TRUST YOUR GUT: Chapter Fourteen, Additional Provisions That Protect Your Profit

Every "never again" moment belongs in your contract. Karalynn shares hard‑learned stories involving dead koi, pets, bad reviews, spray foam, and more, and shows how catch‑all and specific clauses can limit consequential damages and turn painful lessons into protection. Learn more about The Cromeens Law Firm here ! Grab Karalynn's new book Trust Your Gut here . Follow Karalynn Cromeens on Facebook here . Follow Karalynn Cromeens on Instagram here . Follow Karalynn Cromeens on LinkedIn here . Watch the show on YouTube here . Key Takeaways 1. Treat every painful job as a lesson and update your contract so you never learn that lesson twice. 2. Use a broad consequential‑damages disclaimer plus specific carve‑outs (pets, landscaping, visitors, noise, delays) to set expectations. 3. Add provisions for social media photos, mediation before bad reviews, technical products like spray foam, and maintenance responsibilities. 4. Make maintenance and lack of upkeep expressly the homeowner's responsibility so you are not blamed for long‑term neglect. Timestamped Overview 01:00 Story of Wyatt cleaning a koi pond: routine job, careful handling, and then a call days later that all the expensive fish died after the cleaning. 02:00 Explanation that the contract said Wyatt was only cleaning the pond, not guaranteeing fish survival, but the devastated owners wanted $5,000 for the fish on a $3,000 job. 03:00 Wyatt chooses to refund the $3,000 to avoid a long fight and then adds detailed clauses about water chemistry risks and aquatic life to future contracts. 04:00 Principle: every surprise or "I didn't see that coming" is a chance to change your contract; contracts are living documents that should evolve with your business and experience. 05:00 Introduction of example provisions contractors add: social media use clauses giving permission to use project photos while still being willing to remove them later to preserve goodwill. 06:00 Discussion of a mediation‑before‑bad‑review clause requiring clients to attempt mediation before posting scathing online reviews, so you get one fair shot to resolve issues privately. 07:00 Spray foam insulation provision: explanation that foam can be installed perfectly but still cause problems if the house is not set up for it, and why you must disclaim responsibility for existing systems and ventilation. 08:00 Introduction of the "catch‑all" clause that says you are not responsible for consequential damages arising from the scope of work, and why this single line is a powerful shield. 09:00 Everyday examples where the clause applies: cracked driveways from heavy trucks, dusty vents after tile demo, and