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Contract Confusion...Need Advice

 
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Old 10-05-2006, 10:58 PM   #1
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Contract Confusion...Need Advice


So I had this lady that wanted her back deck, front porch, basement, and woodwork painted. She wanted me to write them up as 4 different contracts. When I brought her the contracts she decided she wanted all of them so I wrote up a new contract and knocked off $100.

Well when doing the walkthrough with her, she mentioned something about painting the stair way as well. She seemed unsure, but now that I think about it, I think she said to go ahead and do it. I assume she didn't really read the contract though because I didn't mention painting the walls in the stair way, only the trim. Today she told me that the paint for the stair way was down stairs. I kind of blew it off until I realized the mix up tonight. My question is should I go ahead and paint it for free since I forgot to include it in the contract?

Customer is a semi-friend of my mom's and I'm getting ready to give her B/F a quote for work he wants done for around $3500. She has been kind of a b*tchy customer to me though. Like getting upset that I wasn't going to do the outside work on a day that it was clearing going to rain.

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Old 10-05-2006, 11:02 PM   #2
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Re: Contract Confusion...Need Advice


If I was coming out good on the job I'd paint it, If she was nickel pricking me around I'd tell her to read her contract.

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Old 10-05-2006, 11:32 PM   #3
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Re: Contract Confusion...Need Advice


I'd tell her that it was not included, point it out on the contract and explain that you WILL do it.. for an additional fee.
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Old 10-06-2006, 07:22 AM   #4
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Re: Contract Confusion...Need Advice


Lady please, read the contract.
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Old 10-06-2006, 07:39 AM   #5
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Re: Contract Confusion...Need Advice


I've recently come across some unexpected work while doing a job. The work involved wasnt included in my price, so I talked to the HO and told them I would just charge them hourly for the extra~aka...bill them.

You should(in advance)talk with her, let her know the extra she wants done wasnt in the contract, but that you will surely do it at your hourly rate....I always smooth it over and tell them, 'It's not going to be that much more'...and they usually respond quite well.
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Old 10-06-2006, 06:24 PM   #6
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Re: Contract Confusion...Need Advice


Thanks guys. Well I just got home today and had finished her back deck. This women obviously didn't read the contract at all. She calls me about 15 minutes ago and says she wanted the back railings (about 70 linier feet) painted the same white as the lattice and not the gray that the rest of the deck was painted. The contract clearly says "back deck posts and rails will be painted with 2 coats of Color #1." Color 1 on the spec sheet she signed is the gray color.

She tells me that she would never paint it the same color, but she'll pay the cost for the extra paint. What a deal . The thing is, this will take a while to do being I'll have to clean out the sparyer another 2 times for the primer and the paint. This is quickly turning into my worst job.
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Old 10-06-2006, 08:09 PM   #7
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Re: Contract Confusion...Need Advice


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Thanks guys. Well I just got home today and had finished her back deck. This women obviously didn't read the contract at all....This is quickly turning into my worst job.
You know...I'm making mistakes everyday, but we all gotta keep truckin' and hope we learn a few things along the way....

"as long as she's payin', you'll be 'a sprayin'!"
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Old 10-06-2006, 09:21 PM   #8
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Re: Contract Confusion...Need Advice


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You know...I'm making mistakes everyday, but we all gotta keep truckin' and hope we learn a few things along the way....

"as long as she's payin', you'll be 'a sprayin'!"
Yep. I just hope she will be payin for the extra work.

I think what pisses me off the most is she acted like I was so stupid to paint the whole back deck one color.
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Old 10-06-2006, 10:07 PM   #9
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Re: Contract Confusion...Need Advice


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Yep. I just hope she will be payin for the extra work.

I think what pisses me off the most is she acted like I was so stupid to paint the whole back deck one color.
I'm assuming you are writing a quick proposal or note on your original with the added work listed and a signature? If not, you might want to~before doing anything
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Old 10-06-2006, 10:58 PM   #10
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Re: Contract Confusion...Need Advice


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I'm assuming you are writing a quick proposal or note on your original with the added work listed and a signature? If not, you might want to~before doing anything
Yes, but I'm worried about the confrontation when I tell her about the extra costs.
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Old 10-06-2006, 11:07 PM   #11
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Re: Contract Confusion...Need Advice


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Yes, but I'm worried about the confrontation when I tell her about the extra costs.
why? she's probably not worried about you having to eat pork and beans out of the can for a week to make up for the loss on this job?
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