[Alan Brooker. Aqualink Carpet Care]

Not only is this Jan / Feb the best I've had in years! Seem to be doing a lot of Rug cleaning of late with one client spending almost a grand.  Yesterday I pulled in £1200 on carpet, upholstery and curtain cleaning ON ONE JOB BY MYSELF and the woman whose apartment it was owns and runs an events company where her average client spends £50,000 for a one day private event with some spending up to £150,000 for the same. She's offered to use my services on a regular basis and will be putting my details forward to THREE interior designer friends AND introduced me to an eager lah de dah interior build company. 

Today I'm hoping to find that elusive pot of gold at the end of a rainbow and buy some money tree seeds

Is business better than usual for others on here?

Alan

[jeff1966]

 WHAT AREA DO CLEAN IN?WHAT EXACTLY DID YOU YOU CLEAN TO RAKE IN THAT SORT OF DOSH.I THINK IT DEPENDS ON YOUR LOCATION,IN MY AREA NO ONE WOULD PAY THAT KIND OF MONEY FOR CLEANING.IT IS VERY SLOW IN THIS AREA AT THE MOMENT,EVERYONE SKINT.ON A POST LAST WEEK SOMEONE WAS ON ABOUT "WHAT I CHARGE FOR A 3 PC SUITE"IN ONE AREA SOME MENTIONED SERVICE MASTER WERE CHARGING £250,SERVICE MASTER IN MY AREA ARE CHARGING £65.IN ALL I REALY DO THINK IT DOWN TO LOCATION,AND IF SOMEBODY IS PREPARED TO PAY YOU THAT KIND OF MONEY GOOD LUCK TO YOU.
                       JEFF

[dave401uk]

Jeff, what area are you in? as for pricing,it comes down to confidence, there are people who will pay for a top line service, and you should direct your marketing to-wards that end of the market, why would you want to do 6/7 cleans to achieve the price you can get from doing 1 decent job, its not about volume,its about profit,maximum reward for minimum effort.

Just my thoughts, and not a attack at any one.

Dave

[Alan Brooker. Aqualink Carpet Care]

Hi Jeff,
This was in Chelsea, West London. I live in Surrey.
If you could get that much for cleaning you WOULD travel far and wide if needs be, I'd imagine.
Get some formal training and step up your marketing a few gears. You are the only person that's stopping you from increasing your prices to cover what you really want.
It sounds cheesy and American and that's because it is but then I'm getting more rugs at £50+ per square metre and more referals at the £500 price mark than I've ever had before and I've pulled out of the Yellow Pages completely this year.

Plan the work then work the plan

Regards
Alan

[jasonl]

I live in Sheffield and will now be travelling to London to work, its well worth it,was in portsmouth last week.

[Alan Brooker. Aqualink Carpet Care]

No, I want London. Find another City

[jeff1966]

DAVE,IM'E BASED IN EAST LACASHIRE IT'S A  VERY DEPRIVED AREA.
          JEFF

[Macarthur]

Jan and Feb have been good months for me also, better this time around than the previous two years, this weeks very quiet though, I have also added several new commercial contracts to my existing portfolio, and also a large luxury complex of flats, that as far as I know, this particular company are soon to be bought out by Barratts.

Nigel.

[AquaMagic]

When people say they have a new "contract" do they acctually get thier client to sign something?, i have a few commercial clients that we work for regularly but i dont have a contract in place, and to be honest i wouldnt know where to start.  How do you get em to sign a contract in the first place, do you offer a price reduction on contracted works, free spotting etc?

Many thanks

Dene

[Neil Grainger]

Alan

You can have my london work if you want, getting fed up of the travel anyway. London is good money but so is Surrey Hampshire and Berkshire, all money, money , money, so London only if its a super Job now.

The only thing is you need to be confident to get it out of them. These people are no mugs so marketing and presentation is all important.

Did a Job in Camberley today and the womens neighbours from 3 houses came and asked for quotes. Have 2 days work week after next just from leaving Van in the street. Happy Days.

The women I cleaned for today runs coffee mornings for here friends so did her a little 15% of each Job deal if she gets me any more work. Amazing that you can stumble across these people from time to time. She seems very driven and said that she will get me lots of work.

Jan was good Feb been quieter than usual but its been nice to be able to sit down and plan things for the spring. Bookings picking up for march though.

Cheers

Neil

[Alan Brooker. Aqualink Carpet Care]

Like wise Neil,
I stopped advertising in London a couple of years ago and find Surrey to be a much saner world (No traffic wardens, red route, congestion charge, chaos .........)

I'll look out for you in Surrey.  (and let your tyres down )

Adios
Alan