I need some advice from those who clean apartment/condo complexes for the management co.

[Barry-QDCC]

I'm looking for some advice from experts that do carpet cleaning for apartment/condo complexes. I had a person call me from a group that has 41 condos they rent. She was intrigued by my claim of dry carpets in 2 hours. I asked about her current cleaner and she indicated she felt he was getting complacent.

I went to see her today and we looked at a couple of places that were recently done. I thought they looked good although one did have some hair/dust in the edges and corners that could have been cleaned out better, but it still was overall what I consider a good cleaning. I mean you really had to look to see the hair in the corners/edges. ......It's also that PIA berber in each unit.

.My question is this, I'm getting an over-all feeling of this manager is really overly picky and I'm not sure I want to even start to get involved here. I suggested to her to talk to her current cleaner and just tell him to up his game a bit or he'll be replaced. She still seems interested in using me.

It's not that I can't clean to the bar she sets, and there is nothing wrong with her as the property manager having a high bar, but I also told her additional charges come with higher expectations (especially when I know she's going to be really picky).

.At the same time it would be nice to get this as a possible start into the realm of being an apartment carpet Cleaning Czar like some of you are.....

Any comments or advice?

 

[hogjowl]

No. You've pretty much covered it.

 

[Russ T.]

Hey Barry,

It sounds like you're handling it pretty well. A lot of hungry carpet cleaners get all nervous and jerky when they have the chance to score a property management company. I can tell you are not doing that.

Property managers are used to carpet cleaners falling all over themselves at the chance to clean lots of carpet for them. This is 40 condos so keep it in perspective. It probably won't change your life either way.

Do you have the time for them, when they call at the last minute? They will.

Price it high enough that you won't regret it a couple months down the road.

My biggest client manages hundreds of apartments just south of where we live. They are pretty flexible with cleaning times. It can sometimes be nice steady work in the Winter.

BUT, It's the least profitable work that we do. That's a big deal because it probably takes up 25% of my time. We are getting to a place in biz where I'm wondering if my time wouldn't be better spent driving our residentials. Residential is where we make our $.

Just do some math and try to figure out if you think it will be a good use of your time. I can clean all day at these apartments (bedroom carpet only, laminate is in the living rooms and hall) and come out with like $4-500. It is a ton of setting up and breaking down. Maybe these condos will be better for you.

 

[Old Coastie]

Your account of the conversation makes me think it isn't a quality issue, she just wants a lower price. Think slow; she'll dump you next.

 

[Barry-QDCC]

Your account of the conversation makes me think it isn't a quality issue, she just wants a lower price. Think slow; she'll dump you next.

Thanks everyone for your advice. I just get the feeling somethings wrong here and I'm just not wanting or needing to start something that I'll regret. I've already told her a "high level of expectation" means higher prices. I was very frank with her. In fact I quoted her $300 for a 6 room/2 sets of stairs. She didn't flinch much - AND that made me really feel somethings not kosher in Denmark, or however that saying goes!

 

[Able 1]

I clean a lot of apartments (over$50,000 from one account last year)! Though I don't make a killing, I charge more then most would to get the accounts I have. We don't vacuum at these accounts ever, the cleaners are in there before us..

It's all about service!! If you want to keep them happy, make it easy for them to use you. If they call you be there now! I feel like we manage some of the ones I serve.. Not real good for an O/O, but if you want to expand it's a great way to do it. At 41 units you might get 1 a month on average,so no big deal... But if they have more properties in the area it could be huge!

 

[bob vawter]

kosher

ya THAT reminds me....you'll never get yor last check....cuz
Sid will sell the property to his bidness partner Sal......

 

[Russ T.]

I clean a lot of apartments (over$50,000 from one account last year)! Though I don't make a killing, I charge more then most would to get the accounts I have. We don't vacuum at these accounts ever, the cleaners are in there before us..

It's all about service!! If you want to keep them happy, make it easy for them to use you. If they call you be there now! I feel like we manage some of the ones I serve.. Not real good for an O/O, but if you want to expand it's a great way to do it. At 41 units you might get 1 a month on average,so no big deal... But if they have more properties in the area it could be huge!

We are in really similar spots, I think.

Mel hates "managing them" at times. These guys are one of the biggest pm companies in IA so I just clean 1 huge property (I think it's their largest).

