Why would anyone want a TM???

[Dolly Llama]

TM's do have limitations and special problems.

so does any piece of equipment, be it porty, OP or sCampoo

TM's often do only an average job because they are too busy chasing the next job...greed can affect performance.

dead wrong.
It has nothing to with the tool.
The tool enables you to be more efficient. ie..same/better quality in less time
you are aware that many of us here do multi-step cleaning with our TMs, right?

a roofer can do a crappy job with a hammer or an air nailer.
The air nailer just enables him to do a crappy job faster....

it's not the tool, it;'s the outfit's commitment to excellence as well as their scheduling.

and "IF" you ever get to the point you're slammed with work, don't be so arrogant/naive/foolish to think your work will be 110% on every job, every day when it's 90 degrees out, the end of the month and prop manger calls with 15 empties that need done "yesterday" cause they have leases signed and bodies to move in....and you're already going balls to wall busy





..L.T.A.

 

[Grant D]

Devildog, how do you know so much about how much everybody is getting paid from the various PM companies? I've been working for Apex for 2 years and I had no idea what they were paying anybody else. I spent half of last summer re-cleaning apartments that another company left looking like crap, so the move to Swans makes good sense for them.

Do you actually get enough work from one PM company to keep you busy all the time? It only amounts to 20% for me, less most of the year, and 80% in the month of August.

 

[Dolly Llama]

Devildog, how do you know so much about how much everybody is getting paid from the various PM companies? I've been working for Apex for 2 years and I had no idea what they were paying anybody else. I spent half of last summer re-cleaning apartments that another company left looking like crap, so the move to Swans makes good sense for them.

Do you actually get enough work from one PM company to keep you busy all the time? It only amounts to 20% for me, less most of the year, and 80% in the month of August.

my sixth sense tells me he's a maintenance guy for a one or more complexes.
That's how he has the inside track on some props.

maybe has some janitorial accounts with com buildings too


am I right, Tom?


It's not hard to get info, Grant, "if" you have a good relationship built on trust with the prop manager.
You just talk to them. You might be surprised what you can learn.

...L.T.A.

 

[DevilThomas]

Devildog, how do you know so much about how much everybody is getting paid from the various PM companies? I've been working for Apex for 2 years and I had no idea what they were paying anybody else. I spent half of last summer re-cleaning apartments that another company left looking like crap, so the move to Swans makes good sense for them.

Do you actually get enough work from one PM company to keep you busy all the time? It only amounts to 20% for me, less most of the year, and 80% in the month of August.

my sixth sense tells me he's a maintenance guy for a one or more complexes.
That's how he has the inside track on some props.

maybe has some janitorial accounts with com buildings too


am I right, Tom?


It's not hard to get info, Grant, "if" you have a good relationship built on trust with the prop manager.
You just talk to them. You might be surprised what you can learn.

...L.T.A.

Give that man a cigar Yes you are right...been working for the same PM company for years...they love me! PM's control a huge amount of work...in the University town we work in...thousands of properties...and all they care about is results and price. Build a solid relationship with them and you will never be out of work.

 

[Sticky]

he is just new and when he gets to a point where he might become profitable he will need a truckmount. and i have a v and i dump at the self serve carwash with no problem at all. i dont think you have noticed but you are in the corner all by yourself thomas and you were the one that put yourself there. there are two ways of getting a valid point or opinion acrros and that is a right way and wrong way. i think you attempting to do it the wrong way buddy! :shock:

Well opinions vary....that being said...I don't feel cornered...in fact I am enjoying myself and learning alot.

Things learned:

I can clean carpets as well and even better than the average truckmount, if I am willing to spend the time.

Because of "Image"....occupied residental should not be my primary target...and it is not.

My target market is and will continue to be Property Management Turnovers and Commercial...

Property managers are not impressed with image...they only care about what you actually do that makes/saves them money.

Commercial....again image is less important than performance....and TM's and myself are on more equal footing because OP is the same.

I've learned my "process" is sound and provides a superior product...I have to work harder...thats ok for now.

TM's do have limitations and special problems.

TM's often do only an average job because they are too busy chasing the next job...greed can affect performance.

