Valueables - Contractor Talk - Professional Construction and Remodeling Forum

boman47k · 12-06-2006, 01:23 PM

Anyone ever put a clause in their contract stating all valueables will be secured by ho? My reasoning is what if ho claims money, painting, jewelery, etc, is missing? Do you all just chance it?

dougchips · 12-06-2006, 01:37 PM

No, it is a trust thing. Lets say that you had a clause in your contract, what would prevent them from saying that $20,000 in cash went missing from the house? The clause would not give you permission to loot the house so not many upsides.

In the past ten years I have only had one customer that claimed that 2 vhs tapes were missing. She did not know the names of the tapes and when they were missing. Her son always had a bunch of friends over while my guy was working. Zero percent chance that my guy took the tapes. When my guy went to move one of those chip board cabinets that she agreed to move, he noticed that the cat had pissed all over it causing the thing to fall apart. He mentioned this to the customer before moving it---she still wanted him to pay for it.

10 years and this is not even close to a bad story.

boman47k · 12-06-2006, 01:50 PM

Quote:

she still wanted him to pay for it

And did he/you?

I read the horror story thread a while back. Whew!

dougchips · 12-06-2006, 02:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by boman47k

And did he/you?

I read the horror story thread a while back. Whew!

NO, I asked several times about the names and cost of the tapes and never got a proper response. I much rather pay a little a shut someone up than to have anyone unhappy. Paid $75.00 two years ago for a "dent" in concrete, I wanted to drop/throw tools to prove that we did not dent it, a check was easier.

dougchips · 12-06-2006, 02:15 PM

Actually I am wrong, paid for a cell phone that a helper (neighbors kid) took from a customer. This thread needs to be deleted, bringing back some bad memories.

4thGeneration · 12-06-2006, 03:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dougchips

NO, I asked several times about the names and cost of the tapes and never got a proper response. I much rather pay a little a shut someone up than to have anyone unhappy. Paid $75.00 two years ago for a "dent" in concrete, I wanted to drop/throw tools to prove that we did not dent it, a check was easier.

The problem with giving in as it does seem easier to just pay the small amount is that it makes it look like you did it. Either way the people will pass to some people that your company cant be trusted with valuables. I had one homeowner a few years ago claim they were missing a $100 from their sons room. Their 38 year old son, but thats another story. I know I did not do it and did not offer to pay for it. They knew of my honesty and integrity, so the result was I still got called back to paint their back porch vinyl ceiling. In the long run you are the owner of your own biz and have to do what is right. This was just how I have handled it before.
This same thing happened when I worked for my uncle in new construction. A home owner claimed her $5,000 diamond ring was missing and claimed we took it. My Uncle said no problem we will do a lie detector test on my men. She grinned, but my Uncle ended it with she was going to ber placed on the test also. Somehow the ring came back from the dead.

boman47k · 12-06-2006, 04:04 PM

Quote:

The clause would not give you permission to loot the house so not many upsides.

Not looking for permission to loot the house

. looking for limited libility and protection (as much as possible) from bogus claims. If this is in the contract and signed by the ho, it should be their responsibility to remove anything of value within reason. Then if the situation 4th describes comes up, you at least have a leg to stand on. That would be the upside. 20,000 missing and the contract signed as I stated? Any prudent person would make sure the cash is secure with or without a contract. That would mean nothing to loot.

P.S. Doug, I don't think you meant for that to sound like there would be no upside without permission to loot the place. Maybe you meant to leave the word 'not' out.

boman47k · 12-06-2006, 04:07 PM

Quote:

When my guy went to move one of those chip board cabinets

If I remember correctly when my son moved ppl across country, the contract had in it a clause denying any claims on that junk coming apart.

DPainting · 12-06-2006, 04:11 PM

The best sense anyone can have is to read people. From your employees to customers/potential clients.

It's just part of people interaction that you can't avoid for business reasons and personal reasons.

Experience is our friend to all of us.

And as for the clause I wouldn't put in the contract. It just a good faith thing that is expected. But always have a contingency plan on how to deal with something like this if it were to come up before the finger pointing gets serious.

Richard · 12-06-2006, 04:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by boman47k

Anyone ever put a clause in their contract stating all valueables will be secured by ho? My reasoning is what if ho claims money, painting, jewelery, etc, is missing? Do you all just chance it?

1) No
2) I tell them Im insulted they would even think such a thing
3)Yes

dougchips · 12-06-2006, 04:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by boman47k

Not looking for permission to loot the house

. looking for limited libility and protection (as much as possible) from bogus claims. If this is in the contract and signed by the ho, it should be their responsibility to remove anything of value within reason. Then if the situation 4th describes comes up, you at least have a leg to stand on. That would be the upside. 20,000 missing and the contract signed as I stated? Any prudent person would make sure the cash is secure with or without a contract. That would mean nothing to loot.

P.S. Doug, I don't think you meant for that to sound like there would be no upside without permission to loot the place. Maybe you meant to leave the word 'not' out.

Not sure how the customer would take the clause, almost like "take your stuff so we don't steal it" or "take your stuff, we don't want you saying that we stole anything. Both lacking trust.

boman47k · 12-07-2006, 01:14 PM

Quote:

Not sure how the customer would take the clause, almost like "take your stuff so we don't steal it" or "take your stuff, we don't want you saying that we stole anything. Both lacking trust.

Yeah Doug, I have a slight problem with the pyschological aspect of it too. One reason for looking for opinions on it.

