Newbie Needs Help

[Yard Elements]

I have a large project to Bid on with Six Properties in my area, the property manager sent me a Maintenance contract and some of the language used seems a little off to me I could be wrong? Landscape Maintenance Agreement ______________________agrees to provide the services necessary to achieve and maintain high quality care and “curb appeal” as described below, for the landscaping of the six facilities owned by Reliable Storage in Kitsap County. In exchange for these services, Reliable Storage agrees to pay a maximum of _________per month plus tax. This is an annually reviewed “at will” contract which may be ended by either party with 30 days notice. • This service includes all treatments such as fertilizing, weed killers and other landscape chemicals. • All sites will be mowed, edged, Weed whacked and reseeded as needed • Curb appeal as defined by Reliable Storage will be improved and maintained at all sites • All plant beds will be weeded cleaned and raked as needed • All sidewalks and driveways will be kept free of debris as needed • All building roofs and asphalt areas will be cleaned of moss and maintained as needed using moss killer and pressure washer. • All branches will be trimmed and kept off security fences, buildings and driveways as needed • All shrubbery, bushes plants and small trees will be pruned as needed with dead plants being removed and disposed of • All gutters will be kept clean and free of debris at all times • Leaves will be gathered and removed and flowers will be watered as needed • All landscape debris will be removed and disposed of by contractor daily. • Light snow removal and application of de-icer will be done as required • Bark and gravel will be supplied and applied at $25 per yard at the request of the main office of Reliable Storage • Contractor will provide a weekly work order form for the site manager to sign off on in order to ensure that the work is being completed as agreed • Contractor agrees to a weekly schedule at each site rain or shine informing management of any schedule changes ________________________ ________________________ Does this seem to be a normal contract and how do I bid Light Snow removal before the snow has fallen. How will I remove and dipose of debris daily? I am not really sure how to bid this job I really need some help. Should i amend the contract and how do i bid each item? Ideas?

[Yard Elements]

Lawn care business tips

the guys over at Lawn chat thought that the contract has way too many when neededs. Any ideas on how to amend this? How many times each should be done?

[picframer]

Originally Posted by Yard Elements

I have a large project to Bid on with Six Properties in my area, the property manager sent me a Maintenance contract and some of the language used seems a little off to me I could be wrong?

Landscape Maintenance Agreement

______________________agrees to provide the services necessary to achieve and maintain high quality care and “curb appeal” as described below, for the landscaping of the six facilities owned by Reliable Storage in Kitsap County.

In exchange for these services, Reliable Storage agrees to pay a maximum of _________per month plus tax. This is an annually reviewed “at will” contract which may be ended by either party with 30 days notice.

• This service includes all treatments such as fertilizing, weed killers and other landscape chemicals.
• All sites will be mowed, edged, Weed whacked and reseeded as needed
• Curb appeal as defined by Reliable Storage will be improved and maintained at all sites
• All plant beds will be weeded cleaned and raked as needed
• All sidewalks and driveways will be kept free of debris as needed
• All building roofs and asphalt areas will be cleaned of moss and maintained as needed using moss killer and pressure washer.
• All branches will be trimmed and kept off security fences, buildings and driveways as needed
• All shrubbery, bushes plants and small trees will be pruned as needed with dead plants being removed and disposed of
• All gutters will be kept clean and free of debris at all times
• Leaves will be gathered and removed and flowers will be watered as needed
• All landscape debris will be removed and disposed of by contractor daily.
• Light snow removal and application of de-icer will be done as required
• Bark and gravel will be supplied and applied at $25 per yard at the request of the main office of Reliable Storage
• Contractor will provide a weekly work order form for the site manager to sign off on in order to ensure that the work is being completed as agreed
• Contractor agrees to a weekly schedule at each site rain or shine informing management of any schedule changes

________________________ ________________________

Does this seem to be a normal contract and how do I bid Light Snow removal before the snow has fallen.

How will I remove and dipose of debris daily?

I am not really sure how to bid this job I really need some help. Should i amend the contract and how do i bid each item?

Ideas?

Having spent over 14 years in commercial banking, and a knowledge of what we do, I personally have some concerns with the contract as you posted, I am not a lawyer but have had the final say on hundreds of contracts.

pay a maximum of _________per month plus tax.

The word Maximum is not a defined term in the context of the agreement, as such I would suggest it be removed and the property manager pay a set price per month.

high quality care and “curb appeal”

Well this is pretty open, curb side appeal to me may not be curb side appeal to the customer, define it.

weed killers and other landscape chemicals.

Chemicals are not allowed in our city, I would have this changed to weed control, who is responsible if you use a product in good faith then it does damage, i.e. who is on the hook you because you agreed or the owner because you were instructed to.

