Clean It Up
UK Floor Cleaning Forum => Carpet Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: Joe W Brown on September 17, 2012, 07:52:00 am
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This is one of the many offers I am having to compete with on google adwords.
How do these people make their money?
3 carpets - say 20m each, heavily stained, would take me.. Maybe 5-6 hours to clean and treat stains individualy. Maybe more. So thats a day reserved working sociable hours.
Then the scotchguard for 60m - thats £30 mark, for the guard im using at the moment.
Then travel costs, machine aging, chemicals etc etc. £5 maybe £10.
Then the cost of advertising on adwords in the first place. Maybe £5 per customer if im lucky.
Thats left me with £20 for a days work.
Then I see people on this forum charging ups of £40 an hour (which is great and far more uplifting for me)
How is it possible to have such a distance in value? A lot of these offers on google either claim 100% removal or suggest this by before and after photos where the carpet transforms to like new, "this or your money back". Yesterday i spent 1 hour working on a single makeup stain and it had still not gone completely. Admittedly I am quite new to the business so am not as experienced, but if id charged any less than I do id be giving my services away.
Oh and a groupon 3 carpets cleaned, time taken 1 hour. It takes me 1 hour to set up and put everything away. A single stain can take over an hour.
I dont understand ???
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Oh and a groupon 3 carpets cleaned, time taken 1 hour. It takes me 1 hour to set up and put everything away. A single stain can take over an hour.
I did this last year... never again mind but 6 jobs a day for 8 weeks..
3 rooms in 1 hour... hard work but can be done..
as for 3 rooms £65 6 jobs a day at £65 each... = £390 X 5 = £1950
not a bad weeks work is it??
Never going to happen... but that is the theory behind the advertising.....
You stick to what you are comfortable with though...... It is your business....
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Way cheap but 6 hrs for 3 carpets too long. Should take 2 hrs?
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What equipment and chems are you using. It's seems you need to become more efficient. 1hour to setup and down is way too long.
If the stain isn't gone in 10mins move on or charge more for stain removal.
Also sell yourself so you not always competing with the cheapest.
Mark
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I have an established company in my area doing exactly the same thing... better get used to it mate because all the time people who cant really afford to have their carpets cleaned, choose these firms offering 50%, most other wont get a look in...
I had a woman call me yesterday in lets just say not the nicest of areas, she wanted her large leather sofa cleaned and a lounge carpet cleaned... lived on the second floor.
The first questions i asked was "have you received any quotes" to what she replied "yes"
When she told me she could get the whole job done for £95 i knew i was onto a loser... she told me she would only go with the cheapest quote.
Some firms would rather work for a lot less just to generate turnover, i on the other hand will not work at 50% discounts or offer to "Scotchdard" any room for £10...
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I think I will give them a call when I get out of hospital ;D ;D ;D
It will save me a job
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Went up against some quotes here a few weeks ago and a well known franchise was doing very cheap work.
Thankfully getting new clients from the net and dont mind paying my prices..
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Clinton
Do you get many jobs of your van graphics as im going to have mine done
Cheers Neil
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Don't worry about time to set up etc, you'll get faster, same with actual cleaning.
With regards your pricing, go with what you want to earn, there is a market for everyone, price yourself accordingly and don't stress what others are doing concentrate on yourself.
Most importantly always do the best job you possibly can and you will get work at your price.
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Neil
Its well worth getting your van sign written mate and went with a large carpet cleaning sign and a small company name..
My van does get noticed and does bring in work.
Good luck with your signage
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What equipment and chems are you using. It's seems you need to become more efficient. 1hour to setup and down is way too long.
If the stain isn't gone in 10mins move on or charge more for stain removal.
Also sell yourself so you not always competing with the cheapest.
Mark
Airflex storm machine.
Normally I use a bog standard microsplitter with some orange solvent added.
My process is -
- Get stuff out of the van (sometimes, like today, having to take 5 trips in a lift getting up too flats)
- Vacume with sebo - north south east west, takes maybe 10-20 mins per room, including pulling tube out too get up too corners and doors.
