Furniture Stains

I just contracted with a franchise restoration company to handle their carpet cleanings. By their own admission, they are not good cleaners and wanted to find someone who could take that part of the business over and let them focus on the restoration side.

After speaking with the owner, it became clear that the key to my success on this deal will come down to furniture stains. The decision at the start is to decide if the carpet could be saved or need replacement. The basis for that decision are the stains (rust and furniture). IF they don't feel that they will be successful, they replace the carpet instead of cleaning. Rust is easy, furniture stains not as much.

So, the more furniture stains that can be removed, the more work I will receive in the deal. I have always used Stain Magic, but they use some franchise crap that doesn't really impress me. If I can help them to improve their stain removal skills, I can prosper on this contract. The problem is that they are not very good carpet cleaners with only one employee trained, so I have to make it easy on them as well.

What works the best on furniture stains that doesn't require a great deal of skill? I would like to make this deal work even though the sqft rate is a little low.

Are these carpets that they dried/restored? Local Rain blow franchise just rip the carpet out. Dry the rest of the structure. Then turn over any restoration work to a contractor company, which is a subdivision of their WD restoration Co.
- furniture stains? Can't help you, don't hardly see any.

My carpet cleaner wrote:Are these carpets that they dried/restored? Local Rain blow franchise just rip the carpet out. Dry the rest of the structure. Then turn over any restoration work to a contractor company, which is a subdivision of their WD restoration Co.
- furniture stains? Can't help you, don't hardly see any.

Yes they are. They will remove the stains and if they can, they will save the carpet. The pad is still replaced and carpet re-stretched prior to cleaning. When I did water restorations, I normally just replaced the carpet unless it was a high ender, but they are battling with a different breed of insurance adjusters these days.

So, the more carpets they can save, the more work I will get cleaning the full spaces afterwards. Like I said, the sqft rate is low, but the minimum is close to my normal rate, so I figure I will try the contract out for 3 months to see if it works.

H2O2 activated with a UV light. It does require skill and patience. It can take hours and hours and hours and if not watched closely enough and caught in time there is color loss. This is something best left to you the professional.

That is the real problem here, finding the best method that can also be easily taught to an inexperienced cleaner.

I really need to learn repair and I appreciate the videos. I still find that it looks easier on film than in person, like all those "happy trees" that I once tried to paint.  

This company will not go for repairs, it either cleans up or is replaced. Replacement makes me nothing, so I am trying to increase my demand with finding a better alternative.

As for all this vendor stuff....well, let's just say it is becoming a distraction. I'm here to help support others and to seek answers when I need some help. I don't want to have to peel back the rind to get to the fruit.

I hear ya, Its hard to make a valid point to those who can't view things from a group perspective. The last I'll say about the matter. Post deleted.

I think your going to spend a lot of time trying to remove some stains and not get paid.

If you show them how to clean carpet and remove stains what are they going to need you for? Sorry if I missed something.

They want the impossible stains removed for little money.

Mo wrote:If you show them how to clean carpet and remove stains what are they going to need you for? Sorry if I missed something.

It is part of the flaw to a franchise. They have to have a TM (purchased through the franchise) in a box truck, but he doesn't like the overhead of sending out his box truck and crew to clean a couple of rooms...don't blame him one bit. So, if he can get out of the cleaning side of things, that box truck stays at the shop and his crew can work on other tasks.

I actually asked if he was interested in selling the box truck and tm (Blueline), but he is not allowed to by corproate rules. He just doesn't want to use it. Those crazy franchises crack me up.  

Furniture stains are hit and miss. Sometimes a reducer will help with any synthetic color. Sometimes the h2o2 will help with UV. Tons of work for hard to guarantee results. I usually pass. Sorry those are permanent. Unless u wanna pay $200 a stain no promises. Too much of a hassle for me. Rust no problem.

Mistake #1: "I just contracted with a franchise restoration company..."

I've made this mistake, more than once.
It never paid off. You'll constantly be called in to fix their mistakes.
Flip the coin and see if they would ever help you... can you say Takers?
I'll never help a Franchise if not owner operated, and I mean the owner gets on his knees like we do, which is rare.


Vote No to Franchises on Ballot #644
Vote Yes to Owner Operators Ballot #712

My little voice has been saying the same thing, that's why the 3 months arrangement. I figured that 95% of their work is residential, so I would at least get the chance to up-sell and build clients to make it work on the back side of the deal.

In the end, you guys are probably going to be right....I guess I will find out.

