Changing a contract after you've signed it

Dear Consumer Ed:  

My husband signed a contract for replacing our flooring that did not include the dates of service, payment schedule or whether the company would be responsible for disposing of the old flooring. They have not started the work yet. Can I change the contract before they start?

Consumer Ed says: 

This is a legal question, so the first thing you need to do is consult with an attorney about your rights in this situation. You should be aware, however, that unlike some states, Georgia does not require home improvement providers to include in their contracts the price of their services, the start and completion dates, and all work that is to be performed.  If your contract does not contain those specifics, it could give you a legitimate basis for asking your contractor to clarify those terms in writing.  If the contractor refuses to do so, you may have to stick with what the current contract says, (unless an extreme circumstance occurs, e.g. the contractor breaches a crucial term of the contract or delays beginning or completing the work for an unreasonable amount of time).  Assuming your contractor does agree to make the requested changes, ask him to add an additional section to the contract that addresses the changes and be sure you and the contractor both sign that addendum.

In the future, before entering into any kind of service agreement, you should read it carefully to make sure that its important terms are very clear.  Be sure that you fully understand your obligations and the obligations of the other party.  If you don't understand the contract, or if you have any questions, have an attorney review and explain the contract to you before you sign it.