[gwrightson]

"Hello
 
I wonder if you could offer me some advice please. 
 
I have just had a new bathroom and kitchen fitted and my upholstered suite in my  lounge has become very dusty and dirty.  I am due to start decorating the lounge and would like my suite cleaning.
 
As a few years ago I had this suite cleaned by one of the Chemdry companies, although the suite looked wonderful it took many days to dry and also the carpet it stood on was extremely wet and also took days to dry.  I now have laminate flooring and was wondering whether you (or you know of any service) where they actually take the suite away to clean as I am worried that if it is cleaned within the lounge the excess water will damage the laminate.
 
Thank you for your help in this matter."

This was in my mail box yesterday, I have replied back with info regarding dring times ,methods etc, but if she insisted on it been taken away, what extra would you charge? and do any of you already offer this service?

Geoff

[Doug Holloway]

Hi Geoff

Cost to take away, clean, bring back, possible damage etc must be at least double.

Has she got a garden ?

Cheers

Doug

[Kev Loomes]

I wouldnt go down that route personally, the possible damage implications and the chance that she might claim for something that was already there (out of sight and all that), wouldnt be worth it IMO. Can you imagine hiring a lorry too if your van isnt big enough

Surely its better to explain your methods (put sheeting down etc), the absolute priority that you will look after her home and that you wont leave it wet for days etc etc. A common sense chat and explanation of your professionalism should get the job - in her home!

Good luck

p.s. once we had a client who let someone take away her suite to clean - and they never brought it back

[Doctor Carpet (Ret'd)]

But we do take rugs away to clean. And that's why we charge what we do to reflect all those extra things.

On occasions I have stored rugs for people when I have picked them up from one house, cleaned them, and then returned them to the new home. Charged extra for storage as well even though they take up little or no room.

[Kev Loomes]

How can you compare rugs to sofas and armchairs :

A lot of us do offer this service with rugs, we certainly do and charge double. But rugs can easily fit into small vans.

3pc suites are a tad bigger and so require a big van or lorry (as already mentioned). Would you really go and hire a lorry, struggle with a big heavy suite through the tightest of corners - hope you dont damage a wall, hope that nothing goes wrong whilst in transit, struggle with it at the other end (unless you've got a big open ground floor workshop), clean it, struggle with it back onto the lorry, hope it doesnt get damaged in transit, struggle with it back into the cust's house - hope you dont damage the wall, get paid, take the lorry back to the hire place, let them check any damage and finally go home.

With the premium having to be charged because it has taken the whole day wouldnt be cost effective for 99.9% of custys.

[liahona]

In the states a lot of companies offer the service of taking away furniture, cleaning and then returning.  Same as rugs, no difference apart from that which has been mentioned.

But then generally the client expects to have the best service available which of course can not be done insitu.

Again, its working smart and not hard.  Well not so hard.

You can get maybe 3 times the amount to reove to clean anything, at least twice the amount.  So for the extra hassle you are getting paid very well and cleaning much better than if it was done at the clients house.

Client is happy, cleaner is happy, not sure where the problem is.

Best, Dave.

P.S.  Kev, its not usually done in a day.  The turn around time is usually a week, sometimes more.  You have to bear in mind that by cleaning them this way you can clean them maybe 2 or 3 times, air dust them, remove all dry soils that basic vaccing doesnt do etc etc.  Set piles correctly as they are drying, apply protectants, properly, the list goes on.

[Ken Wainwright]

Could you remove the suite easily and safely through all the doors and entrance without damaging or marking it? Try it with your own sofa at home as a trial run.

Can you then move the customers suite into your own premises without damaging or marking it?

Is your van big enough for the task? Sometimes, an empty van with installed racking may be limiting for a sofa. You may need to hire a suitable van. Twice.

Does your insurance cover you for working off-site?

If you were to clean the suite at your home the chances are that your local council, if informed by whatever means, could either close you down, fine you or even charge you business rates for your home, plus arrears Ditto for rugs.  This isn't to be taken lightly.  Would you complain if a neighbour/mechanic were to service other peoples cars at his home to earn a living?

If you are confident about all of the above, as Dave says, you are offering a high end premium service, and your charges will reflect this.

Franklins in Sheffield offer this service and find it very profitable.

Safe and happy cleaning
Ken

[Kev Loomes]

All I can say is that it beggars belief that anyone would want to struggle with some sofas's/suites that are excessively heavy - and so risking your back completely AND poss damaging the suite. Is it really worth it? Health & Safety has to be considered? CC's know that sofas can be a complete nightmare for delivery people and it goes without saying that not only damage can and does occur, even just pushing a suite through a tight spot can leave unintentional marks which will then have to be sorted out

Maybe the homes in the US are bigger

With the cleaning being undertaken at a CC's home (lets face it 95% of CC's run from home), I'm sure they would use the same cleaning practices, so I cant see how it would be superior to being done at the custy's house (unless done as you decribe). Also Im sure there would be no room whatsoever in a CC's house for another suite anyway, unless they are lucky enough to have a garage maybe - and one that is empty

I know what your saying though Dave and obviously if the custy is going to pay mega amounts, and actually wants this service then it is a consideration for a very small minority of CC's (if they can be safely removed and have the facilities). Im just saying that generally, for most of us, most of the time its not practical and cant be done, and the custy wont pay for it.

[gwrightson]

The problem moving the suite, and an area for it to be cleaned is not a problem, I have available to be a lwb sprinter, boarded out , clean interior and a warehouse also suitable for cleaning and storage, I do clean some rugs already here.
so if custy insists it isnt going to be a problem.
having said all of this , the custy is now perfectly happy for me to clean insitu , after working practies have been explained.

geoff

[Shaun_Ashmore]

Geoff are you finding many price shoppers on your new website? do you quote them via email/phone or go out to see?

Shaun

[gwrightson]

Shaun,
whay i have noticed is a few prices shoppers , to be fair most accept an offer of a visit and survey ,
but , also First couple of weeks I did have enquires for some curuious people 

if you Know what I mean

an example here, as it came no, name no phone number

 1 three piece draylon suite   1 lounge carpet 12/ 26 foot   1 hall stairs and landing  average size
   anlaby area
        regards

I did of course reply asking for deatails and of course recieved no reply

geoff

[carpet guy]

Looks like web advertising is no different from any other form, prospect looks for service, if it's priced at what they regard as " reasonable " they will contact you, otherwise they will look further.

Might be worth considering the LOW COST of advertising through your web site and being MORE competetive as a result, after all, virtually everything you purchase through the NET is discounted, because it massively reduces the overhead.

The opportunities in using the WEB must be huge and provided you can portray your service as the most DESIRABLE for whatever reason, you could do very well.

If you can present your services as SPECIALIST and justify your claims with BEFORE and AFTER photos or TESTIMONIALS the more discerning will contact you and pay PREMIUM RATES.

I was born too soon...................