Client Service Agreement
THE HOME STEWARD LLC
16 Canterbury Lane · Summit, NJ 07901
hello@homestewardnj.com · homestewardnj.com
This Agreement governs all services provided by The Home Steward LLC.
Current pricing and service descriptions are published at homestewardnj.com
and incorporated into this Agreement by reference.
NJ Home Improvement Contractor Registration #: 13VH14155300
Fully bonded and insured · General Liability $1,000,000 · Surety Bond $50,000
1. PARTIES AND DEFINITIONS
This Client Service Agreement ("Agreement") is entered into between The Home Steward LLC, a New Jersey limited liability company with its principal office at 16 Canterbury Lane, Summit, NJ 07901 ("The Home Steward" or "Company"), and the client who accepts this Agreement by signing up for services through the Company's website or other means ("Client").
For purposes of this Agreement, the following definitions apply:
"Property" means the Client's residential property at the address provided by the Client during signup.
"Services" means the home management, maintenance, handyman, home watch, and related services described on The Home Steward's website at homestewardnj.com and incorporated into this Agreement by reference.
"Technician" means the employee, subcontractor, or principal of The Home Steward who performs Services at the Property.
"Visit" means a scheduled attendance at the Property by a Technician to perform Services.
"Pre-Existing Condition" means any defect, damage, deterioration, malfunction, or substandard condition existing at the Property prior to a Visit, whether known or unknown to either party.
"Portal" means The Home Steward's online client portal through which Clients access their home records, visit reports, photos, invoices, and other account information.
2. SERVICES
2.1 Service Categories
The Home Steward provides home management, maintenance, and related services as described on the Company's website at homestewardnj.com. Service categories currently include handyman visits, subscription home management plans, home watch services for traveling homeowners, and project coordination for renovation and improvement work.
2.2 Pricing and Service Details
All pricing, service descriptions, visit durations, included features, and plan details are published at homestewardnj.com and are incorporated into this Agreement by reference. The Company reserves the right to update pricing and service offerings from time to time. Current clients will receive thirty (30) days advance written notice of any pricing changes affecting their active subscriptions. Price changes take effect at the start of the next subscription period following the notice period.
2.3 Subscription Plans
The Home Steward offers recurring subscription plans with scheduled visits, inspection, maintenance, and portal access. All monthly subscriptions are subject to a one (1) month minimum term. Annual subscriptions are subject to a six (6) month minimum term. Subscriptions renew automatically unless cancelled in accordance with Section 5.
3. PRE-EXISTING CONDITIONS AND PROPERTY DOCUMENTATION
3.1 Pre-Visit Documentation
Prior to commencing Services at the Property for the first time, The Home Steward will conduct a documented walkthrough of the Property. The Technician will photograph all accessible areas, note all visible defects, damage, or items in non-working order, and upload the complete record to the Portal. The Client will be notified when the pre-visit documentation is available for review.
3.2 Client Review and Sign-Off
The Client is responsible for reviewing the pre-visit documentation and notifying The Home Steward in writing within forty-eight (48) hours of any omissions, inaccuracies, or additional pre-existing conditions the Client wishes to be recorded. Failure to notify The Home Steward within this period constitutes the Client's acceptance that the pre-visit documentation accurately reflects the condition of the Property at commencement of Services.
3.3 Ongoing Visit Documentation
At each Visit, the Technician will photograph work performed, areas accessed, and any new findings or changes in the Property's condition. All photographs are timestamped and uploaded to the Portal the same day as the Visit. This documentation record constitutes the authoritative account of the Property's condition at the time of each Visit.
3.4 No Responsibility for Pre-Existing Conditions
THE HOME STEWARD IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY DAMAGE, FAILURE, MALFUNCTION, DETERIORATION, OR LOSS ARISING FROM OR RELATING TO ANY PRE-EXISTING CONDITION AT THE PROPERTY, WHETHER OR NOT SUCH CONDITION WAS IDENTIFIED IN THE PRE-VISIT DOCUMENTATION.
3.5 Causation Standard
The Home Steward's liability for any damage or loss at the Property is limited to direct, proximate causation by the Technician's specific actions during a Visit. The mere fact that an incident occurred after a Visit is not sufficient to establish causation. The Client bears the burden of demonstrating by clear and convincing evidence that the Technician's specific actions were the direct and proximate cause of the claimed damage, and that the damage was not attributable to any Pre-Existing Condition.
4. BILLING TRANSPARENCY CHARTER
The following five rules govern every financial interaction between The Home Steward and the Client:
Rule 1 — A Cancelled Visit Is Never Charged
If The Home Steward cancels or reschedules a Visit for any reason attributable to The Home Steward, the Client is not billed for that Visit.
Rule 2 — Materials Are Always Itemized
Standard consumables are included in subscription visits. Any materials beyond the standard kit are listed on the invoice at cost plus fifteen percent (15%), with item name, quantity, and unit cost stated.
Rule 3 — Project Quotes Are Fixed
Once a written project quotation is approved by the Client, that is the final cost. Scope changes require a new written quotation and explicit Client approval before any additional work or expense is incurred.
Rule 4 — Overtime Is Pre-Authorized
If a Visit will run beyond its standard duration, the Technician confirms with the Client before continuing. No overtime is charged without prior verbal or written authorization from the Client.
Rule 5 — Every Invoice Is Reviewed Before Payment
All invoices are published to the Client's Portal before any charge is processed. The Client may dispute any line item within five (5) business days of the invoice being published.
