Blindsided by a customer

I was out on an estimation call this morning in an area that is a bit out of my service area, but I am still slow enough that any potential job gets attention. The house belonged to an extended family from Thailand who wanted to know what it would cost to clean 3 bedrooms, stairs, and a basement. After I gave the estimate they asked me if I would go ahead and clean it now?

I had an audience. Mother, Mother-in-law, and 3 sisters all stood right next to me and watched me clean. One worked as a janitor for the local hospital and was providing a play-by-play like she was Howard Cosell. With the completion of each room, they would excitedly find something else to clean.

Four hours later, I was drenched and exhausted. It turned into 5 bedrooms, living room, full basement, 2 entry rugs, 2 flights of stairs, 2 recliners, 1 sectional, and 6 kitchen chairs. They must have been pleased as they wanted to book semi-annual cleanings for the fall and 2017....paid in advance. They paid with cash for everything, but I told them to just call me when they were ready for future cleanings.

It would have been a pretty good outing except that I ended up sending water directly from the heat exchanger right into the collar of my right shoe thanks to a courtesy hose that got loose. Talk about discomfort, 210 degrees poured right into my shoe around the ankle!!

Hopefully, tomorrow's jot goes easier and my ankle doesn't become a giant blister. This residential stuff can be a killer,

I love it when a ticket more than doubles than what you expected. Take care of that burn cold water, ice it?

That's been 2 in a row like that.....go in for a small job and end up working my ass off. I am not sure if someone likes me or hates me?

As for the burn, soaking it in Epsom salts as we speak.

Blessings in disguise, lol.
Just fyi in Asian countries they apply tooth paste on burned skins, you might want to try it if it's really bad.
I love asian customers because some pay in cash but I also despise them especially ones with their mom and mother in law present during cleanings, they will get on your way, I always tell them that my chemicals are toxic if they start being around me too much, that usually takes care of that issue real quick, lol.

They definitely were clingers.

The only mistake that I really made was shaking the hand of the Father-in-law. One thing about Asian cultures is the strongest man is the one with the gentlest touch. Shaking hands like John Wayne is a bit insulting....I forgot that until we shook hands and then I remembered.

Get back or my chemicals will kill you and if the don't I will

I've never had clingers. I don't think I could handle it very long either.

I wouldn't want it to happen again...just creepy.

Today was much better. Loan manager at the local bank gave me the key and said "clean it all". Got 3 bedrooms, 2 flights of stairs, living room, half a basement, and two tile bathrooms out of the deal.

Best part was that she paid cash and then the bank custodial manager asked me about coming in and cleaning the bank quarterly. He is cleaning with encap right now, but didn't really understand the science of it.

We talked and now I have 4 cleanings per year on the schedule for a bank with just over 8,000 sqft of carpet.

This residential stuff is much harder in regards to cleaning, but it is so easy to snowball the sales side of it. I will take days like this every single time.

Nice score Bob funny how commercial jobs lead to residential jobs and vice versa. You hit the ground running since you went full time

I really didn't expect that residential would ever lead to commercial either, but I like it.

The add ons I hate; "can you hit this rug". Or can you get the 4-5' into this room. They pull out the car mats- can you hits these while your at it.
- so I do a walk thru and present an invoice before I start. I ask; anything else? Then give them the invoice. Then (no often) half way thru the job they come by and ask for some add one. And I gotta be a ****, and add afew $ to the bill.

That's funny Matt you can't work for free.

milspec6 wrote:They definitely were clingers.

The only mistake that I really made was shaking the hand of the Father-in-law.  One thing about Asian cultures is the strongest man is the one with the gentlest touch.  Shaking hands like John Wayne is a bit insulting....I forgot that until we shook hands and then I remembered.

I didn't know your ex is Asian ? I thought she's Russian due to the knife throwing skills, lol.

Mo wrote:That's funny Matt you can't work for free.

But they seem to think you will do them for free. At least mine do.