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Not sure how to replicate it, but when I enter items into the jobs area, may times a really small tax is somehow calculated in. It is not something that I do, the program does it. It is very annoying because the number is like .009687565654 and adds a penny onto the total invoice. I usually have to go in and subtract a penny.
No, I assure you that this is not just another Halloween story. The family is Mong and have done many things during other services. However, according to the director, they have never tried to pull this one over her. She said that they may have to start charging a cleaning deposit.
In response to your question John, I have regularly cleaned very low income homes lately. Not because I enjoy it but because for most of us, they just make ends meet, while waiting for the next high dollar home. I have been running the phones as well and during the course of the last 4-5 months, I have been able to tell the difference of how dirty a customers home is, usually. First of all, when I do recieve a call from a high dollar customer, I know it right off the bat. They ask questions like, “What kind of system to you use” and “What makes you better than your competitiion”, and similar questions like that. They never say”Uh yeah, I neet to get a quote for come carpet cleaning” As the conversation continues on, a high end customer will ask, what is your price range. They usually ask this after a couple minutes indicationg that they are more concerned with quality than with price. Once I have determined all of this, I usually ask them how dirty it is, if a high end customer says that it is filthy, usually it isn’t. They usually see a few traffic areas here and there, and have a few spots. If they don’t even mention how dirty it is, it probably could go another 6 months before cleaning. If a low end customer says that it is filthy, most of the time, it really is. Be careful not to back yourself into a price corner. Just listen to the customer and usually they will express their concern. If you have any uncertainty, ask.
I don’t know about using OD that concentrated on the carpet. I have used it in a spray bottle mixed 1:1. In training we were told that it may cause brown out though. I have found hands down that the best way to clean up liquid soap is to mix about 2 tablespoons of DEFOAMER with about 2 cups of water and totally saturate the area. I have amazing results every time. As for the bleach problem, I have never run into that type of thing. It may be that you are seeing a cleaner spot than the surrounding carpet.
Is there a BNI group meeting in your area? I would highly recommend getting involved with it. It is better than the Chamber. They are a group of local businessmen/women that meet for the soul purpose of passing referrals and building eachother’s business. It was the first step that I took in starting up in January and since then my $350 investment has made me over $10,000 in business. They limit the group to only 1 person per profession. If you find that there is already someone in a group, consider starting another one. If you have any ?’s call me 907-622-6840
Hey Rick, what all did you do to “get hold” of the Real Estate agents. I have been trying to get them for a while now. Maybe my approach is a bit flawed. I have tried 2 things. With one office I went to a sales meeting and gave a 10 minute presentation. I gave away 3 bottles of spotter, and 3 gift certificates of 20 dollars each. I also told the office that I would offer them 10% of any job they refer me to as cleaning money for themselves. No bites on that one. Then I offered a similar thing only in letter form to another Real Estate office. Still no bites. I like working with the real estate agents (2) from BNI, and one I found on my own, but to get 60%! What is your secret?
I am fairly new at this and up here in Alaska, the market is quite a bit different. I usually charge about 35 cents a square foot. I have gone over that once or twice though. The lowest I have ever gone has been about 20 cents and that was because I was new and price matched some apartments. Actually they are the ones that I live in. Still have them and they continue to be profitable for me. I went and cleaned a fellow BNI members home the other day and he had about a thousand square feet of carpet, set of stairs and 50 square feet of wool rug. I charged 33 cents for the cleaning, 3.00/stair, and 17 cents to protect the stairs and hallway. The bill came to 570 dollars. I cringed a little bit when I called him with the price. Much to my surprise, he paused and then said Baden, are you cutting me a deal? I stumbled over my words and said, well, my full rates are at 35 cents a square foot. He really wasn’t saving much at that either. I asked him why he was surprised. He said that Stanly Steemer last year came in and charged him 800 to clean and protect everything I did. Once we figured it out, if I had protected the whole thing, it would have come out to about the same. DON’T JUDGE THEIR ABILITY TO PAY BY YOURS! I have had several customers tell me that I charge too little for the caliber of work that I do. BE BRAVE.
Mostly just local guys “soak and suck” also. Althugh Chem-dry is also here, like 5 franchises, they don’t really advertize the low-moisture. Probably because most of them have switched to a truck mount. Really good busines for me though. People are hearing about us here and almost jump at the thought of Dry In 1 Hour!
I have my first hardwood floor cleaning coming up soon. 😀 It is for a repeat customer and as a thank you I am cleaning it for her at no cost. She has a floor that is a little bit unusual. It is hard wood, but has “coorgates” around each block of wood like grout on tile. Will the wax get down in between it, or will I have to come up with a way to polish in between.
😀 Hey Tim,
I am also in BNI. I am enjoying it very much. In fact, I have been in business since January of this year and 80% of my total business has been through it. What are some ideas that work for you for doing your 60 second commercials?Baden
What about expiration dates? Good thing or a bad thing? I have 15k flyers and other than the newspaper, not a clue where to use them.