[/quote]


So, the more carpets they can save, the more work I will get cleaning the full spaces afterwards.  Like I said, the sqft rate is low, but the minimum is close to my normal rate, so I figure I will try the contract out for 3 months to see if it works.[/quote]

  If they are billing xactimate the sqft rate does not matter, as you can bill for base charges. This will take you over your minimum, especially if you are also doing the reinstall. You can charge to move/reset furniture and reinstall the full room as it needs to be stretch properly.  You can bill for both base chargers as a carpet installer and as a cleaner.
The insurance co will pay for a cut and plug for furniture stains but only if the homeowner agrees to it, otherwise they must replace the carpet in all the areas that are line of sight. Sometimes a homeowner will prefer a repair instead of replacement because they do not want to deal will moving a ton of stuff in their home to replace carpet.
  Also do not limit your sight to just carpet; In a black water job you can make a lot of money cleaning and sealing all stone or tile floors and do not forget all the rugs that get wet. If you offer rug cleaning; you get to charge for pick up/delivery, air movers to dry, clean and sanitize rugs and if they bleed after you talk and get approval from the adjuster you can get about $100.00/hr to fix dye migration. And lastly upholstery also gets wet and it needs to be clean and seal.
  Go talk to the owner of the franchise and sell him on all your services. Try to work out a % with him of all money they can charge the insurance company and tell him that if an adjuster tries to cut his bill, you will talk to the adjuster and explain why your services where needed. And tell him that if at the end his bill gets cut, you will adjust your bill.

Luis knows what he's talkin about.
He went in there and sold himself as a real cleaning specialist with focus on solving their problems.
As a result they've learned to lean on Luis.
Obviously talks their language. Congrats.
Thanks for sharing Luis.
Never seen you post here. Guess you were saving up so you could really help guyts with what you're really good at.

Here's another guy who specialized and it is paying off big time.
Bruce got in on the Hugger promo.  Then he immediately called back for 10 more.
He says "...these are impressive to homeowners."

Bruce's story is amazing. He was a machinist by trade, got into cleaning & repair, specialized in power stretching.
Small town cleaner, well known for high prices backed by high quality work, specialized in stretching. Charges .65/sf.
Honest as the day is long, No games.  Hired Tre Allen for website then promptly fired him and started over. Strict control over employees.
Tells people who balk at his high prices, "oh well, if you don't want the best..."

Started with Bane units years ago, worked up to 6-7 vans.
switched to HM units. not happy he quickly switched to Vs and ATs.
brought son into business as a boy - he's done well for himself, now a 50% owner,
they took their power stretching skills into insurance flood work a few years ago and the rest is history
been expanding like wildfire ever since.
Insurance seeks out Bruce's company cuz they know he consistently solves the problem    keeping the insureds happy.
See how he jumped on the Huggers? It's cuz he's focused on impressing his customers.
In return he gets paid top dollar.
Ask any cleaner in his area. They are blown away with his success.
Quality work. Take-it-or-leave-it high prices. Many years of sticking to his guns has paid off huge.
Now Bruce calls me from his road bike to throw me some chump change.
Son will be taking over soon. Dad will kick back, $4k/mth plus rent on the building his son uses to make millions.
It all started with a power stretcher!

Joe Bristor wrote:Luis knows what he's talkin about.
He went in there and sold himself as a real cleaning specialist with focus on solving their problems.
As a result they've learned to lean on Luis.
Obviously talks their language. Congrats.
Thanks for sharing Luis.
Never seen you post here. Guess you were saving up so you could really help guyts with what you're really good at.

Here's another guy who specialized and it is paying off big time.
Bruce got in on the Hugger promo.  Then he immediately called back for 10 more.
He says "...these are impressive to homeowners."

Bruce's story is amazing. He was a machinist by trade, got into cleaning & repair, specialized in power stretching.
Small town cleaner, well known for high prices backed by high quality work, specialized in stretching. Charges .65/sf.
Honest as the day is long, No games.  Hired Tre Allen for website then promptly fired him and started over. Strict control over employees.
Tells people who balk at his high prices, "oh well, if you don't want the best..."

Started with Bane units years ago, worked up to 6-7 vans.
switched to HM units. not happy he quickly switched to Vs and ATs.
brought son into business as a boy - he's done well for himself, now a 50% owner,
they took their power stretching skills into insurance flood work a few years ago and the rest is history
been expanding like wildfire ever since.
Insurance seeks out Bruce's company cuz they know he consistently solves the problem    keeping the insureds happy.
See how he jumped on the Huggers? It's cuz he's focused on impressing his customers.
In return he gets paid top dollar.
Ask any cleaner in his area. They are blown away with his success.
Quality work. Take-it-or-leave-it high prices. Many years of sticking to his guns has paid off huge.
Now Bruce calls me from his road bike to throw me some chump change.
Son will be taking over soon. Dad will kick back, $4k/mth plus rent on the building his son uses to make millions.
It all started with a power stretcher!

That's an awesome story Joe!

Love inspiratinal stories like that!! It is a far cry from the current class of babies collecting unemployment or complaining about their employers.

Good to see these guys prosper....and leaving behind the breadcrumbs for the rest of us to follow. Both are becoming rare these days.