We have never had invoice issues. But we also keep a very close eye on our invoices too. We have had a few issues but they got resolved fairly soon.RamRod23 said:
Safeguard
G
Hi I was just wanting to see if anyone has worked or is working for Safeguard Properties? We have got the change to start working for them but before we do I have heard some bad things about Safeguard. Like they always cut down the amount of payment for little things that you miss and that they will always point the finger at you if something goes wrong. I am new to the form and thought I would see what you guys think. Thanks for the info.
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Safeguard is probably the biggest offender in this entire business for shenanigans.
There is a big difference between Safeguard REO and Safeguard P&P.
If your only REO, you going to get screwed immediately on the batf (bid after the fact) items. ie You say its 80 yard (probably only 60) and they will say it's 30. A month later. I wouldn't consider yourself fortunate if this is all you have with them. Try and bid as much as possible. Sending photos while at a job, asking, can you approve this at 80 yards?
If your P&P, you can make a lot of money. You will have to realize that getting nickel and dimed is a cost of doing business. Hopefully, your profits are high enough that you can afford the bull**** that comes with it.
Safeguard is extremely picky on photos and rules. You will make a lot of trips back to properties for stupid stuff.
There is a big difference between Safeguard REO and Safeguard P&P.
If your only REO, you going to get screwed immediately on the batf (bid after the fact) items. ie You say its 80 yard (probably only 60) and they will say it's 30. A month later. I wouldn't consider yourself fortunate if this is all you have with them. Try and bid as much as possible. Sending photos while at a job, asking, can you approve this at 80 yards?
If your P&P, you can make a lot of money. You will have to realize that getting nickel and dimed is a cost of doing business. Hopefully, your profits are high enough that you can afford the bull**** that comes with it.
Safeguard is extremely picky on photos and rules. You will make a lot of trips back to properties for stupid stuff.
I found out that with SG the biggest difference in how much you get screwed is directly related to your vendor rep.
If they will go to bat for you...... you'll be good to go.
If they won't............ then the term "screwguard" will become very real to your company.
If they will go to bat for you...... you'll be good to go.
If they won't............ then the term "screwguard" will become very real to your company.
G
One more relevant issue is that they insist on adhering to your designated coverage area. No exceptions. In my company's case, our coverage county covered literally hundreds of miles. Aside from routine petty BS and attitude, the straw that broke our back was being sent on a 250 mile rountrip to do a lawncut ($35.00, reduced to a trip charge, which they refused to pay) on a property so remote in the desert, it literally had no address, only GPS coords! Once there, there was obviously no lawn, was a house on a 7 acre parcel of desert, thus the trip charge. In my experience, Safeguard are guilty of being the worst exploiters on the planet. Good luck!
I have been working for Safeguard for about 2 weeks and on my first run out I lost about 20 (4 Lawns) on no ruler pic. in grass.... We have also been to 4 homes in the first batch that had been lived in for a month. They have old address on several properties that had changed do to the 911 changes and they were not up date so it ended up being a wild goose chase for a $30 cut....So far not so good but we will see....
Anyone know how to get into there Trash-Out jobs as I am a vendor for lawns but would like to do there Trash-Outs and Winterizations?
Donny
Anyone know how to get into there Trash-Out jobs as I am a vendor for lawns but would like to do there Trash-Outs and Winterizations?
Donny
G
Yeah sounds about eight if you forget any pics they will take like 5 bucks from you. Sp make sure you just go off the checklist.
Also to get into there Trash outs you have to be good and be with them for sometime before they give you the glory work. But you can ask to be into trash out tell your regional that you want to start doing them. Hope this helps.
Also to get into there Trash outs you have to be good and be with them for sometime before they give you the glory work. But you can ask to be into trash out tell your regional that you want to start doing them. Hope this helps.
Did you sign up as a REO vendor or PP vendor?AffordablePS said:I have been working for Safeguard for about 2 weeks and on my first run out I lost about 20 (4 Lawns) on no ruler pic. in grass.... We have also been to 4 homes in the first batch that had been lived in for a month. They have old address on several properties that had changed do to the 911 changes and they were not up date so it ended up being a wild goose chase for a $30 cut....So far not so good but we will see....