AAPaint · 12-07-2006, 01:37 PM

I have a clause that states homeowner must secure anything breakable or any valuable paintings/photos hanging on the walls. We move only large furniture, all else must be secured by homeowner to prevent damage. Knick-knacks, vases, lamps, etc. any of that...That's the way I put it. I don't make it an issue of things coming up missing, because that won't happen....ever. I tell them that we don't want to be responsible for moving sensitive items should they get broken by us during moving by freak accident or whatever.

Not one customer has ever questioned this either. If you word it that way you aren't saying "hide your jewels" you are saying move anything that you don't want damaged because it's sitting on our work site.

4thGeneration · 12-07-2006, 05:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AAPaint

I have a clause that states homeowner must secure anything breakable or any valuable paintings/photos hanging on the walls. We move only large furniture, all else must be secured by homeowner to prevent damage. Knick-knacks, vases, lamps, etc. any of that...That's the way I put it. I don't make it an issue of things coming up missing, because that won't happen....ever. I tell them that we don't want to be responsible for moving sensitive items should they get broken by us during moving by freak accident or whatever.

Not one customer has ever questioned this either. If you word it that way you aren't saying "hide your jewels" you are saying move anything that you don't want damaged because it's sitting on our work site.

Thats exactly how I do things. I run into alot of homeowners that collect very expensive items or have very old antiques, so this is a good angle to use.

b34nz · 12-07-2006, 06:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 4thGeneration

The problem with giving in as it does seem easier to just pay the small amount is that it makes it look like you did it. Either way the people will pass to some people that your company cant be trusted with valuables. I had one homeowner a few years ago claim they were missing a $100 from their sons room. Their 38 year old son, but thats another story. I know I did not do it and did not offer to pay for it. They knew of my honesty and integrity, so the result was I still got called back to paint their back porch vinyl ceiling. In the long run you are the owner of your own biz and have to do what is right. This was just how I have handled it before.
This same thing happened when I worked for my uncle in new construction. A home owner claimed her $5,000 diamond ring was missing and claimed we took it. My Uncle said no problem we will do a lie detector test on my men. She grinned, but my Uncle ended it with she was going to ber placed on the test also. Somehow the ring came back from the dead.

LMAO @ "their 38 yearold sons room"
wtf..

Danahy · 12-07-2006, 07:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AAPaint

I have a clause that states homeowner must secure anything breakable or any valuable paintings/photos hanging on the walls. We move only large furniture, all else must be secured by homeowner to prevent damage. Knick-knacks, vases, lamps, etc. any of that...That's the way I put it. I don't make it an issue of things coming up missing, because that won't happen....ever. I tell them that we don't want to be responsible for moving sensitive items should they get broken by us during moving by freak accident or whatever.

Not one customer has ever questioned this either. If you word it that way you aren't saying "hide your jewels" you are saying move anything that you don't want damaged because it's sitting on our work site.

ditto this

DPainting · 12-08-2006, 09:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AAPaint

I have a clause that states homeowner must secure anything breakable or any valuable paintings/photos hanging on the walls. We move only large furniture, all else must be secured by homeowner to prevent damage. Knick-knacks, vases, lamps, etc. any of that...That's the way I put it. I don't make it an issue of things coming up missing, because that won't happen....ever. I tell them that we don't want to be responsible for moving sensitive items should they get broken by us during moving by freak accident or whatever.

Not one customer has ever questioned this either. If you word it that way you aren't saying "hide your jewels" you are saying move anything that you don't want damaged because it's sitting on our work site.

I verbally tell my customers this but it makes sense to include it in your contracts.

axnjoe · 12-11-2006, 04:19 PM

No clauses of such.
Actually, no contracts. Yes it is risky but my phone rings off the hook and we turn down about 60% of the calls. We maintain many high end estates and contracts have never been a problem. If a customer trusts us in their multi mllion $ home alone and knowing all their security codes, I tend not offend them with contracts.
But new homes and commercial work ALWAY get contracts. Especially if they are motivated by a bid.
Commercial work: The more clauses the better.

JNLP · 12-11-2006, 05:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AAPaint

I have a clause that states homeowner must secure anything breakable or any valuable paintings/photos hanging on the walls. We move only large furniture, all else must be secured by homeowner to prevent damage. Knick-knacks, vases, lamps, etc. any of that...That's the way I put it.

On this note... I broke a vase today.

Lady started screaming it was a $3k vase, and I about crapped myself. She had me pretty scared. After a few minutes of scaring me, she started laughing & told me not to worry... It was a couple dollar piece of junk & she was joking. I feel alot better now but still bad. I insisted on replacing or deducting it from my bill, but she refused. Nice to have nice customers every once in a while.

Danahy · 12-11-2006, 06:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GLK

On this note... I broke a vase today.

Lady started screaming it was a $3k vase, and I about crapped myself. She had me pretty scared. After a few minutes of scaring me, she started laughing & told me not to worry... It was a couple dollar piece of junk & she was joking. I feel alot better now but still bad. I insisted on replacing or deducting it from my bill, but she refused. Nice to have nice customers every once in a while.

Reminds me of this customer I had with this stupid elephant statue... I never touched it, and he insisted that I broke the teenie little tip of the damn things nose...

So in order to recieve my last cheque, I pulled out the spackle, and craft paints, and fauxed the nose to match... He accepted this with no problems, especially cause he knows he broke it, when he moved all his valuables... Oddly enough, the little original tip that appearantly broke, was no where to be found?...