<HTML>In a message dated 10/9/02 2:20:56 AM !!!First Boot!!!, DJ_Streit@hotmail.com writes: <BLOCKQUOTE TYPE=CITE style="BORDER-LEFT: #0000ff 2px solid; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px">I have a new client with three 8 or 8 1/2 foot grands.  All are about three years old.  They requested that I write up a maintenance plan so they can schedule the funding and I have no idea where to start.  I'd like some input on this from those with experience. The client is a church.  The pianos are played very hard and frequently.  I'm having a brain cramp at the moment and can't remember the brand name, but they were made in Czechoslovakia (sp?).  They all could use some regulation and one needs the key bushings replaced. I've never done a complete maintenance plan for an institution before so any ideas are welcome. David Streit, RPT Portland, OR </XMP> </BLOCKQUOTE> David First of all, Czechoslovakia is no longer a country. There are, instead, two countries, The Czech Republic and Slovakia. Not to sound like a teacher, but don't you listen to the news? These countries have been separated for at least 10 year, of not longer. The pianos you are probably referring to are 7'2" Petrofs, Model II, made in the Czech Republic. When you say a maintenance plan, are you talking about a maintenance schedule, where you come in regularly to tune the pianos? Or are you talking about a repair estimate to tune, regulate, and repair the pianos, to get them back in shape? For a maintenance schedule, you need to indicate you will tune the piano once a month for X number of dollars, or however often they want to have the pianos tuned. With as much as you indicate they being used, once a month is probably about right. You might want to give them a little discount, but not much, off your regular tuning fee. The first couple of times, you will probably spend your normal tuning time on the pianos. But once they are in shape, a good touch up will probably take care of it. Be sure to include in your maintenance contract that repairs, regulation and voicing will be extra. You should say that these repairs, etc., will be billed at X number of dollars per hour. You might want to put in there that you want to be able to do any of that work, without asking for permission, up to a certain amount, and that anything over that amount you will need to get permission. The other thing you want to include in your agreement is when, and how often you will get paid. You might want to say you will bill then after each service call, and that you expect to be paid no longer than 14 days, or so, after they get the bill. The last thing you want to include in your contract is an ending date. Or at least that they give you a month's notice they no longer want to use you. You might also want to include that you have the right to cancel them, and that you will also give them 30 days notice. Now, if all you want to do is give them an estimate for the work that needs to be done, put down on paper exactly how much you will charge them for the work you intend to do, and send it to them. Wim </HTML>