Being effective as a mobile detailer

Detailing NY

New member
Here are some tips to make you more effective at being a mobile detailer.



make sure you know where everything is. Don't just throw things away. keep them neat and in order.

I have HUGE duffle bags and containers that hold everything for me. I labeled all the pockets so i know where everything goes and where to find what i am looking for.



At your last stop of the day, do a clean up of your own truck. Be sure everything is ready for the nest day. I like to sleep late, so at my last stop i make sure all the bottles are full, all the solutions are made, all the pads and towels are clean. This way i can sleep late, jump in the truck and go to my first stop.



Don't drive like an a$$ if you have a lettered truck. People remember lettering on a truck and will not use you because you cut them off, be polite and they will remember your truck.(I detailed a customers truck who said i gave there father the middle finger the other day while i was driving) I gave him a free wash.



Advertise at every stop you are at. Keep flyers in your truck. When you are at a customers home, look around and give out flyers to all the neighboors. You are all ready on the block so might as well do some marketing.



Have a sign on your truck or in the street so people know what you are doing.



*my new secret weapon*

I just purchased a 10x10 portable tent. The tent will be all lettered up along the side walls and top part. so people will really slow down to see what is going on. The tent cost around $200.00, but well worth it. It keeps the wind & sun out and i have room to move around. It takes 2 people to open the tent in less then 10 mintues.



keep your truck clean, it does not look good when a detailer shows up to someones home with a dirty truck.
 
Nice job, Brian.



In addition, if you are running behind, make sure you call the rest of your customers to let them know. Detailing is not an exact science and while I try to schedule enough time in between cars, especially with new customers, some cars are so nasty you have to spend more than the time you allotted.



I also call my customers on days when the weather may turn bad. I don't want anyone to feel obligated to get their car done in the morning at their office if they will have to drive home in the rain that afternoon. If they still want their car cleaned though, if it does rain, I offer them a free wash or $$ off their next service.



Carry extra shirts with you, even in the winter. Nothing looks worse than walking into a corporate office with a grimey sweat soaked shirt. If my shirt gets even slightly dirty, I change it. I wear sweatshirts in the winter, so I just put a t-shirt on over it.



I'm sure I'll think of more....:xyxthumbs
 
I like your ideas - especially about being prepared at the end of the day. That makes your next work day begin with great ease.



Also, the part about not driving like an idiot if you are in a vehicle that identifies who you are. I can't tell you how many times I'm on the road with some moron whose truck says, "How am I driving?" and they are inevitably annoying. Bad advertisement!



Great thoughts, Brian!
 
If I drive into the hospitals with a "clean truck" I hear it from the Dr's that I must not be working that hard if I have time to wash my own truck!!



Ya'll know the sayings. "The plumbers sinks always leak" "The Dr's kids are always sick" "The shoe makers kids have holes in their shoes" "The auto detailers wife's car is always dirty"



People see my dirty truck and say...."Wow, he must do good work because he is so busy that he can't even clean his black truck.....or is it gray......brown maybe?":xyxthumbs



Anthony
 
Anthony-you wouldn't believe how many times I've washed/waxed my car after dark! I just hate to drive around in a dirty car, but I sure am not going to spend good working hours on it! Driving a 13-year-old car that look better than new is good advertising also!



Gotta get something new soon though. It's getting to the point where filling it with gas is doubling the value!
 
Scott...."after dark"? lol The last thing I want to do after washing cars all day is go home and wash my own. :p





Truthfully my truck is not all that dirty. It's just that with detailing in the day and my nights filled with one couples Bible study I teach plus one apologetics class I teach, kids class on Sunday, writing a book, time with wife and kids and when I can a Jujitsu class there is very little time and energy left for my own.



:sosad



Keep up the great work.



Anthony
 
when I can a Jujitsu class there is very little time and energy left for my own



Yeah, so if I see Howard Stern and want to pick a fight with him, I'll do a double-take...



Another reason to charge Mr. Stern for using your likeness....
 
Scottwax said:
Anthony-you wouldn't believe how many times I've washed/waxed my car after dark! I just hate to drive around in a dirty car, but I sure am not going to spend good working hours on it! Driving a 13-year-old car that look better than new is good advertising also!



Gotta get something new soon though. It's getting to the point where filling it with gas is doubling the value!



I do the same, but i think i use some 4 letter words when i get home to clean the truck. After spending all day cleaning everyone elses car i need to clean the truck out. Then i hear from the wife "tomorrow can you clean mine"



I like having the old 87 truck, it runs good but paint is shot, so it will be painted this week, if the snow lets up
 
My truck is never in a full state of detailing. I just don't usually feel like coming home and working on it and when I do it is still in the dark.



I need to work on my truck though as I compounded it with the rotary like 3 months and have yet to polish or wax it... :rolleyes:



Well, actually some parts have been polished since them and I have probably four different waxes on different panels... :p



Here is Night Detailing. I believe it was like 9:30 when I took this...



trucktentnight.jpg
 
Back
Top