The same mistakes appear repeatedly: missing scope, vague allowances, unclear permits, weak change-order language, and poor payment structure.
Prep, demolition, disposal, permits, patching, final cleaning, and finish details are often assumed but not written.
Low allowances can make a proposal look cheaper while shifting future costs to the owner.
Change orders need written rules for pricing, approval, schedule impact, and documentation.
Permit responsibility should be clear before work starts.
Structural work should not be guessed at.
Payment milestones should generally follow completed progress.
Construction mistakes happen at all price points. I have seen unsafe electrical work hidden in walls, structural work proposed without engineering, missing permits, waterproofing concerns, weak scopes, poor documentation, and expensive finishes installed over questionable work.
Those problems are not always caused by bad intent. Sometimes they come from speed, poor supervision, assumptions, communication failures, or a contractor trying to keep a proposal attractive. Either way, the owner carries the risk if the documents are not clear.