What else for the paper work....

[Mark0012]

Hey All

Besides your basic invoice/quotation form - do you have a legal agreement that you have your clients sign before you do work?... My attorney made this suggestion, and I have him drafting up an agreement/wavier. Of course I'm covered by my insurance but any of you long timers have something like this also?

Mark

 

[Bridget]

Hi Mark,
What do you hope to gain by having your customer sign a legal agreement?
Are you asking them to contract with you and be bound to the agreement regardless of their satisfaction?
Are you looking for reassurances for payment?
How much are you willing to spend to have your attorney enforce the contract if your customer backs out?

A bid states includes the description of service and the price you bill for that service. The bid should also include the net terms. Have a place for them to sign accepting this quotation and your all set.

If they are not satisfied, then they should have the right to call and say..please stop washing my stuff. If you no longer want to wash their stuff, you should have the same right to call them and say, "find someone else to wash your stuff"

If after the first wash they are not paying within terms you have every right to ask for payment upon service.

This is how we do business and it works pretty well.

May your business be blessed beyond measure!
Bridget

 

[Torque454]

I too have wondered if there was something you had customers sign waiving your responsibility for damage caused by water, you could add "unless it was caused by improper procedures" but that might complicate things too much.

There is some risk of water damage on any house you wash, even it was done correctly. This isnt your fault, they wanted you to do a job and you did it. Anything that is loose could come off and the option is either 1. Wash around it and risk the customer being unhappy or 2. Wash it and risk tearing it up some more. Either way the customer wont be happy.

You could at least note any damages, let the owner know, and buy a digital camera to take pictures of any damage you find, so if they try to blame you, you can say sorry! It was already like that.

 

[Mark0012]

Thank you both for commenting on this post. I notice it takes a few weeks for some to actually reply - but glad you both decided.

So state law will govern what is required as a licensed contractor in the business. In CT, it is require by state law to have a "service agreement contract" written up. Contract can state much of what you both eluded to. There's a liability clause, indemnification clause etc,... but if negligence on the contractor part is event such as power wash a hole in the deck or broke homeowners siding right off the house, the contractor must use his insurance to repair damages or else. Although the contract can be written to say you wont hold the contractor liable; this is why there's business insurance. Remember, homeowner just wants a good job done and contractor just wants to get paid, thus the contract to show the agreement between both parties - think of it as an elaborate invoice to the customer.

My service agreement is written as per the state of CT laws, by my attorney. I decided to fork over a few bucks to have it done right for me and for my potential customers.

 

[Bridget]

The fact that its required in your state sheds more light on this. It looks like you have yourself covered.



Take good care,
Bridget