- Prespray using sprayer and microsplitters.
- Spray stains with microsplitter spotter.
- Agitate with sebo duo. Agitate edges where sebo cannot reach with hand brush.
- Cold water Rinse with airflex storm.
- Spray visible stains again, using mpower or specialised spotter depending on stain.
- Maybe spray traffic lanes again with a spotter or with warm mpower, in attempt to imrpove.
- Rinse said areas again.
- Maybe repeat process, depending on how stains and traffic lanes are looking.
- Maybe repeat again!
- Turn extraction machine to just hoovers and use hoovers to align the pile into neat direction.
Carpet complete. Now time to move on to next carpet and do it all over again!!! 2 hours per carpet, 1 if im lucky.
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Crikey
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I thought along similar lines there Dave.... :o :o
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Try it this way:
Vacuum every room - put vac back on van
Prespray every room (starting with room to be extracted first, and in order, concentrating on traffic lanes and spots) - put sprayer back on van
Agitate every room (in order of above, concentrating as above)
Start rinse all rooms in order, working out of the house.
Keep your spotter close to hand so any marks that don't lift out on extraction can be treated as you go (you might be surprised what comes out under normal cleaning).
Groom, get your money, and get out of there.
Doing it this way gives prespray longer dwell without hanging about, and should increase the likelihood of getting it right in one.
Also, I'd consider experimenting with stronger presprays and better forms of agitation for real mingers.
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1. vacuum out of van - vacuum all the rooms - vacuum back into the van
2. sprayer, chemical, agitator out - mix, spray, agitate all rooms - all back into the van
3. Airflex out, bucket on handle, Acid rinse can with measuring jug in bucket, one set of hose on top of machine - put in position
4. wand, other hose set and spotting kit into position, fill up, off you go
5. put everything back into the van
6. grab the money, off to the next one
REPEAT
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Try it this way:
Vacuum every room - put vac back on van
Prespray every room (starting with room to be extracted first, and in order, concentrating on traffic lanes and spots) - put sprayer back on van
Agitate every room (in order of above, concentrating as above)
Start rinse all rooms in order, working out of the house.
Keep your spotter close to hand so any marks that don't lift out on extraction can be treated as you go (you might be surprised what comes out under normal cleaning).
Groom, get your money, and get out of there.
Doing it this way gives prespray longer dwell without hanging about, and should increase the likelihood of getting it right in one.
Also, I'd consider experimenting with stronger presprays and better forms of agitation for real mingers.
Thanks for advice Ash. Ill try the above and experimenting with stronger presprays.
Can you recommend any? My main problems seem to be with traffic areas.
Thanks.
Joe
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1. vacuum out of van - vacuum all the rooms - vacuum back into the van
2. sprayer, chemical, agitator out - mix, spray, agitate all rooms - all back into the van
3. Airflex out, bucket on handle, Acid rinse can with measuring jug in bucket, one set of hose on top of machine - put in position
4. wand, other hose set and spotting kit into position, fill up, off you go
5. put everything back into the van
6. grab the money, off to the next one
REPEAT
Thanks for advice. I like the storm and bucket setup especially.
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;D I have a Turbo, never used the wheels on the top handle for loading in/out of the van, but they are brilliant for hanging stuff on, buckets, hoses, etc...
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Joe, sometimes it pays to bear in mind that traffic lane grey is caused more by wear than soil, and all the cleaning in the world will only improve it a certain percentage. I always make a point of telling customers this, and when they do come up like new its a bonus. Under promising and over delivering makes for much happier customers than over promising and under delivering.
Probably not what you want to hear given the other thread, but my most used prespray is SPM.
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Mine is actually Mpower or HD microsplitter :o :o
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;D I have a Turbo, never used the wheels on the top handle for loading in/out of the van, but they are brilliant for hanging stuff on, buckets, hoses, etc...