Some TM owners have their "balls" tied up in their choice and are somewhat sensitive to questioning.

You see... I think unoccupied rental, and commercial are perfect for me...no image problems, no one standing over me, no furniture problems, no irrational homeowners, and since my Service is often already there providing other services to the rentals, and commercial establishments..it is logical and easy to pick up the carpets too....3 units a day and I can make $600 a day. Since everything happens in the first 15 days of every month in property rentals, I can make $9000 in a 1/2 a month and can chase commercial in the other half....or since I own my own home outright, located in the North Cascades mountains, along side a river, I could just fish the rest of the month... 8)

You see...I really can't lose...and I ain't scared... :wink: At this point, I really don't need a TM to help me over any "confidence" issues. If and when I need a TM for expansion...I will certainly seek this boards sage advice....well...except for that Nordic assbite...his ignorant remark makes me doubt the quality of his product...and the wisdom of doing any business with him.

I do thank most here for the "pointers" you have generously given...

200 bucks an apartment is BS.....

 

[DevilThomas]

he is just new and when he gets to a point where he might become profitable he will need a truckmount. and i have a v and i dump at the self serve carwash with no problem at all. i dont think you have noticed but you are in the corner all by yourself thomas and you were the one that put yourself there. there are two ways of getting a valid point or opinion acrros and that is a right way and wrong way. i think you attempting to do it the wrong way buddy! :shock:

Well opinions vary....that being said...I don't feel cornered...in fact I am enjoying myself and learning alot.

Things learned:

I can clean carpets as well and even better than the average truckmount, if I am willing to spend the time.

Because of "Image"....occupied residental should not be my primary target...and it is not.

My target market is and will continue to be Property Management Turnovers and Commercial...

Property managers are not impressed with image...they only care about what you actually do that makes/saves them money.

Commercial....again image is less important than performance....and TM's and myself are on more equal footing because OP is the same.

I've learned my "process" is sound and provides a superior product...I have to work harder...thats ok for now.

TM's do have limitations and special problems.

TM's often do only an average job because they are too busy chasing the next job...greed can affect performance.

Some TM owners have their "balls" tied up in their choice and are somewhat sensitive to questioning.

You see... I think unoccupied rental, and commercial are perfect for me...no image problems, no one standing over me, no furniture problems, no irrational homeowners, and since my Service is often already there providing other services to the rentals, and commercial establishments..it is logical and easy to pick up the carpets too....3 units a day and I can make $600 a day. Since everything happens in the first 15 days of every month in property rentals, I can make $9000 in a 1/2 a month and can chase commercial in the other half....or since I own my own home outright, located in the North Cascades mountains, along side a river, I could just fish the rest of the month... 8)

You see...I really can't lose...and I ain't scared... :wink: At this point, I really don't need a TM to help me over any "confidence" issues. If and when I need a TM for expansion...I will certainly seek this boards sage advice....well...except for that Nordic assbite...his ignorant remark makes me doubt the quality of his product...and the wisdom of doing any business with him.

I do thank most here for the "pointers" you have generously given...

200 bucks an apartment is BS.....

Obviously you didn't read the post...I provide other services for each apartment...the carpet cleaning is only $90-$120 of the $200+ total. $200 per average apartment is very conservative... it can be much more.

 

[Scott S.]

Wow. its funny to see the big players of this board all trying to shoot down a porty guy.. You guys need a better hobbie..

 

[R W]

Ok, I am new to the business and maybe I am missing something....but

Got a new 17" HD pad machine...reasonably priced...$1500

Got a lightly used CleanMaster Raptor R230H extractor...very reasonable price $1000

Got a lightly used original Rotovac at the reasonable price of $1015.

With these three reasonably priced tools.. used alone or better in combination.... I cannot for the life of me understand why anyone would choose the expense,hassle, limitations, and enviromental footprint of a truck mount...I mean in the case of a Vortec system... it seems mentally ill! :shock:

TM's, using only one tool... ...most of the time... are 2 times faster than I am ...but I believe its my duty to clean the carpet the very best I can. They might clean twice as many as I do in a day...but by using a combination of tools, I know my carpets are as clean or cleaner and dryer.

