Due to recent changes I have had to make, I have decided to focus on service work here in south Florida. I have been doing it here and there already and it seems to be decent cash flow and the work is rewarding. I would really like to hear from anyone and everyone about any suggestions on being the best at service. From truck stock to paperwork, handling customers, etc. What are some things that will really take it over the top for customer service. Any and ALL info would really be appreciated, this is my first go with specializing in service work, residential or commercial. Thanks to all that reply!
service truck work is a pain. you end up needing three of everything
in the known and unknown universe.
it's easy to tell what you will need tomorrow. go out and look on the
shelf in your garage. it's right there. you'll realize that halfway thru
your work day tomorrow:smile:....
a good friend of mine and i both have trucks that weigh in about the
same. the overlap of common materials is maybe 25%.
he'll have eys's in three sizes. i don't have any. i'll have a cable tugger,
swivels, and 600' of pull rope, he doesn't have any wire bigger
than #14 mtw.
he'll have a threader on a custom mount plugged into his class 3 hitch,
i'll have a genset for keeping the fish alive and ice cream frozen while i
do a service change.
keeping the customers salt water aquarium alive is a nice touch.
people appreciate not having $3,000 worth of dead fish.
so.... who are your customers, and what do they need to have done?
bring that stuff. leave the rest at home.
one thing that is bulky, and i bring it always, a *high quality* hepa
rated shop vac. not a $49 hepa vac. a $400 hepa vac. one that is
quiet, and does not work like an indoor leaf blower.
if you are doing residential, and you blow dust all over the house,
you will be smite with a pox from the evil eye you will get.
people are funny... they may balk at your hourly rate, but i have never
had a complaint about an extra half hour spent cleaning everything
spotlessly when i am done. the cleaning cost them $40. nobody
cares, but leave dirt and you are a poophead even if you did the work
for free.
no matter what you drive, a neat and orderly rig is money in the bank.
if you walk in and dump a 5 gallon buckie of tools on the floor, to find
a phillips bit for your screw gun, it's not a good impression.
for my hand tools, i put together a roller that looks good, and keeps
everything in place. mostly the people who notice it are the women.
they want to buy one like it for their husband, so he won't leave his
crap all over the place... it happens often enough that i carry a
couple festool catalogs in the van... when they find out how much
good tools cost, they don't question why your price is what it is.
