[maxcarpets]

Is it only me or does anyone else feel that this game gets harder. As time goes by I seem to spend more & more to keep things rolling when I should  be spending less. Why? hard times, to many people in the game, wood floor maybe? I think I'm just going to end it all!

Justin

[M.Acorn]

Not quite at that stage just yet .Have been beaten on price on a few that i quoted recently so when i had a call yesterday asking how much for 2 carpets 24 sq mtr i went in low at £50.Customer was put off as i was the lowest quote she had she was only just around the corner from me.  She then started quizing me on weather i was a pro carpet cleaner or a splash and run merchant ! Can`t win Had a call on wed yep just the one asking if i could get turqoise acrylic paint out of a beige wollen carpet,custy had been trying with various prods ,i said it will be min £40. TOOexpensive for her 
Not going back to being a chef or a dj but it`s getting pretty bad,got 2 big jobs booked for next week and a couple of £120 jobs but that`s all so far

[maxcarpets]

If I had my time again I would look into something else! YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED! .

Justin

In fact if anyone is interested in a well established CC busines with T/M & portys, 2 vans ( I'll keep the other one for me ) 1000s of custys covering Berks, surrey, hants inc pubs, nightclubs, schools, letting agents, restaurants etc etc let me know!

[absolutecleaning]

Please dont say that - I am only just getting started

[Neil Grainger]

Justin

are you just worrying because its quieter than normal, its is tough but your good and have confidence in what you do.

Our area is very different from the rest of the country in my view. When things get tough it effects us more because houses are so much more expensive and so are the mortgague that these people have to pay back.

March is always crap for me and with easter being early it will hit business.

New starts will find it tough, all I say is dont spend to much money on this and build it up part time if you can.

[davep]

How are you doing as a new starter Mr Absolute?

[absolutecleaning]

We have been running the business for just over a year now - covering various aspects within the cleaning industry.

I have previously done some carpet cleaning with a guy I so some work with but he doesnt do it properly.

I have had my machine for nearly 6 months but have mainly been using it for eols (which we already had anyway.)

Am just starting to advertise and have some leaflets printed on the carpets front so fingers crossed.

As Neil has said above it may be a difficult time ahead of us so just got to get through this.

Luckily we have enough regular work in the other parts of the business to pay the bills etc so it is not the end of the world if the carpet side of things doesnt take off over night.

[John Kelly]

A lot of businesses are suffering at the moment and people are starting to loose their jobs. Mate of mine has been a craftsmen bricklayer all his life working for the same company for 20 years. He lifts around £600 in his hand, finished next month with little prospect of finding work. Company next door has just laid 2 blokes off.
This is bound to affect all of us.
One thing you can do is to diversify into other realms of cleaning. A lot do it already, but hard floors, wood floor restoration, leather restoration, driveway cleaning, conservatory cleaning, tile & grout are all extras you can punt to an existing customer base. Even in hard times there are always lots of people who are financially comfortable.

[davep]

John,  Can you utilise the Prowler for some of these jobs (driveway cleaning, conservatory cleaning, tile & grout) ?

[Aquakleen Restoration Services]

Thats exactly what I was going to ask! I know John sells the guns that you can for to the prowler for driveway cleans

[davep]

I can read minds Skywalker..

I use the force[/font][/glow]

[John Kelly]

Conservatory cleaning (interior) is basically wiping down with cloths and detergent, usually to remove nicotine. Tile and grout can be done with Turbo Hybrid type tool even using a powerfull portable (at least 400psi).
Driveway cleaning really needs at least 3000psi preferably 4000. You can get away with less on a lot but if there is heavy algae growth the extra power is needed. Also if you are doing any amount of this it is really feasible to utilise a seperate pressure washer rather than but extra use on a truckmount.

[davep]

Whats the £££ like in conservatory cleaning, may be an idea with summer approaching 

[EasycleanWindows]

Hi guys well ive done it the other way around.

Have built up a great window cleaning business which as you all know turns over good money month in and out i got into the carpet cleaning side and also patio,driveway,decking cleaning as alot  of my window cleaning customers kept asking if i knew of anybody and rather than name drop or recommend ive been and done the training myself and has work out even better.

I know have the comfort of a monthly income from the windows and the carpets and other cleaning is a big bonus.

What i do alot of though is maintenance cleaning flat stairwells ,nursing homes etc for their walkways.Only takes a couple of hours per month but its regular income

[spencer davies]

More people jumping on the band wagon thinking its easy money, I am aware of a couple of people starting in this area soon.

Luckily we have been established for many years and have a huge client base, often a newbie will start up and quote very low just to get the job, after a year realizes he/she is working lots of hours for small money, they pack up.... but the customers they manage to get ring us expecting similar quotes when requiring their next clean, even though they have gone, the damage has been done.   


S

[maxcarpets]

I would rather window clean I think. The best days are behind us, unless you want to buy my business then the future is bright!

Justin

[Mike Halliday]

how can things be getter harder? more houses are being built ( which are full of carpet) the population is growing ( all potential customers) and even when people are skint they get their suites & carpet cleaned instead of buying new.

We are surrounded by people who need our services .

the world is our oyster!!.

the only thing that can harm us is people like Mark quoting £50 for 2 rooms, and then doing a good job. If people start thinking they can get quality cleaning for low prices then we all suffer.

[spindle]

spencer call me anile but ........
" persuit of excellence" should read "pursuit of excellence"

back to topic

this week i am fully booked............the last couple of months have been ticking over........but march has started with a bang!!

[Straker Cleaning]

Trying not to compete on price anymore .......... been telling callers that it is £4 a metre off hand and getting jobs 

Booking job and confirming exact sizes before commencing can leave you with time on your hands if smaller than anticipated but last 3 have been £144, £172 + £466 .......... each of these was a job i did not think i would get from initial price finding call.
Simply explained methods, solutions and metre cost at £4 ........ and Robert's your mother's brother 

[Doug Holloway]

Hi Guys

Even with all my websites I have experienced less calls this week but who knows next week may be very busy.

Having said that the calls  have been good quality i.e they want me and are not bothered about some of the more ridiculous prices quoted elsewhere. I have also passed on some if wrong area / size etc.

Having said that CC is a tough business, lets face it for all the talk of IICRC, NCCA etc anyone can start up for not much money and call themselves a professional CC.

I would suspect for every 100 who start only 1 will still be in CC in 5 years.

Cheers

Doug