New Rotovac 360� Video Wow Factor!

If you are trying to build a business, the first thing you should think about, is how you are going to get-out of the business.  Be sure to choose a name that can be sold.  Like - "Bills Carpet Cleaning" can't be sold to another person, but "Shine Carpet Cleaning" can be.  That is step one, it may sound silly but that is the first thing you should think of.  The second thing you should think of is, how can I get to my market in the midst of all the noise of other advertisers.  Rather than try to compete with the big boys, you should seek to reposition your competition, rather than try to compete with them.  For instance, I sell people on the rotovac -how?  My pamphlet has a picture of the guy with a wand working, and a picture of my rotovac.  I show them how the other guy is going to go through and get the surface dirt, and how I pull the dirt from deep in the carpet, keeping the carpets looking fantastic for longer.  People seem to eat that up.  If you are looking to build a "brand" you need to get in the minds of people.  I decided to go with magnets that stick to the fridge.  It cost me a pretty penny but I was able to go to the houses that I want to work in - ie the rich nice area.  I stuck them near the mail box, and I have been getting calls.  The investment is definately long term.  I figure people will keep the magnet, and when they need someone, they will go the yellow pages, and see my add that looks just like their fridge magnet.  Anyhow, that is where I am at in the process.  I also advertise in the restorative qualities to apartments.  They like the idea of restoring rather than replacing.  So what level of client are you after?

I have gotten pretty quick at emptying and refilling so the process is not a big deal to me, it perhaps takes an extra 10 minutes max, but I plan on refilling once per area.  One thing that I have been working on is my cord management while I clean and that has helped a lot.  I only have to put my machine over the chords once per clean job.  I don't know if that makes sense or not, but it has really cut my time a lot.  As for time, hey if you are a new business, you have all the time in the world, but your client might not.  I always let my customers know I take the time it takes to do the job right.  I say, "the other guy is going to come in and spray a little water around and get the surface dirt, and in 2 months your carpets will look dingy again.  It is not new dirt being brought in, it is the old dirt working its way to the surface that was left behind."  People are usually like -oh wow.  It is funny, but I have found, when you sell people on a level of service, they are willing to pay for it.  So some jobs that would have been $150 for the other guy, I charge $200 and people are thanking me, and giving referals.  I don't know about you guys, but word of mouth is golden.  I also have a few tips on building your name.  If you want some tips I am happy to give them but you, but you must identify your working area/market, I am not about to tell secrets to people in my potential market.

I started with flyers which have actually turned out the expected 1% turnout ratio.  Some friends of mine and I put out 700 flyer one morning, and so far I've received 7 calls, and completed 3, 4 still scheduled out later in the month. I surprised myself by closing everyone. I know this won't last long but hey it feels good right now.

The method you mention, I've heard it before, it really work uh? I haven't had the opportunity to try it.  I have a commercial job tomorrow.  I will use an Olefin Prespray for that. 

So using the 360 as just an agitator, and extractor is working for you. I may try that out. One really tough traffic areas it still gets the job done?

Hey, any idea of how many times you are typically filling and emptying on a residential 4-5 room job, plus a couple of hallways, and a few stairs.  

Celestialcarpet,

I am in the Sacramento, Ca area. I use the 360 for residential clients, although I have just started. I haven't actually used the 360 to clean a customers home, but have extensive experience cleaning my son's room.


How long did it take you to get used to using the extractor and 360 as a unit?  I've been playing with the 360 & Mytee 1003DX extractor for two days now, just on my son's room, trying different prespray's, rinses. Learning the details of filling, and emptying the extractor, you splash, and all that type of stuff. The stuff you want to know before actually going into a customers home to use the equipment. 

I must admit I am a wide eyed baby in this field, and I'm full of questions and excitment.  It is a great industry to be in from all that I've experienced so far with customers out out in the field. 

How does the customer react when a breaker is blown? I was afraid of this too, so I went out and bought a 6500 watt generator, probably a bit over kill, but hey, no more blown breakers. I really like the freedom of not having to hookup to the customers electric.  It feels more "truckmount" like because I leave the generator outside in the van while I clean.

Have you had to take the filter off in the Mytee, inside the waste tank?  Its a pain in the butt, but I was told that I could cut the bottom of it off and let the water flow from the vac to the waste tank freely. Just keep the length on it so that it directs any carpet fibers down, close the bottom of the tank where the waste water is so that it does not involuntarily get into the vacuum motors and all should be good. Ninja, and some others do not use such a filter in there machine, so this should be fine. I like the cutting idea.

What prespray solution mix ratio are you using? Are you using a hydroforce, or mytee supplied generic hydroforce, or pump-up sprayer?

Its good to know that someone actually uses the Rotovac 360, it's a  great tool. Your right it does eat through dirt and grime with the right cleaner.   

Celestial,

As long as you have a good prespray and hot water the 360 will do the rest.  Just today, I had an apartment that the other carpet guy told the management to replace it was so greasy.  I purposely went to a line in the room so the manager could see side by side the before and after.  Her jaw dropped, and she was like - "holy cow."  Anyhow, I hope to line that client up. 

Yes, use the iron with the red relief and I think you will be surprised at the difference. Most red stains will transfer fairly quick.