Greetings from Minnesota

    Howdy all,
I have been watching this forum for a couple of months and thought it would be a good time to jump in. I am new to the business ( please dont tell me to get out while I can) and this is a great site since we dont get to talk with a lot of our own "breed" during normal working time. I recently completed my CC training through brigepoint and am slowly getting into the business and one of the questions I have is what do you charge you customers? By the square foot or room? What about commercial (apartments) I have been doing it for 20.00 to 25.00 per room for resi and I think I am to cheap. Steps are preteat,agitate with grandi,clean with a rotovac and TM, block couches and chairs,if carpet is damp I will bring in the F6 after the first room to speed drying,fab set misted on to help leave correct PH and grandi. I have a three room min. but I think I need to raise my rates.I would like to get a pile lifter and add that to my services and charge (alot)more. As far as the trashed out apartments are concered I was thinking about .30 sq/ft with a 100 min. Kenny-I dont think I could get a dollar a square foot like you, but I am interested in what everybody else is doing ( both stateside and our friends to the north). How many of you are bonded? What is the cost of your insurance? Mine runs 780 year plus another 750 for the van, does not include my equipment. I probaly should change that since I dont want it coming out of my pocket it someone lifts the porty out of the back of the van. How hard is it to rebuild a Cat pump? Mine has been acting up (Butler unit) and I am about to try the pulse valve and the unloader to see if that will do it. The heat has been up and down (130-160-used to be constant 190) and the water seems to be pulsating at the wand. Sorry for all the questions, thanks for your time.

    Sorry I will work on keeping it short- much like my manhood.

DO NOT believe or give ken your credit card number..

You have good equipment, but when you have any issues at all with the butler the customer service people (1 800-535-5025) will walk you through your problem in simple English. What you seem to have is a bad Pulsation Dampner it is
very easy to replace and is usually sent overnight air for about $15.oo or so .
It takes a non- mechanic about 3 minutes to replace.

As far as your heat issue or others , Butler will walk you through a series of questions and you will have it figured out in no time.

Cat pumps can be serviced by the same types of businesses that service car washes, they usually have the parts and service know how.

As far as some of the other questions if you want specifics Private Message me by clicking on my danmarck82 and click "Private Message" and I can try to shed some light. I also have a Butler and 25 years of cleaning so don't be afraid to ask. Doug has good advice above , but for Butler questions go direct to them they are great at trouble shooting.

Good Luck in the New Year. ( to ALL )