In a hard economy, I can work for a sqft amount that a TM could not live with....though in fact, I am very happy to let the TM set the price.

But perhaps I am overlooking something?

I'll say it one sentence........if any of the customers I work for saw me trying to drag a portable into their house, they would send me on my way.


Now, a porty would come in handy in high rises or lock down situations, but I can usually overcome the problems.

 

[Dolly Llama]

Wow. its funny to see the big players of this board all trying to shoot down a porty guy..

I'm not, Scott.

Now that Tom has shared more info about himself,
a porty can make $en$e for a part timer like Tom or others.

However, as evidenced by nearly all "full time" owner/ops, a porty soon becomes a production liability and hinders the amount of jobs that can be done "right" in a day.

Unless a guy wants/chooses to be in a niche market like hi-rise and lock-in com, nearly all "full time" dudes that started with portys eventually up-grade to a TM
..cuz, it makes more $enSe

One other note, Tom is like many..dare i say most..part timers looking for a little extra income.
They go out there cutting throats on price and do hi-quality work for WAY cheap cause they see $20-$30 bucks an hour gross as good money

..L.T.A.

 

[Chris A]

LArry's a little pissy today! I like it!

 

[Guest]

You keep padding you will be like the boxer in the picture above!!

 

[juniorc82]

AND WHEN BUSH HAD GAS OVER 4.00 A GAL THAT DIDNT MAKE YOU SICK? COME ON MAN OBAMA IS JUST CLEANING UP THE BUSH MESS. WHAT HAPPEND TO ALL YOU REPUBLICANS AND YOUR BS TEA PARTYS AN PROTESTING WHEN BUSH AND CHANEY RAN THIS COUNTRY INTO THE SHITTER FOR 8 YEARS!

B. Hussein Obama's and Gores Socialist/ Communist tax the all mighty living shit out of us business owners agenda.

the sale of "carbon credits" will become a new commodities industry

..L.T.A.

What a joke!! Obama and his cronies in congress are going to be taking money out of our pockets and giving it to all thier family and friends who own these front companies dealing in carbon credits. People actually voted for these idiots makes me sick!! :x

 

[everfresh1]

AND WHEN BUSH HAD GAS OVER 4.00 A GAL THAT DIDNT MAKE YOU SICK? COME ON MAN OBAMA IS JUST CLEANING UP THE BUSH MESS. WHAT HAPPEND TO ALL YOU REPUBLICANS AND YOUR BS TEA PARTYS AN PROTESTING WHEN BUSH AND CHANEY RAN THIS COUNTRY INTO THE SHITTER FOR 8


What a joke!! Obama and his cronies in congress are going to be taking money out of our pockets and giving it to all thier family and friends who own these front companies dealing in carbon credits. People actually voted for these idiots makes me sick!! :x

[/quote]


"When Bush had gas at $4 a gal" :?: How the hell did Bush have gas at $4 a gal, Man use your head the dems in congress won't let us drill for our own oil. You guys drinking the Obama kool-Aid give people that can think for themselves a bad name. OPPS!!!! maybe I better shut-up you might be one of those liberal wakos who will report me to that idoit Homeland Security Secretary of Obamas. Wake up man. This is America if you are waiting for Obama to improve your life for you you're going to be sadly dissapointed.

 

[Able 1]

My second van will have one of these...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IryfQhyWHUQ


It does a good job too look at the before and after...

 

[Dolly Llama]

AND WHEN BUSH HAD GAS OVER 4.00 A GAL THAT DIDNT MAKE YOU SICK? COME ON MAN OBAMA IS JUST CLEANING UP THE BUSH MESS. WHAT HAPPEND TO ALL YOU REPUBLICANS AND YOUR BS TEA PARTYS AN PROTESTING WHEN BUSH AND CHANEY RAN THIS COUNTRY INTO THE SHITTER FOR 8


What a joke!! Obama and his cronies in congress are going to be taking money out of our pockets and giving it to all thier family and friends who own these front companies dealing in carbon credits. People actually voted for these idiots makes me sick!! :x

"When Bush had gas at $4 a gal" :?: How the hell did Bush have gas at $4 a gal, Man use your head the dems in congress won't let us drill for our own oil. You guys drinking the Obama kool-Aid give people that can think for themselves a bad name. OPPS!!!! maybe I better shut-up you might be one of those liberal wakos who will report me to that idoit Homeland Security Secretary of Obamas. Wake up man. This is America if you are waiting for Obama to improve your life for you you're going to be sadly dissapointed.[/quote]

actually, Jon, I was thinking something similar as, Junior.
being that I WAS one of the VERY few conservatives raising holy hell for years over the previous administrations FOOL policy instead of making excuses for them like most of the "so called" CON-servatives.

