Convincing customers

I primarily do WC with PW as an added service. Not sure if it’s just the mentality here, but whenever I point out someone’s nasty driveway, siding or walkways, they just say ‘yeah, that’s ok’ and are happy to get the windows done.

I even had a customer tell me they like all the moss on their brick, gives it ‘character’.

Power washing doesn’t seem to be much of a priority here, any ideas on how to convince them otherwise?

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Before and after pictures

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May have to try that.

Try doing a couple driveways or easy jobs pro bono for the B&As and contingent upon a google review. Build up 5 or so Pressure Washing reviews and you can add them to your pics as testimonials. Reviews and before and after are gold mines.

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Yeah, I’ve done a few deeply discounted washes, they were thrilled of course. We are trying to build up our Google reviews but not many of the elderly customers are members, seems mostly referrals and word of mouth.

It’s unfortunate too, because we spent 7 years accumulating hundreds of Angie’s List reviews only to be told we’d now have to pay $3,500/mo to be artificially placed at the top of the search list, no matter how good a job we did.:face_with_raised_eyebrow:

I’ll start carrying some B/A pics with me.

Do you think it would be worth it, in select cases, to find a dirty spot you could just hit with the wand to lift some dirt and explain how much of a better job the SC would do? I’m not talking a 5’x5’ or anything large. Just one pass through a dark spot to show contrast.

I could…interestingly the majority of customers have already nozzled off the driveways themselves, tiger stripes and all. I keep getting the same line, “oh we already have a power washer and my husband does it”.

Some are fairly fresh, some a few years old. They actually seem slightly offended that I would want to do a proper job instead of their spouse’s efforts.

Or another line, “I usually do it but it takes a while, I’ll give you a call later”. No call.

People here are VERY proud of doing things themselves, even if it’s a terrible job. They absolutely hate the thought of relinquishing spousal duties to a professional, seems to negate their manhood or something. That’s why I’m so busy window cleaning, usually the wife is the one to call.

I sometimes will include the sidewalk to the driveway in with a house wash. If they’ve said no to the driveway beforehand…50% of the time once they see how clean their sidewalk is and how crusty their driveway is they go for it. Especially if I give them a “while I’m here” price. You’re good at selling windows because that’s your wheelhouse and have been doing it for years. You’ll pick up some sales tips in time when it comes to PW. As was mentioned…get tons of before/after pics and some reviews and you’ll be fine.

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I would say 75% of our calls come from the wife or lady of the household. When we show up the husband is usually very skeptical until we finish the job. Then they’re both happy and wish they would’ve called sooner.

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I look at mentioning those dirty things as an “investment” because I have found that when they call you back for a future HW they will have you do the other stuff. Just mention it and email them a written quote for the work with a 1 year expiration date. You will close on about 25% of those estimates if you are fair priced.

What you have done is put doubt in their head that their concrete or whatever it may be, doesn’t look as good as they thought. It also gives them time to save up for it. Some people will deflect an offer because they don’t want to tell you they don’t have the money.

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