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No one likes surprises, especially when it comes to their money. So when you're out signing tree service contracts, it's important to know what should be included in the contract. That way, the customer won't have any unwelcome surprises when the bill arrives. And you can rest easy knowing that your company isn't going to get sued because of a poorly worded contract.
What type of contract you use depends on the nature of the work being performed. When writing up the contract, ask yourself these things:
1) What is the scope and size of the job?
2) How much money will I have to invest?
3) Am I willing to assume any additional risks if something unexpected comes up?
And if you're in the business of providing tree service, consider these things when writing up a contract for your customers to sign:
1) What is the consumer's reason for hiring my company?
2) How much money do they have to invest?
3) Are there any risks associated with this job that I should disclose ahead of time?
These are all things you should ask yourself before signing a tree removal contract, but what exactly do you include in the contract?
Here are five things that every tree service contract should include.
1) A General Business Scope of Work
It's important that your contract includes all the things you're obligated to do as an arborist. Your contracts should have a general description of the work your company does. However, if there are specific tasks that you do not want to be included in the contract, they can be identified as exclusions. It's also important to detail what exactly your company will do for the consumer. This will help avoid any confusion about the type of work that is to be done.
2) Detailed Job Description
It's a good idea to have a list of everything that's included in the work being performed. For example, list the specific number of trees, the type of tree and the location of the tree. This section should provide a detailed description of the work that needs to occur. You may also want to include additional services that your company offers within this section. For example, many arborists offer specialized pruning or planting after completing larger jobs involving tree removal or maintenance. If any of these services apply to the consumer's project, you may wish to list them here so they can choose whether or not they would like you to perform those services at an additional cost. Additionally, some companies charge
3) The Performance Window
In addition to a detailed description of the work being done, your contract should include an estimated start and finish date, as well as a list of what needs to get done. Your contract should include a time frame for the work being done, this will give the customer a clear idea of when your crews can arrive. If unexpected circumstances arise that cause your crews to run into some problems, you can rest easy knowing that there is a performance window in place.
4) The Price and How it's Calculated
Your contract should clearly define which costs are included in the total bill presented to the customer. These usually include equipment rental, materials used for the job, or travel time if those expenses apply towards completing this particular task. Then state how the total price is determined. For example, we use a liability-adjusted, net-daily formula in our tree service pricing calculator, the Margin Multiplier. This way we can calculate our prices instantly and we always know what our profit margins are.
5) Rock Solid Tree Service Industry Specific Terms And Conditions
Tree service contracts often include specific terms and conditions for the arborist to perform work on their property. These terms and conditions should be industry standard and written with everything we know about tree care in mind. Things your tree service contracts should include are; performance, workmanship, insurance, ownership of trees, scheduling/cancellation fee, safety, pet waste, tree decline or failure, rates and settlements and terms of payment.
In Conclusion
The bottom line is, make sure your tree service contract has everything they need to know about the project before they sign on the dotted line. This way you can avoid any future surprises and you can rest easy knowing that everything is clear cut between your company and the consumer.
There you have it - five things that should always be included in a tree service contract. By knowing what to expect, you can avoid any unpleasant surprises down the road. And if drafting contracts isn't your thing, no problem! Check out our template contracts to save endless hours drafting your own or hundreds of dollars hiring a lawyer! These templates include all the essential information needed to protect both you, the arborist, and your clients so they can relax knowing everything is taken care of.