floods, carpet install, other large ticket services

I think it is important to supplement a business with services that are a larger ticket



you dont need many floods per year to make a killing, do you guys think that too much goes right to franchises like serv pro, service master, superior?

I know the insurance companies tend to deal with them, but also seems that smaller companies can do really well too.

what about carpet install? If we offered this service would have had a 8k job at least yesterday... customer would have booked it right then but we have only installed small rooms when there is major pet damage, not hallways, stairs, etc

Around here, only the franchises are making big money in flood work and insurance companies prefer to deal with them only as they have discounted arrangements. The small guy is only going to get a call from those without insurance coverage and they want it cheap, and I mean cheap.

There are always things out there (repair and installs for example), but they all come with high end risks and headaches. Silk rugs can make you a lot of money, but screw one up and you take a hard hit. Same is true with mold, lead paint, crime scenes, etc.

I like the idea of repairs and maybe dyeing as you are going to be able to get those jobs very easily once you are in the home. Same is true with upholstery and tile of course and we all do that already.

Then there is all the equipment needed and the means to get it to the job. Maint. costs on the that special equipment and insurance all factor in as well. This is one of the reasons I left floods, meth labs, and radon.

Carpets will always get you in the door, I would focus on services that directly support that fact since you already have the mobile cleaning plant with your TM. Repairs, installs, dyeing, tile and stone, wood floors, upholstery, rugs, drapes, etc., those are where it makes more sense to me than to branch out into unrelated fields like floods and structual drying.

I could have saved tons on all the equipment and insurance costs that I paid over the years if I would have followed this advice.

every body here and their brother inlaw got into flood work and drove the prices way down

no only small floods for customers and NO INSURANCE pay cash they can bill the insurance company i wont

ya,      im not sure flood work is the best way to go...   if you can get established its really great but we have a strong serv pro,  service master presence here since flood work is big in Seattle


I like all the add on services,    but I think a large ticket service of some kind is key      

Really leaning towards being able to offer full carpet install as I think there is a niche for high quality install

the reasons are

-I can recommend a good carpet that will last a long time with maintenance, a lot of installers dont ever clean carpet so they really dont know what cleans well and holds up, after the install they are long gone.

-Flooring stores push what ever carpet they get on discount wholesale that month,   even if its crap... I have customers that bought their "high quality" which was frizze' crap

-If you cant clean it,   you can replace it

-I would have material with pictures that show crappy install after 5 years,   and would explain that we seal edges to help stop filtration soiling  

-Also would have material that shows that not all medium to high grade carpet is very good or even last very long

-once your set up and established you can offer financing (3rd party)

and the biggest one....  which I know some would disagree with

-Can sell a maintenance plan included in price with install,    in my mind this only makes sense... and I cant understand why more companies dont do it...   but there very few I see that do are killing it.


Whenever we installed sod,  hydroseeded,  or full landscape install  we almost always sold maintenance at the same time.     It was an easy sell,    you just simply show them pictures of what a 12k install looks like after 5 years with no maintenance

Not to mention this makes you truly full service,  with repairs,  cleaning and install.

I like your thinking on the install service. Being able to follow-up the sale with annual re-stretch and maint. cleaning is very smart.

The only concern I would have is the appearence of a conflict at times. Would anyone question your advice to clean it or replace it since you profit more on replacement? Maybe set up a seperate business for that task and hire a good installer to handle it to remove yourself a little.

I think you have a good idea, over-all, I have been thinking the same thing except it is tough to do when working solo. Still, run with it and report back on what your learn.  

Ya there would be a bit of questioning about whether to clean or replace, but we would just have to rely on reputation that we will only do what is best for the customer.

the nice thing is once you install they wont be shopping for a different carpet cleaning every year which we all know just turns into a witches brew of different residues and spotters.

also when you do an install your getting a long term cleaning customer

I would couple the whole package with a vacuum that has our logo on it, my favorite vacuum the bissel clean view $80


I know it would be hard but if you had the full circle there is people who like carpet but dont like all the headaches involved with pre mature wear, finding the right cleaning company, and so on.

Install, maintenance, with a vacuum. If they went for the package you could easily bring them a new/refurbished $80 vac each year and just switch theres out each time, take it back to the shop... replace filters, clean it up, and put new decals on it.

I get most of my customers because I am a multi-service business and many like dealing with just one person for all their needs, so your package idea is a very good one. Even better would be to arrange special pricing with your favorite flooring store to really make it a slam dunk.

IF you have the skill, tools, and staffing to pull this off, it sounds like a great idea. If you don't, there is no reason that you couldn't sub out the work if you know an honest tradesman looking for the work and you keep your name on the project.

I have a close friend that has been installing carpet for 20years but I have never seen his work,   he is a friend and I would think that based on him he does a great job but still it all comes down to what it looks like after 5 years or so.  

work something out with a flooring store,    or open a flooring store....   could start small with a small space


would be nice to be able to show people that builders grade is actually more expensive because it looks like crap after 5 years,   and a slightly higher quality nylon can look great for 15+