It's $ that's hard to sneeze at, at the end of the year but sometimes it's just like....grrrrr.

Maybe I'm getting burned out because these units are only bedrooms? I won't post my prices but I'll say they are getting the deal of a lifetime with rotary extraction by the Kid in every unit.

It is an extremely pet friendly place if you know what I mean...

They have thousands more and I have a pretty decent relationship with them at every level.

I think I could have as many more as I could manage but I'm not sure I'd want them.

Residential is so much more profitable.

We have to decide whether we want to stay on the truck or build to sell.

 

[Russ T.]

Are you guys going to Nashville?

 

[ruff]

Russ.
If the relationship is that strong, and you are a dependable problem solver for them.... and they know that they're getting a deal, why don't you raise them and make it worth your time and hassle?

 

[Russ T.]

Russ.
If the relationship is that strong, and you are a dependable problem solver for them.... and they know that they're getting a deal, why don't you raise them and make it worth your time and hassle?

I don't think they will pay what I might be shooting for soon. Residential might be forcing me to make a choice. I would have to more than double what they are paying in order for me to compete with what I make hourly while doing residential. Right now I can juggle both. This requires me to really pair back my marketing because I'm busy all the time.

What happens if I dump that account and start feeding Adwords or Facebook?!?!

 

[Goomer]

I think you are reading into it a bit too much.

Why pass on such a nice account because of what you "think" a WOMAN wants.

You want the work or not?

"If you can look into the seeds of time, and say which grain will grow and which will not, speak then to me".

 

[Barry-QDCC]

It is an extremely pet friendly place if you know what I mean...

They have thousands more and I have a pretty decent relationship with them at every level.

I think I could have as many more as I could manage but I'm not sure I'd want them.

Residential is so much more profitable.

We have to decide whether we want to stay on the truck or build to sell.

Just out of curiosity, have you thought about hiring a college kid or whoever and train them to just do this account? Free you up for other things. And like someone suggested if you raised your price say $10 a unit could that almost pay for the payroll? Or do you think you'd lose the account because of the $10?

 

[Russ T.]

Just out of curiosity, have you thought about hiring a college kid or whoever and train them to just do this account? Free you up for other things. And like someone suggested if you raised your price say $10 a unit could that almost pay for the payroll? Or do you think you'd lose the account because of the $10?

I think I could do all of those things, if I was building to sell. I'm just not sure if I want to manage a bunch of college kids to drive around in my expensive equipment and cause me unnecessary stress. I'm building something here, but it's residential. Residential builds slowly unless you have a HUGE radio budget or something else. We have worked hard to earn a really great reputation. I really want to keep it that way.

 

[Barry-QDCC]

I think I could do all of those things, if I was building to sell. I'm just not sure if I want to manage a bunch of college kids to drive around in my expensive equipment and cause me unnecessary stress. I'm building something here, but it's residential. Residential builds slowly unless you have a HUGE radio budget or something else. We have worked hard to earn a really great reputation. I really want to keep it that way.

I had 3 trucks going with another company I owned. College kids or middle aged men, it doesn't matter - They are all PIA. It's why now I'm an Owner/Operator in this company and planning to stay that way. 15 years ago if you had told me that one day I'd be doing what I was doing now I'd have said that you are nuts.

 

[Old Coastie]

Sorry to hear that Barry. My elves are my pride and joy. Sometimes I almost want to kill them, or at least choke 'em until they turn a little blue, but mostly I enjoy their enthusiasm and attitudes.

 

[bob vawter]

you can't raise Sid or Sals price....it's not .......kosher....

 

[Cleanworks]

I do a lot of large property management companies. I am not their only carpet cleaner, there's no way I could handle all the work and I don't want to be cleaning empty suites all day. I strive to be their best carpet cleaner and as a result I get the premium jobs as well as the really hard to do jobs. I also get to clean all the common hallways and stairwell in their buildings at least once a year. I also clean the homes of their senior managers. I just a job today for the son of one of the owners. When they call and I am not available, they have a list of other cleaners to call. I am pleased when I get called first.

 

[Jimmy L]

Promises promises from PM or realtors are just BS. Trust your gut instinct.........and expect them to drop you at anytime.
They want control over you 24-7. Price driven always. Take it while you can but expect to be dumped too.