[Ryan Westcombe]

Hi guys,

When you sort out a regular arrangement with a customer, do you get them to sign a contract or do you just note down how often they want their windows done and carry on??

[mlscontractcleaner]

No contracts mate; they're meaningless. No T+C, they're meaningless too. Just a verbal agreement to clean their windows at an agreed schedule for an agreed price. Simples

[Llaaww]

No contracts mate; they're meaningless. No T+C, they're meaningless too. Just a verbal agreement to clean their windows at an agreed schedule for an agreed price. Simples

just got to roll with it..

[Mr Bungalow]

Hello Ryan,

I  think you should at least try and get your customers to sign a contract, just make sure that you have some terms and conditions already in place.

If you keep plugging away at getting customers to sign a contract, you will find that most of them start to accept it and also build yourself a good reputation as long as you stick to your terms and conditions as well.

Regards.

[Lee13]

Are all of your customers contracted then Mr Bungalow? What kind of terms do you have in place?

I'm interested to find out more because I've spoken to customers who have been talked into contracts before, and generally these customers weren't happy to comply.

At the end of the day, if you do a good job and the customer is genuine and wants their windows cleaned, why would you put a contract in place?

[Crystal-clear]

Are all of your customers contracted then Mr Bungalow? What kind of terms do you have in place?

I'm interested to find out more because I've spoken to customers who have been talked into contracts before, and generally these customers weren't happy to comply.

At the end of the day, if you do a good job and the customer is genuine and wants their windows cleaned, why would you put a contract in place?

Aot of window cleaners dont use contracts,

its something im thinking about when i have a larger customer base, but i think i will only use it to customers that call me ie from advertisements ,

I would definitely have one in place for commercial thou (anything more then 1 hours work) after all the storeys i hear about commercial not paying or cancelling cos of cheaper quote , if they dont sign a contract i wouldnt clean it .

[bobby p]

a contract works both ways. you cant start sliding into arriving late due to a heavy workload. 

[Matthew JN]

Totally disagree..

You should always make a customer sign a service agreement with your terms and conditions on, personally i make any residential sign to agree to my terms, this means i can guarantee a minimum amount of revenue from them, and they won't mess you around after you have spent time with them quoting and also carrying out a first clean ( which i always charge a premium for) then a minimum number of consecutive visits after that. 

Also things like getting prior notification of builders works and things like that, if you are behind the schedule its simple, you put a clause in stating that the agreed schedule may fall behind sometimes due to bad weather etc.

It means they take you seriously as a business from day one, which is the kinda customer you want really otherwise if you like being walked over go ahead with a verbal agreement.

As for commercial work - you must be nuts if you don't have a proper service agreement in place, with payment terms, cleaning schedule, complaints procedures, health & saftey compliance, contract duration etc. etc.