Carpet and Floor Cleaning Industry Chat Forum : more money

more money : adcc007 wrote:I live in Illinois....

Wed, 07 Jul 2004 21:03:45 +0000

Author: surroundings
Subject: 232
Posted: 07/July/2004 at 9:03pm

adcc007 wrote:

I live in Illinois. Can anyone tell me howmuch I should charge per sqft? Is charging by sqft the way to goor having a set price per room with a certain amount of sqft? Also, do I charge for moving furniture? What all furniture she bemoved?

If anyone can give me some advice that would be great!

Most other carpet cleaners here quote over the phone by the room, thenadd on charges as they get there. Common extra charges include:room size larger then standard, pale coloured carpet, pre-vauum,furniture moving, extra drying pass, heavily soiled carpet, call-outfees, after-hour fees, weekend fees, grooming, whatever they can thinkof.

Some people feel that this is a legitimate way to do business. I feelthat they should just raise the Jolly Roger and accept who they reallyare.

If I quote over the phone, I loose the job most of the time, unlessthey have been recommended. So I quote in person when possible.There are a couple of other people that do this also. It's not alwayspractical, and YES, that means two visits to the house usually. Ihave won most jobs I quote in person. I make it worth my while. Igive a firm, written price. They are charged by the area I clean. Here, that's 'per square metre.'

The price I charge will not help you, but call up 30 other carpetcleaners, get a quote on three rooms and a hallway, stairs, upholsteredchairs, an antique persian rug that belonged to your grandmother, and arocker/recliner. Find out when they can do it and how long itwill take. See if they do anything else. Get a quote on that aswell. Ask how business is. Ask if they're busy. Askif they do both commercial and domestic. Ask what other chargesyou may be up for. The best will charge more, take longer,guarentee their work, and be booked out longer, and not add on anysilly charges. They may press other services though. Thisis where we aimed our business. Write down your results. Ask THEMthe difference between wet and 'dry' cleaning. It's usually funnyto hear what one says about the other.

Just as a note: to get hold of 30 carpet cleaners, I had to call 38 businesses. Draw your own conclusions.

The only furniture I am willing to move are those items which are easyto move, and I never touch TVs or VCRs or computers. I don't wantto tune in their stations later, or be blamed for something notworking. This is discussed at the quoting stage. If a chinacloset is never moved around, why on earth would you clean underneathit? Chairs, lounge suites on rollers, coffee tables.... usuallynot a problem. Move 'em to one side of the room, or the centre ofthe room, clean, move again, place plastic under the metal or woodenlegs to prevent causing rust or staining. If the legs arepointed, DO NOT DRAG IT. That pointed metal leg will catch on theone thread that's loose, and you'll end up paying for new carpet.

Good luck... have fun!

-Allen

more money : adcc007 wrote: I live in Illinois....

Wed, 07 Jul 2004 14:32:24 +0000

Author: MR. STEAMER
Subject: 232
Posted: 07/July/2004 at 2:32pm

adcc007 wrote:

I live in Illinois. Can anyone tell me how much I should charge per sqft? Is charging by sqft the way to go or having a set price per room with a certain amount of sqft? Also, do I charge for moving furniture? What all furniture she be moved?

If anyone can give me some advice that would be great!

Charge for anything you can.....I find per room rates makes it easier to give a quote over the phone...most customers can't give you the size over the phone

more money : I live in Illinois. Can anyone...

Sun, 04 Jul 2004 13:47:05 +0000

Author: adcc007
Subject: 232
Posted: 04/July/2004 at 1:47pm

I live in Illinois. Can anyone tell me how much I should charge per sqft? Is charging by sqft the way to go or having a set price per room with a certain amount of sqft? Also, do I charge for moving furniture? What all furniture she be moved?

If anyone can give me some advice that would be great!

more money : There is always someone that can...

Sun, 04 Apr 2004 22:22:32 +0000

Author: Stanley
Subject: 232
Posted: 04/April/2004 at 10:22pm

There is always someone that can do it cheaper and maybe even better. I like to know I'm making money off a job...or I get a bad taste in my mouth.

Sometimes I'm higher sometimes I'm lower...I don't worry about it, as long as you stick to your price your fine...prine them out.....carry a list with you...the price is the price and there is nothing you can do about it...Just don't bargain

more money : Yes it was taken from the manual. Was...

Sun, 04 Apr 2004 19:49:30 +0000

Author: terry
Subject: 232
Posted: 04/April/2004 at 7:49pm

Yes it was taken from the manual.

Was about the only good thing that course or outfit did for me.

I don't care who gets what or in what area.

I charge 20 cents a sq .

And yes we move most furniture,and do a great job. Why shop if you have the best?

Why do people by B.M.W PORCH AND ROLLS? Because you get what you pay for.

That is why we have clients and only clients.Regards Terry

Edited by terry

more money : greg wrote: i can't recall...

Sun, 04 Apr 2004 19:33:33 +0000

Author: doug
Subject: 232
Posted: 04/April/2004 at 7:33pm

greg wrote:

i can't recall a client ever complaining anytime our price has gone up. they want good service and they are willing to pay for it. and if they don't want to pay, they can go else where.

Greg: A client going else where. What would that client be called? People have different ways of complaining. Some verbally, some not. some just say nothing and some just go away. Again what the market will bear.

more money : i can't recall a client ever...

Sun, 04 Apr 2004 19:20:26 +0000

Author: greg
Subject: 232
Posted: 04/April/2004 at 7:20pm

i can't recall a client ever complaining anytime our price has gone up. they want good service and they are willing to pay for it. and if they don't want to pay, they can go else where.

more money : Wow Terry I am impressed I want...

Sun, 04 Apr 2004 17:02:03 +0000

Author: doug
Subject: 232
Posted: 04/April/2004 at 5:02pm

Wow Terry I am impressed I want clients. Don't we all. Your paragraph appears to be taken word for word out of a carpet cleaning manual. Times have changed. Loyalty is not loyalty at least not like it used to be. You can only charge what the market will bear. Just because someone is getting $.30 a sq ft in one area does not mean you can get it in your area. The term I would rather fight than switch is gone. People are always shopping for better you just have to keep giving them a reason to use your services and still just like a bad habit your gone for no reason than someone cheaper or better, or a different system came along. so cherrish your clients because they may become someone elses potential customer.

more money : I don't want customers i...

Sun, 04 Apr 2004 16:33:18 +0000

Author: terry
Subject: 232
Posted: 04/April/2004 at 4:33pm

I don't want customers i want clients.

Raise your price ,if you have built a great client base it should not be a problem.The ones you lose will be made up with the new prices.

p.s you might lose a couple but it should all come out in the wash.

more money : greg wrote: is anyone putting...

Sun, 04 Apr 2004 15:49:41 +0000

Author: doug
Subject: 232
Posted: 04/April/2004 at 3:49pm

greg wrote:

is anyone putting up their price this spring. 2 or 3 cents per sq makes a huge difference.

Greg raising prices is always touchie issue no matter what you will probably lose one or two when you increase. One of the problems which I am sure to get a response is. The bait & switch room cleaners the national adds. I have one now 2 Rooms $59.95 small print max 200 sq. st closets count as rooms bathroom count as rooms. If they haven't been cleaned for at least 2 months you need our 2 step cleaning thats extra berbers extra extra extra. Their price never go up. They just keep leaving with more money. So how do you raise your prices without losing a few customers? Some your better without. No offence Stanley. I didn't mention any names I just have to call a spade a spade.