Haha i'll certainly remember that one :D
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Joe, sometimes it pays to bear in mind that traffic lane grey is caused more by wear than soil, and all the cleaning in the world will only improve it a certain percentage. I always make a point of telling customers this, and when they do come up like new its a bonus. Under promising and over delivering makes for much happier customers than over promising and under delivering.
Probably not what you want to hear given the other thread, but my most used prespray is SPM.
I'll try SPM out. Another member on here was singing its praise to me earlier. Apparently prochem do a similar product to SPM so I might be inclined towards that one.
Im aware of this about traffic areas. I always tend to undersell and overdeliver when possible. I recieved a thankyou card through the post yesterday from an elderly client, who was apparently thrilled with her carpet. i wasnt overly happy with the job, but apparently her expectations where quite satisfied :)
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The Prochem chemical you're talking about I'm guessing is Powerburst - a great chemical which a lot of carpet cleaners use on a daily basis. Give John Kelly from Restormate a ring and get some ordered to give it a bash. I'd also order some Oxibrite to add to the mix when needed.
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The Prochem chemical you're talking about I'm guessing is Powerburst - a great chemical which a lot of carpet cleaners use on a daily basis. Give John Kelly from Restormate a ring and get some ordered to give it a bash. I'd also order some Oxibrite to add to the mix when needed.
It wasnt powerburst, but this was mentioned also.
I have some powerburst and oxibrite in my van. Can powerburst be safely used on wool?
With oxibrite - i either did not recieve or lost the scoop for it. Can i measure it by eye or tablespoon?
I have tried adding a small handfull of oxibrite to 750ml of tap warm water and applying it to a couple of wool carpets. Neither had results which i could see after half an hour of dwell. Am i doing something wrong?
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I think it's quite important that the water for oxibrite is hot when it's mixed.
The official line re: Powerburst/Wool is that the pH is too high for wool - but most people find (subject to pre-testing and an acid rinse) there is no problem.
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Straight from the kettle hot? So a hot tap (given time to run full heat first) would not cut it?
Would one tablespoon oxibrite per litre of water be ok or is this too much?
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The temperature out of a tap varies, so difficult to say.
I always ask a customer to boil a full kettle when I start unloading, then by the time you've vacc'd and generally faffed about it's cooled down enough to use.
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Prochem Pureclean and Oxibrite combined would be closer to SPM formulation.
STPP + Sodium Percarbonate
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How would i go about hot water extracting with airflex storm?
Surely it would take a lot of kettles to fill up my two 20 litre tanks which i lug about!
Especially since i often have to refill them at least once per job.
Please excuse the noob question. I have no experience in hot water extraction whatsoever. Its all a mystery to me!
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Thanks by the way.
And thanks everyone for your replies.
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How would i go about hot water extracting with airflex storm?
Surely it would take a lot of kettles to fill up my two 20 litre tanks which i lug about!
Especially since i often have to refill them at least once per job.
Please excuse the noob question. I have no experience in hot water extraction whatsoever. Its all a mystery to me!
Usually tap-hot water is all you need, get a bucket and fill the machine with hot water from the tap. If you can't fill up from a tap an in-line heater is the only option with the Storm.
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How would i go about hot water extracting with airflex storm?
Surely it would take a lot of kettles to fill up my two 20 litre tanks which i lug about!
Especially since i often have to refill them at least once per job.
Please excuse the noob question. I have no experience in hot water extraction whatsoever. Its all a mystery to me!
Have you not tried the magma heater with the storm? I had a go with one at the week end and was really impressed you couldn't touch the couplings it was that hot.
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I might have to invest in a magma heater by the sounds if things.
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I use tap hot water when available or have some 25 litre containers that I can fill and take with me, just drop the solution pump hose into it. The magma will heat from cold, and perform better with warm/hot water, I don't own an in-line heater but have tried the magma and was impressed but tap hot seems to do me fine. For bad traffic lanes on synthetics try a Heavy Duty Splitter like HDX, Prochem Ultrapac or powerburst all with an acidic rinse subject to testing. As has been mentioned dwell is important but try not to let it dry out. You can also save on the job time by mixing pre-spray in the sprayer before you leave home.
