If a homeowner offers money to anyone who shovels their driveway after a snowstorm, what type of contract have they created?

In the scenario where a homeowner offers money to anyone who shovels their driveway after a snowstorm, this situation constitutes an express unilateral contract. An express contract is one where the terms are clearly stated, either orally or in writing.

In this case, the homeowner has articulated a specific offer: they will pay for the service of shoveling the driveway. The requirement of performance by a shoveling party to receive the payment forms a unilateral agreement, as only one party—the homeowner—makes a promise. The other parties (those who shovel) accept the contract by performing the act of shoveling the driveway; there is no need for them to communicate acceptance beforehand.

This type of contract distinctly differs from a bilateral contract, where both parties exchange promises. An implied agreement involves circumstances where the actions of the parties suggest a contract exists, but there are no explicit terms stated. A quasi contract refers to a legal construct, typically used to protect a party from unjust enrichment when no actual contract exists. In this case, the homeowner's clear offer of payment for a specific service establishes a unilateral contract scenario.