10 Questions to Ask Before Signing an Elevator AMC Contract

Most AMC disputes we've seen trace back to one thing: a question nobody thought to ask before signing. So here's the list we'd actually want you asking, whether you're signing your first contract or renewing your fifth with the same provider.

1. Is this AMC or CMC? Get the labour-vs-parts split written down in the contract, not just a verbal assurance you have to remember later when it actually matters.
2. How many scheduled visits per year, and what does each one cover? Get specifics on what actually happens at each visit, not just a number of visits per year.
3. What's the committed response time for a breakdown call, in hours? Vague promises don't help you when something's actually stuck and residents are calling you.
4. What happens if that response time is missed? Ask for an actual escalation path, not just an apology after the fact once patience has already run out.
5. Are spare parts stocked locally, or sourced on demand? This single answer determines how long a real repair actually takes when something major fails.
6. What's explicitly excluded from the contract? Misuse, force majeure, and cosmetic damage are common exclusions that catch people off guard if nobody mentions them upfront during the sales conversation.
7. Is the contractor currently licensed under the relevant state Lift Act? Ask to actually see it, don't just take their word for it over a phone call.
8. What's the contract term, and what are the exit terms if service quality drops? Know your way out before you need it, not after you're already stuck in a bad contract.
9. Who do you escalate to if the assigned technician is unresponsive? Get an actual name and number, not just a general company helpline that goes to a call centre.
10. Can you see references from a building of similar size and lift count? Then actually call them, don't just take the list and file it away without following up.

Why it's worth writing these answers down, not just asking them

A verbal answer during a sales conversation and a written clause in a signed contract are two very different things, and only one of them holds up when there's an actual dispute later. Ask each of these questions, but don't consider the conversation complete until the answer is somewhere in the document you're both signing.

See our AMC contracts page for how we answer each of these ourselves, and if you're still deciding between AMC and CMC, our companion piece on AMC vs CMC is worth reading first before your next renewal conversation.

Bring these questions to every renewal, not just the first signing

It's easy to run through a checklist like this once, get satisfactory answers, and then never revisit it again for years. Contractors change staff, priorities shift, and a provider that answered these questions well three years ago might not still hold up the same way today. Make this list part of your renewal routine, not just your onboarding routine.

Print it, keep it, use it every time

Keep this list somewhere your committee can find it easily, a shared document, a printed copy in the society office, whatever works for your building. The value of a checklist like this comes entirely from actually using it consistently, not from having read it once and assuming everyone remembers the important parts, especially once committee membership starts turning over year to year.