What is your order of operation

And get the cheque!!!!!

I bet you can train a monkey to do all that as well, that's just common things that you have to do. Tell us how you approach a new customer and make the sale.

                                                      Nightrider

Good question Nightrider. 

CarpetproKC wrote: I searched for a similar thread but couldn't find one.  From the minute you pull up to the job site- what is your method? I'm looking to learn from YOU.  Here is what I do.  1. Meet customer and walk the property- Agree on price.  2. Turn on TM, mix chemicals, and then head into the house with my vacuum. 3. Vaccum areas that are bring cleaned.  4. Pull out solution hose and hyrdoforce sprayer and go into the house.  5. Starting with the furthest room, pre treat areas and continue throughout the house.  6. Pull in hose 7. Bring in wand and airmover 8. Clean and set up airmover.  9. When finished walk the property with customer and have them sign off on satisfactory work. 10. Load up van and go.

Furthermore I can only hope that when I am retired I lend a little more of a helping hand to young men who are willing to work hard to provide for their family. I didn't get into this to make a million dollars and become the next hot shot on the block. I got into the service industry because I saw an opportunity to advance my life and support my family while doing something that I enjoy. 

Well Grasshopper when you open up your mind because it is a terrible thig to waste  and want to accept some constructive critisim you will be able to learn. Until then ??? The difference with me is I'am not one to candy coat anything. I just like to get to the point. Kind of like seperating the fly $hit from the pepper.  Unfortunately most youg people are so politicial correct and have their god damm feelings hurt so easy I really don't know how you survive? One thing you have to recconize on these boards is to believe about a 1/4 of what you read as most are very full of themselves and the rest are just filling you full of BS?  Operating a biz in a populatiion of say 7000 is nothing like operating a biz in a population of 100,000.  I answered you questions and apparently you didn't like my responce.  GROW UP!  If you can't take the heat than get out of the kitchen.

1. Knock on door, introduce myself & hand them a business card.
2. Walk through the areas with the customer, looking for areas that need "special attention"
3. During the walk through ask questions like "when was the last time your carpets professionally cleaned?" and "Have you ever had your carpets protected?" I only have to ask these questions if they are a new customer.
4. Finish walk through and talk about cleaning price, and offer protection services etc.
5. Bring in my solution line and take it to the farthest point.
6. Turn TM on (after the TM is on I put a bottle of WD-40 on the vacuum port before I connect my extraction hose so the water heats up faster.)
7. Make pre spray
8. Pre treat first section (normally 3-5 areas)
9. Bring in extraction hose and wand.
10. Place sticky tabs underneath all smaller items, throw blocks on bigger pieces. Move out furniture just enough to clean underneath them.
12. Clean under furniture then move furniture back to original spot, place blocks where needed.
13. Clean all open areas in that room, move to next room and repeat from step 10.
14. Clean next section.
15. After grooming the carpet tell the customer about any areas we had problems with, or stains we couldn't get out. Then I ask the customer to take a quick look and make sure they are happy.
16. Wrap up hoses and all equipment, write out the ticket, put booties on and go inside and go over bill and collect money. Meanwhile reminding them that we clean upholstery, rugs, ducts, etc.

That's just what I do, you'll notice I don't vacuum. Most homes that I go into do not need vacuuming, so why add an unnecessary step? I'll do it only if it needs it.
In step 3 I ask these questions to set them up for selling add ons.

Honestly, It doesnt matter what steps you do, your customers can tell if you know what your doing, and weather your working hard or not. If you have a positive attitude, and are friendly they'll call you back. Half of what determines whether they'll call you back or not is the experience they had while you were there.

Im in Kansas City too, there is plenty of room for more carpet cleaners, and lots of money to be made in Johnson County.


Edited by HeartlandSteam - 01/February/2010 at 9:20am