Contracts

[LawnMastersTx]

Do any of you use contracts for customers? Like a monthly service fee for coming out each month to check on their system and make sure its working at peak efficiency.

I use contracts for my lawn maintence customers and seeing if I should do the same for sprinklers. For customers that want more than just one time repair work.

If you do use them. What aspects do you charge for and are you happy with having them?

There is suppose to be a guy around here that just does backflow checks on systems once a year. He does 2 hospitals and 2 or 3 HOA. He works just a month or two and makes enough to take the rest of the year off.

[FIMCO-MEISTER]

Do any of you use contracts for customers? Like a monthly service fee for coming out each month to check on their system and make sure its working at peak efficiency.

I use contracts for my lawn maintence customers and seeing if I should do the same for sprinklers. For customers that want more than just one time repair work.

If you do use them. What aspects do you charge for and are you happy with having them?

There is suppose to be a guy around here that just does backflow checks on systems once a year. He does 2 hospitals and 2 or 3 HOA. He works just a month or two and makes enough to take the rest of the year off.

Don't believe it until you personally meet him. Lot of this guy does this rumors everywhere.

[LawnMastersTx]

Don't believe it until you personally meet him. Lot of this guy does this rumors everywhere.

That is very true. So no one has used contracts? Just installs and repair from place to place?

[Hank Reardon]

That is very true. So no one has used contracts? Just installs and repair from place to place?

Considered it, have them ready, but haven't implemented the service program. We send out disclosure statements on all installs and contracts on some.

[londonrain]

That is very true. So no one has used contracts? Just installs and repair from place to place?We have contracts on large commercial jobs.....Start-up, monthly checks and shut down...

[jimmyburg]

I have offered maintenance contracts during the signing of the irrigation contract. most of the people sign were commerical customers.

[koster_irrigation]

We have contracts on large commercial jobs.....Start-up, monthly checks and shut down...

Same Here.


For Residential, if you establish a good working relationship with the customer, ive always felt theres no need for a written contract. He knows your number, (Mine is always posted on the controller) He'll call you when theres a problem.

Personally, I dont have time to go to every customers home every other month to do a overall check. I think thats overkill

The biggest thing is keeping your number within a good reach, POST IT ON THE CONTROLLER!!!!! Its amazing why more irrigation co's dont do
this! Ive been posting my number on controllers since i got in the business in 94. Every system in install i always SIGN in ink the zone station location card in the controller "Installed By Will Koster Jan 2008" I take alot of pride in my installations, i want people to know who put it in.
And i POST my Company Sticker on the outside of the controller door, (Inside for outdoor controllers)

[Mike Leary]

He'll call you when theres a problem.

Personally, I dont have time to go to every customers home every other month to do a overall check. I think thats overkil

That's complete b.s...I always figured if the client ( most systems are run
by "she", by the way), had to dink with the system...I'd done my job wrong:
you must have a low end clientele.

[koster_irrigation]

Mike Its not BS.

Its just my opinion.

Its their system! Controllers periodically need adjusting for different reasons, but if they want to pay for monthly contract or whatever just to do that, well thats fine im not complaining!

It just eats up alot of time... that is all

[LawnMastersTx]

I like the point of putting your number in the box. Since I am doing repair work, might be a good idea just incase the customer loses my card or the one year warranty I give on work.

Kosher, where do you get your stickers from? It would be nice to add "Repaired by Lawn Masters of Texas" on any system I work on. That way when i do a good job they know, and if i dont its my tail on the line.

[koster_irrigation]

my sticker (it has evolved over the years, this is the most recent)
http://www.kosterirrigation.com/sitebuilder/images/DSC07608-600x450.jpg

[Mike Leary]

Seen a ton of them..all set for 10 min. per zone! :confused:

[FIMCO-MEISTER]

Irrig8tor has a really good sticker site. I use the silver one from www.nebs.com

[koster_irrigation]

mike i do agree, customers for the most part, (without good guidance) dont know **** about setting a controller timing right...

[Wet_Boots]

NEBS sells stickers - I remember sticker wars, with escalating sticker sizes, to completely obscure what was there before.

[LawnMastersTx]

Thank you guys for the sticker example and site to get them!!!

[koster_irrigation]

I love it when the competition tries to pick your sticker off and cant...

(None of my competition does stickers though) :hammerhead:

NEBS sells stickers - I remember sticker wars, with escalating sticker sizes, to completely obscure what was there before.

[LawnMastersTx]

Do you ask before you put the stickers on the box?

[Wet_Boots]

Nah, I sticker away, with the possible exception of systems with obvious code violations - don't want to have anyone associate me with the crappy systems.

[Hank Reardon]

Mike Its not BS.

Its just my opinion.

Its their system! Controllers periodically need adjusting for different reasons, but if they want to pay for monthly contract or whatever just to do that, well thats fine im not complaining!

It just eats up alot of time... that is all

You could install a WM Smartline with the weather monitor, set it correctly (THE reason if end users aren't seeing the savings), and forget it till blow-out.

[koster_irrigation]

ive never met a customer that didnt want a sticker

[koster_irrigation]

LawnMastersTx Do you ask before you put the stickers on the box?
If your there doing the work, go ahead but i sometimes ask just to let them know.


Yeh, who wants to put their sticker on a lowes or homedepot controller?!??

[hoskm01]

If you didnt install it but couldnt sell them a decent one (they had the if aint broke mentality) then a sticker could still make you a sale down the road when it needs replaced or other repair work is needed on the system. Your not saying you made the controller.

[Mike Leary]

If you didnt install it but couldnt sell them a decent one (they had the if aint broke mentality) then a sticker could still make you a sale down the road when it needs replaced or other repair work is needed on the system. Your not saying you made the controller.

Huh?, we need to have a talk about marketing & the spelling & grammar nazi
wants to meet with you, also.

[hoskm01]

Front Door=open

[FIMCO-MEISTER]

We sticker customers we want to see again. I add my sticker next to the competitors never hide or peel theirs off. On one job a competitor put his sticker over mine. Customer had me come out and check his work. (I couldn't get out their soon enough for the original problem) I restickered next to his sticker which was placed over my original sticker.

[londonrain]

We sticker every job...I only remove a sticker, if I know the prior company is no longer in business....

[LawnMastersTx]

So far I have seen about a dozen boxes in my area and no stickers at all. I take this as a good sign, since if I do repairs and leave a sticker; there will be a better chance at them calling me back.

Btw the other sprinkler company that just started out here is charging $80.00 an hour for one guy for any type of work, not including the service charge. Seems a little high for me, but most houses out here cost $250,000+.

[FIMCO-MEISTER]

So far I have seen about a dozen boxes in my area and no stickers at all. I take this as a good sign, since if I do repairs and leave a sticker; there will be a better chance at them calling me back.

Btw the other sprinkler company that just started out here is charging $80.00 an hour for one guy for any type of work, not including the service charge. Seems a little high for me, but most houses out here cost $250,000+.

Unfortunately the going repair rate does not reflect the skill or knowledge level of the service tech. Depending on his skill or knowledge level he may be a bargain compared to you. Then again maybe not. Who knows but his customers. I could charge a 120/hr and still be a better deal than 99% of the service techs in Dallas.