Anyone have a basic waiver or estimate waiver they'd like to share?

m4gician

New member
Hey everyone,



I applied for a small business grant and I want to be able to show a draft of a waiver for estimates, and work completed. I also want to have some basic standard form legal protection on my custom 2-plicate carbon invoices if possible.



IF you're willing to share, please post the waiver in a reply or PM me if you could be so kind. I thank you in advanced.
 
If you e-mail me at ivan@lustrdetail.com, I can send you an Excel file of my "Check-In" sheet... it's not the greatest, but it covers everything from client's personal and car info, to info on every car panel (with blank spots to fill in as necessary) and some writing protecting me in terms of future bad maintenance, etc.



I mainly did this after a client came back 2 or so months after a detail saying the swirls are back, I did nothing, and he'll sue me if I don't give him his money back... (he said it in a nice way haha)... I offered to detail his car again (it only needed a very light polish to clean up the mess of about 5-6 $10 car washes at a local place), wash his car 8 times, once a week, and if the scratches were there, I would give him his money back, if not, he'd shut up and leave me alone (yes I said that in a nice way as well haha)..



Long story short, he's now a regular client who tips me well and says sorry about the whole ordeal every time... but just because this one issue went well, I wrote up the check-in sheet/contract for future insurance if you will



Sorry for long post.. e-mail me or PM me your email and I'll forward you the stuff, I don't mind sharing
 
I just want to say thank you for offering to share your materials. You've been the only one kind enough to help out other Autopians with this matter.
 
Denzil said:
I just want to say thank you for offering to share your materials. You've been the only one kind enough to help out other Autopians with this matter.



I was actually given a sample by a fellow Autopian a couple years back... even though it was completely different than mine and had no contract type text, it started the thinking process so it helped out... other than sharing clients, I don't see much secrecy in detailing haha
 
Denzil said:
Yeah, I think I might have that same document you're referring to... I think, LoL.



Possibly.. I don't have it anymore, but it had a photo of a car shown from each side, and then a lot of other stuff haha



ajnavo61490 said:
can someone send me their sheet for estimates or whatever you have? i need some ideas... just send them thru email via attached files to ajnavo@cox.net



e-mail sent... I wrote the contract/agreement so you might want to have a lawyer look over it... for me it works just fine.
 
I do not use any type of waiver or disclaimer. I believe if your company is set up properly (licenses, LLC etc.), and if you have insurance, it is not necessary. In addition, do not do business with people who appear to be shady or unethical. I can usually tell very quick who these people are. Some probably disagree, but this is how I feel about the issue. The only time it could be necessary is when you enter into a contract with another business.
 
I have a form that I made on my own, that has an area for me to write exactly what I will be doing to the car, and I write in the high end estimate, and have the customer initial it. It then states that payment is due upon the completion of the detail. I also have a disclaimer that I am not responsible for valuables that may be inside the vehicle. Lastly, I always record the mileage on the vehicle at the beginning of the detail, and have the customer initial that also. There is then a place for the customer's signature at the bottom.



When the detail is complete, and the car is given back to the customer, I write down the mileage at the end of the detail and have them initial that as well. I am mobile, but this is particularly important for cars that I pick up and return, or that customer's drop off at my place.



Like Brad, I don't do a detail for anyone I perceive as potentially being a problem for me later. I mainly have this form for people I don't know...if it is someone I know, I typically don't have them sign the form, unless I am picking up and returning their car, so I have proof I was given permission to drive it in case something were to happen (however I am fully insured).
 
I'm completely with you guys on that issue... many people I deal with are members of local car clubs/forums and I know with 99% of them there will never be a problem...I 'm picking up a 911 tomorrow and driving it ~15 miles for a wash & wax, and all that was said between myself and the owner was me saying "I can pick it up and drop it off later, as long as you know that 'sh*t happens' and I won't be responsible for anything accidental"... that's all that's necessary in some situations, but others require a contract... oh and I'm not incorporated yet with no insurance, so that's another reason... I don't state that I'm not responsible for damage during detailing, such as burning paint, rather stuff like if my garage falls down onto their car, I'm not responsible, etc.



I do have to add the valuables left in the car thing as well though... can't believe it slipped my mind... thanks
 
lecchilo said:
I'm completely with you guys on that issue... many people I deal with are members of local car clubs/forums and I know with 99% of them there will never be a problem...I 'm picking up a 911 tomorrow and driving it ~15 miles for a wash & wax, and all that was said between myself and the owner was me saying "I can pick it up and drop it off later, as long as you know that 'sh*t happens' and I won't be responsible for anything accidental"... that's all that's necessary in some situations, but others require a contract... oh and I'm not incorporated yet with no insurance, so that's another reason... I don't state that I'm not responsible for damage during detailing, such as burning paint, rather stuff like if my garage falls down onto their car, I'm not responsible, etc.



I do have to add the valuables left in the car thing as well though... can't believe it slipped my mind... thanks



You already know this I am sure, but driving a $70,000 car without insurance is a major risk.
 
How you turn down a customer that seems shady? You guys go like "Ummmmmmm yeah, Im booked for the next three months, you want to wait?" or "Mmmmmm yeah, its going to cost you $700 for a express detail"



One thing that I consider really important is to write down the vin number of the vehicle.
 
EMAES said:
How you turn down a customer that seems shady? You guys go like "Ummmmmmm yeah, Im booked for the next three months, you want to wait?" or "Mmmmmm yeah, its going to cost you $700 for a express detail"



One thing that I consider really important is to write down the vin number of the vehicle.



When a person calls, if I don't know them, I will spend some time talking to them. I ask them about expectations, and give them "starting at" prices. If they complain about the price, or ask for a discount, I tell them I am probably not the guy for them.



If I get the impression that they are going to be a pain, or are looking to pull something, I tell them that I am sorry, but with me being so small, I am not taking on any new clients at the moment. I find that is a pretty cut and dry response, that doesn't leave them with the impression I am stringing them along, or jerking them around.
 
brwill2005 said:
You already know this I am sure, but driving a $70,000 car without insurance is a major risk.



Yes I do know... However, there is insurance on the car, and as I said, the client, who is a trusted client, has already confirmed he's fine with me driving it (he's actually the one who asked me as he will be out of town) so I'm sure it will be fine
 
EMAES said:
How you turn down a customer that seems shady? You guys go like "Ummmmmmm yeah, Im booked for the next three months, you want to wait?" or "Mmmmmm yeah, its going to cost you $700 for a express detail"



One thing that I consider really important is to write down the vin number of the vehicle.



+1 to what warrior said... it's a huge step to identify the client at the initial meeting, whether over the phone or in person.. as I mentioned before, I've been fortunate enough to keep 95% of my clients within the car enthusiast community, and they all understand what to expect of a detail and what to expect after the detail... a few clients have called me back a few times for swirls coming back, but they eventually just gave up as they don't want me to maintain the car, rather go to bad auto wash places, so there was no point in complaining about swirls anymore



In short, just try to identify the client very well as early as possible, and go from there
 
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