I see the new cronnies as "biz as usual" for the gov.
Bush and Co had their cronnies and new admin has theirs.

You see to me, It's the same, only different.

but ya'll continue throw rocks back and forth at each other just like you've been taught/manipulated to do.
"it's this party's fault"
"No it's that's party's fault"

mean while, the same ole sheet goes on regardless of which party runs the show

damn shame, really


..L.T.A.

 

[DevilThomas]

I'm not, Scott.

Now that Tom has shared more info about himself,
a porty can make $en$e for a part timer like Tom or others.

However, as evidenced by nearly all "full time" owner/ops, a porty soon becomes a production liability and hinders the amount of jobs that can be done "right" in a day.

Unless a guy wants/chooses to be in a niche market like hi-rise and lock-in com, nearly all "full time" dudes that started with portys eventually up-grade to a TM
..cuz, it makes more $enSe

One other note, Tom is like many..dare i say most..part timers looking for a little extra income.
They go out there cutting throats on price and do hi-quality work for WAY cheap cause they see $20-$30 bucks an hour gross as good money

..L.T.A.

Part-timer....hmmm...It is true I am just getting going....already work the first 15 days of the month with PM work...have that in hand...added carpets...doubled my gross...so far so good... but I literally have the rest of the month to get new commercial business...when I fill that...part-time might not be accurate. I am on more equal footing with TM operators in the commercial arena...and in fact enjoy some advantages....high rise office, locked buildings, low moisture situations..etc... basically in padding situations...our production rates become much more equal...and if I have the Janitorial account...I have the carpets. New commercial business is easier to get when you have glowing referrals from Professional Property Managers.


Yes, I want to do high quality work...hardly a reason to damn me...as for "way cheap"...I don't set the price ...TM owners do...I am merely accepting the same price you guys charge for your work. The throat cutting that goes on is not me...but you guys cutting each others throats...lets get this part straight...TM's set the price!

Let me ask you this...when did you guys become "lazier than a cut dog"??? Are you actually arguing for your right to produce an inferior product? Let me get this straight....you quote a customer a price to "clean" his carpet....but when you show up...you want to charge him more to "really" clean his carpet? Does that not sound like "Bait & Switch" to any of you?

Were you not the guy, meAt, that said in a post this morning at 11:40am "it's not the tool, it;'s the outfit's commitment to excellence as well as their scheduling.

I think I have shown that TM's in and of themselves do not produce a "unique" product.

TM's are faster...are they really?... or does reliance on a TM actually produce an acceptable but inferior product? You see... its kind of like the guy who has a big hammer, and really only wants to use that hammer...pretty soon every situation looks like a nail to him.

Lets look at an example...Captain Carpet...thought I had forgot about you, and your big, huge, powerful truck...lol...going to your webpage http://www.driesinminutes.com/ we see your truck...love the discription... :roll:

"We deliver superb results because we clean carpet and tile & grout with the utmost advanced steam cleaning process and the most powerful HUGE truck, used exclusively by Dries In Minutes. This is an unbelievable hot water extraction system, which removes deep-down dirt safely, quickly, and efficiently. Deep steam carpet cleaning, DRIES IN MINUTES, GUARANTEED.

BTW...I love this shit...you can't make this shit up...lol

Well lets take a look at what "the most powerful HUGE truck" did ...and what the Carpet Cleaner failed to do. Look at the first two pics.

Are you fricken kidding me???!!! What amazes me is that you post these pics at all....you really want to take all that shading and spots to the fair?

