The handover package, and the referrals it produces

The day the water turns on is the high point of the entire relationship. Most contractors hand over a business card and drive away.

A proper closeout package costs you an hour, makes you look like a serious business, cuts the "how do I" phone calls, and is the single best moment to set up maintenance and referrals.

What goes in it

What was built. Feature type, dimensions, depth, volume.

Equipment registry. Every pump, filter, light, and control with model, serial number, install date, and warranty period. This alone puts you ahead of most of the trade.

Valve and plumbing map. A simple drawing of what is where and what each valve does. Photograph the plumbing before it was buried and include it. In five years this is worth more than everything else in the package.

Owner instructions. What to do weekly, monthly, and seasonally, in plain language.

Water quality basics. What to test, what the numbers mean, what to do when they are off.

Fish care if applicable, including feeding and the winter guidance.

Your warranty, in writing, including what is covered and what is not.

Maintenance program options with ranges.

Emergency contact: your phone number, and what counts as an emergency.

How to deliver it

Printed in a folder, handed over in person while standing at the pond, and emailed as a PDF the same day.

A QR code on the folder linking to a page with the same information plus the video guides is a nice touch and takes ten minutes to set up.

The conversation that goes with it

At handover, standing there: "Everything you need is in here, including which valve does what, which you will care about in about five years. Two things before I go. First, would you mind leaving us a review while it is fresh? I will text you the link. Second, if anyone you know asks who did this, I would appreciate you sending them my way. Most of our work comes that way."

That is the referral ask. Once, in person, at the best possible moment, and then never again.