One of the biggest concerns held by Employers today is that the Freelancer they hire will take their company's money and not deliver their product. It is human nature to worry that the auto mechanic changing our oil will come in to the cold, dirty waiting room to tell us that our front ball joint snapped, resulting in a charge of $900 to replace it. We fear that the plumber unclogging our toilet will tell us that he has to get the 'big' hose and charge us twice as much. Once we stray outside our level of control and familiarity, our fears and imaginations take over. We replay every news story where people recounted their stories of betrayal and become extra vigilant in an effort to avoid troubles of our own.
So how do you secure your product and become part of a healthy Freelancer/Employer relationship? The answer is: work. Locating and hiring a talented, responsible Freelancer requires a lot of activity, before and during the project process. Check out the steps below to see what is involved in ensuring receipt of your product.
- Screen all the candidates carefully. Before you consider offering the project to anyone, check the references and past work records of the Freelancers you like best. Once you feel comfortable with the Freelancer, his or her skills and work history, you can award the project.
- Once you select a Freelancer, review the requirements with him or her in detail using Project Messages.
- Create and upload a Project Agreement that cover all aspects of your project.
- Use SafePay.
SafePay
- Guru.com Payment Protection Guarantee with SafePay!
- The SafePay service allows you to transact with Freelancers risk-free.
- If you are working with a new Freelancer, use SafePay.
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- Give and expect respect. This should begin the minute negotiations take place and not end until the work is completed and full payment is delivered.
- Use Work Room Discussions to keep in close contact with the Freelancer during the project.
- Ask that all project drafts and the final product be uploaded to Work Room Files for your review.
- Make all payments promptly. If you want the Freelancer to take you and your requests seriously, and to respect your business, do the same. Just as you are counting on receiving your product at the end, they are counting on each payment to cover their expenses.
- As the due date approaches, follow up with the Freelancer to make sure the product will be ready for delivery. Again, close contact with the Freelancer will ensure that your needs are met.
- Accept delivery of the product via Work Room Files, and make all final payments. Once you have reviewed the deliverable and verified its completeness, pay the Freelancer promptly.
- Although investigation, communication, and respect ensure a successful relationship in 99.9% of the cases, there is the possibility that things will not go well. In some instances, better investigation before hiring, more frequent communication during the project, and sincere respect could have eliminated any problems. However, the possibility remains that you could do everything right and still be without a product. Should this ever happen, here is what you can do.
- Employers who used SafePay have access to Guru.com's Mediation and Arbitration services. In Mediation, the Employer and the Freelancer resolve their dispute with the assistance of a mediator. If the parties cannot agree on a resolution, the matter is sent to Arbitration, where a legally-binding judgment is rendered by the arbitrator.
- Employers who used Guru Invoicing do not have access to Guru.com's Mediation and Arbitration services. If you have already paid your Freelancer using Invoicing and are unhappy with their work, you are welcome to leave honest feedback for the Freelancer. Frequent negative feedback will affect a Freelancer's ability to gain new business on Guru.com.
By investing time in the relationship and communicating your needs to the Freelancer, you greatly increase your chance of receiving a completed project on time and within budget. Before beginning any Freelancer/Employer relationship, evaluate your selection and fully communicate your needs. Although it will increase the time spent relative to the project, the result will be well worth it. |