Seems pretty obvious that you skipped the prespotting, after the prespray you skipped the prescrub,...$80,000 worth of equipment and you can't clean a carpet. Hell... I bet you were in and out in under a 1/2 hour...and it looks like it. In case nobody bothered to tell you...that shading and spots do come out. You went on about what a great product you could produce with "the most powerful HUGE truck"...and that I could not possibly equal your cleaning with my puny porty, rotovac, and OP machine....Dude...I do a better job than you do....

Whats is really funny is that with 2 minutes of prespotting and 5 mins of agitation...(prescrub) then extract...maybe a touch hear and there with a rotovac....all of that mess would have come out....

So exactly how do I get real hot water...180+ out of a porty with only a couple of thousand watts of inline heat?....remember I work on empty units...when I first get to a site...long before I start cleaning the carpets I go to the hot water tank, pull the cover, and crank the hot water tank to as high as it will go...later when I start extracting, I have 80 gals of scalding water..140+ ...not lukewarm...now my inline heaters give me 180+ at the wand...pretty consistently...

Another thing...it does not always take me much longer than you guys...every carpet is different...sometimes alot of the carpet I am cleaning is in pretty good shape...it was under the bed that is not there, or the sofa, or the...you get the idea....I can just wand these areas and only provide extra attention to the traffic lanes and spots....the same extra attention TM's should also be providing...if they want ot do a good job.

Last thing ...it turns out Terry seems to be a decent guy... :shock: And perhaps when I am ready for a truckmount...I do like the idea of an electric TM.

Now if you TM guys could just do a little better work...charge a little more....quit cutting each others throats...we could all make more money!!!

 

[Brian R]

Still going

 

[Dolly Llama]

so tell me , Tom, how "superior" is spray 'n wipe OP cleaning in com compared to a roto scrub and TM extract?

when did you become a "lazier than a cut dog"?

and you sure make an awful lot of ASSumptions about how most of us operate.

the reason you're CHEAP, is because you're doing restorative cleaning for basic cleaning price.
Unless of coarse when you're spray 'n wiping with OP machine.
Then you're doing inferior appearance only cleaning (and i use the term "cleaning" loosely )

so which is it?

you're a CCing gawd that does everything perfect, or just a rookie that thinks he got it all figured out?



maybe you should take Terry up on his offer for a drink.
He's actually a great guy to get to know

cause sump'ums fishy.
and i ain't down wind of the salmon cannery...


..L.T.A.

 

[DevilThomas]

so tell me , Tom, how "superior" is spray 'n wipe OP cleaning in com compared to a roto scrub and TM extract?

when did you become a "lazier than a cut dog"?

and you sure make an awful lot of ASSumptions about how most of us operate.

the reason you're CHEAP, is because you're doing restorative cleaning for basic cleaning price.
Unless of coarse when you're spray 'n wiping with OP machine.
Then you're doing inferior appearance only cleaning (and i use the term "cleaning" loosely )

so which is it?

you're a CCing gawd that does everything perfect, or just a rookie that thinks he got it all figured out?



maybe you should take Terry up on his offer for a drink.
He's actually a great guy to get to know

cause sump'ums fishy.
and i ain't down wind of the salmon cannery...


..L.T.A.

You know I am a rookie...but I am a rookie that can follow directions...Carpet Cleaning is not a secret... Instructions on how to do it properly are readily available. As for having things figured out...unlikely...I am just giving it my best shot...and thus far the plan is working..I got jobs. Restorative cleaning...I guess I should be ashamed that as a Rookie..I was just following directions...perhaps you could tell me which cleaning steps I should leave out in order not to be so damn restoritive and competitive. :? Is this a bad time to mention I got one of those Professional Stain Kits and make an attempt at red stains and the like with some success?

You know now that I think of it...maybe that last encap I do is too much...being a Rookie...who knew?

OP?....so far here is what I have discovered...OP uses too damn many pads...I found I could limit pad use by extracting first and then padding with an encap product (whamm) and get pretty amazing results and pretty dry carpet on commercial grade carpets...level loops. I don't feel comfortable with OP alone.
Berber is hard to clean.

