hbottumwa

Thanks Daniel. Perhaps service monster and clean-fax needs a few replies.

Where you are Michael, there is a lot of “stay at home mom’s” that could do just that. If he could clean for you part time that would be even better!

I’m not currently using or ever used an answering service.To me the biggest challenge would be, how many pages of info would I have to give them or would I want to have their phone # to call them back to answer their questions. How comfortable would I be letting someone set my schedule? Concerns… travel time, time on each job, etc. Now, if the corporate office had a call center, with properly trained people answering questions and viewed computer generated travel time etc. I would be more inclined. Cost? Can’t help you there.

Customers setting their own appointments on line? I feel I would have medical problems. Concerns, same as above. Also, I couldn’t have an open day and say, “I think I could fit you in around 2pm. Does that work for you?” In this scenario, I could work on a couple of things in my wife’s “Honey Do Novel”, do my monthly report, and have lunch at school with my kids or Grand kids and still meet my weekly totals!

I don’t mean to be critical. I just feel these are legitimate responses to your questions. I wish I had better answers.

With heart felt sincerity, I’m going to leave myself a little open here. We worked on educating ourselves to clean tile & grout through the bulletin board, tutorials, and just asking a lot of questions. I bought the T&G (Buffer) package and bought the ninja package a month or so later. We have increased our business about 30% in the last two weeks (and climbing) just by letting customers know (when they call for an appointment) that we also clean T&G! We mention hard wood and vct but T&G is really taking off!

I have learned … that T&G has similarities to carpet cleaning. 1. You can clean it, but doesn’t always come out as good as you would like. 2. The first few times, you will spend more time “learning as you go” than the $ per hour you would like. Like with carpet $ per hr get better with experience. 3. There’s a reason they call it “Dwell” time. 4. Customers love us! 5. It pays to pass on some jobs.

I was one of those who were content just doing carpet & upholstery cleaning. What prevented me from doing T&G, hard wood floor, and vct tiles? Frankly I didn’t take the time to educate myself and lacked the vision. I now see the light! (or at least see the added $’s ) Only you can decide weather or not it is right for you. I have only seen one restaurant in all of La Grande that didn’t have T&G. It’s all over, homes, office buildings, bathrooms, public restrooms, entryways, halls, churches, dealerships, just to name a few. It’s almost every where there’s not carpet. I just hired a part timer to help with the increased work knowing full well it’s on it’s way up, up, and away! I’m looking at and doing -one van- second shifts, and night shift contract cleaner. It just makes sense to me.

Please reconsider why you don’t expand your horizon’s.

#2 Years ago someone posted in “additional services” that they created a flyer (sheet of paper) showing “All their services”. That they handed this to the customer when they measured out the carpet. What if we created a VERY professional “List of Services” for all operators and include “Franchise opportunities” or something like that at the bottom of the “laminated” sheet. One side, both sides, I don’t care. I would be willing to pay to have all my operators having one in each van. And yes, paying a finders fee on top of that. I feel it would be worth it for just one new sale! If it leads to a sale for each one of us, Hallelujah! Post it in the newsletter for who’s responsible for the lead… Make one of those “big” 2X8 foot checks and present it to the operator at their next state/regional seminar…

I like your spunk. Keep it going.

Reviewing and working on your goals is like taking time to sharpen the saw. A dull blade will work on butter but really limits your potential. Goals without constant activity are only dreams.
Have you ever seen a drag race? Spinning wheels gives the allusion that your making progress, when in reality it’s wasting time & money (fuel & tires) and still gives that adrenaline rush (allusion of power and progress). The back tires moving represents action. More important is the front tires. Spinning tires without focus takes off in other directions unless you have a constant direction correction toward your visionary goals. Dreams can become visions only after goals are set and action is taken.

So, turn your dreams into visions by taking the time to sharpen the saw!