[Richard Edwards]

Hi everyone

How do you carry out your pre-clean survey ?

As I am new to the business I feel a little awkward carrying out the various tests, prior to discussing costs with the customer.

My current routine is to discuss what the customer wants cleaning, carry out a general inspection ie stains & soiling and then discuss costs.

If cost is acceptable I then say I need to carry out tests to ensure no problems will occur with cleaning. At this point do burn test etc

However recently had to walk away from job, having agreed price etc as problem with shrinkage.

If you carry out all tests first does this show your professionalism, and help justify your price ?

Cheers 

Richard Edwards

[Chris Bailey]

Hi Richard

I've been a cc for just over 6 months and attended to Prochem carpet cleaning course before I started, which encourages the inspection/survey and emphasises that it is carried out fully and to a high level of professionalism as this will help sell the job.

I always do all my checks before quoting a price, some of the jobs I have quoted for the customer has told me I was not the cheapest but I got the job because I either turned up to price the job or that I seemed to know what I was doing (fooled them then!! )

Some of the old timers  on this forum don't do an intensive survey/inspection but you will find that this is because they have the experience to know what’s what without doing a full inspection... but I am sure they will correct me if I am wrong.

If nothing else it will help sell the job.  One newbie to another, hope this helps.

Chris

[gwrightson]

OOHHHH   Chris,
  I think you will find that most of the old timers , indeed do a survey,
  and pre test etc.etc. as i am sure they will tell you a very important part
  of their service, after all even they will admit , hidden dangers can lurk 
  geoff

[Ken Wainwright]

Richard

You can't give a price that's fair to you or the prospect until you know exactly what's involved. A good example is dye bleed. More often than not, a dye can be stabilised by a pre-treatment, in tank rinse or post clean treatment. So how can you cost it fairly if you don't know it will happen?

I have to put my hands up and plead guilty to not always carrying out all tests every job, but as Chris says, that's down to experience. (I had to admit that as Chris B and I have worked together  ) Certainly, If I had any doubt with a new customer and an unknown carpet, I would always test.

Something I am going to repeat yet again, because I think it's very important, is that the final examination occurs when you carry out your Dry Extraction (vacuuming) as during this part of the process you will/should be looking at every sq. cm of the carpet quite carefully. Once you have passed this stage and are commited to water/chemical,  there's no going back, so any damage will be down to you.

Safe and happy cleaning
Ken

[Derek]

Hi

As one of the 'old timers' I can assure you that I always complete a pre-inspection survey.. always a final check prior to the cleaning process (just in case the situation has changed from when it was first inspected)

The day you become complacent is the day 'sods law' takes over

Derek

[Mike Halliday]

when we say ' pre-inspection survey' do we mean a full written survey or a walk-through with the customer discussing any likely problems & the expected outcome of the cleaning?

I must admit I very rarely fill out a written survey, but always do a walk through inspection with the customer,

Mike

[mark_roberts]

As your new the tests will be important.  I very often do tests on upholstery especially a wet crock test as these days I'm coming across a lot of either viscose or crap cotton pile fabrics which cant be wet cleaned.  havent tested a carpet in ages.  What gave you the problem with shrinkage?

I always give a written quote when pricing in home as its part of my sales stategy, not the price but the 'story' that comes with it.

Recently Ive revamped this and its working very well.

Its trial and error and what suits your personality.

Mark

[Derek]

Mike

A written survey 'every' time...the spoken word can always be denied... if something goes wrong to be sure they will say they weren't informed...prove it then!

Derek

[Dennis]

I use an A5 size sheet with customer details, room size, clean price, protect price and comment area for poor fitting, bad seams, upholstery test result. Copy for me, copy for them.

[Chris Bailey]

well Richard, I think that has answered the question... experienced or not, inspection/survey all the way.

Chris

[Richard Edwards]

Thanks to all for your input.

A new system for Pre-Inspection survey starts tonight.

A written quote/survey will be given to the customer, once all tests etc are carried out.

Cheers 

Richard