What an appliance repair service agreement is for
Landlords and property managers with many units lose money every time an appliance fails between tenants or guests. A maintenance plan with scheduled checks and priority repairs gives them predictability and gives you steady visits. The agreement should list each appliance, what is checked and what repairs cost.
What to put on an appliance repair service agreement
- The appliances covered, by location or unit.
- What each check includes.
- Priority response time for members.
- What is not covered: parts, replacement, damage by misuse.
- Price, billing, renewal and cancellation.
A worked example
A landlord with a four-unit building wants each unit's washer, dryer and refrigerator checked once a year and fast repairs during tenant changeovers.
| Line | Qty | Unit | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yearly appliance check, per unit | 4 | visit | Your price |
| Dryer vent cleaning, per unit | 4 | each | Your price |
| Refrigerator coil cleaning, per unit | 4 | each | Your price |
List the units in the job box. This is a template, not legal advice; plans that promise repairs can fall under service contract rules in some states, so check your state's rules.
Line items appliance repair techs use
| Line item | Unit | How to write it |
|---|---|---|
| Service call and diagnosis | each | Say whether it is credited toward the repair if the customer goes ahead. |
| Repair labor | hour | Or a flat repair price from your price book. |
| Refrigerator compressor start relay | each | Brand and part number on the line. |
| Washer drain pump | each | Name the part and the model it fits. |
| Dryer heating element or igniter | each | Electric element or gas igniter, by model. |
| Dishwasher control board | each | Boards are costly; say so before ordering. |
| Oven bake element | each | Model and wattage. |
| Door gasket | each | Refrigerators, freezers and dishwashers. |
| Water inlet valve | each | Washers, dishwashers and ice makers. |
| Dryer vent cleaning | each | Often found as the cause of a slow dryer. |
| Return trip for ordered part | each | Say whether the second trip is charged. |
| Appliance install, customer supplied | each | Hookup, leveling and haul-away of the old unit if agreed. |
| Haul away old appliance | each | When the customer replaces instead of repairing. |
Terms and deposit language for appliance repair
- Deposit. No deposit on most calls. When an expensive part must be ordered, such as a control board or a sealed system part, take payment for the part before ordering, since it often cannot be returned.
- Payment. The service call is due at the first visit; the repair is due when the appliance works. If a part is ordered, say whether the service call is credited on the return trip.
- Warranty. State how long your repair is covered, for labor and for the part you installed, and that it covers that repair only, not other failures in an older machine.
- If the repair would cost a large share of a new appliance's price, you will say so before going ahead.
- Appliances under the maker's warranty may need the maker's authorized service; say if you are not.
- The customer clears access to the appliance and is present for the diagnosis.
How to fill it in
- Fill in the customer and the start and end dates.
- List what each visit includes and how many visits a year.
- Add your price per line; the plan shows a yearly total, and a monthly figure if billed monthly.
- Fill in what is not covered and the renewal and cancellation terms.
- Check your state's rules, then print it for signatures.
Free tools for appliance repair
The same service agreement for other trades: auto detailing, 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.