Vendor Contract Key Term Extraction with Claude

1. Go to claude.ai and log in to your account.
2. Click + New chat to start a fresh conversation.

If you have a Claude Pro account (recommended):

1. Click the paperclip icon (📎) in the message input area.
2. Select your contract PDF and upload it.
3. Wait for the upload to complete (usually 5-10 seconds).

If you're using the free tier:

1. Open your PDF, select all text (Ctrl+A), and copy it.
2. Paste it directly into the Claude chat.

What you should see (Pro): The filename appears as an attachment above the message input.

After uploading or pasting the contract, type:

You're helping an HOA community manager review a vendor contract before signing. Please extract and summarize the following key terms:

1. Contract term: Start date, end date, and auto-renewal provisions
2. Pricing: Base amount, when invoiced, any escalation clauses or cap limitations
3. Termination: How either party can cancel, notice period required, any penalties
4. Insurance: What insurance the vendor must carry, minimum coverage amounts
5. Liability: Any limitations on vendor's liability for damages or errors
6. Dispute resolution: How disputes are handled (arbitration, mediation, litigation)
7. Service scope: Core services included vs. additional/extra charges
8. Notable concerns: Any clauses that appear unusual, one-sided, or that I should discuss with an attorney before signing

Format your response as a structured list with one section per topic above.

Claude will produce a structured summary covering all 8 points. Read through it focusing especially on:

• Auto-renewal terms — many vendors include automatic renewal with 30-90 day notice windows. If you miss the window, you're locked in for another year.
• Termination penalties — some contracts include early termination fees of 2-3 months of contract value.
• Liability caps — some vendor contracts cap their liability at the contract value, even if their negligence causes much larger damage.
• Notable concerns — pay attention to anything Claude flags here.

What you should see: A clean, readable summary with each section clearly labeled. Any unusual terms should appear in the "Notable concerns" section.

If something in the summary isn't clear, ask Claude follow-up questions in the same chat:

• "Can you quote the exact language from section 12 about termination?"
• "Is the auto-renewal notice period typical for this type of contract?"
• "What questions should I ask the vendor about the liability cap before signing?"

Use Claude's summary as the basis for:

• Your recommendation to the board about whether to approve the contract
• Your list of questions for the vendor before signing
• Your briefing to your HOA attorney if the notable concerns are significant