Do people dislike your bussiness if you run it out of your home?

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Nitrous115

New member
It seems unprofessional to work out of your house. Do people seem angry when they drop their cars off at your house? Or do you just do free pick up and delievery to cover up that you work out of your house?
 
I plan I just doing it out of my house unless the person I am doing it for has a big garage and wants it done at their house. I will be doing it on the side though and not full time. Not sure about where you live but some cities won't let you run a business like that out of your house either.
 
Nitrous115 , I work out of my house and have for some time now , I pick up most of my cars either from the customers home or work , or I meet them at the local car rental store if they need a car for the day. I have it right in my flyer that I work out of my home , I actually built my house for that purpose , I have a two bedroom apartment above a three car garage that looks like a barn. I have yet to come across someone who had a problem with it and I do alot of high end cars , Lambo's , Bentleys , Porshes ect , I think because I have it right there in my flyer people are more trusting , I'm not trying to hide it from them. Also like ejant wrote it's not where you do the work it's the end result that matters. When I first started I would pick up customers cars and take them to the car wash and detail it in the self serve bay that is until the kicked me out.:o



As far as being legal detailing out of your house , I got my house zoned for professional space , like a doctor or lawyer working from home.
 
yes , you'll need general liablity and garage keepers , beyond that I have a million dollar umberella since I'm doing quarter million dollar cars. It depends on the state you live in on what's required and what you'll actually want.
 
Nitrous115 said:
ScottWax:

Do you only do mobile?
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Like FNG said, yes. Why bother with the expense of a shop when you don't have to? Besides, when someone has 4-5 cars, it is much easier to have someone come out and clean them than drive each one down to the car wash.
 
Do you just ask them if it's ok if you use their garage? Also do you ever try to use their hose or do you always use quick and easy wash? If you don't use a hose doesn't it make engine detailing very hard?
 
I have some at my home and I am mobile. If the person lives to far away I ask them to come to me. Most people in my area come to me as they know where I am located. In some cases I have a small shop that I can use, but I really never go there as it is manly for body work.

My customers dont care where they take it, as long as it come out perfect
 
Nitrous115 said:
Do you just ask them if it's ok if you use their garage? Also do you ever try to use their hose or do you always use quick and easy wash? If you don't use a hose doesn't it make engine detailing very hard?
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If there is no shade, 9 times out of 10, the customer will offer the use of their garage without me having to say a thing. I've thought about a tent, but I'd need some heavy weights for the poles to go into since it is nearly always pretty windy around here.



I almost always use QEW to wash cars. The only time I need a hose is if their cars are caked in mud or something unusual like that. Often, new customers will tell me where their hose is-they seem very suprised that I carry water with me and only need a gallon to wash their cars...in fact, I have a few customers who've bought QEW after seeing me use it!



I don't normally do engines. I may get asked once or twice a year about engine cleaning and I recommend they take it to the dealer since there is so much electronics under the hood and if you have it cleaned at the dealer, if something shorts out, they have the parts. I have a couple customers whose engines I clean for them, but I do need a hose. They don't mind.







I think it helps me that I have been in business for 9 years now and almost all my business is repeat or referral, and referred customers already have a basic idea of what I do and how before I arrive. If it bothered them, they wouldn't call in the first place.



Honestly, most people would also prefer you use their electrical outlets instead of running a generator for 30-60 minutes while you vacuum and shampoo their interiors. Less noise.



If you need the customer to supply anything like electricity or water, let them know in advance. Since I carry water with me, all I do it let them know I would like access to an electrical outlet, but if one is not available, I have two other vacs I can use (12 volt Campbell-Hausen-looks like a handheld Dirtbuster and a rechargable Euro Shark) that do an excellent job. So far, no one has ever denied me using an outlet. After all, they wouldn't expect a maid service to bring a generator to vacuum their home, would they? ;)
 
I don't think it looks unprofessional to work out of your garage. I'm just not sure I want all my customers knowing where I live. I would recommed getting garage keepers insurance if you are going to drive your customers cars. You may run into problems if your house is not zoned commercial. I'm fully mobile, I have my own water, generator for electricity and a canopy for shade. Did you ever consider being mobile and using your customer's water and electricity?
 
Yes, i am planning on being mainly mobile but i am also considering working out of my garage if the customers don't request mobile.
 
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