags covered: ✓ Scope of Work Gaps and Ambiguity ✓ No-Damage-For-Delay Clauses ✓ Dispute Resolution Restrictions
"The clauses that turn a clear job into 'whatever the GC says it is.'"