Clean It Up
UK Floor Cleaning Forum => Carpet Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: vangaurd on April 27, 2007, 09:22:35 pm
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thats about it, iam fully booked for 3 weeks recomendations ,
i must be doing something right!
anyway i have quote for a church to be cleaned on sat , i think its the tea room
so iam told consists of , carpet 30 /12 and 70 chairs what do i price at
also got a call from a garage big one at that they tried to clean the seats of a mg sports car , and balls it up the custy is going ballistic called me as i was a team leader for mitsubishi in the past, valeting that is! going to them on sunday do i go in heavy or try to get the valeting contract? many thanks guys.
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If you are booked 3 weeks in advance why would you want to be valeting cars, i cant speak for the majority but in my opinion car valeting is awkward, tricky and just a pain in the a...
Anyway if you are going to do it go in high, if you bail them out you will be the first person they think of when it occurs again.
John
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I have never and will never touch car valeting. There is more than enough houses to do if you work at it without having to resort to that! Saying that when I first started I was running around cleaning buses!! But never again those days are long gone!
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I have done a few and its not that tricky. Especially with a cfr handtool, everyone i have done has cleaned up a treat and the customers and well pleased.
matt
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valeted cars for 12 years, only way to get any money out of it is run it in conjunction with stone chip / scuff repairs. To be blunt they're a pain in the ass. If you're going to do cars then CHECK YOUR TREATMEN RISK COVER. I know my cc policy doesn`t cover car valeting. If you fry an e.c.u with water you could be into a major bill. Regards, Geoff
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booked for three weeks with only recommendations :o.
Thats really odd to me. Either you have found an amazing referral programme or its .............
Sorry to be negitive but I dont believe it.
Mark
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No, neither do I.
Thats B------s!
Never booked up for 3 weeks even at Christmas!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Murky
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Why is it bull? been booked 2 weeks in advance the last month or so and I`m sure there are others this busy on here!
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2-3 weeks bookings arnt out of the norm but soley on referrals ;)
About 75% of my business is repeat business but a lot less referrals. Certainly never two weeks ahead from referrals.
If its true then well done but Ive never had referrals knocking my door down to that degree.
Mark
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fibrefresh may i ask what insurance you have who is it with? was suppose to check mine out for this reason but forgot, cant really mess much up you dont flood the car out. I just use micro splitters and clothes and rinse the seat etc using my cfr easy.
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With Lloyd McGregor, public liability, equipment theft and treatment risk. It doesn`t cover car valetining, its in the exclusions bit! A mate of mine valets cars, he accidently sprayed ecu on a Range Rover ( under drivers seat ! ) and fried it. The total bill was £ 1100 plus VAT. He foot the bill as he had no treatment risk cover
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thats about it, iam fully booked for 3 weeks recomendations ,
i must be doing something right!
anyway i have quote for a church to be cleaned on sat , i think its the tea room
so iam told consists of , carpet 30 /12 and 70 chairs what do i price at
also got a call from a garage big one at that they tried to clean the seats of a mg sports car , and balls it up the custy is going ballistic called me as i was a team leader for mitsubishi in the past, valeting that is! going to them on sunday do i go in heavy or try to get the valeting contract? many thanks guys.
Well done!!.
All you need to do now is use capitals at the end of every sentence or paragraph and you'll be the best that's ever been.
Matt
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Easy now! Said in an "Ali g accent"! lol
Damian.
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capitals at BEGINNING of sentence or paragraph...well..same thing actually...!
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Well Tony, you were saying last time a saw you that you weren't charging enough, now it's time to put your prices up you are too cheap that is why you are booked up! you can afford to lose a few as you naturally will because some will not wait unless they REALLY want you.
Shaun
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why are there so many haters on here? as soon as someboby posts a success story somebody rubbishes it!! most of my jobs are from reccomdations, maybe its because there are only 3 carpet cleaners in my area . just beacuse somebody does something other people dont....doesnt mean hes lying.
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Jealousy mate! And its a deadly sin!! Must admit i come on here for a laugh as some posts are ludicrous!! But some posts are funny at times ::)
Damian.
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true damian...its said jealousy and anger shorten your life span...so i stay well away!! lifes too short!
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Truly amazing......to be booked up, 3 weeks in advance..........but I.ve only been around for 20 or so years, so I suppose things will improve to that level, if I live long enough!
I get a bit puzzled when someone makes such claims, then asks advice on a simple pricing matter on work, which is still to be seen..........
