What should this contract include?
Choose the kind of contract you're writing or reviewing and get a checklist of the sections it should cover and the details each one needs. Tick items off as your draft covers them, then copy the list or download it as a one-page PDF.
Updated November 5, 2026 · 2 min read
0 of 11 covered
Grey blanks: you fill in before sendingBlue blanks: the signer fills in
See a full home improvement contract templateNothing you check leaves your device. The checklist and its PDF are made right here in your browser.
On this page
How it works
- 1
Pick the contract type
Twelve common contracts, grouped the way the contract template library is: home improvement, leases, waivers, freelance work, NDAs, offer letters and more.
- 2
Check your draft against it
Each item is a section the contract needs, with a line on what it should say. Tick it when your draft covers it.
- 3
See who fills in what
Gray tags are details you fill in before sending, like your price or the start date. Blue tags are what the signer fills in, like their name or initials.
- 4
Keep the list
Copy it as text for an email or your notes, or download a one-page PDF with your ticks on it.
Ways to use it
- Reviewing a contract someone sent you: go down the list and note what's missing before you sign.
- Turning an old document into a template: make sure every detail that changes has a blank, so nothing from the last customer slips into the next contract.
- Comparing two drafts: tick what each one covers and see which is complete.
Blanks are where mistakes happen
Most contract errors aren't in the legal language. They're in the details: a wrong date, a missing deposit amount, the last customer's address. Listing every blank, and who fills it in, is the quickest way to catch them. In SignMaster those blanks become fields: yours are filled in before sending, and the signer fills in theirs on a phone or computer as they sign.
Each checklist links to a matching document in the template library, which opens in SignMaster with Use this template.
A checklist, not legal advice
These lists cover the sections most contracts of each kind share. Laws vary by state and situation, and some agreements need specific wording or notices, so have a lawyer review anything with real money or risk riding on it.
Questions? Answers.
Which contract types are included?
Home improvement, recurring service, change order, residential lease, event venue rental, liability waiver, freelance, mutual NDA, offer letter, vehicle bill of sale, client intake and consent, and donation pledge.
Is my checklist saved?
It's kept while the page is open. Copy it or download the PDF to keep it; nothing you tick is stored or sent anywhere.
What if my contract type isn't listed?
Start from the closest one. Most agreements share the same backbone: who, what, when, how much, what happens if something goes wrong, and signatures.
Does a checklist replace a lawyer?
No. It helps you spot missing pieces, but it can't tell you what your state requires or whether a clause will hold up.