5. CANCELLATION AND MINIMUM TERMS
5.1 Subscription Cancellation — Monthly/Quarterly Plans
All monthly subscription plans are subject to a one (1) month minimum term beginning on the effective date of this Agreement. After the minimum term has been completed, the Client may cancel the subscription at any time by providing fourteen (14) days written notice to The Home Steward. The fourteen (14) day notice period begins on the date written notice is received by The Home Steward. Service ends fourteen (14) days from that date. The Client will not be billed for any Visit scheduled after the effective cancellation date. Any prepaid fees for Visits not delivered prior to the effective cancellation date will be refunded within fourteen (14) days.
5.2 Subscription Cancellation — Annual Plans
Annual subscription plans are subject to a six (6) month minimum term beginning on the effective date of this Agreement. After the minimum term has been completed, the Client may cancel the annual subscription at any time by providing thirty (30) days written notice to The Home Steward. The thirty (30) day notice period begins on the date written notice is received by The Home Steward. Service ends thirty (30) days from that date. Refunds for annual prepayments are calculated as: the annual fee paid divided by the total number of Visits included in the annual plan, multiplied by the number of Visits not yet delivered as of the effective cancellation date, less an administrative fee published on the Company's website. Refunds are processed within fourteen (14) days of the effective cancellation date.
5.3 Cancellation Within Minimum Term
A Client wishing to cancel a subscription before the applicable minimum term has been completed remains liable for the full fees due through the end of the minimum term. Refunds for prepaid amounts beyond the minimum term obligation are processed within fourteen (14) days.
5.4 The Home Steward's Right to Cancel
The Home Steward reserves the right to cancel or suspend Services at any time with fourteen (14) days' written notice for any reason, or immediately in the event of: the Client's material breach of this Agreement; unsafe or hostile conditions at the Property; or any circumstance that in The Home Steward's reasonable judgment poses a risk to the health or safety of its Technicians. In the event of cancellation by The Home Steward without cause, any prepaid fees for undelivered Services will be refunded in full within fourteen (14) days.
6. LIMITATION OF LIABILITY
6.1 General Limitation
TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, THE HOME STEWARD'S TOTAL CUMULATIVE LIABILITY TO THE CLIENT FOR ANY CLAIMS ARISING OUT OF OR RELATED TO THIS AGREEMENT OR THE SERVICES SHALL NOT EXCEED THE TOTAL FEES PAID BY THE CLIENT TO THE HOME STEWARD IN THE THREE (3) MONTHS IMMEDIATELY PRECEDING THE EVENT GIVING RISE TO THE CLAIM.
6.2 Exclusion of Consequential Damages
TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, THE HOME STEWARD SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE, OR EXEMPLARY DAMAGES.
6.3 Insurance Coverage
The Home Steward maintains commercial general liability insurance with coverage of not less than One Million Dollars ($1,000,000) per occurrence and a surety bond of not less than Twenty-Five Thousand Dollars ($25,000). A certificate of insurance and proof of bonding are available upon request. Claims that may be covered by The Home Steward's insurance policy are subject to the terms, conditions, deductibles, and exclusions of that policy.
6.4 No Warranty of Results
The Home Steward warrants that Services will be performed in a workmanlike manner consistent with industry standards. THE HOME STEWARD MAKES NO OTHER WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED. THE HOME STEWARD DOES NOT WARRANT THAT SERVICES WILL PREVENT ALL PROPERTY DAMAGE, DETERIORATION, OR LOSS.
6.5 Third-Party Contractors
For project coordination services, The Home Steward coordinates licensed third-party contractors to perform trade work. The Home Steward is not liable for the workmanship, errors, omissions, or negligence of third-party contractors, provided that The Home Steward exercised reasonable care in selecting and supervising such contractors.
7. CLIENT OBLIGATIONS
7.1 Access
The Client shall provide The Home Steward with reasonable access to the Property for the performance of Services.
7.2 Accurate Information
The Client shall provide accurate and complete information about the Property. The Client's failure to disclose known conditions that result in damage to the Property, injury to Technicians, or increased cost of Services shall be the Client's sole responsibility.
7.3 Safe Conditions
The Client shall ensure that the Property presents reasonably safe conditions for Technicians performing Services. The Home Steward reserves the right to decline to perform Services or to leave the Property if conditions are deemed unsafe.
7.4 Timely Payment
The Client shall pay all invoices in accordance with the payment terms published on the Company's website.
8. GENERAL PROVISIONS
8.1 Entire Agreement
This Agreement, together with the pricing and service descriptions published at homestewardnj.com, constitutes the entire agreement between the parties and supersedes all prior discussions and agreements.
8.2 Amendments
This Agreement may be amended only by a written instrument signed by both parties. The Home Steward may update pricing and service descriptions with thirty (30) days' written notice to subscribers. Price increases for existing subscribers take effect at the start of the next subscription period following the notice period.
8.3 Severability
If any provision of this Agreement is held invalid, illegal, or unenforceable, the remaining provisions continue in full force and effect.
8.4 Governing Law and Venue
This Agreement is governed by the laws of the State of New Jersey. The parties consent to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of Union County, New Jersey.
8.5 Notices
All notices under this Agreement shall be in writing and delivered by email or overnight courier. Notices to The Home Steward shall be sent to hello@homestewardnj.com or 16 Canterbury Lane, Summit, NJ 07901.
8.6 Independent Contractor
The Home Steward and its Technicians are independent contractors and not employees, agents, or partners of the Client.
ACCEPTANCE
By signing up for services through The Home Steward's website or other means, the Client accepts and agrees to be bound by the terms of this Agreement.
— END OF CLIENT SERVICE AGREEMENT —
The Home Steward LLC · 16 Canterbury Lane, Summit, NJ 07901
hello@homestewardnj.com · homestewardnj.com
NJ Home Improvement Contractor Registration #: 13VH14155300 · Fully Bonded and Insured