All policies are subject to change without notice, last updated February 2024
WORKING TOGETHER
CANCELLATIONS
PAYMENT
COMMUNICATIONS
TRAVEL EXPENSE
SUPPLIES & SOLUTIONS:
SAFETY
PHOTOGRAPHS & TESTIMONIALS
RESTRICTIONS & LIABILITY
DISCLAIMER:
WORKING TOGETHER
- In-person Organizing sessions require the participation of the client unless otherwise agreed.
- Consent Any adult whose space is being affected should ideally be present for the initial consultation or review of any proposal. Bower Bird is not responsible for communication gaps between household members.
- Interruptions For us to have an effective session, we’re going to need to focus. Please take steps to minimize interruptions from children, pets, visitors and phone calls that come while we’re together.
- Session minimums are 4 hours, which starts from the moment I arrive until the moment I leave. Unless otherwise agreed to in advance, the 4-hour minimum is in place for all in-person meetings.
CANCELLATIONS
- Cancellation process: Please understand that in order to give my clients my best, I only see one client per working day. Because of this, I need to keep cancellations to a minimum. It is the responsibility of the client to reach out to actively cancel a session if it becomes absolutely necessary. Please reach out via text, to avoid any issues with emails or voicemail not being delivered in time.
- Cancellations with less than 72 hours (3 days) notice: The client will be charged for one-half of the hours booked. These will either be billed directly, or deducted from an existing package. Billed amounts must be paid in full prior to next appointment or in 30 days, whichever is sooner.
- No-shows and last minute cancellations: From 12 hours before our scheduled session, including a no-show if I arrive at a client’s home, and the client isn’t home or able to work, the full session will be charged to the client. Billed amounts must be paid in full prior to next appointment or in 30 days, whichever is sooner.
- Inclement weather: Typically, we’ll connect as an appointment gets closer and the weather is predicted to be a factor, and we’ll make a mutual decision on how to proceed.
- Right to waive: Bower Bird alone reserves the right to waive any cancellation fees.
PAYMENT
- Deposit non-refundable deposit of $50 holds the date of a single session. Deposit of $100 holds the start date(s) of your Bower Bird Course.
- Fees: the remainder of payment is due and payable at the completion of the first session unless otherwise arranged in advance.
- Payment types accepted: Zelle, Personal check, or Cash. Venmo is available for an additional 2% fee
- Insufficient funds: There will be a charge of $35 for any check returned for insufficient funds or any bank draft item that is not payable for any reason, as well as additional collection and/or legal fees to compensate for overdraft charges and unpaid account balances.
- Cancellation fees: must be paid in full prior to the next appointment or in 30 days, whichever is sooner.
- Discounted bulk bookings: Payment is due in full at the time of booking.
- Organization Sessions the run longer than 4 hours: I round to the nearest half-hour.
COMMUNICATIONS
- Calls - besides the complementary intake call, calls are charged at $30/half hour with a half hour minimum.
- Email - is my preferred method of communication.
- Text - is fine for time sensitive communications.
TRAVEL EXPENSE
- Bike & Bus: I’m a bike/public transit commuter and I will travel, without charge, to locations with safe routes about thirty (30) minutes each way from my home in Waverly, Baltimore.
- Other transportation (taxi/planes/trains/car shares/etc): If a client lives outside my bike/bus range, they are responsible for my travel expenses to reach their home, or may simply have an additional fee tacked onto the published rates.
- Right to waive: Bower Bird alone reserves the right to waive any travel fees.
SUPPLIES & SOLUTIONS:
- Supplies: Clients are responsible for paying for supplies. Sometimes I will either make suggestions for the client to buy, or will purchase the supplies, ensuring delivery to client’s location.
- Research time: The fee for any extensive research (30 minutes or more), is one-half of the hourly rate.
- Shopping: If I end up purchasing something for you with your permission, receipts will be presented at or before the next appointment for reimbursement.
- Other direct expenses: Direct expenses, including, but not limited to, copying, shipping fees, delivery charges, parking, are the Client’s responsibility. They will be billed to the Client at the time of service.
- Other vendor services: During an organizing project, it may be appropriate to work with other service providers (such as cleaners, movers, furniture assembly, carpenters, physical labor, etc.) At a client’s request, I can help seek to find service provider options; Clients, however, will contract directly with such service providers, holding Bower Bird harmless for the actions or performance of other service providers.
SAFETY
- Firearms and weapons: Please take care to remove these items from any space we work in together, and secure them somewhere else safely
- Personal items: If you’ve got something that you think either you or I might be embarrassed if I came across it, please take a moment to place it somewhere else. I strive to cultivate a judgment free environment, so if it is okay with you, it is okay with me. Examples of personal items may include journals, sex toys, lingerie, etc.
- Working with minors: Occasionally, I’ll work with children, tweens or teens. I only do so with the parents’ explicit permission, when the parents are also home. I respect their privacy in the same way I would an adult’s.
PHOTOGRAPHS & TESTIMONIALS
- Photographs and testimonials: Clients give Bower Bird permission to use, anonymously, without remuneration, testimonials, and Before & After pictures of their location (edited for identifying information), in marketing materials, including print and online. Clients will be shown material before it is used, and if they object to having it “out there,” then that will be respected
RESTRICTIONS & LIABILITY
- Restrictions: Clients must remove and secure firearms from work areas before appointments. Other items may be requested to be handled only by the Client, such as jewelry, valuable collections or medication.
- Liability: I help clients come to decisions, but the final decision is always the Client’s to make. Client agrees that Bower Bird is not responsible for any loss or damage caused by Client’s failure to carefully review or inspect any discarded items. The Client agrees that the homeowner’s policy is the primary insurance policy for any property damage claim.
- Indemnity: Client agrees to indemnify, defend, release, and hold Bower Bird, harmless of, from, and against any and all costs, losses, claims, damages, liabilities, expenses and other obligations (including, without limitation, reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs) asserted or recovered against or incurred by Bower Bird, in connection with the services proposed or provided herein. Bower Bird makes no warranties, express or implied, in connection with the services provided or proposed herein. Client acknowledges that results are purely subjective and may vary between customers.
- Right to withdraw: Bower Bird reserves the right to withdraw from an organizing project at any time if the project involves perceived unsafe working conditions, if Clients are in breach of their agreement, or if I cannot render the services requested by Clients through no fault of my own.
DISCLAIMER:
- I, Elizabeth "Z" Smith (dba Bower Bird), have made every effort to accurately represent my services. I am committed to working with my clients to help them achieve their goals, and live the life they wish to live. However, I cannot guarantee results or suggest that the testimonials of others will be typical to your experience.
Bower Bird
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