Clean It Up
UK Floor Cleaning Forum => Carpet Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: M.Acorn on June 03, 2009, 03:30:40 pm
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How`s work for you guy`s ? I have had a couple of months of barely scraping by,until last week when it started picking up !
Rushed off my feet at the moment,time to start paying some of the od off :(
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Reasonable, not great! Have started pressure washing as I thought it time to diversify. Put an advert in the paper for it and will add it on to my flyer when I get some new ones printed. Have already had some interest from my carpet & upholstery cleaning customers so think it could be a good move!
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Loads of stone floor cleaning, and floor tiling...bugger all carpet cleaning.
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Hi
Tough.
Had a lady call me on Monday for a clean that day for a 'Large 3 bed flat' with 10 pieces of furniture.
After going through the approx sizes I quoted between £180-220, to which she replied that she didn't even want to pay £150.
Also on the EOT side I am having to quote all the time instead of doing the work, although that is partly the TDS scheme, the landlords still don't want to pay.
Regards
Martin 8)
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Areils, Sats & CCTV is doing superb at the moment, last week we did £15300.00.
Carpets and upholstery we did £620!! ;D ::) Its all cash though guys, thats the main thing.
Matt
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Yeah i am doing loads of quotes,and even though i am knocking off a whack to get the job still being told it`s way too much.
Ie did a quote on a very big 3 storey t/house over 900 sq ft of carpet,didn`t inc baathrooms etc should have been around £330.Got booking but only after knocking off £80 !
Also getting hassle from letting agy,there is a difference between an estimate and a quote,when i get told the wrough size of a place and estimate it over the phone,and then actually seeing and measuring up and telling them the price,getting moaaned at for the difference !
They are also wanting big big discounts,as they put a big amount on top,one agy i work for take 10% of what i charge which i am fine with,as my price goes up 10% tp compensate,they don`t think i charge enough !
One place i quoted for a couple of weeks ago 4 bed said £170 will do stairs for free,they said no too much,they found someone who did it for £89 ! must be mad,were a company about 30 miles from here,must be desperate !
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I think the only way to make rentals pay is by using a Truckmount.
They speed the job up considerably, improving production.
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"make rentals pay" is a relative term.
2 bedrooms in city centre block (8th floor) both rooms 10x9 feet. Charged £140, and that was 2 years ago.
Oh, and you wouldn't have got a TM anywhere near it.
There are infinite shades of grey in this job; it's not just black and white, right and wrong; TM's good porty's bad.
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TM or porti or buffer how many 10 x 9 rooms do you get at £70 especially for letting agents?
I have stopped doing letting agents because you are dealing with a robot type person who want tomorrow and at the cheapest price aswell as picking the keys up to then go and do the job to return the keys and wait for payment.
Shaun
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Doing fantastic, but my motor went today >:( Got one on order and the damaged (Under warranty) one being picked up tomoz by Extracta.... Those guys don't f**k about.... Ovens, ovens and more bloody ovens next week!
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Hey Colin, how much(ish) do you charge for an oven and do you have the proper gear or a bottle of Mr Muscle? Ive been looking in to doing them myself when times are slack!!
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They might be hard work for a moderate return Colin but they do give you a regular income when otherwise there might be none
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Carpets, Upholstery and Pressure Washing very very quiet, this in spite of 50000 flyers being half way through a four week run and a regular slot in a local magazine. We've given just three quotes in two weeks for PW and not a call for Carpets, although we do have two Carpets and a three piece already booked.
It is not all bad though as we haven't a second spare with our core contracts (which pay much less per man hour but are much higher in volume).
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Hey Colin, how much(ish) do you charge for an oven and do you have the proper gear or a bottle of Mr Muscle? Ive been looking in to doing them myself when times are slack!!
A dip tank is an integral part of the set up..... To be honest you rarely make over £60 per oven but it takes an hour and a half to 2 hours... Good for when times are slack and I've had a lot of carpet and upholstery jobs from it ;)
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By the way.... All proper gear!
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aprill rused off my feet, may scraped through june looking slightly better seems to be lots of small jobs but its all money
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Had a busy may and most of the jobs were repeats and recs and just a few from the net. :)
Did get calls from my web sites but lots of price shoppers ::)
June has started busy and will be working this saturday..
