Hallelujah, I'm back in the business after 15 years - What supplies should I buy?

GCCLee

Supportive Member
Joined
Jan 29, 2012
Messages
5,113
Location
East TN
Name
C. Lee
You running a PTO system ?

Specifically a SteamGenie ?

Screen name rings a bell
 
Joined
Jun 20, 2016
Messages
6,513
Location
Bc
Name
Jeff T
Whew! Finally I have time to post again. Thanks to everyone who replied with suggestions and helpful advice.
Jeff @ Sierra Clean hooked me up with some Fels and booties and tons of good advice that i was able to scribble down on 1.5 sheets of paper. Thanks also to those who PM'd me with more good advice. Now I know who to contact in Canada for all these great products.

Just picked up the van today and did my first job! Now I know that Murphy was a carpet cleaner. Will post the story when I have time...you may not believe it but every word will be true. I almost quit the business on my first job. Tongue in cheek - but just barely.
Roger, call Chris to have a look @ that machine. Make sure it's running the way it should. Give me a call sometime, we'll grab a beer...
Jeff @ SCC
 

Scratch62

Member
Joined
Feb 25, 2017
Messages
44
Location
Shuswap
Name
Roger S
As promised here is the story of my first job.
I just closed the purchase of the business the night before.
Client calls me in the morning to do a LR and 2BR as the tenant moved out without cleaning the carpet.
I give her a time of 3pm that afternoon as I still have to go get insurance and business license and then pick up the van from the previous owner .
I get the van and go to the address.
When i walk in the client says "the carpet is sticky".
"What do you mean? " I ask
" walk on it" she says.

I walk on it. My feet stick, just like walking on dried syrup on lino.

Me: "what did the tenant do?

Client:"she used double - sided tape to put plastic mats on all the carpeting "
(Not just the edges mind you... The entire surface of the mats. 450 sqft)
Me: " why would she do that? "

Client:" she was afraid of fleas so she wanted to protect herself. Can you fix it? "

Me:" I will try "

Client:" how long will you be? "
Me:" 1hour"
Client: "call me when you are done"

I go to the van. Everything is in the van because I just bought the business. We are talking a huge dehumidifier, 3 Sahara fans, extra wands, boxes of tarps, etc. It takes 20 minutes to find the hydro-force and pre-spray jug under the junk.
I put the junk in the handicapped parking spot. It looks like I am holding a garage sale.
I start to vacuum the carpet. The vacuum sticks to the carpet.
I put it away.
I decide to put on the booties and pre-spray.
A few minutes later I look down and the booties are ripped because they are stuck to the bottom of my shoes and to the carpet. I peel them off and finish pre-spraying.
I set up the vacuum house and start cleaning.
After I clean 2 rooms I decide to call the client to let her know I am almost done. This is 80 minutes into the "60 minute job"
My cell has been in my pocket getting bumped around. The camera app has been activated. I now have 300 pictures of the inside of my pocket. They are crystal clear because the flashlight app was also activated.
I have 1% battery life left so I cannot call the client. I keep on cleaning.
105 minutes into the job I am done and the client shows up.
"I tried calling you" she says.
"the phone was in my pocket "I reply.
" will it be sticky when it dries? "
" we will know tomorrow "I say.
She pays me! I love this business.

p.s. She calls the next day and all is good!
 

GCCLee

Supportive Member
Joined
Jan 29, 2012
Messages
5,113
Location
East TN
Name
C. Lee
Pretty sure you got this carpet cleaning thing down pat bro. ....

I could visualize the whole dang story
 

EDS

Member
Joined
Jul 3, 2013
Messages
1,237
Location
Canada
Name
Ed
Good for you!! it is the business to be in if you like short glib interactions with people and are results orientated.
 

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