(MONEY Magazine) – While the fine print in many contracts may contain clauses hazardous to consumers, there are other types of agreements where the absence of provisions can be just as dangerous. Hiring a contractor for home renovation or a caterer or photographer for a party all enter into this ''no-print'' danger zone. And if things go wrong, the result can be especially upsetting, since the work often involves once-in-a-lifetime events. ''There are no do-overs or trade- ins, and the firms aren't counting on repeat business,'' warns New York City lawyer Caroline Riggio. The rule to remember: get everything in writing. A guide to dealing with no-print businesses: Home contractors. The appearance of your home is too important to leave to % faith. Never hire a painter, plumber, electrician, carpenter or other contractor without signing a detailed work agreement. ''Often, suppositions are made by contractors and their customers, each unaware of the other's,'' warns Stewart White, president of a New York City general contracting firm bearing his name. Sometimes the workers you employ leave responsibilities to others on your remodeling team. This produces a problem peculiar to hiring contractors: tunnel vision. Since their work is fragmentary, each handyman will provide the requirements and costs only for his specific task. Explains White: ''The responsibility for assembling the parts into a whole and tabulating the final cost rests with the customer, unless a general contractor is hired.'' Before signing an agreement with any contractor, determine all the work you will need and find out which contractor can handle each of your projects. Then review contracts from every person you employ. Be certain that each specifically spells out the services that will be provided, their costs and the work-completion date. Caterers. The first clause to insert in a caterer's contract, says Riggio, is that the chef who prepares your sample food will be the same chef who makes the actual meal. ''There should also be a provision that says if an additional guest shows up unexpectedly, the caterer will charge the same fee as for the other guests and not a surcharge,'' she adds. Be sure the contract also specifies the amount and types of food and liquor to be served, what will happen to the leftovers, and the number and appearance of the caterer's employees who will work for you. Include in the contract a clause saying you will pay 10% less than the agreed price if meals are served late. Be sure to define ''late.'' Photographers. When photographers offer contracts, their documents are generally short, vague and one-sided. Don't sign one. Instead, get in writing that the photographer responsible for the sample shots you reviewed will be the one who takes the photos or the videotape of your event. ''All contracts should specify the number of rolls of film that will be used, the percentages of candid and posed pictures, and any special effects you want included,'' says Riggio. Find out the cost of buying the proofs and negatives, and have the photographer include it in the contract. Finally, be sure the contract provides some recourse if the photos don't turn out, such as the ability to reshoot the pictures for free. -- S.M.P. and M.L. )