New Add - On Service you can offer.

[majoe7]

I am always thinking of ways to add services to help out my clients and add more money to the bottom line. We all add on services like gutter cleaning, tree/shrub trimming, pressure washing, irrigation repairs/cleanouts, handyman service and the one I like the most is dog walking. LOL

My new service I will be offering is Vent Clean Out for your dryer in your house. You ask what is this and how did I come across this one? I'll tell you.

My friend was having problems with their dryer not drying fast enough or heating up to the proper temperature to dry the clothes. They thought it was the dryer and was old and broken. They went out and bought a new one and of course they had to buy the matching washer. They gave the old one to their daughter to use as a back up. When the men came to install and remove the old units they ask my friend when was the last time they had cleaned out the dryer vent? You know the one that goes into the wall and either out to the roof or outside wall? They said,"I clean out the snake looking aluminum one often". He said no the one that releases the lint and hot air out into the universe. They said never.

Well to make a long story short they cleaned out the piping and vent and had a shopping bag filled with lint. They said over time this may cause a fire or burn out the dryer from overheating. Everything worked fine. At the daughters house the mother told her about this and her husband cleaned his out and tried the dryer out and it worked perfectly and heated up nice and hot. Wasted money for them, now a New Service to Offer. They told me about this and I went home and cleaned out my vent and duck work. My dryer wasn’t all that hot either. After the clean out, my dryer was like new. I had about a half of bag of lint. My neighbor saw me on my roof cleaning out the vent and asked what I was doing and I told him. He asked me to clean his and paid me $15.00 for about 15 minutes of work. Light bulb goes off!! :rolleyes: Here is a service I can offer to my clients. a no brainer. :eek: Everyone is concerned about loosing their home to Fire or Thief.

So this is what I did.
1. I went on the roof (or wall vent) and cleaned it out.
2. Went inside and moved the dryer and removed the snake like aluminum tube and cleaned it out.
3. Took my wet vac and reversed it to blow out the vent leading to the roof. If you dont have a wet vac use you back pack blower. The blower will leave a smell of exhaust. (My neighbor said it looked like it was snowing) I did this several times to ensure that everything was clean.
4. Vacuumed up the dust or lint in the room.
5. Reattached everything and turned on the dryer to make sure it worked properly. A Okay.
Customer happy, I am happy and more money in my pocket.

Just food for thought. I'm not too sure that this really goes with Lawn Care but what the hay.:D Maybe a service add on. Remember, when at a customer house, look at it from the road, look for things you can do to make more money and make the customers life easier.

John

[MikeO]

Now my friend... that is a good idea.... I like this one alot..So, are you set at 15.00 or can this be moved up some or do you think that would be standard rate? The reason i ask is because when i am doing gutter cleaning they ask do i need it done? I can't see up there so i tell them its a 25 dollar fee to look if it does, i dont add that on i just figure out the difference. Since you offer that do you offer any weatherization? Windows, vents, floorboards..etc?

[Steve]

That is a fantastic idea! I did a search for dryer vent cleaning tool and found this.

I bet there are plenty more tools out there.

http://z.about.com/d/homerepair/1/0/x/A/-/-/2_lint_eater_jr.jpg

I wonder how often you could promote this service? Maybe once a year in the fall as part of your fall cleanup?

While you are at it, could you also change smoke detector batteries? They are usually up high and most people have a hard time reaching them.

This could be your fire prevention service?

[CHEESE2009]

I have been using caulking to secure the fixtures on my customers roofs... Now I have to remove them & try this awesome idea!!!

It's all about the back pack blower, bringing the lawn service INSIDE baby!!! LMFAO

I used my hand held to clean the entrance way & my bed once... Never eat chips in bed... frig...

[armowing]

I haven't thought about offering this to customers but ran into a situation like this at home. Dryer stopped working found bad heating element. When I got to the store to buy the replacement part, the owner told me to clean out my vent. Since he knew that I have a lawn service he told me the same thing: Just use your blower to clean it out. Dryer worked great after that.
NOW you got me thinking!!!

[majoe7]

are you set at 15.00 or can this be moved up some or do you think that would be standard rate? Since you offer that do you offer any weatherization? Windows, vents, floorboards..etc?

The price is what he offered and I agreed. I generally try to make $60.00 per hour when I am working, hence the $15 for 15 minutes was right in the ballpark. My lowest rate is $30 per hour and that is for clean up service since I take a helper or two along with me and they make $15 per hour. When they ask if they need this done tell them it is a fire prevention service to ensure their safety. Just like the fire station do in promoting smoke alarms. They give them away for free to those who don’t have any and remind everyone to change the batteries once a year, generally at daylight savings time.

I will always look for ideas at the client’s house that I can do and help them out. I hung pictures, moved furniture, cleaned windows, replace damaged screens, painted small areas, hung shelves and all the lawn care items. Just keep on looking at the house and things will pop out at you. You will be amazed.

I wonder how often you could promote this service? Maybe once a year in the fall as part of your fall cleanup?
While you are at it, could you also change smoke detector batteries? They are usually up high and most people have a hard time reaching them.
This could be your fire prevention service?

This could be offered at least twice a year or maybe more often. Everyone have a lawn care schedule called, once in the spring and once in the fall. (IE: mulch, flowers, bed clean outs) I think changing the batteries and the vent clean out goes hand in hand and use it in your marketing title "Fire Prevention Service". Great title Steve. Maybe you could tie it into a program called " House Maintenance Service". Clean vents, change batteries, pressure wash house or driveway/walkways, mulch, flowers and pruning of trees and shrubs.

This is how we all can grow and become more successful and profitable. The more we share and brainstorm the more we can do. I love this site and the friends I have made here. :)

John