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Hello All,
One of my selling points when dealing with Real Estate rental companies in my area is to let them know that even if the rental property has no power or water available that I am still able to clean the carpets. Many times, the rental companies I deal with don’t know if a property has power & water when they give me the keys.
If I am able to, I check out the rental before I need to clean it to see if a neighbor would mind if I ran an extension cord from their property to the rental. I carry a 100 ft and a 50 ft heavy duty extension cord(s) in my van. I offer them $3.00 to $5.00 for the power. People usually don’t even want to take the money. If no power source is available, I can use my generator, a Yamaha EF3000iSEB (cost about $2,000 with taxes) that I can bring if necessary. I don’t normally carry the generator in my van as it takes up space and I actually haven’t had to use it yet on a job. I also use the generator when camping.
I also bought a “Coleman Hot Water on Demand” water heater which I carry in my van. (Cost about $200.00 from Camping World) It comes with a 2.5 gallon “bag” that I keep full of water that connects to the water heater to heat the water and dispense into one of our 2.5 gallon containers. I use it when I need to use Fast Acting Enzyme.
Now I really didn’t think that saying that I was able to clean rental properties without water or power was a big deal as I’ve done it many times before…until today. I was called by one of my rental companies to clean 7 units. When I went to pick up the keys, she said that the reason I got all 7 jobs was that I didn’t need power or water and sure enough, when I went to see 3 of the rental units on the same street, none had water or power. I asked the neighbors if I could “borrow” power for a small fee the next day when I go to clean the rentals. Also, none of the 3 rentals had very dirty carpets!
This gives us a big advantage over the “steam cleaners” who need a water source.
Thought this might help others.
Lew Miller
Do you have a bunch of 2.5 gal jugs that you carry full at that point? Or do you make a offer to the neighbors fr water as well?
Heavensbestlv,
I always carry 5 mixed (#101) 2.5 gallon containers in my van. One in my sprayer, one in my upholstery mate and 3 extra. I only carry one 2.5 gallon “bag” of plain water that came with the Coleman hot water on demand water heater. I carry one empty 2.5 gallon container to dispense the hot water into to mix FAE. I also carry one 2.5 gallon container of pet enzyme and one 2.5 gallon container of hard surface cleaner.
I haven’t had to use more than 2.5 gallons of Fast Acting Enzyme on any job that had no water but I’m sure I could ask for water from another tenant if needed.
Hope this helps.
Lew
Hot water heater! Generator! You’ve got it going on Lew! It sounds like your the carpet cleaners equivelent to the mailman. Nothing will stop you from getting the job done! Awesome.
Hi Bryan,
A good part of my area is rural. Sometimes you can go blocks or sometimes miles before you come by another house or rental property. I just want to give myself an edge over the “steamers” and anyone else. It’s a nice feeling to say to any rental company that no matter the circumstances, your good to go.
I’m originally from Winterset, IA, SW of Charles City. As we say in warm Southern California, Iowa is a good place to be from.
Lew
Lew,
We’re winding down on one of the worst winters in my 20 years here. Southern Ca. sounds pretty good right about now!Lew you are able to do things that most of the cleaners out there are not. Think!!! I would warn other guys that might not know about using extension cords. If you absolutely have to use one make sure that it is a Heavy duty cord. I don’t know the gauge scale off the top of my head but the bigger the better. Also try to use the shortest cord that you need 25 or 50 ft. I blew out a motor due to using an extension cord on my advanced buffer a few years back. It cost $1100 for a new motor. So if any one needs parts just ask. I am interested in the water heater. Can you run a premixed 2.5 gallon solution through it. If so I mill go get three of them tonight. That would be the best investment I made all year.
Hi Greg,
Nice to meet you (and the others) in Sacramento for our State seminar.
Always looking for more experienced operators to pick their brains.
I have 50 and 100 ft extension cords. Can’t remember the gauge either but they are as thick (and also yellow) as the cord on my buffer. Once I cleaned a trailer in a mobile home park and the maintenance guy ran a 100 ft cord but since it wasn’t a big enough gauge, my buffer wouldn’t run so I replaced it with my own cord and it ran fine.
I’ve never run a premixed 2.5 gallon solution through the Coleman water heater. I heat the water and then add fast acting enzyme. It has a swing out “arm” so that it can go directly into one of our 2.5 gallon containers. Don’t know why you couldn’t though. Perhaps you could get one and try it for a while. The online catalog item is # 33275 from Camping World and cost $189.99 for members plus tax. I’ve used it at least 10 times so far. The only thing I don’t like about it is if you want to use the highest tempature setting, which you will to make the water come out hot enough you have to turn the knob to the highest setting and hold it there. It wants to “spring” back to a cooler tempature if you let go.
I actually used my Yamaha generator for the first time at a job. No neighbors to “borrow” electricity from. It worked great. Just took a few seconds for the generator to rev up once I started the buffer and was good to go.
Lew
Lew thanks for the info. I will get one and post the results. I have never had a problem using a customers water, but I do feel it is more professional not to. I like to show up and have every thing on hand. When they ask if I need to hook up water or If I need anything extra the answer is no we always come prepared. This heater could make a big difference in how I do things from now on. I always carry 5 jugs cold and 4 jugs premixed for a hot solution per van. We use the hot for only the bad jobs. If this works I will be using it on every job.
Hi Kim,
I bought mine online from Camping World. The online catalog item is # 33275 and the cost $189.99 for members plus tax. Neither A/C or D/C. It uses a small propane cylinder like you would use on a small portable BBQ to heat the water. Hope this helps. Also you can refer to my post above.
Lew
We have yet to have a real estate agent contact us with a power outage job, but we have been cleaning mobile/manufactured homes for several years now where our contact is refurbishing them onsite/pad. No power or water.
I purchased a 6500watt unit for some $359.00 on Ebay, new and went to Delaware to pick up. I have a heating element if I need to make FAE and a heater for winter. 50 ft cord works well…
I have mentioned this business before with no response…with the number of foreclosures, this business is good and will only get better.
I love cleaning them…about $250 for the average job and maybe 1 1/2 hours. Our low moisture process is absolutely necessary for them, since they have particle board and cheap padding…water is a huge no no. Soak and suckers would ruin the flooring and the thought of spending some $1,600 for carpet and padding is a little much for the banks.
Hope this helps someone…
Dave
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