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Our first quarter was higher than last year as well and as of last week we were ahead….
BTW…never said anything about magnetic signs on doors…many ways to look professional.
Great job and inspiration…we have been thinking about adding this to our quiver…Thanks so much for the posting.
Dave
Dave,
I know, that for us, we have a very good idea of what we need on any particular job we go on, and we do not need all that much space to contain the materials needed. Nice to have extra..but not really needed.
Within the next year or so, I am willing to bet that some hybrids with more of a wagon capacity or style will be coming onto the market. They will most likey look like an Escape or smaller and can carry a number of pads, a buffer, vacuum 2ea, sprayer and a few miscellaneous spot cleaning bottles with proper arrangement.
Maybe just use logo on doors, with phone….but at $4+++ /gallon, cannot push it in the future. With a little better planning, scheduling and mental adjustments, the change must happen if we are to survive.
Even diesel Sprinters must be taking a heck of a hit now. I am thankful that our vans are still in very nice shape and are all but paid off…
I have never sent out such a letter myself, but Cody passed out a price increase to us. You might go back in the newsletters and find his wording. It might be a great place to start.
I agree…I have 2 Ford E-150s V-6…about 2 cylinders too many. I mean to downsize into something smaller….real small. I am going to be looking seriously into hybrids. Perhaps a hybrid and keep a van then get into something smaller than the van. We do not need 80% of the stuff we take on a job, just too lazy to unpack and take what we need for a job or two.
And then when we finally get to drilling in Alaska and off the coasts in a responsible manner, or extracting oil from coal if the Reps/Demos allow, and the price of oil should plummet…we will be even more ahead of the game at 50+ mpg…
In the meantime, we are parking a van much of the time and running tighter scheduling. The life of the vans will be longer this way in any event.
What is true in almost every business and investment portfolio…diversify, diversify, diversify!!!
The 1st Qtr this year beat last year and the residential and real estate transactions were way off…but commercial…off the charts.
We have received a huge influx from commercial work that never raised its head before and we are GRATEFUL!
Businesses are goo for our business and I am going after more…
Running 2 vans is difficult, since we are getting bigger jobs and can fit into 1 van.. Also saves gas…our replacement van will not…repeat will NOT be a full-sized van at all, but something much, much smaller and a miser with gasoline and I can’t believe that diesel is all that much better. An electric-hybrid of some type will work…but looking forward to $5-$8/gal is really tough and running 2 vans very difficult.
I am scheduling much tighter now than before…This is why we have high minimums, and quote over the phone at every opportunity.
I do thank the Lord that we do not run HWE…
Just my 2 cents for what its worth…
I agree with Ron as well.
For the new operators….when we were new, 5 years ago now, I took anything that I could get, 1 room, 1 chair etc. I needed 1) to build a business customer base and 2) get experience.
One little thing I discovered was this. Most potential customers that have 1 room of carpet to be cleaned have more. Every operator here has gone to a job for 1, 2 or more rooms to clean and walked away with more.
Just a few minutes ago, I told a lady our minimum of $90 and she just hung up…she was desiring a price for 1 room. I instantly was a little angry…and then thought…1) did I want such a person in my customer data base and 2) did I need the experience of cleaning 1 room for something less than $90 (if I have learned one other thing in this business….when I went on 1 room only jobs…they were terribly filthy 98% of the time…worth at least $90.
Just my 2 cents worth.
Tissue? How about a towel?
We do a lot of work for a local Christian adult care facility and the majority of residents have Downs Syndrome. Those who work with these folks are truly gifted and many of the residents are very interested in our process…
I am going to forward the video to the Director.
Thanks so much for sharing.
Dave
We were working today in a church and it came to me…the words of Elbert Hubbard:
The reward for a job well done today, is more work tomorrow.
It was true over 100 years ago and true today. If we say or do something dumb or even, in innocence, our actions are misunderstood, people are waiting for us to slip up.
Doing an honest job, without clock-watching, thorough as possible…and each of us will be rewarded.
Just my 2 cents worth.
About 250 sqft or thereabouts. We have been charging $45/room or area for at least 2-3 years now and have been recently been told we are cheap…bad sign. We do charge more for a larger room and a little less for something smaller and not terribly filthy.
A lr/dr or two rooms connected are always charged as 2 rooms.
Steps are an area as well as halls. A short hall less, an extra long hall more.
We have never, in 5 years, had a problem with our billings at all on pricing.
I think there may be real variables from area to area, due to the cost of living and incomes of the local areas. What one may charge in San Diego for a sofa, chair or carpet cleaning may be totally out of line with what one charges in Lancaster, PA or Bicknell, IN.
I just read the fine print in a Sears ad the other day….I do not monitor competition very much, sad to say. But in the fine print, they stated that they are adding a $9.00 fuel surcharge.
Thanks Sears!!!
Great…
I am giving them 5% to play with in the pricing….they call for a quote or use mu guidelines and then schedule with me and then we do he work and they pay us…Better than giving 15% discounts.
I am going to go after some more of these types of customers….they are only in residential cleaning. I love commercial…but residential is just fine and no advertising…
I would not mention the Merry Maids connection…they are owned by ServiceMaster and are supposed to recommend and use their carpet cleaning services. But they do lousy work and so here we are. Would not want to jeopardize our great relationship.
Thanks
Just a thought…if our best advertiser is or customer, then it might follow that our best customer might be the one that refers the most business our way… right?
For some years now, we have been recommended by Merry Maids and have received a ton of business from them. Just yesterday, we cleaned the home of a partner in a home cleaning service and voila…we got 2 jobs and have a potentially great relationship going forward…
Something for others to consider…
Dave
Business has been very different this year. That being said, we were $1,700 YTD ahead of last year, last week, according to the boss. Almost zero real estate business!
With a reduced YB ad in the 2 books in the county and a 1/2 pg in Verizon, which will be reduced as well for this next year….
Thanks Gordon!!!!!!!!
Do a great job and the customers will return and talk to others, do a marginal job and they will look around and talk to others. Just that simple…or complex.
Just my 2 cents worth…
