[brettskiash]

does anyone know how to draw up a contract and what i should be writing in it? i have just give a price for a commercial job and the price is based on a 12 month contract i wondered if anyone had been in a simular situation and what they put in writing.

[rosskesava]

I've always used one of our letter headed bits of paper and include the companies name and address plus postal code and the date written on the left not the right. Don't worry to write in about the 12 month bit or the length of the contract.

Also, keep it simple and straight forwards and just still to the simple basics and keep it to one sheet and send 3 copies.

Then just write something like below and use spacing on the paper to give it clarity because busy managers don't want a confusing bit of paper (I know the spacing on this posting has gone all wrong) and don't be scared to add the 'payable within 7 days' bit or 14 days or whatever you choose:-



Dear Mr Whoever (make sure you use the persons name)

I'd just like to thank you for using our company/business to clean your windows.

Please find below the job specification which I hope meets with your agreement. If I have missed anything, please phone me.


Specification

Weekly window clean                 Outside Glass ground floor and first floor incl frames

Monthly window clean                 All internal glass plus immeadiate surrounds


Plus                                            Cleaning of all doors as required


Cost                                          £200 per four weeks payable within 7 days


Once again, thank you for using our services.

Yours

Joe Bloggs
ABC Window Cleaning  01273 123456


                                                     

[brettskiash]

sounds easy enough thanks.

[brettskiash]

oh there was one other thing should i get them to sign anthing?
and why do you send them 3 coppies?

[s.hughes]

Yes Ross is right to tell you not to mention the 12 month contract cause that restricts you to that time. They may put the contract out to tender after 12 months because you mentioned it. However when they agree to it they normally forget it and just let you carry on.
Mind you I also dont understand why 3 copies are needed. Why is that Ross???

[windows_chepstow]

I've always used one of our letter headed bits of paper and include the companies name and address plus postal code and the date written on the left not the right. Don't worry to write in about the 12 month bit or the length of the contract.

Also, keep it simple and straight forwards and just still to the simple basics and keep it to one sheet and send 3 copies.

Then just write something like below and use spacing on the paper to give it clarity because busy managers don't want a confusing bit of paper (I know the spacing on this posting has gone all wrong) and don't be scared to add the 'payable within 7 days' bit or 14 days or whatever you choose:-



Dear Mr Whoever (make sure you use the persons name)

I'd just like to thank you for using our company/business to clean your windows.

Please find below the job specification which I hope meets with your agreement. If I have missed anything, please phone me.


Specification

Weekly window clean                 Outside Glass ground floor and first floor incl frames

Monthly window clean                 All internal glass plus immeadiate surrounds


Plus                                            Cleaning of all doors as required


Cost                                          £200 per four weeks payable within 7 days


Once again, thank you for using our services.

Yours

Joe Bloggs
ABC Window Cleaning  01273 123456                                                    

I may be being a bit tedious here, but in window cleaning commercial work I think it would be a rare thing having a 'contract', as in a 'written or spoken agreement, enforceable by law'.

Window cleaner:  'The windows were clean, M'lord'!

Contractor:  'No, there was a smear, therefore the cleaners broke the contract'.

There's too many grey areas.

I think what Ross has is a clarification of an agreement.  Good communication is good practice, therefore it's a good thing to do.  But it's not a legal binding contract. 

[rosskesava]

Being a bit vague while stating what work you will do normally is enough for most companies. They know that if they are not happy with your work then get rid of you they will, formal contract or not.

Most times the little bits and pieces about what needs doing will get agreed after the job has being on going for a short while anyway and then it becomes more informal which is good, because then you are 'THE window cleaner' who can be approached.

The thing about 3 copies is simple. Sometimes, like in a club or office the person who decides doesn't always work at that location so the person who asked you for the quote or contract doesn't have to do the copying themselves. If they show the contract/quote to someone then they can say to that person to keep it because they already have a copy. If they are the person who decides, then just say it's in case they need to hand out any copies. It is different. That is my point.

Also, importantly and it happens everytime to us, because they then ask why the 3 copies? It's a good way to get them to remember you because it is so unusual to send 3 copies.

This works especially well when giving quotes. Send 3 copies with a quote works. 2 doesn't and 4 is too many. Don't ask me how it works but it does.

With regards signing anything, don't worry. Your signature is on the letter you sent to them and if they do write back, as oppossed to phoning, someone will sign that letter to you but being realistic, signatures don't mean much and as windows_chepstow basicaly said, a legally binding contract is something else.

Most companies just want something in writing for their records. That's all there is to it but we have to go through some formalities first.