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Yeah thought about going in to ovens and car valeting but have been warned off both for varying reasons. Good to see you have the proper gear Col...I went to a customers house once and there was a fella there doing her oven with a bottle of Mr Muscle foam!!
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Hi
Did an oven + glass hob in an EOT last week.
Sprayed Mr Muscle oven cleaner in and on and heated it up gently and it was a lot easier, although still had to use a window scraper to get the carbon off.
I only sparkle them up as the money not in it to do otherwise in an EOT.
Regards
Martin 8)
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Vanquish is good, but burns like hell as you would expect, I use a window cleaners scraper too then wipe with a cloth, then the secret stuff is sprayed on, buffed up and it shines like a new pin!
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Hi Colin
Ah yes, the secret stuff, I use that too ;)
Regards
Martin 8)
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Vanquish is good, but burns like hell
Sure does ! usually end up with it all up my arms,did have a pair of elbow length black rubber gauntlets,but gave them to a mate for his blasting cabinet,as he was doing a load of parts for me ;D
The last oven clean i did ,the bloke was there with his very inquisitive son,had to keep telling him to keep him out of the kitchen,but he kept coming back.
That`s why i no longer do oven cleans,too much to go wrong.My bro in law fecked a brand new wooden worktop,by placing the oven shelves in black bags with chemical,then leaving them on the work top,numpty .It cost him !
I used to soak them all in a big platic tank,and like u guy`s used a windy cleaners blade to make short work of the gim on the bottom ;D
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I'm disappointed ;D
Where are the usual suspects telling us they're working 8 days a week, 23 hours a day, charging £23 per square foot booked up until July.....2012 ;D ;D
Back in the real world quiet here on the domestic enquiries and bookings.
Luckily I have a good link up with an office cleaning company which will bring in several thousands over the next few weekends.
As for letting agencies that's another we won't be dealing with following being messed about yesterday.
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I'm fully booked but I am just about all year may be it's time to put my prices up but I don't care if you believe me or not, I have got people ringing me up for next week practically pleading to get it done but I pack my jobs and I'm in a position to turn it away or hopefully move them onto another day.
Shaun
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If it wasn`t for all the work i am getting from the letting side of things,i would be out looking for another job !
Normal jobs have been low on the ground,and have mostly just been little bits,just a lounge ,or stairs and land.don`t see the point of making up fairy tales ;D
Got bookings in next week,some for the end of the month,had to call letting agy yesterday and ask them to pay me for some of the stuff i have done,as need to pay for some chemicals
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Works good for me at present steady stream coming in .Did a job last night only small but if they are happy with it they would like the building cleaned every six months . Got another 2 buildings also every 6 month clean and every 3 months for traffic lanes ..So things are definitely looking up . ;D
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2 very quite days, Mon & Tuesd were good days, have job this afternoon.
Day off Monday, off to Sheffield to visit my son, the phone will ring by then so I can add to the work already booked.
So far this year, only Jan and Feb were worse then last year - and I know the reason why.
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I'm fully booked but I am just about all year may be it's time to put my prices up but I don't care if you believe me or not, I have got people ringing me up for next week practically pleading to get it done but I pack my jobs and I'm in a position to turn it away or hopefully move them onto another day.
Shaun
fully booked is a term i hate because how can you say that it all depends on the time frame you work within you maybe only book up 2 weeks in advance or 3 months. And depending on how and what hours you like or choose to work.
Here is a question if someone called you today 250 sq m of commercial and need it done pronto you would say no can do would you.
I had a month in aprill where i really could not do any more but i always penciled in 4 hours on a fri to survey jobs tend to customers needs etc etc.
I think when some people are flat out busy others with the same work load may feel they are on a jolly.
Anyways not aimed at you shaun general statement cause i honestly believe no one is constantly booked up only in their own time frame.
LOL ( with a hint i am jealous)
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Richard,
Are you going to the Royal Cornwall Show tomorrow? I'll be in the "Sharps" beer tent once I've shook the wife and kids off ;D ;D ;D
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afraid not colin am goin on stag weekend its goin t be a messy one.
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Just ticking over here at mo, can be busy 1 minute, quiet the next.
Off today, been re-jigging my van mounted Recoil/scorpion, need today and weekend to sort it.
Recently got a new ghost/geographical number and worked on google maps for that area and got quite high up for the area.
