Just found out my state has a 3-day cancellation rule for home services

I was reading through some small biz paperwork last night and stumbled on a law in Oregon that lets clients cancel any home repair contract within 3 days with NO penalty. That means a guy I painted a whole living room for in Portland could have just backed out after I bought all the paint. I had no idea this was a thing. Has anyone else gotten burned by this kind of rule?

3 comments

3 Comments

zarag171d agoMost Upvoted

Yeah I've been there with my own crew actually. That three day window is brutal if you don't get a signed contract upfront with a nonrefundable deposit for materials.

rowanw911d ago

Exactly, that three day window has burned me more than once. I started adding a clause that clearly states materials are nonrefundable once cut or ordered, and I make sure they initial right next to it. It's a pain (and customers sometimes push back) but it's saved me from eating the cost of custom stuff when they get cold feet. Also, I always take a photo of the receipt or the stock with the date visible, just in case they try to dispute it later. Honestly, that little bit of paperwork upfront makes the whole job run smoother.

william_craig716h ago

Start requiring that materials deposit before you even order anything, not just when you sign the contract. Make it clear in writing that the deposit covers custom items that can't be returned to the supplier. That upfront money tends to keep people from backing out when they get nervous.