Post here how you got business!

Kyleb15

Kyleb15

New member
I can't get work at all. When I tell people their roof can be cleaned they look at me like I'm an idiot or laugh. Could you guys post here how you first got started and what worked best for you. Right now I'm doing the flyer method and I am trying to get a homeowner to let me do half and half with a sign in the yard.

So please help me out! Post how you got the most business and what advertisement worked best! Thanks
 
Roofs can be a tough sell. Try selling house washes instead. More people are concerned with dirty siding and driveways. Persistance and patience can pay off. Keep trying. If it was easy everybody would be doing it.
 
Kyleb15 said:
I can't get work at all. When I tell people their roof can be cleaned they look at me like I'm an idiot or laugh. Could you guys post here how you first got started and what worked best for you. Right now I'm doing the flyer method and I am trying to get a homeowner to let me do half and half with a sign in the yard.

So please help me out! Post how you got the most business and what advertisement worked best! Thanks
Click to expand...
If you are TALKING to people, you are doing a good thing.
Next time they look at you like an idiot, or laugh, offer em a demonstration :)
Show and Tell, and you SELL :)
 
nice yard

I have talked to about 400 people trying to sell in the last week and a half and have sold a few... Look for a nice yard and a neighborhood that is "middle Aged" with a lot of nice big trees.

Keep talking it up and your approach on cold calls will get better. Trial and error my friend!

Dan
 
Pictures and test spots make a great combination. This can actually be good for you, because apparently there isn't anyone else selling roof cleaning. Once you show the customers in your "work area" the difference it makes in appearance on a property, and get people realizing it's a legitimate business, you'll have a leg up on others who may follow your lead. Got to make it legit to your customers though!! Talk to realtors in particular as they are always cycling houses. Here are a couple of pictures you can use if you like. The one with the lift shows the customer the immediate result even before rinsing.

Jeff
 

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Its gonna take time down there in Mine Town. I'm from Farmington.

Roof cleaning is a new breed around these parts. My first year I did either 2 or 3, then it picked up some next year, then the next.

Try running a small ad in the Daily Journal and see if that does anything for you.
 
Ron is right research your area and learn more about your target customer base. Make some cold calls to some of the popular local businesses in your area and ask them what works best for them. Get an idea of where you should focus your efforts as far as advertising goes. Here in Hot Springs we have a couple groups where business owners get together and help promote one another. So learn from your other business owners. Second listen to Chris talk to poeple...talk to people ...talk to poeple. If you are not trying to sell your business to everyone you talk to you then you had better be working, sleeping, or dead becuase its a must and keep in mind you never know who the person you are talking to may know. I have put some coupon ads in the local mass mail out coupon mag and it has really been making the phone ring along with my radio ad but keep in mind radio and tv is very expensive and do not nessacerily make the phone ring but are more for putting your name in the minds of your customer base. A sign in the yard when you are doing a job is helpful to alot of people will be interested in what you do but will not stop they will however write down your # and call later. and last but not least your truck i cant tell you how much business my logo and phone # on my tucks has gotten me. I hope these ideas are helpfull and remember if your buget is limited target your advertising for certain times of year Fall is coming up and folks will be looking to get that last minute cleaning on those roof and gutters so maybe look into running a coupon with a before & after pic and your logo in the fall mail out in your area. I bet you get some business.

Wes Hall
ALL CLEAN POWER WASH & DETAIL INC.
(501) 617-2590
 
This in ONLY a joke ;)
When all else fails, fill a water balloon full of Apple Sauce, and toss it on roofs you want to do :eek:
As your "technique" gets better, you will be able to 'pick and choose" jobs you want :confused:
JUST KIDDING, of course.
I would also suggest going to a Round Table.
Speaking for ME, personally, I learned quite a bit, and I am a veteran.
 
what!!!

814jeffw said:
Pictures and test spots make a great combination. This can actually be good for you, because apparently there isn't anyone else selling roof cleaning. Once you show the customers in your "work area" the difference it makes in appearance on a property, and get people realizing it's a legitimate business, you'll have a leg up on others who may follow your lead. Got to make it legit to your customers though!! Talk to realtors in particular as they are always cycling houses. Here are a couple of pictures you can use if you like. The one with the lift shows the customer the immediate result even before rinsing.

Jeff
Click to expand...

How do you get much result without even rinsing??? Seems like the one we did today took four times iver it with full chem and rinse before it looked that good? What is the wait time and how strong are your chems? Or is there some other secret???

Dan
 
WEAK Chemical will make you go over it 4 times.
Spend a DAY with me, and I can assure you, our roofs are clean, when we leave.
of course, like ANY roof, rinsed or not, they always look even better after a few rains.
People will not PAY for a unclean roof.

Sounds to me like some are getting weak chemical :)
 
door to door is tough....I always apologize for interupting them, hand them a brochure and say " I was driving by (or I was doing a job down the street) and I noticed Zeus took a Mega Crap on your roof." " I clean Zeus crap from rooftops, have been now for 2.5 years, would you like an estimate?" "here take a look at these framed 8.5x11 glossies of these other rooftops that mighty Zeus had his way with... while i take a look around to get you a number"
 
dstowell said:
How do you get much result without even rinsing??? Seems like the one we did today took four times iver it with full chem and rinse before it looked that good? What is the wait time and how strong are your chems? Or is there some other secret???

Dan
Click to expand...

Sounds like weak chems to me too. I use anywhere between 35/60 to 50/50. We spray the entire roof once, then come back around and touch up any thing that didnt dissapear the first time. Then we pack up and leave.

I Have a question. I know a guy here that gets his 12% from the same place as me, uses the same mixture and uses a shurflo to apply. The only difference is he says when he applies, the roof actually turns a darker black, and he has to pressure wash it off. He said that most tile roofs take him 2 days!!:eek: He just doesnt believe me that the stains "dissapear". Im very confused about why he would have this problem.
 
I like to rinse and show a better final product, but its light so i leave some of the chemical behind.

I am still getting started, and roofs are a tough sale! Offer house washes, and your best way to sell a roof is people selling homes. 75% of my roofs are from realitors trying to move a dirty home. People will do anything to there home if the realitor tells them to, so they can sell it. From there its all word of mouth! Ask your customers to tell there friends and family about you. Also my website sells my roof cleaning alot!
 
I have found that pounding the pavement is what is working for me right now.
I find a dirty location,ask to speak to the manager. Introduce myself and my company,hand them a proposal letter listing my services,ask if they would have a few minutes to spare to walk around their business and point out some of the stains and gum and high traffic areas.
Of course be polite. Consider the time of day. Asking to talk to a fast food manager during lunch hour rush is not gonna be good for them or you.
I had an add in the services section of local news paper for over a month...nothing
Cold calling works to. I call and ask for the fax number and send them a proposal letter and flyer...
 
I have only done a few but I need to rinse just to show the customer that it worked. Not rinsing may work and may not cause long term damage but I am not comfortable leaving the job site still dirty (white satins) with my sign in the yard
 
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