Terms of Acceptance

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To better service my clients, I want to be totally transparent in what one can expect from my services and what I expect from them. By hiring me, you agree to all of the terms below. Please check these out each time you retain my services to ensure that you are up to date with my terms. Thanks.

• I will arrive at the predetermined date and time as agreed. Morning appointments generally start at 10am. I will call or text you when I am on my way to confirm my GPS arrival time. Afternoon appointments are "soft" scheduled at 2pm. This time will be flexible as I never know when the first appointment will end. I will try to contact you in the morning to give a rough idea once I see the morning project firsthand, but will always call or text when I am done to let you know that I am on my way with my GPS arrival time. Should the morning appointment end early and you will not be available before 2pm, please let me know when we schedule and I will gladly arrive at 2pm. Should the morning appointment last longer than expected, I will gladly give you the option to reschedule should you have time constraints that might interrupt the completion of your project. 
• As traffic is inconsistent, I may be a few minutes early or late. You can always expect a call or text from me to let you know. If you are running behind, please extend that courtesy to me as I am usually rushing to get to my appointments and would welcome the opportunity to stop and grab a cup of coffee or a quick bite to eat. 
• Should I arrive at your home or business and you are not there, I will start my time clock if you confirm the time and are not present. Again, please let me know ahead of time if you will not be available on time.

• As I am usually very busy, my preferred method of communication is texting. Please let me know if you do not wish to text or have given me a landline number as I may not know that the number cannot receive texts and will assume that you have received my messages. 
• When I am on a project getting paid on an hourly basis, I do not respond to calls or texts. I know that this can be inconvenient, especially if you are calling to find out what time I will arrive at your project that day, but I assure you that I will extend the same courtesy when I am working on your project. The best way to reach me is by texting between 10am-6pm. I will contact you as soon as I am able.
• I check my emails every morning before I leave for my first appointment and throughout the evenings after 6 pm or when I am done for the day. Please do not send an email if you require an immediate answer as I generally will not have the time to respond quickly.
• There are some times that I must answer the phone or respond to a text and should this occur while getting paid hourly, I will deduct the time used.
• If am working on a flat rate fee, I may use my phone to call or text as time will not be a factor.

• When billing hourly, I start the time clock when I arrive and the clock ends when I am cleaned up and all tools and equipment used for the project are loaded on my truck. 
• I bill the first hour at $100 and then $30 each additional $30 minutes. I have a 5-minute buffer before billing the next 30 minutes. For example, should I be onsite for 1 hour 35 minutes, I will bill for 1.5 hours. Should I be onsite for 1 hour 36 minutes, I will bill for 2.0 hours.
• I am happy to discuss future projects while onsite, please know that my time will still continue as I offer consulting services. Please ask me to call you from the road when I leave if you prefer not to be charged as I will bill for any time that I am at your project. I have hands-free calling in my truck and can continue to my next project which means that I am no longer working on your project.
• I will usually offer a flat rate fee for most projects once I arrive and see what the job entails. I may not always be able or willing to do this as some projects can only be done on a timely basis and other projects I will only do at a flat rate. I will let you know ahead of time. There are some instances where I might do a split rate. For example, I typically charge a rate of $125 to install a fan on an 8ft high ceiling but will charge hourly for a door jamb repair. I will repair the jamb on the clock, but will stop it when I begin the fan. For split rates, I typically charge a straight $30 per half-hour.
• As part of my services, I will go shopping or pick up materials for projects. Most of the time I do not bill for anything other than the time. However, for larger items, I might add a surcharge which I will discuss with you at project time. 

• When I am done for the day, I expect payment in full. 
• I prefer cash or Zelle, but will accept credit cards and Venmo. Please let me know if you have any questions. 
• I only accept checks from businesses. Unfortunately, I have had past issues with checks and in this day and age, there are too many other ways of paying for services that are making personal checks obsolete. 
• Any pay service or app that is used that will charge me a fee will be added to your bill. I am a sole proprietor and offer these methods of payment for your convenience. If you prefer not to have a fee, please have cash available or use Zelle.
• Most of the time, I do not cover material costs. I either ask for a deposit, perform a phone sale from the supplier, or ask you to accompany me when getting materials. Should I supply the material, I will expect immediate payment upon arrival.
• If a deposit is required for a project, I require that I receive it no later than the evening before the project unless I am picking up cash the day of the project. I will accept checks for a deposit, but will only begin the project after the check has cleared.
• On multiple day projects, I require payment for the time used paid each day. On flat rate projects I will discuss stage payments if necessary.

