Signed Or Verbal Agreement?

Here is my situation:I posted an ad on craigslist to perform lawncare for ay realtors who have vacant homes that need lawncare.I was contacted by one wanting mowing seediing plugging fertilizing and pine straw put out.This was for 2 homes,both on the same street. I came up with a price for labor and got prices for material. Was contacted and told I could go ahead with job. Problem is I had no address to send bill to and had not met anyone in person.I called back and asked for an address for which i could send an invoice to and guy said the work was for someone else and he would get back to me with an address.I have not heard from him as of yet.I am looking at spending 400.00 out of my pocket for materials to do this work.I think there should be a meeting and signing of a contract to ensure I am covered in getting paid for this work.Without any meeting or something signed if whoever decides not to pay I have no recourse in recouping my expenses.I need to know from all of you if I am right and should not do any work until there is something signed to cover me and the customer so everyone gets what they paid for. All suggestions welcomed

[Steve]

Lawn care business tips

Oh this sounds like trouble! I wouldn't do anything until you could meet up with this person and have at the very lest a verbal agreement in place and know who to bill. But the way it sounds know, I think I would go with a signed agreement. I don't like how he needs to get back to you with an address to send the bill. Keep us posted on this.

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You are correct. I think you have plenty of reason to be concerned. I would not perform any work until you have laid eyes on the "customer" and, especially in this hinky case, until you have a signed contract in hand. I think I would make sure the contract included specifically who is responsible for payment. Then I would make sure that the person signing the contract also prints his name (I would probably have a spot for him to "print" and another spot for him to "sign" rather than just having him sign and print his name below the signature.).

I think I would start out with drawing up the contract and then calling him to ask for a place to meet him or whoever is authorizing the work. Make it clear to him during your telephone conversation that no materials will be ordered and no work will be done until a contract is signed. Maybe even ask for some money upfront to purchase materials. This would help ensure they are willing to go through with the deal. I suspect someone is trying to pull a fast one on you. I would not lose a lot of sleep over the deal until you have met the customer and have that signed contract in hand................

Good luck,
Eli

[BladeMaster Mowing]

We have had past problems with realtors and owners who are actively selling/managing foreclosure properties. We only do prepayments with signed agreements for these types of customers now. We either meet with them for signing or mail them an agreement. They can provide guaranteed full payment or a good faith deposit in cash, check or money order or via PayPal. Once payment and agreement is received/cleared then the work will start. And so it goes with ongoing service.

With renters, we asked that they provide their driver's license # on an agreement in the event of defaulted payments.

Good luck,
Luna (& Victor)
BladeMaster Mowing
Bradenton, FL
www.blademastermowing.net

I would like to say a big thank you to everyone that gave information to my post.The information you provided was very helpful. Agtin thank all of you very much,Denman

[musician/lawnman]

Be carefull here man, Like other said above, meet the client & get a contract signed. I have had 2 or 3 instances where a new client called, requested an estimate, I called them back & they approved the estimate by phone & gave a billing address. I did the work & got stiffed. Prepaid cell phones & BS billing addresses. I can't track anything at all, it sucks!