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Also if someone is booked up 3 weeks in advance, why are they on here at all.
I know that if I was booked up 6 days a week 3 weeks in advance I would be to tired to even think about looking on the internet.
Good luck if you are but i'm not so sure, the market is very tuff at the moment, July and August maybe.
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Only a couple of weeks ago you claimed to be so quiet
http://www.cleanitup.co.uk/smf/index.php?topic=35832.0#msg281544
Told you it would pick up
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true damian...its said jealousy and anger shorten your life span...so i stay well away!! lifes too short!
Start you sent with a capital. So it sould be 'True Damian,(Use capitals for names of people) then use a comma, 'its said jelousy and anger shorten your life span,another comma, so(Capital 'I') stay well away!!.Full stop.
Lifes too short!
Its easy really.
Matt
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capitals at BEGINNING of sentence or paragraph...well..same thing actually...!
How can you preach about grammar, when your quite clearly a sinner!! ::)
Whats with all the .... after .... every .... word? Never seen that before.
Matt
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Well done Carpetguy, my thoughts exactly.
If he's that good at his job (and not so big headed that he's got to tell everyone that he's booked up for 3 weeks) he wouldn't have to come on here and ask 'How much? or 'What do I do? all the time.
I would respectfully suggest that he looks at his pricing structure, I would rather earn more money for less work rather than run around like a headless chicken what with wear and tear and depreciation etc. 3pc suite £25.00. HSL £10.00 while were here darlin'.
And dont forget that fully booked means in my book starting ant 8.30/9 and working right through till 5 or 5.30, for 5 days a week, thats full time mate. Setting up, working, making sure the job is OK and on to the next job.
Yeah Right.
We can all be a busy fool if we want.
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Matt...because this is a forum...and it is a representation of speech...and I wasn`t preaching.
Read more and you will see it a lot.
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Well Tony, you were saying last time a saw you that you weren't charging enough, now it's time to put your prices up you are too cheap that is why you are booked up! you can afford to lose a few as you naturally will because some will not wait unless they REALLY want you.
Shaun
your bang on the money mate i was too cheap and to some i still am but ive only loss three custy in four months due the the prices going up and it great doing the same work for mor money
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doubting thomase's would you all like to see my books?
feel free , iam busyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy
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I haven't advertised for 4 years .Always busy ,usually booked up at least 10 days in advance ,all on recommendations and repeat business
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Just remember there are a lot of part-timers on this forum, so if they are booked up for a week the same number of jobs may be only a days work to a full time Truckmounter.
Dave.
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For the record Im not saying your telling untruths about being booked three weeks in advance as sometimes that will happen but soley on recommendations and nothing else is where my belief starts to wane.
If I could manage to get that many referrals then Id be richer than Joe Polish.
Mark
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I have to say that most of my work is from repeat customers or referals and I am usually booked a fortnight in advance at least.
A few years ago my clients had to wait at least five weeks for a slot
I always clean for my clients with a view that it will 'not' be the last time I do work for them...its far easier and cheaper to get your clients to obtain work for you than walking the streets with a handful of leaflets
Sadly...I am still not as rich as Joe Polish ;)
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whether you are booked up for 3 weeks or booked up for only tomorrow you will still be doing the same amount of work and earning the same amount of money, because they mean exactly the same thing, tomorrow you will be working
i would say only 30% of my work is existing & recommends if I relied on it i would be a poor man.
Mike
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Im similar to Mike ,40% of my work is referals/reccomendations the rest comes from many different avenues of marketing which can be very expensive over thet year so I cant wait till the day comes when I dont have to advertise,I guess many years yet though.
At the moment im a week and a half in front which is about the norm.
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We have a steady flow of work on the carpet cleaning side of the business, however with this type of work you are always looking for the next job, there are dry spells and times when you wish you had a fleet of vans on the road.
This is why I diversified into other aspects of cleaning, especially the more regular guaranteed work, window cleaning, office cleaning, etc. The rewards may not be as great as the carpets, but they keep the money coming in and the staff employed.
Remember, you need turnover to make profit!
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as has often been said this is a funny old business
I've been down to my last job booked in and come home with 4 or 5 referrals and it's all kicked off again :o
I would believe anything about this business, the amount of times i've been worried about work and all of sudden i'm snowed under with work, it's all come from no where.
being fully booked up for me ( just work for myself ) for three weeks would equate to about 60+ jobs,
Now that would be nice 8)
regards
steve
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We have a steady flow of work on the carpet cleaning side of the business, however with this type of work you are always looking for the next job, there are dry spells and times when you wish you had a fleet of vans on the road.
