[Sapphire Window Cleaning]

how many of you guys have your residential customers on a contract?
did you find it difficult to get them to sign the contract?





Matt

[big J]

I would like to know te answer to this one as I am going to sign my custies up to a rolling 3 clean contract from day one 

[easy]

I'll dont to this,been cleaning 10 years plus...

give your customer the choice,if they want to cancel a clean one month,do it..give them a bit of control,you may loose them if you demand too many conditions...

[ftp]

I don't let them cancel without good reason. If I turn up and unwind my hose only to be told "not today" then I rarely go back these days. If they are more tactful then it doesn't wind me up so much and they may get a second chance. I know come the winter I will be dropped.

[easy]

Ok...but will you ask them to sign a contract?

With me,I'll tell my customers I'll be round once every 4-8 weeks....they seem quite happy about this (98% of the work will be cleaned)....

[ftp]

No I don't think they would be happy to sign a contract - it's only windowcleaning after all.

[leapstallbuildings]

I only start asking for a signature if they get a bit unreliable.  The overwhelming majority of customers are totally OK and I feel it might be pushing my luck a bit in a recession.  However, I will introduce T & Cs if a customer starts messing about - unless I dump them of course.

[pingu]

I suppose you have to ask what would a contract get you?, could you enforce it?

I have terms and conditions but I find that when you into a disagreement with the customer...you will rarely win...you in most cases have to roll with the punches..

Cheers
Dave.

[Roy Harding]

I have used a terms and conditions contract for about 24yrs. If they would like a 4 wkly service, the would be required to give me 9 wks notice of termination of our service.

I explain that, this so I dont turn work away, then find that i did have a free spot.

And also require 3 days notice of cancel a clean. This right from the start lets them know they cant mess you around.

But to inforce it may be another thing. But I never have had to, as people know were they stand.

And if another window cleanner calls, they have to wait 2 months.

Click below to see

Roy

[Sapphire Window Cleaning]

Thats very good roy.
Do you have any people turn you down when you ask them to sign?






Matt

[Roy Harding]

Thats very good roy.
Do you have any people turn you down when you ask them to sign?

Matt

No never had anyone turn me down. If they are a genuine  person wanting a regular clean.

Roy

[Chris Cottrell]

Roy I think I got my original terms from you cos mine isnt too disimilar from that

[Sapphire Window Cleaning]

Thats one way or sorting the time wasters before any clean has taken place, thats a good point Roy thanks.






Matt

[mlscontractcleaner]

I can't see any point to T+C's, they mean absolutely nothing. A good, reliable customer is a good reliable customer with or without a contract to sign. If someone is going to mess you around they'll do so whatever you've had them sign.
Just my opinion based on 20 years of window / contract cleaning 

[Mike 108]

I don't think contracts are right (or needed) for most domestic customers.

Just explain that you charge a litle more for the first clean (in case its only a 'one-off' that they want), or a lot more if the windows are 'minging', and see what happens.

As long as you're paid for what work you have done, it doesn't really matter if they drop you after a couple of cleans.

99% will stick with you if you do a reasonable job.

Mike

[simon knight]

Roy,

I think your T&Cs are clear and to the point from YOUR trading perspective.  But two things bother me, and it's why I don't have T&Cs:

1). T&Cs cut both ways. You have 3 boxes to tick, 4, 8 and 12 weekly...but what happens if for whatever reason eg: sickness, weather, equipment failure, holidays etc you are unable to fulfill your contractural side of the commitment? Your T&Cs do not explain what will happen in that event.

2). Realistically, how enforcable are the T&Cs you're asking the customer to sign? Probably with a good contracts lawyer coupled with a court appearance and a judge sympathetic to poor window cleaners you'd probably win... and gain what exactly? £30, £30, £100....er!

If, for arguments sake Starbucks approached me and asked me to regularily clean all their SW London coffee houses it would entail me sacking 2/3 of my usual accounts and therefore my solicitor would be drawing up a contract to safeguard me should Starbucks reneiged. And I would have no hesitation in taking them to court! But a contract signed by 73 year old Mrs Smith from Church Road, Slough Come on! You're not gonna sue her...so what's the point in T&Cs for residential?

If I asked any of my regulars or new customers here in SW London to sign a contract they'd laugh in my face!

[Chris Cottrell]

I must admit I have t&c's but I dont look for a signature from them, mine are more terms of trading letting customers know what I expect from them and what they can expect from me, I have never in 4yrs had to enforce them

I believe that having terms simply weeds out the time wasters

[martinsadie]

if they ask for there windows cleaned i do them if they sack me i dont, if they miss paying i sack them who needs a contract

[Roy Harding]

Roy,

I think your T&Cs are clear and to the point from YOUR trading perspective.  But two things bother me, and it's why I don't have T&Cs:

1). T&Cs cut both ways. You have 3 boxes to tick, 4, 8 and 12 weekly...but what happens if for whatever reason eg: sickness, weather, equipment failure, holidays etc you are unable to fulfill your contractural side of the commitment? Your T&Cs do not explain what will happen in that event.

2). Realistically, how enforcable are the T&Cs you're asking the customer to sign? Probably with a good contracts lawyer coupled with a court appearance and a judge sympathetic to poor window cleaners you'd probably win... and gain what exactly? £30, £30, £100....er!

If, for arguments sake Starbucks approached me and asked me to regularily clean all their SW London coffee houses it would entail me sacking 2/3 of my usual accounts and therefore my solicitor would be drawing up a contract to safeguard me should Starbucks reneiged. And I would have no hesitation in taking them to court! But a contract signed by 73 year old Mrs Smith from Church Road, Slough Come on! You're not gonna sue her...so what's the point in T&Cs for residential?

If I asked any of my regulars or new customers here in SW London to sign a contract they'd laugh in my face!

I have used a terms and conditions contract for about 24yrs. If they would like a 4 wkly service, the would be required to give me 9 wks notice of termination of our service.

I explain that, this so I dont turn work away, then find that i did have a free spot.

And also require 3 days notice of cancel a clean. This right from the start lets them know they cant mess you around.

But to inforce it may be another thing. But I never have had to, as people know were they stand.

And if another window cleanner calls, they have to wait 2 months.

Click below to see

Roy

Simon if you look at my above quote, I did say inforcing it would be another thing. But as Chris says, it lays out what you expect.

As regards the customer, they may say they only want it cleaned on a friday afternoon. And may add other things like frames wash and windows sills.

I see many post on the site saying, "Ive put off because of this and that" but I have used it for 24yrs and it works. I have never had to inforce it, but I have had customers ring me and say they are having the house painted next week, and notify me in advance. This saves time and monney.

Terms and conditions of booking my service, if they dont want me fine that is there choice.

Roy

[wfp master]

they pay you you dont pay them its up to them if they want there windows cleaned not you it will NOT WORK. YOU ARE A W/C not afootball manager.