Owners often buy some equipment directly and ask the contractor to install it. Without clear rules, those items become delays and disputes.
In this article
What it means
Owner-furnished items are bought by the owner. Some are installed by the contractor, others by the owner's own vendors.
Define the scope
List every owner-furnished item in the contract and who receives, stores, installs and connects it.
Keep reading — free
The rest of this article is worth the 20 seconds
Tell us where to send it and the full piece unlocks right here, along with everything else on this blog.
Rather just talk? Message us on WhatsApp.
Delivery dates
Late owner items delay your schedule. Put required delivery dates in the schedule and the contract.
Receiving
Decide who inspects the item on arrival and how damage is documented.
Storage
Who pays for storage and who is responsible for theft or damage on site.
Installation information
Ask early for specifications, weights, utility needs and installation manuals.
Warranty
The manufacturer's warranty usually stays with the owner. Your warranty covers your installation.
Schedule risk
Track owner items in look-ahead meetings like any other long-lead item.
Example
A contractor on a restaurant job listed all owner kitchen equipment with delivery dates in the schedule. When the hood arrived late, the delay was documented and the time extension was granted.
Common mistakes
Vague scope, no delivery dates and accepting damaged items without notes.
Getting started
Ask the owner for a complete list of owner-furnished items at the preconstruction meeting. Add each one to the schedule with a required delivery date and assign a person to receive and document every delivery.
Run tighter jobs and win the right ones.
We help construction companies build the systems, online presence and client relationships that bring better projects.
Frequently asked questions
Who is responsible for owner-furnished equipment?
It depends on the contract. Usually the owner is responsible for buying and delivering the item and its warranty, and the contractor for installing it, but receiving, storage and damage must be clearly defined.