This is why I diversified into other aspects of cleaning, especially the more regular guaranteed work, window cleaning, office cleaning, etc. The rewards may not be as great as the carpets, but they keep the money coming in and the staff employed.
Remember, you need turnover to make profit!
Ian well said
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Eggs in one basket (danger) why did the big cc franchisors diversify ;)
Len
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Len
Because they saw big bucks in the Fire and Flood industry...all changed now though
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Derek
Only because there are too many spoons in the soup. :D
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Steve, I am not questioning what you have said for a minute. My question is though how do you do 4 or 5 jobs a day? Would it not be easier to raise your prices a little to do perhaps 3 jobs a day for the same monies.
Again, I am not questioning what you do at all, just trying to help you not have to set up so many times. Best, Dave.
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People can post what they like on here. But always remember, its what you do with your business which puts money in your pocket. What other people do or say has little bearing on what happens to you, so why worry. Just concentrate on what matters.
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What I love about this kind of post, is, it get's a load of people talking and usually something usefull comes out of it.
There was a time when we were booked solid for about two, or more weeks ahead, but it was due to VERY HEAVY MARKETING over a wide area and we were working our butts off.
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Derek
Slowly but sorely! But think you may be right got the wink eco. 8) ;)
Rob
usually something usefull comes out of it. I concur a lot between the lines :o
Len
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dave Liahona
I know what your saying and over the months i have raised my prices, but the
thing is I was working my butt off doing 5 & sometimes 6 jobs a day with a
portable, so now I have the t/m i feel like i am cruising along.
I know a lot of guys like to take it easy, but I'm the sort that runs everywhere
and enjoy it, if i'm not doing something I hate it, so regardless of what my
prices are I'd probably still end up doing 4 jobs a day! ( if I can get them! )
Although I do get to do the best ones as I employ my brother full time now ;D
Obviously if some jobs are whole properties that would make 2 jobs a day!
I'm also in the process of really building up the business with new customers so
I can take a back seat at some stage and concentrate on marketing etc.
regards
steve
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Excellent, glad you are doing well!! Best, Dave.
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I worry about posts like this because I dont get lots and lots of referrals. Lots of repeat but not tons of referrals.
Aways makes me think Im doing something wrong but from questionaires the customers are happy.
The yanks talk about cheerleaders but Im stuck with ballboys.
Mark
PS. maybe should make a new thread about referrals or just carry on here
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Mark, apart from maybe one or two a year I dont get any referrals either, so you aren't alone. Best, Dave.
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I normally find referalls come soon after you've done initial job. Did a job on Friday, got a call from custys father a day later asking when I could go round and do his carpets as his son was over the moon.
Few and far between though!
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I think the way forward is offering incentives for referrals (doing a decent job SHOULD be enough but often isn't).
Thought about free clean after so many referrals or paying commission after every job referred but still unsure, have read several posts on here on the subject but still not sure on best way to go about it.
Would be nice if a customer told their friends/family you'd done a good job (which sometimes happens, normally with family more than friends I've found) but think people can be embarrased (especially talking to friends/associates) about having their carpets/upholstery professionally cleaned due to misconceptions about keeping their own items clean.
All the best,
Jason.
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I thought it was just me and the way I cleaned that I did not get that many refferals, but looking at the way the South East is people dont seem to talk anymore.
Testamonials all come in very pleasing for me, offer Money £25 per refferal that has £100 pounds of work done and £10 for under £100. If they get me 5 Jobs I will clean for them for Free next year.
I just think that people just dont talk about their cleaning because so few people actualy get their carpets cleaned. I still think the public have a thing in their head that if it needs cleaning you must be really dirty so people dont talk about it.
Cheers
Neil
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We used to leave vouchers with the customers name on. Once 5 vouchers were redeemed by new customers the original one got £20. Ran this for about 2 years and only paid out 200 quid, worth doing though as I got a lot of 2 and 3 vouchers redeemed which cost nowt.
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I think I'm losing the will to carry on This time last years booked up for the week with £1500 worth of work this week, one small job for £60
Its is really making me wonder weather its worth carrying on with. Strange times.
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I worry about posts like this because I dont get lots and lots of referrals. Lots of repeat but not tons of referrals.
Aways makes me think Im doing something wrong but from questionaires the customers are happy.
The yanks talk about cheerleaders but Im stuck with ballboys.