Anyone know how to get into there Trash-Out jobs as I am a vendor for lawns but would like to do there Trash-Outs and Winterizations?
Donny
P&P if my memory is correct. Can you sign up for both with them?
I've been working for Safeguard for about 4 years. I have been through it all with them, cut invoices, arguments over cubic yardage, disagreements on pictures, invoices not paid (i keep good records, they usually pay when i call them on it), done work for free (for insufficient photos or not reporting).
It is a lot of BS to put up with, but I have gotten real good at taking pictures and reporting damages. So, mostly I stay out of trouble. Recently, their new thing is cutting bids. I mean it's gotten alot worse. On anything that's not got an allowable attached to it, they try to cut the bid. Saying the client did it. (B.S!) I just recently placed a bid to remove a 50 ft Oak tree, approx 5 ft diameter at the base, that had fallen in a yard. I thought i had placed a extremely fair bid at $2500.00. They cut the bid to $750.00. I refused to accept, I got a call the next week asking me to specify what special equipment I was renting. I guess because they couldn't find anyone else to remove it for the "approved' price. Still haven't heard back.
Safeguard appears to work towards screwing the contractor as best they can. But, if you stand your ground and do good work, I find they pay fairly well. I did over $300K last year with them.
It is a lot of BS to put up with, but I have gotten real good at taking pictures and reporting damages. So, mostly I stay out of trouble. Recently, their new thing is cutting bids. I mean it's gotten alot worse. On anything that's not got an allowable attached to it, they try to cut the bid. Saying the client did it. (B.S!) I just recently placed a bid to remove a 50 ft Oak tree, approx 5 ft diameter at the base, that had fallen in a yard. I thought i had placed a extremely fair bid at $2500.00. They cut the bid to $750.00. I refused to accept, I got a call the next week asking me to specify what special equipment I was renting. I guess because they couldn't find anyone else to remove it for the "approved' price. Still haven't heard back.
Safeguard appears to work towards screwing the contractor as best they can. But, if you stand your ground and do good work, I find they pay fairly well. I did over $300K last year with them.
Bama use this wording on them and stick to your price.
"As an independent contractor my bid price is my bid price. If you don't accept that you are more than welcome to bid shop and see if you can find another independent contractor that will give you a price you like. Thank you and have a nice day."
Employees are the ones that work for what the big boss tells them to..... unless they get fed up and quit.
Not independent contractors. Your lawyer would have a field day with them trying to change that relationship.
"As an independent contractor my bid price is my bid price. If you don't accept that you are more than welcome to bid shop and see if you can find another independent contractor that will give you a price you like. Thank you and have a nice day."
Employees are the ones that work for what the big boss tells them to..... unless they get fed up and quit.
Not independent contractors. Your lawyer would have a field day with them trying to change that relationship.
I am currently doing the lawns for them but would like to get into the Trash-Out side as well... Any advice Bama? Thanks
If your set up as a P&P contractor with them it should be fairly easy to get trash out work, if you don't already have more than two contractors in your zone. Just ask who the P&P regional is for your zone and tell them you want some work.AffordablePS said:I am currently doing the lawns for them but would like to get into the Trash-Out side as well... Any advice Bama? Thanks
Be ready to have to go back to properties, period. You will make mistakes, you will have to do some work for free. But, learn from these, don't go ballistic when you know it's your fault. Don't be afraid to fight when you know you're right. I find attitude helps a whole bunch. Don't cuss till you're off the phone. Have all your ammunition ready when you call your regional.
In the end, you will have to do as your regional requests or quit. But, don't be afraid to go beyond the regional. Know who the supervisor is, and who the supervisors supervisor is. I've been as high as three levels of supervisors before i got to someone with some common sense. And I was prepared to talk to Mr Kline.