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Hi Guys
Hot water cleans better and faster and requires the use of a lot less chemicals.
Cheers
Doug
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Hi Guys
Hot water cleans better and faster and requires the use of a lot less chemicals.
Cheers
Doug
Have you got proof of that? ;) ;D
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Hi Billy
Yes, it's called science! ;)
Cheers
Doug
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yeah but didn't scientists declare the world flat not so long ago? Big oops on that one ;D
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i believe the laws of science are defied in this industry!
;D ;D ;D
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Hi Guys
As I have said many times it is the big washing powder/liquid manufacturers who drive the resarch in the cleaning industry.
When they have washing machines which can only use cold water then I will too ;)
Cheers
Doug
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Hi Guys
As I have said many times it is the big washing powder/liquid manufacturers who drive the resarch in the cleaning industry.
When they have washing machines which can only use cold water then I will too ;)
Cheers
Doug
;D ;D
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Hi Guys
As I have said many times it is the big washing powder/liquid manufacturers who drive the resarch in the cleaning industry.
When they have washing machines which can only use cold water then I will too ;)
Cheers
Doug
;D ;D
Theres your scientific answer Billy ;D ;D ;D
I agree with Doug...
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Erm, HOT WATER soil extraction system!!!! Any hints in the title? ;D
Warm to hot Pre-sprays work much better than cold and hot rinse works much better than cold, no science involved, just use you eyes ::)
Simon
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been on holiday Simon??
It has been quiet around here recently ;D ;D ;D
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Hector,
Can't afford holidays, I'm only a cleaner ;D
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of course.... ;)
You stowed away on one of the boats then :o :o
and they just found you and sent you back ;D ;D
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I do have a little jaunt on Queen Mary 2 in November, only coz I got it cheap mind ;D
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;D ;D
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Simon is one of the waiters that's why he got it cheap!
Shaun
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;D ;D
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65 for three rooms ! guess ill have to put my prices up ! guess thats why my essex team are FLAT out down there :D
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Flat out earning the same as someone doing one job a day but who charges correctly. :D
Are you sure your being clever?
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Joe
whats your Airflex Storm Like ? did you have the tripple vac before the storm ?
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I do have a little jaunt on Queen Mary 2 in November, only coz I got it cheap mind ;D
Let me know if you need a hand :-)... *thinks promo video
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Julian have you got canvasses out?
Shaun
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Joe, sometimes it pays to bear in mind that traffic lane grey is caused more by wear than soil, and all the cleaning in the world will only improve it a certain percentage. I always make a point of telling customers this, and when they do come up like new its a bonus. Under promising and over delivering makes for much happier customers than over promising and under delivering.
Probably not what you want to hear given the other thread, but my most used prespray is SPM.
I'll try SPM out. Another member on here was singing its praise to me earlier. Apparently prochem do a similar product to SPM so I might be inclined towards that one.
Im aware of this about traffic areas. I always tend to undersell and overdeliver when possible. I recieved a thankyou card through the post yesterday from an elderly
client, who was apparently thrilled with her carpet. i wasnt overly happy with the job, but apparently her expectations where quite satisfied :)
The Prochem product similar to SPM is Pureclean not Powerburst.
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Joe
whats your Airflex Storm Like ? did you have the tripple vac before the storm ?
Well baring in mind I have nothing to compare it too and very little knowlege on machines, its been great for me. Not a single problem so far. Very easy to get in and out the van. Remote fob for it is excellent.
Ive never had any other machine, no.
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Julian have you got canvasses out?
Shaun
shaun we have a very small team out , they finsh this week doesnt take long for people to click on that there getting a deal ;)
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WOW low prices!!! 2 carpets and a sofa cleaned for .........................
£60.00 :o :o :o :o :o :o :o :o :o :o
http://www.rainbowcleaningsolutions.co.uk/index.php/outdeals