Oh my goodness, loads of questions. I am happy to discuss anything about what I do but it would be much easier by phone so my number is 07947 620 495. Other than that I will try to answer as best I can. My only ommission is what I charge as it causes to much agro on here but will happily talk about it on the phone. ...... Shaun, on the whole it isnt the size of the house although most of what I clean is larger than normal. It is more to do with what textiles I am cleaning and of course what has been paid for the same........Minimum charge is 125:00 but dont have to use it that much as usually I clean more than the 125 would suggest.......... At this point I add, in most cases I charge the designer or whoever is arranging what I have to clean. They then charge the initial customer whatever they do. Some cases they just add 10% some actually double what I charge, anyway...........Craig, the reason in my opinion, I would think, that as it is so much more competitive in the states is pure volume of carpet cleaners. When I started in 1993 there were 6500 I.I.C.R.C. qualified cleaners in and around Southern California. Add with that all the bait and switch people then obviously considerably more. The advantage in the states as to over here is that the public are far more aware that they need their carpets cleaned and in some cases carpet shops are stating that if they dont have their carpets cleaned at least once a year then any guarantee would be void. Makes life so much easier for the cleaner. Obvious resullts though is that the price is so much lower but the volume is much greater. I have worked here for a little over a year and driving around I have seen two carpet cleaners, cleaning. I have seen a few on the motorways but actually cleaning just 2. My point is that where I lived and worked you would see 5 or 6 everyday. Another interesting comment is although dont quote me on this, from what I can gather, of 100 cleaners in this country there are maybe 20 truck mounts being used, maybe even less......in the staes or at least California of 100 cleaners close to 80 have truck mounts. (this isnt a debate on what machines are or should be used just an obseravtion I think you would want to know)...... On to Ians questions......... With regards your first paragraph......please note I have been cleaning for 13 years so even though I have only just stared here I have that experience behind me already. So why would I want to start at entry level again so to speak. As to the cleaners here from what I have gathered you are correct in that there are some very good ones and by the looks of things as with Doug, far superior knowledge than I have in certain fields. To a degree it has nothing to do with ability, (although being good helps) but where and for whom you want to clean for. My point is, a mate of mine in the states was much more experienced than I was and poss even better, however he didnt want the market that I cleaned at as he was happy cleaning for who he wanted to. Some cleaners I know here are good enough cleaning wise but dont have the dangly bits to go after what we would say better clients. MORE THAN THAT THEY DONT HAVE THE MIND SET !!!!!!!!!.
