[Steve Weatherley]

I have been asked to carry out some builders cleans totalling 20 flats. My problem is that I do not know the client (have never worked for him before)and he is asking for the work to be carried out at short notice. In order to fulfill his request I would have to pay other cleaners to carry out the work with me.
I am worried that I would incur the cost of employing others to carry out the work and then suffer from the client not paying me.
I am considering that it would perhaps be wise to form some sort of contract for these works for him to sign beforehand or even to ask for 50% in advance.
Does anyone have any ideas or copies of a contract that could be used.

[John Kelly]

Post this and search on the general cleaning section. There are loads of these problems on there.

[ianharper]

Steve

Hi,

Its really simple find someone that works for them now and just ask about payments.

you can do this in many ways, ask the builders that are working for them. or get just get a contact signed with an order laying out what they are asking you to do with you charges and how payment will be made. This can be done a trip to a solicitor.

contacts where designed for this purpose.

good luck, its situations like this that give you signs that you are out of your comfort zone and that's positive it means that your business is moving forwards.

Respectfully

Ian harper

[Jason_B]

I have been asked to carry out some builders cleans totalling 20 flats. My problem is that I do not know the client (have never worked for him before)and he is asking for the work to be carried out at short notice. In order to fulfill his request I would have to pay other cleaners to carry out the work with me.
I am worried that I would incur the cost of employing others to carry out the work and then suffer from the client not paying me.
I am considering that it would perhaps be wise to form some sort of contract for these works for him to sign beforehand or even to ask for 50% in advance.
Does anyone have any ideas or copies of a contract that could be used.

Why are you talking about forming "some sort of contract??" The contract is that you do the work and then you get paid or am I missing something? You explain your credit terms to him in advance, whether it is 30 days, 7 days or payment on completion and then you invoice him and wait for the payment, pretty much how virtually every other business operates. You just then ensure that your sub-contractors are on a similar basis or more ideally on one level below i.e. if your credit terms are payment on completion then yours to them should be 7 days.

If  he doesn't pay you simply pursue the money via the normal channels.

As for asking for 50% payment up front I would consider that as being a little rude. You may want to consider compromising and asking for progressive payment i.e. him paying 50% when you have cleaned half of the flats.

[Bertie Boo]

Jason

This is a whole different ball game - one that i as a humble domestic cleaner and presumably you as a carpet cleaner - are not fully 'up' on...if you've read previous posts about builders cleans and the culture, procedues, and expectations, you'll understand where the author of this post is coming from.

Cheers

Stephen

[Paul-T]

Steve

I would, if this is a established company, give him a rough estimate on cost (you must visit the site!!) - if this company is eager to complete this project try and work within their time frame (if you know what that is) get a rough draft out (contract, T & C) and get it signed.....by the client!

Just be sure that you know who is signing, be it the person you're verabally communicating with or someone higher up.

Unless you know the company and worked with/for them before I would not even consider working without anything in writing....to risky. You could ask for part-payment - after all we all know builders are just as reliable when they want their money even before they lift a brick. If they don't play ball....avoid!

[Andy Foster]

This is being blown out of all proportion in my opinion.

You do the quote, they give you a purchase order, you do the work and then you bill them.

If they have sent you a works/purchase order, then legally they have agreed to the work and your terms and have agreed to pay you once the job has been done to their satisfaction.

Normally on the first job they will send you a form which outlines their terms and you will have to sign it to say you agree to them (watch out, it can often have payment terms in there of up to 120 days, if you don't agree with this, amend it and then sign and return).  You will normally have to send H&S etc for the first job too.

You will be lucky to get a building company to pay anything at all up front, but you should be able to part bill them (make an 'application' for part payment) as and when sections of work are completed.

Hope this helps

Andy

[Paul-T]

A quote is a quote - if it is accepted then the quote (included with that T & C) MUST be signed. That IS the legal binding contract. Without anything signed there IS no contract

However, I am assuming this builder is a small independent worker and not part of a major corporation - there lies the difference when referring to my previous post and this one. Major Corporations do things a little differently and are much more aware of H & S, COSHH etc...................

.........if this is from a major firm I'd be very surprised and worried.

[Andy Foster]

Absolutely right Paul-T, however if the purchase/works order is issued, then provided the work is satifactorily carried out, they are still legally obliged to pay.

[Paul-T]

Andy

I do agree with you - I personally think though when dealing with an independent this perhaps should also be dealt differently than say if one was dealing with a major firm. There are some here I believe that have stories of having verbal agreements (as good as a works/purchase order) etc but not getting paid - having something signed just secures it a little more.

Having something to wave in front of a judge with a signature is better than having to say "well we did verabally agree......" even though that itself is still considered a contract there is much more room for a builder (or anyone) to dispute it,

[Andy Foster]

I understand what you are saying and agree that slightly different approaches could be appropriate.
I use Quick Books as my accounts software and it produces estimates which are my quotes.  I email these to the client (whoever they are) and ask for an emailed confirmation if they require the work.
This way, I have legally binding evidence of work that needs to be carried out and the original estimate.

Using the same method for both large and small companies seems to work for me but may not for others.

A bit of feeling your way with new clients I guess, but if you start off showing them that you are a professional company they may be scared off if they intend on ripping you off.

Just my thoughts.

Andy

[Paul-T]

Andy - I agree.....hopefully Steve has been given a few ideas he can take and put into his 'working method'.

[Steve Weatherley]

Thanks to all who have submitted their advice, almost all of which I have found very helpful. I shall request that the builder gives me a written request detailing all work he requires to be carried out. From there I shall submit a quotation with T&S asking him to sign that he agrees to pay the full amount on completion (maybe 50% half way through).