Need to get leaflets out into the area, Kev Loomes is building me a website and although not finished yet, is bringing in enquires
for the new area.
Andrew
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I had a lady call from drop out centre approx 150 sq m of carpet needed cleaning in 3 days time I just cannot do it, I am fully packed out, I try not to move customers around as they get p off and I like to look after my domestic customers as they always come back and recommend.
Shaun
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I had a lady call from drop out centre approx 150 sq m of carpet needed cleaning in 3 days time I just cannot do it, I am fully packed out, I try not to move customers around as they get p off and I like to look after my domestic customers as they always come back and recommend.
Shaun
And they pay straight away, or in any case near as damn it!
Not the 60 to 90 days that we are all used to via contracts
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Because I don't look for commercial work I always ask for payment on completion, there should be no problem with this as someone has to lock up so I let them inspect the work but a cheque is usually made out before I leave (not always but on most)
Shaun
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On my comercial work i get paid a week later or on completion for the contract work but one off,s maybe a few weeks or so later.
I do a fair bit of contract work and it takes a while to build up a relationship with the clients and quicker payments ::)
Nothing worse than waiting 2 or 3 months ::)
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Compared to previous years...QUIET
Last year (2008) was the first year my sales took a dip.
We're now into June and this year aint looking much better !
I've been in this industry for 10 years...so what could it be ?
Credit crunch ? Possibly. More people setting up in the Carpet Cleaning business ? Who knows.
I've read some of the threads on here and they say they cant cope with the amount of work they've got...so could be geographical.
What I do know is you have to ride the storm. Its a funny old game carpet cleaning. Last week was my busiest week this year...this week looks like it will be my quietest (so frustrating) !
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am reading this just after reading another post about charging £400 for suite clean, something don't add up here!
paul
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doing bugger all here , one tm as never moved in a month and the others only doing two days aweek but i dont care at all saves them getting dirty
enjoying the time off getting loads of calls still but they poop themslef when i quote them lolololol
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Interesting comment Susan / Justin wondered how you were doing considering the strong business you guys had built over many years at low end prices.
Never expected you make such a big change in pricing policy and your post suggests it might have been too much of a change.
Going from ( I think ) four vans working flat out to two T/M's doing zero does'nt sound like good business sense.
I know you have ( other fish to fry ) but if someone who depended entirely on c/c followed the same advice they'd have gone down the tubes
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Well I'm quiet because of the problem with my motors.... But there's plenty work next week when I can book it all in. I've recently advertised in the local rag and things are looking positive, especially on the oven cleaning front!
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Interesting comment Susan / Justin wondered how you were doing considering the strong business you guys had built over many years at low end prices.
Never expected you make such a big change in pricing policy and your post suggests it might have been too much of a change.
Going from ( I think ) four vans working flat out to two T/M's doing zero does'nt sound like good business sense.
I know you have ( other fish to fry ) but if someone who depended entirely on c/c followed the same advice they'd have gone down the tubes
yes mate your bang on, im lucky that i dont need to earn a penny cleaning but if i had too then i would of gone in jan thats for sure ,
thing is im not getting the calls in no where near what i use too , so i dont think its the price change putting people off
nobody is ringing still getting new price shoppers
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Hows work?
I keep checking to see if the phone line is still connected :(
Gone very quiet here
Hope its the same for other local guys - you know the cheap & nasties and the expensive ones then I'll pick up the goodies when the tide turns. ;)
Did some leaflet drops, same day a lady rang, booked in a 3 piece suite for 2 days time, next day she cancelled - husband says she can have a new suite. How bad a day is that!
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Joe
She cancelled ::)
Thats how it seems to go when your quiet and want the work..
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Did a job Fri morning Clinton. I asked the lady where she got my tel from - Yellow Pages (still works occassionally), and she picked me cause I mentioned eco friendly fluids, and also my price.
I charged £95 for 12x12 carpet and 2 Parker Knoll type chairs.
Chem Dry were £135, and someone else £45 ::)
She said £45 sounded "wrong", so picked me.
Did an asian ladys lounge and hallway week ago.
Think I told the story on here - she rang me about 8 weeks ago and I quoted over phone £70.
Too much she said, last time someone only charged £25. Why dont you ring them? I said. I have but no ringing. Gone out of business, too cheap, I said. We parted company.
