[r schipul]

Just wondering how you present a contract to a client? Is it in addition to an estimate on a separate sheet of paper or is it printed on the back of your estimate.

[Stonehenge]

If you mean the contract terms, they are on the back of the sheet we present to them. Price and project description on front (and places for autographs), legaleze on the back.

[cutntrim]

My quotes are in "contract-ready" form. In other words, I generally don't submit a seperate estimate, I just type up a contract ready-to-go. If they're in agreement, they sign and return to me for counter-signing.

[ECLDesign]

It is possible to inclue on the contract some details about the process of planting and the tipe of material?

I have a costumer that is a pain in a butt...

First He complained that my plants where smaller than the plants from Lowes. So, I had to remove it.
Second, he said that my sod didn't look very smooth. It Was St. augustine for God sake!
Before anybody tell me avoid doing business with him, Let me go ahead and say that I'm trying. He owe me money. So, I'm stucked with this...

[Dale Wiley]

Based upon your other thread,this man is an attorney, hence he is lower than whale dung on the bottom of the ocean, and he is taking advantage of you.

Do not continue to work for him until you get paid for the previous work.

Our state requires very detailed contracts and descripitions of plants by number and size.

Send me your e mail and I will send you a copy of my contracts and terms and conditions.

[ECLDesign]

Dale,


On my contract I was suposed to plant 3 gallon plants for example and I did!!!! but he compared my plant size with
Lowes plant size... mine looked a little smaller... He made me replace all!!!! How can i deaal with that???

[ECLDesign]

by the way, my e-mail is: mpnegreiros @ hotmail.com!!!






I put spaces in the email address to prevent automatic spam bots from collecting the email address and sending boatloads of junkmail.

[Bill Schwab]

We email all estimates from QB in a PDF file. With virtual PC we can scan drawings into the mix and go over every inch of the drawing, answer all questions, and never leave our office. After they wipe the drool off their desk (kidding) we then set up a meeting to take a deposit and sign a contract. I can't tell you how much fuel this saves us and it answers any questions before they start.

[r schipul]

Bill,

Is that approach for bid/build work? I would think you would have a low closing ratio in design/build with that approach. Aren't you already at the house discussing some type of plan?

[HardDaysKnight]

Our estimates are in contract ready form. We also have
extra work orders for anything that comes up after
the original agreement.

[Bill Schwab]

This method is used more frequently during the draw phases. Items that require change, that require alot of client input etc. More often than not, clients allow us to install what we feel will work best in their application and stay out of the process. This method is used again to show them some idea of what we have up our sleeves and we conference call if need be to review as we go.

Since we charge to meet clients, as a rule, most of our work is closed before we submit the first drawing, that's how we structured the business. Doing so eliminates all the apples to oranges comparisons and allows us to plan what the next phase of operation needs to be. All the client need do is agree to a realisitic budget, give a deposit and sign the papers.

It took alot of telling people we don't bid on residential work, we draw to budget and client needs and the reason they can get the work done on time and on budget is because we don't waste alot of time looking at speculative work. They either decide we are for them at the time we present ourselves, or they can play the game of interviewing others, and taking all their time to do what we are perfectly capable of doing for them.

I feel that is what is fair to our company, and I try to show value in anything we do. The climate in California is such that people who work as much as they do here understand the value of time.

It is not perfect, but it works.

[BRL]

ECL,
Doesn't matter what the client thinks a 3 gallon plant should look like, if you have the receipt showing the plants were 3 gal, then show him that & request your payment. (assuming Lowe's actually accurately marked the plant material ). Yes, write any specific details like these about any materials & services or procedures you will be doing for clients in the contract specifications. For the future, search for a real nursery to use for your plant material vs the mistreated & abused junk at Lowe's that will probably die shortly anyway. Good luck!