Thaitopher, and all other lawyers. A question

In 2020, my wife and I entered into a contract with home contractors to renovate our house and they did a shitty job. So shitty of a job, that I told them unless they fix it they won’t be getting another dime from us (we paid half up front.)

The owners came to our house and were embarrassed of their work. However, they know if they fix their work they are going to lose a lot of money, and quite frankly I don’t don’t want to pay them another dime either. So we agreed to cut ties and we won’t take legal action against them as long as they don’t seek any further payment from us. A cutting of obligation for both parties.

The issue: They want us to sign the mutual agreement absent of their own notary. But there is a space where the owner is supposed to sign. They said they would notarize it once we notarized our end and mail the form to us completed with the owner’s notary. However it feels deliberate in that they want us to sign away our right to any legal claims before they sign it. They have even dodged a meeting at a notary. Do I have anything to worry about? You would think the contract isn’t backed by law until both signatures are provided where they are required right?

Feel free to delete after Thaitopher and legals give their unofficial professional advice.