What an auto detailing change order is for
Customers describe their car as a little dirty and arrive with sand in every seam, mold in the trunk or sap all over the paint. A change order before you start the extra work keeps pickup friendly. It works the other way too, when a customer decides to skip the coating.
What to put on an auto detailing change order
- The original package and price.
- What was found or requested.
- Added lines and credits.
- The new total.
- Approval before the extra work.
A worked example
At drop-off the SUV has tree sap across the roof and sand packed into the carpets. The owner skips headlight restoration.
| Line | Qty | Unit | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tree sap removal | 1 | each | Your price |
| Heavy sand extraction, carpets | 1 | each | Your price |
| Credit: headlight restoration not done | -1 | set | Your price |
Photos of the sap and sand with the change order make the extra charge easy to accept.
Line items detailers use
| Line item | Unit | How to write it |
|---|---|---|
| Exterior hand wash and dry | each | Wheels, tires and door jambs. |
| Interior vacuum and wipe-down | each | Seats, carpets, dash and console. |
| Full detail, sedan | each | Inside and out. |
| Full detail, SUV or truck | each | Larger vehicles take longer. |
| Clay bar decontamination | each | Before polish or protection. |
| One-step polish | each | Light swirl removal and gloss. |
| Paint correction, multi-step | hour | Priced by time after inspection. |
| Ceramic coating | each | Name the product and the durability it claims. |
| Carpet and seat shampoo | each | Hot water extraction of fabric. |
| Leather clean and condition | each | Seats and trim. |
| Pet hair removal | each | Surcharge for heavy hair. |
| Headlight restoration | set | Both headlights. |
| Engine bay cleaning | each | Low pressure with covered electrics. |
| Mobile service fee | each | If you charge to come to the customer. |
Terms and deposit language for auto detailing
- Deposit. Coatings and paint correction often take a deposit to hold the day. Washes and standard details usually do not.
- Payment. Due when the vehicle is handed back, after the customer has looked it over.
- Warranty. Coating durability claims come from the maker and depend on upkeep; say what you stand behind and what voids it.
- Some scratches, stains and odors cannot be fully removed; say so before you start.
- Remove valuables from the vehicle; you are not responsible for items left inside.
- Mobile jobs need water and power access or a fee for bringing your own.
How to fill it in
- Put in the original estimate number and amount.
- Write what changed in the reason box, plainly.
- Add the new work; type a minus quantity for any credit.
- Fill in the days added.
- Print it for a signature on site, or send it from Koira to sign by phone.
Free tools for auto detailing
The same change order for other trades: appliance repair, carpet cleaning, chimney, house cleaning, commercial cleaning, concrete, drywall, electrical, fence, flooring, garage door, general contractor, gutter, handyman, hvac, irrigation, junk removal, landscaping, lawn care, locksmith, moving, painting, pest control, plumbing, pool service, pressure washing, remodeling, roofing, septic, snow removal, solar, tree service, waterproofing, window cleaning.
More for detailers: how detailers run on Koira.