How do you deal with a customer who wants to just do bit's and pieces?

Doodaa

New member
Ok so I still new and have been anticipating this call but never figured what I would do,I haven't called back just yet I'll wait till the end of the day but here's the message:we want to clean one wall with algea on it (cedar shake)and a piece of roof and one other small thing.I hate to turn away small jobs but it just doesn't seem worth it to only do partial cleaning but on the other hand this person most likely has friends needing my services.Should I just set a minimum for jobs?
 
I wouldn't take the job simply because it wouldn't look finished and my name would be associated with the work. That would register as a "he didn't finish the job" if the customer didn't explain the situation.

If I were to do it (which I wouldn't) I'd charge at least half of the entire job for the first sections and the other half on the second sections and then half again for the third sections and since I'm such a nice guy, I'll do the remainder for free (if they get the deluxe driveway cleaning).
 
Simple term in business,.."Charge Accordingly",...and "Accordingly",..is what standards of pay and practices you set for yourself.

Keep in mind though, some partial cleanings require you do more work to the surrounding surfaces,..simply due to the proximity of the specified work. Just make sure you lay out the scope of the job to the customer entailing what factors are determining your price


Jeff
 
Don't clean just part of the roof. Clean the whole roof and charge them accordingly. Some guys will clean parts of a roof. I tell my potential clients the charge will be the same as cleaning the whole roof. Even though you can't see algae on the whole roof, it's there. Mostly the same with the house, all or none. However with houses there are a few exceptions to that rule. Educate your potential clients on algae growth!
 
Thanks for the input it definately along the way I'm leaning.when you go to the car wash you gotta do the whole thing same with a roof especially if there is some lichen showing up the whole roof is ready.I'm gonna call and go out later and hopefully get them to at least do the whole roof
 
"How do you deal with a customer who wants to just do bit's and pieces?"

I don't even deal with these people. What you have to say is... "When you wipe you a**... do you only wipe part of it?"
 
I wouldn't use the wipe your ass comment. But I would let them know you have a 3-500 minimum. Whatever you decide and then see what they say after that. If they say ok then go price it out. If not then you just saved your time and effort.
 
LOL it was a joke... Don't do it hahaha

But what Michael said is correct. Use a standard minimum in your business. What I tell people who tell me that is... I'll give them a ridiculous price JUST to clean the specified area and bump it up a few dollars and say "I can do this at such and such price, but for just a few dollars more, I can do it all."

And you'll find out what they have to say from there!
 
Absolute minimums will sell you more work.
If a customer just wants a patio and walkway cleaned sell them a house wash then do the walks for free. Our minimum is $225 so if we do the patio and walk for 225 it would be worth doing the house for 400 and get your walks done free. Done all the time.
 
Absolute minimums will sell you more work.
If a customer just wants a patio and walkway cleaned sell them a house wash then do the walks for free. Our minimum is $225 so if we do the patio and walk for 225 it would be worth doing the house for 400 and get your walks done free. Done all the time.

Thats how we work it, and we dont do any single sides of houses.... just soffets.... etc.... Minimums+we do it r ight or we dont do it.
 
GO MAKE AS MUCH MONEY AS YOU CAN. I will do 5 300 dollar half roof washes all day long, or i would do 2 1/2 600 dollar roofs I would do 4
 
I explain to the customer that when you spot clean a house it looks like you spot cleaned it, and we do not offer that service. I then explain to them that I will provide them with a quote for what, in my professional opinion they should have done, explained in detail, and let them decide if they would like to use us or not.
 
GO MAKE AS MUCH MONEY AS YOU CAN. I will do 5 300 dollar half roof washes all day long, or i would do 2 1/2 600 dollar roofs I would do 4

Exactly.

Go out and be profitable. Cleaning 1 side of a house isn't the same as spot cleaning. I'd probably charge 1/2 of a whole house wash though, not 1/4. I'll be damned if I'm hiring a contractor, if I'm going to pay to get my entire house washed when only 1 side needs it.

Imagine having your carpets cleaned and the company saying "Well sir, we will only work for you if you clean all the carpets in your house. We won't clean just 2 rooms and the stairway"

That would be stupid. Clean what the customer wants, but make it worth your while.
 
Exactly.

Go out and be profitable. Cleaning 1 side of a house isn't the same as spot cleaning. I'd probably charge 1/2 of a whole house wash though, not 1/4. I'll be damned if I'm hiring a contractor, if I'm going to pay to get my entire house washed when only 1 side needs it.

Imagine having your carpets cleaned and the company saying "Well sir, we will only work for you if you clean all the carpets in your house. We won't clean just 2 rooms and the stairway"

That would be stupid. Clean what the customer wants, but make it worth your while.

I'll clean one side of house all the time, it's usually for HOA, but when they start asking to clean here, clean this, clean this section of this roof, blah blah blah, that becomes spot cleaning, and I aint doing that.
 
I'll clean one side of house all the time, it's usually for HOA, but when they start asking to clean here, clean this, clean this section of this roof, blah blah blah, that becomes spot cleaning, and I aint doing that.

Agree, I wont wash just the dirty spots on the roof but i will wash one half of the roof, and when i do that i get paid more than if i cleaned the whole roof. I wont clean only 25 feet of gutter but i will wash one whole gutter system on one side of the house.
 
Bits and pieces cost more. If I do more while I'm there, you get a discount. If I come back every time I have a minimum.


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I just try to lean on washing the whole house. Use the analogy "does a detailer just wash part of your car"? Does the yardman just now part of your yard?

No but some people just like the outside of their car washed because the inside is already clean. Same thing.
 
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