She rang about 10 days ago and agreed on my £70.
Did the job, over the moon, happily pays the £70, fixes me up to visit 3 relatives to give them quote.
They all had been to see the relatives clean carpets and all said what a very good job I done.
The quotes for them were £50 for small lounge and small hall. Got that, done it, they very pleased.
£60 for small lounge, some stairs, and half dining room ::) - tried to haggle down, not got that (yet)
£70 for larger lounge and dining room. Tried to haggle down to £50 and even when I was saying NO to £50 she was still asking for bedrooms to be included as well.... all for £50. No way!
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I was saying to another cleaner in my area the other day that I was reasonably busy but have noticed the phone is quieter, I have a space left for Friday so we'll see... I also noticed that there's not much traffic on the road, usually on a Friday afternoon as I find my way home one of the main A roads is packed but I just drifted through, I wonder if people are taking advantage of cheaper holidays whilst the kids are back at school.
Shaun
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Joe
Did see the post ;D
Yes they are going to haggle for a cheaper price am afraid ::)
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Shaun
You're definitely right about the roads seeming to be quieter.
It's great.
Can get more jobs done in a day ;D
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Roger, don't go into double figures just because you can. ;D
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The Missus has got me taking the house to bits I have no need to get home early!
Shaun
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Perhaps I'm lucky that we have enough other work keeping us busy and a few mega commercial CC's are allowing me to get a bit tougher with the phonecalls/e-mails. It's now like it or lump it with the pricing and I have to say that I'm surprised with the success rate. I'veeven had a couple who 'vanished' for a week after giving them a price suddenly came back with Ok.
But overall the enquiries are down on this time last year.
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My enquires are bout the same as last year but with less of a success rate. Whereas last year I maybe got 4 out of 5 enquiries, this year year it seems I'm getting 2-3 out of 5.
If I had a damng pound for every person who says "I'll get back to you" and never does then I'd be sunning myself in California and having lunch with lemmy at the Rainbow Bar and Grill. ;D
will
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my work seems to come in waves been little quiet for few weeks then next few weeks are busy busy. so adding it all up it averages itself out to being ok.
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Over the last 6 months i have found the middle 7 days of every month to be very quiet, seems as if they get paid at
end of month and book, and the rest seem to be booking end of month if have any surplus cash.
Sticking it out with my prices, wont drop unless it a full house/large job. £'s/ sale is up 30% on last year, although slightly less jobs,
Andrew
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Susan
I doubt your quiet because of your price rises. Could it be that those people at the lower end of the market who you used to target are feeling the resession the most through jobs loss etc so dont have the income to spend on cleaning?
Im finding this. The old saying of the rich get richer as the poor get poorer seems from a carpet cleaning point of view to be right.
Mark
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i dont know about anyone else but have picked up 4 jobs this month where i have had to clean an end of tenancy for the tenants and then clean their new house its great cause they are double jobs and empty.
is this a sign things are starting to move on the property front. and with it sunnier times to come ps i always like to look on the bright side
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Busy as ever here, gone mad again.
Mark
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had one gap this week wed afternoon, filled now tks M. halliday for passing on that one, next week 1 quiet day but could fill that in the next couple of days. obviously your booked up Mike or going on some more Hols ;) :D.
It would appear that most c/c are ticking over nicely, with a bit of luck the phone may be busier than usual tommorow!!!! Did you see the One Show bbc, its bug week and was showing bugs that can hide in the carpet and in your furnishings. My reaction would be to get my carpets cleaned after watching it ;D
geoff
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Geoff it was a typical letting agent, .....can we do it tomorrow.... ::) ::)
she was hinting about me doing it after tea, she can get stuffed, I only hear from them when they are having an emergency.
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I hate that Mike when they become your best friend when they are desperate and have a tennant moving in tomorrow or they ring up really snotty and start asking for 'your best price on..' I do private land lords but can't be bothered with letting agents.
My phone has exploded again today, Friday appointment went at 7.50 am this morning, next week well on its way also and the missus wants the bathroom finishing, I'm upto a point where I'm waiting on the plumber and tiler now so I'm relaxing for a bit before the next push.
Shaun
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Makes me laugh the 'best price line', I always double it and say thats my best price! ;D ;D
then I say.. "oh you ment the best price for you, not me!"