Curb appeal as defined by Reliable Storage will be improved and maintained at all sites

Where is it defined?

All sidewalks and driveways will be kept free of debris as needed

Who defines the need? Is it daily, every few days, as called etc.

I see all kinds of warning signals and an agreement that was written by an amature with probably good intentions but you are leaving yourself wide open.

Write a contract that defines what you will do and what you will do for each service and how often, this one is not clear at all.

[Steve]

Curb appeal as defined by Reliable Storage will be improved and maintained at all sites

Where is it defined?

LOL I was thinking the same thing.

It seems like they have been probably burnt in the past and have hacked together this contract to try and remedy the situation. I think that is why you see it's 'at will'. They want to be able to get out of it if they are not happy.

Why not just say look, here is what I think your property needs, here is the monthly price and let's go from there.

Are you getting a weird vibe from them already for other things besides the contract? Have you asked them if they have had any problems with previous lawn care businesses and if so, what were the problems. The more you know, the better you could fix the situation.

It would be fascinating to hear what is up with all this though.

[Yard Elements]

He wrote up this contract as a generic he said. LOL

Basically I wrote him back with a new contract. I actually used one of the contract templates from here put my company name in and told him that i felt we needed to right up a new contract that was more quantifiable for the as needed parts. I am hoping he just has been burned in the past or doesn't really have a clue and my new contract will clarify things for the both of us.

Thanks I will let everyone know where it goes from here

[Steve]

Keep us posted.

It would be interesting to talk to him though about his previous experiences with lawn care businesses.

Find out where the problems were so you can avoid them with your relationship with him.

[CHEESE2009]

Originally Posted by Yard Elements

I have a large project to Bid on with Six Properties in my area, the property manager sent me a Maintenance contract and some of the language used seems a little off to me I could be wrong?

Landscape Maintenance Agreement

______________________agrees to provide the services necessary to achieve and maintain high quality care and “curb appeal” as described below, for the landscaping of the six facilities owned by Reliable Storage in Kitsap County.

In exchange for these services, Reliable Storage agrees to pay a maximum of _________per month plus tax. This is an annually reviewed “at will” contract which may be ended by either party with 30 days notice.

• This service includes all treatments such as fertilizing, weed killers and other landscape chemicals.
• All sites will be mowed, edged, Weed whacked and reseeded as needed
• Curb appeal as defined by Reliable Storage will be improved and maintained at all sites
• All plant beds will be weeded cleaned and raked as needed
• All sidewalks and driveways will be kept free of debris as needed
• All building roofs and asphalt areas will be cleaned of moss and maintained as needed using moss killer and pressure washer.
• All branches will be trimmed and kept off security fences, buildings and driveways as needed
• All shrubbery, bushes plants and small trees will be pruned as needed with dead plants being removed and disposed of
• All gutters will be kept clean and free of debris at all times
• Leaves will be gathered and removed and flowers will be watered as needed
• All landscape debris will be removed and disposed of by contractor daily.
• Light snow removal and application of de-icer will be done as required
• Bark and gravel will be supplied and applied at $25 per yard at the request of the main office of Reliable Storage
• Contractor will provide a weekly work order form for the site manager to sign off on in order to ensure that the work is being completed as agreed
• Contractor agrees to a weekly schedule at each site rain or shine informing management of any schedule changes

________________________ ________________________

Does this seem to be a normal contract and how do I bid Light Snow removal before the snow has fallen.

How will I remove and dipose of debris daily?

I am not really sure how to bid this job I really need some help. Should i amend the contract and how do i bid each item?

Ideas?

I wouldn't want this problem lol.

Contract is frightening man!

The guy wants to OWN you, forget that!

Snow removal is probably just shoveling walkways though.

It sounds like a great job, but only if it's the only customer you have, & it pays really well. Though it sounds like the guy would be your boss instead of a customer, freaky.


The contract should just say, "Guy will cut my grass every week, will be paid X every month" done. LMAO

I wish you luck man!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!

[Yard Elements]

Thanks I thought it was crazy but it's my first commercial maintenance job and wasnt sure just wanted to check I sent him the contract I got from this webpage all was good expect he didn't want to pay 70 Per hour for a landscaper is what he said when i called him. He sounded a little irritated about the new contract but I think he knew he was kinda being a Dumb a$$ LOL


Because it is such a large job I told him the hourly rate for the extras could be taken down a little and I would still like to bid his job with my contract. Maybe it'll work out if not theres always more jobs.

Thank to all!!

[Steve]

A lot of times, when we get into something new, in this case, dealing with commercial customers, we find that the first run is more of a trial run. We get a chance to feel things out and then from there we can see what we like or don't like about it and make the future better.

This may be one of those situations where it gives you a chance to feel out interacting with a commercial customer and maybe the next one will be more ideal.