Q: A guy wants to take my old barn down. What can I do to make sure I'm not liable for accidents etc? ILLINOIS
Agreed he could have half the wood.
A: Make sure that you have a written agreement. Although I don't see this work as falling under the Home Repair and Remodeling Act, the act requires written contracts for work in excess of $1,000. That should be a tip that a written agreement may be useful here. Have the contractor agree to maintain insurance, name you as an additional insured on the job, and get a certificate of insurance with you named from the contractor's insurance broker. Make sure the contractor, if it is a corporation, actually exists and is in good standing with the state.
A: Spend a few hundred dollars to have an attorney draw a contract where the party who is to demolish the barn where the other party agrees to demolish the barn and further agrees to assume ALL liability for injury or damage to any people and to any property other than the barn in exchange for 1/2 of the salvage wood.
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