Mark
PS. maybe should make a new thread about referrals or just carry on here
same here, lots of repeats but very few referals,
i think customers recomended me, or i know they do, as a regular told me other day, but that person(s) rarely act upon it!
im sceptical about these people say they get so many recomendeds, as i always do a top job, so why dont i get that many?
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mmm intresting posts, well ive been trading over 12 years and this year in three months i hav done 90000 local ad/village type books/mags u know what i mean lol also i am in the yellow pages/bt book/tompson, and internet and nice sighnwritten van eetc etc and i hav only got one job booked to do on the 9th of may !!! also in the local rag every week and i still put out a 1000 half price flyers a week my self, i like neil am losing the will to carry on as well
p.s i am in the south east
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I wonder if its becaise of the early sunshine? People out in the garden :o
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Davep
the sunshine makes people get thing done in my area July August always tye busiest Months of the Year.
Few bookings today though for this week but not much.
I bet i'll be on here in a few days saying i'm flat out again. Fingers Crossed.
Cheers
Neil
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I never relised till i started up what this business was really like. It seems that everyone is always in the same boat looking desperately for there next job makes you wonder really. It doesn't seem to be very stable career does it why is carpet cleaning so hard to break into you would think that we would be inendated with work. People really need to be educated so many people see carpets and upholstery as a maintenance free item why why why?
matt
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its been very quiet in the south east :-\
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Interest rates have gone up hence mortgages as well - Our Gord has taken even more in tax- petrol is 98 a lt - ale duty went up last month- house prices still rising-
People will wait till the carpet is minging instead of grubby before a clean.
I get my pension in 3 weeks and I am pleased to be cutting back a bit, instead of wondering where the work is.
Us olduns have been trying to educate householders for 30 yrs or more.
There are a lot more cleaners about than when I started. Yellow Pages had about a page and a half of cleaners now its 5 or 6 pages in our local edition. I'm glad I'm not starting now, although with the right marketing and enthusiasm it is possible.
Trevor
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its been very quiet in the south east :-\
I believe, Essex and the south east is SATURATED with carpet cleaners, and from what i hear its tough down there, i would'nt like to start up down there now, you never get off the ground.
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Hi Guys
This year so far has been ok, had to go into painting houses to get some cash in though.
Anyway, saw a good client today who said they are stacked out and most of the work is mine, so looking forward to that, they kept me so busy last year i was flat out like a pancake!
Advice... Diversify
Regards
Martin 8)
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Something that gives me regular work throughout the year. Not high value work, but regular.
Letting agents
Charity run housing
Maid service companies who don't c/c
These have a collective value of around £10k
To some, this might represent peanuts, but there are no marketing costs and it could easily be doubled.
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Cant see the panic myself, not flat out here but its steady, had a few moments where I looked in my diary and didnt find a lot but I'm out 5 and a half days a week at the moment, I have noticed a bit of a run of rug cleaning lately.
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true damian...its said jealousy and anger shorten your life span...so i stay well away!! lifes too short!
Start you sent with a capital. So it sould be 'True Damian,(Use capitals for names of people) then use a comma, 'its said jelousy and anger shorten your life span,another comma, so(Capital 'I') stay well away!!.Full stop.
Lifes too short!
Its easy really.
Matt
matt sorry Matt..its an internet forum not an english grammar a level.
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true damian...its said jealousy and anger shorten your life span...so i stay well away!! lifes too short!
Start you sent with a capital. So it sould be 'True Damian,(Use capitals for names of people) then use a comma, 'its said jelousy and anger shorten your life span,another comma, so(Capital 'I') stay well away!!.Full stop.
Lifes too short!
Its easy really.
Matt
matt sorry Matt..its an internet forum not an english grammar a level.
Sorry to be a real pain in the ass but, as a registered dsylexic( officaily poo at english) I think you ment "start you sentance with a capital" not "start your sent with a capital"
I do love it when the one who takes the grammer and spelling high ground gets his boots wet 8)
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Something that gives me regular work throughout the year. Not high value work, but regular.
Letting agents
Charity run housing
Maid service companies who don't c/c
These have a collective value of around £10k
To some, this might represent peanuts, but there are no marketing costs and it could easily be doubled.
Same here they somethimes are a pain, what with wanting it done yeaterday, but always constant.
Had an agent book one van soild for a week, and it was the quitest week of the year, just happend they had a big customer roatating his propertys, apologiesed when they also wanted a £3000 flood job done the same week and could we fit it in. ( i said thank you in my prayers that night)