READ THE FHA REQUIREMENTS. can't stress that enough. Know the rules for FHA/HUD,FNM, FMC, and conventional. Know what's required, be able to quote the rules from memory. Also understand that SG isn't out to make you rich or even keep you in business, they are out to make SG rich and keep SG in business. You have to do whatever it takes to make money. Just short of lying, cheating, or stealing. Unless you don't have a personal moral code that prevents that sort of thing. I hope you do have a moral code. Being an honest contractor will help you stay out of trouble. Don't steal personals from properties, don't damage properties - even if it will produce income for you. There are some shady contractors that do these kinds of things, but they usually don't last long.
And, one other thing. Build a relationship with your regional and their supervisor. As trying as they are, they are your best bet to make money. Some of them you can't be friends with, others are friendly enough. Usually, the regionals swap around about every 6-8 months, so if you get one you can't work with, let the supervisor know you're having problems.
Safeguard can be a bunch of A$$HOLES, but if you know that up front and want to work for them, then just be prepared and take lots of pictures and make notes of conditions while you're at the property. In other words...CYA.
And one other thing, don't be afraid to refuse work due to cut bids. You are not an employee of SG, you are an independant contractor. If you can do it for the reduced amount, ask for the job at a flat rate-no discount and do it, but if you can't be profitable- refuse.
Thanks!
I love any input as I have done this myself for going on 4 years and have seen a lot. I have had to bite my nails on things I felt were right but wanted to keep my work flow intact.... I am working for some really great companies now and yes the property manager realationship makes a huge difference.... I have seen ups and down with SG but currently am covering 54 yards for them as there sole lawn contractor in my zone but would like to do some of the Trash-Outs in the winter months. I feel my team does a good job with this type of work but also understand that we can make mistakes as we are only human..... How is there Pay for Trash-Outs? (Initial Clean, Initial Lawn, CY) If you would like PM me with this info...
Thanks
Donny
I love any input as I have done this myself for going on 4 years and have seen a lot. I have had to bite my nails on things I felt were right but wanted to keep my work flow intact.... I am working for some really great companies now and yes the property manager realationship makes a huge difference.... I have seen ups and down with SG but currently am covering 54 yards for them as there sole lawn contractor in my zone but would like to do some of the Trash-Outs in the winter months. I feel my team does a good job with this type of work but also understand that we can make mistakes as we are only human..... How is there Pay for Trash-Outs? (Initial Clean, Initial Lawn, CY) If you would like PM me with this info...
Thanks
Donny
If they pay you, it's great!!AffordablePS said:Thanks!
I love any input as I have done this myself for going on 4 years and have seen a lot. I have had to bite my nails on things I felt were right but wanted to keep my work flow intact.... I am working for some really great companies now and yes the property manager realationship makes a huge difference.... I have seen ups and down with SG but currently am covering 54 yards for them as there sole lawn contractor in my zone but would like to do some of the Trash-Outs in the winter months. I feel my team does a good job with this type of work but also understand that we can make mistakes as we are only human..... How is there Pay for Trash-Outs? (Initial Clean, Initial Lawn, CY) If you would like PM me with this info...
Thanks
Donny
G
Good Morning,
Apologies for bumping an older thread but I have been (again) considering Safeguard. They have a pretty bad reputation here in Minnesota. I have heard lots of big discounts (anything over 20% is big to me), invoicing issues, technical issues with website, payment issues. However, I have also heard that they hold contracts for large swaths of territory across Minnesota.
To summarize:
Does this about sum it up?
Thanks,
Apologies for bumping an older thread but I have been (again) considering Safeguard. They have a pretty bad reputation here in Minnesota. I have heard lots of big discounts (anything over 20% is big to me), invoicing issues, technical issues with website, payment issues. However, I have also heard that they hold contracts for large swaths of territory across Minnesota.
To summarize:
- Safeguard is good when they pay
- Safeguard is very nit picky about photos/rules
- Training is a pain (but is it worth while?)
- A contractors experience to Safeguard is equal to their relationship with their regional rep.
Does this about sum it up?
Thanks,
1 - 20 of 41 Posts
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