To tell you the truth...Mostly I throw all three of the tools I have at the carpet in question until I get my way with it. I'm a big fan of prespray agitation



Here is what I don't get....if Restoritive Cleaning normally pays the most...and it is the best cleaning for a carpet...why did you guys create a cheaper cleaning level...what purpose did it serve...?

I get the same sqft price you guys get...I really want you to get more.

Look ...I'm just the new rookie...time will tell if I am full of shit...or the wave of the future...or something in between...should make for an interesting conversation in the coming months. I am certainly no threat...yes I am a bit argumentative...but there doesn't seem to be a shortage of that trait on this board...there is no malice on my part. I want to thank admin for their patience and consideration....BTW I really like the Avatar admin picked out for me...Perfect!

 

[Sticky]

Thomas its not because your a rookie that I think your an @ss....its that you come on this board and try to act like a know-it-all when really you don't know sh!t...your just another BDCC that uses a portable and one day when you can afford a TM and have one you will know why we all think your a jack @ss....

 

[Dolly Llama]

Here is what I don't get....if Restoritive Cleaning normally pays the most...and it is the best cleaning for a carpet...why did you guys create a cheaper cleaning level...what purpose did it serve...?

cheaper levels cause some only want hamburger and others prefer steak.

you do more in restorative cleaning compared to basic.
That's why you charge more.
More time = mo money

does the painter charge the same amount when an apt needs two coats of paint?
Does he include patching large holes with the normal nail hole wall prep?

are you treating urine contamination at no additional charge?
You're just doing doing what it takes to do it right at your set prices, right?
If you do charge additional, then you're no different than us.
More time and costs involved...JUST LIKE added roto scrubbing



We have dozens of different prop mangmt accounts.
If we have to bring in the rotary to get an apt clean, that's restorative cleaning.
there's an additional charge.
most will pay it, some won't.
The ones that choose to decline that additional service, get a basic clean.

If they're fortunate enough to find a rookie like you that will do additional work beyond normal at no additional charge, then more power to them.
i did that in my rookie days too.
probably most us of did.
You'll see things differently 5 to 7 years down the road


BTW, have you ever run a TM?

..L.T.A.

 

[Mikey P]

Thomas is my new favorite poster.

 

[Brian R]

Yea I can't keep up...just get a TM loser.

 

[Willy P]

You go Thomas!
I'm a POG too and gee willikers - I CAN MAKE A GOOD INCOME. Imagine that! And I'm doing so bad as porty hack, that I'm going to buy a second set up. One thing you might look at is an electric heater. Kleenrite makes a 3200 watt unit that works like a hot damn, Greenie is supposed to be doing something with a 4000 watt unit. Property management companies you say? Wow- Me too! And price isn't that much of an issue-with SOME of them- as quality is. (And even though Sticky Dick seems to want to alienate potential customers, he has a good product :wink: )

 

[Johnny]

I'm so bummed that I've been limping along all of these years with a truckmount when I could have had a portable.

Why did it take me so long to attain enlightenment? And from a rookie who's never used a truckmount, no less.

At least, when I die I will have left my carbon footprint on this earth.

_______________________________________


STOP GLOBAL COOLING!

 

[Brian R]

I'm so bummed that I've been limping along all of these years with a truckmount when I could have had a portable.

Why did it take me so long to attain enlightenment? And from a rookie who's never used a truckmount, no less.

_______________________________________


STOP GLOBAL COOLING!

 

[DevilThomas]

Yea I can't keep up...just get a TM loser.

This from a guy that sells Mary Kay Cosmetics.... :roll:

 

[Brian R]

Yea I can't keep up...just get a TM loser.

This from a guy that sells Mary Kay Cosmetics.... :roll:

At least it's not the Walmart brand


get the analogy?

 

[-JB-]

zing!






anyone notice how I stayed right out of this one?

 

[Mr.V]

I dunno,,,,,,,,I'm a TM guy that went POG

presently started a job doing a hotel,,,,doin 30 rooms a day running 100ft. of hose off a Mytee M5

LOVE the autofill/dump

rooms are dry in 3hrs and my costs are way down :wink:

YES it takes longer to set up and tear down but I'm getting the job done with awesome results

I'm in no hurry to get a TM and if I do.............it may very well be an electric