Top 10 questions to ask

Nicole M.

Pro-Powerwash
Top 10 questions to ask????

I am currently putting together an informative pamphlet for our prospective customers. I would like to include a list of top 10 questions to ask when shopping for a pressure washing company. I'm hoping as pressure washers and consumers, you could give me some ideas. Just think what information you would like your customers to know about your company and what you would be interested in knowing about a pressure washing company you would be researching.

Thank you for your input!
 
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ron p

HI, NICOLE I find that people ask diffrent questions for the diffrent things they want cleaned. What market are you trying to promote?
Homeowners; price, quality ,longjevity,reoccurance,water source,possiable damage,color,when?
 
Good Point Sqirt

I would be mostly targeting commercial businesses for cleaning areas such as strip malls.
 
Hello Nicole,

Who are you currently doing this type of work for and how long have you been doing it for them?

Can you give me a demostration of what you propose to do for my business?

Dave Olson
 
I think Nicole is saying if you were a customer, what questions would you ask before hiring a contractor?

example:
1. How long have you been in business?
2. Do you have insurance?
3. What is your cleaning process
4. What kind of chemicals do you use
5. Will the chemicals you use cause damage to asphalt, grass, etc…
6. Are the chemicals harmful to animals
7. How do you remove gum, oil stains, etc…
8. When do you perform your service
9. What makes your company better than others
10. What are your contract terms
 
Ron the only questions I have ever been asked are #1,2,8 and 9.

In my opinion I truly doubt customers ask some of those questions.

I would like to hear from others that have been asked more then one or two times the other questions, perhaps the customers are different here then in other parts of the country.

Jon
 
Jon,

For whatever it is worth, I have been asked all of the questions that Ron has listed!

The question I like the most is "How soon can you do the job?"

Dave Olson
 
What about "Can I pay you on Friday for the job today?" or is that "Can I pay you in July for the job today?"
 
Dave it could be you do a lot more things then I do too, could be the customer is more educated back there or heck maybe I just don't hear them ask.

Don't get me wrong here people, I am not saying there is not a need for questions, nor am I saying some are out of line, none are, only that I have not been asked all of them.

What would I ask myself, truthfully I would want to see a certificate of insurance, business lic. any other lic. required, I would like to have a list of past/current customers with permission to call and talk freely.

I would like to know how long in the business and if fairly new where did you learn how to do the work. I would not hold it against a newbie as many do but would expect him to be upfront about the fact he is new to the business.

Prices I think most have a fair idea what the cost is, and if it is to good to be true then something is wrong.

Grant I am a pretty trusting guy, I tell them up front I bill them with a 30 day or less to pay policy. Many corps. take 45 the first time to set up corporate accounts and I am ok with that, as long as the checks start coming in by then.

Now here is a question I have been asked lately in some cities here, (sorry no names since to many competitors read this and I am not going to help them this close to home).

Do you reclaim or pick up your water, yes I have been asked that several times. I lost out to another because at the time I did not have the set up I do now.
 
Sometimes I wish it was us that could do the asking of the client. Why did you fire your last pressure washer? How much was he/she charging you? Do you really call and verify the validity of all the certificates you're asking me for? Do you really want the damn windows washed inside/out? How do you feel about me asking for a small raise once a year (the kiss of death)!!! Just thinking outloud.

Lately it's been "Do you have insurance", so I guess that's the main one for me.
 
Hey Boo,
I guess I am brazen. I do ask those questions. The price thing they will almost always lie about, but they will usually tell you the truth about why they were dissatisfied.


Scott
 
LOL Scott

Somehow I kinda figured you did. I do to, but I usually wait awhile. The one question I've always wanted to ask is "Where the hell do you guys find these Fleet Managers"?

Sorry for detracting from your thread Nicole.
 
Ok I have a good one for you guys, say for whatever reason you lost an account, small, med. or large does not matter here.

Would or do you go back and ask who got the account and why?

A killer question, do you then go after one or more of the competitors accounts to even the score?

No I have never done it but often wonder if others do.

If you would rather Email me your answer and what you did I will then assume it is for my eyes only.

Jon
 
Jon

Jon anybody that washes fleets has lost an account for any number of reasons sometime along the way. You can either sit around and whine about it or go get another account. I don't go after a competitors account unless there's a real good reason to do so. If a company is happy with that guy I leave it alone. I lost one in January that I'm still kinda upside down over. I know who got the account, and I know why he got it. I'm not saying I want that account back, because I'm as busy as I can be, but on the up and up I'm gonna level the playing field with the low baller that got that account. It's all about the alphabet. INS, IRS, EPA, Insurance, just to name a few. It's too long a story to tell you what went down leading up to all of this, but I've got him in my cross hairs and HE KNOWS IT.
 
Still dealing under the table in rags huh.


No,I do not go ask who took the account away from me,hopefully they'll have a little repect for me and tell me who and why,if not its ok.I figure if I losted it on price it wouldn't do me any good b/c I will not match the price...anybe in time I'll get the account back at my price.

Yes,every much so,Ifen you get one of mine I'll get on your trail like a bloodhound,stiffing out all your good accounts.I have ways of getting accounts without lower my price to match who ever and I'll more than double what was took away.I usually do not take a old account back b/c if I wasn't pleasing them for them to change powerwashers I wouldn't please them the second go around b/c I know I couldn't do a better job then what I was doing,I move on.
 
ron p/ hey bigboy

I like your thinking but how do you know if it was the other contractor that was the hunter or the hunted? How would you know for sure if you got 2 dif. stories?
 
if that be the case ya wouldn't.


I do not have a hadit taking accounts back if losted or if I got tired telling not to be late with me money,it is the reason I do not run under a contract.

 
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