• I am often asked if I give estimates. My answer is yes, but I charge a $50 fee that I will gladly apply to the cost of the project should you retain my services.  I do this as through my experience there are those out there who are only looking for estimates without immediate need. I am just a sole proprietor and in order to keep my pricing low, I cannot service the needs of those who only want pricing for insurance reasons, budgeting, or just plain curiosity. I wish I was in a position to assist everyone, but my time is limited and fuel is expensive. Should you want an estimate without immediate need, please contact a large company that can afford to oblige you.
• I am often asked to perform an estimate on a repair or upgrade that I would only perform at an hourly rate. I do not provide estimates for these types of services, I will let you know should you inquire.
• When you retain my services, I show up expecting to work. Should I arrive and be asked to just give an estimate, I will expect $50 which I will apply to the project should I be hired.

• For electrical diagnosing, I bill at an hourly rate for any time spent. This is because no two projects are the same, even ones with identical symptoms. I will spend as much or as little time as you wish inspecting your electrical system trying to ascertain the problem(s) until either the problem is located or it will not likely lead to the exact source. Please know that often the exact cause or problem may not be found or directly identified. For example, line breaks or worn wires inside walls, faults or short circuit locations in inaccessible areas, or certain items that require specialized knowledge- the list goes on and on. In cases like these, I may suggest that further time might be wasted and recommend an alternative such as running a new circuit or replacing a section of wiring, installing a new outlet/switch, etc . Regardless of whether the cause is identified or isolated, I expect to be paid for any time that I spend.  I understand that this might be frustrating for some situations, but the fact of the matter is that given enough time and the ability to tear into walls or ceilings most problems can be found, and should I recommend that any further time spent could be a waste, it is because that is what my experience tells me. Please contact me should you have any questions about this.
• Video doorbells are all the rage now and I install them in both wired and wireless applications. I have recently been hired to complete a wired installation that a homeowner had begun only to find out later that the video doorbell was damaged due to the homeowner's improper installation. This was, of course, after spending almost 4 hours diagnosing the continuity of the wiring, replacing the transformer, as well as installing a new chime. Should I properly install any product, doorbell or otherwise, and it not work due to no fault of my own, I will expect to be paid for my time as is only fair. 
• Troubleshooting video doorbell issues  is a very common project for me. Most of the time, I find the problem quickly and can have it resolved before I leave. However, there are instances where replacement parts are not readily available and must be ordered. If this occurs, a second visit will be required at my standard rate. 
• Please note that I recommend replacing a malfunctioning hardwired video doorbell system with a new wireless system rather than the troubleshooting as most of the time the cost is about the same. I am always happy to diagnose any malfunctioning video doorbell, but please note that this is often not the lowest cost option and that a new wireless system may still be needed, especially in cases of wire shorts. Please contact me directly for further information about this if you have any questions. 

• I expect this section to grow as my time in business increases as time will reveal special situations that might come to mind. Please make sure to check if my terms have changed every time before hiring me.
• In situations where parts are damaged or missing from an item that I am to assemble or install, or some other instance or circumstance that prohibits me from completing a project that is no fault of my own, I expect to be paid for my time. Regardless if the item was supplied by the home or business owner, or I went shopping and provided an unopened and undamaged item, the fault does not lie with me and I should be paid for my time and if need be, the time to return or exchange the item. If that is not possible, my normal rates will apply. On projects where a flat fee was offered, any time spent will be based on my hourly rate. Again, this is only if the fault does not lie with me.
• Should I arrive and determine that I will be unable to complete your project due to a lack of tools, knowledge, or skillset, there will be no charge if I am given full details of the project ahead of time. When this does occur, I often discover something that was unexpected, and through no lack of disclosure from the owner, I cannot complete the project.  This will be at no charge. Please be upfront and as detailed in describing your project as you can and I will let you know if I am able to be of assistance.

Please contact me immediately should you have any questions or concerns. Thanks.