Does anyone Know how I can speed up my details

jimdawg12

jimdawg12

New member
HI, I opened up a detail shop not too long ago, and been running it myself, i have someone to schedule out my details and to do my paperwork but it seems like I can only get one Detail done a day... My Last 3 Details were a 97 black tacoma took 6 1/2 hours
Bayliner Boat took 11 hours, 95 chevy blazer took 8 hours, I know I'm getting some older vehicles and there completely trashed when I get them,I'd like to get my full details done in 4 hours,I've got a 96 Grand marquois tommorow it looks like it's been laying in a river for a year, it has leather seats and i will have to take steel wool to clean them, it will take at least an hour not including the rest of the interior... is there any tips on getting my details done faster?
 
It might help to have an assistant doing the detail work as apposed to having them to book appts/do paperwork/etc. One could be working on the interior while one is doing the exterior. It might also help, to sit down and itemize out your processes and procedures.
 
Jimdawg,
From the sounds of the conditions of those vehicles, the time you are spending is what it takes to make them right. I hope you are charging accordingly.

If you want to cut your time down, time how long it takes to do certain things. ie polishing, extracting, etc. Figure out what of those things took 4 hours and include those items in your normal detailing package and charge extra to address other items. Some peeps may call say this is a disgrace to detailers because when you say a car is detailed then every aspect of the car should be detailed.

Here is my full detail that takes me 3.5 - 4 hours:
Outside: Wash car and wheels
dry, goof off to remove tar, sap, etc
polish, wax, tire shine, and trim
Inside: Vac, shampoo carpets only!
wipe and dress panels
clean windows

If a vehicle needs buffing, seats shampooed, headliner cleaned, engine degreasing, vents cleaned, I charge extra. Again, I know some of you will say I give detailers a bad name for not including this stuff. I am always honest and upfront with people and will tell them what my normal rates include and what is extra. Having my packages set up this way allows me to easily quote detailing jobs. A 2004 taurus will cost the same to detail as a 1997 taurus, even though the 97 maybe much more work to make perfect, I know it'l take me 4 hours. If a car is an easy one, I'll do alot of these things for free, and likewise if a car is trashed, I'll only be bound to do the things I said I would. Underpromise and overdeliver on the easy ones and the customer will appreciate the free extras and will be more likely to be a repeat customer. On the trashed ones, do what you can in the time you've allowed and if you spend more time, make sure you are compensated.

In doing it this way, it is very important to do a thorough walk around with the customer so that they are aware of what will, and what will not be addressed. During the walk around, I make a list of all the things that will cost extra, add them up, and offer the customer a discount if they'd like to get all of those items addressed. Makes upselling easier and ensures the time you'll spend will be worth wild.
 
heres a couple timesavers ive done lately... im now using a strong brake dust buster. it comes off with no scrubbing.. also my days of using regular dressing are over. im using an aerosol spray dressing on everything ,door jambs, all interior , exept leather , trunk jambs .. for kickpanels & leather/vinyl i use white 3m scrub pads .cleans & removes scuff marks . im taping off all trim with blue painters tape to prevent damage to trim /lights ect . it sounds like it would take more time but theres no detail brush time after wax removal & you wont worry about trim & moulding damage.
 
Not sure what products you are using but I use Poorboy's and they go on easy and off even easier. That is a very good time saver for us. Oh yeah, they are awesome quality as well.
 
2001civicex said:
Not sure what products you are using but I use Poorboy's and they go on easy and off even easier. That is a very good time saver for us. Oh yeah, they are awesome quality as well.
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I agree that his stuff is top notch. Just got done this morning using the EX-P on a vehicle in the full sun. Absolutely no problem just wiping the residue right off the surface. No hard buffing or anything.

I've got to head out to another job but I'll try to think of some time saving stuff. I'm working on the same thing right now. I want to get quicker but want to maintain the quality.
 
Two people is a good idea too. Especially in the summer you could find some high school kid or something to help out for little pay.

Or just buy some kid on the black market. JOKE!
 
can someone explain the steel wool on leather? never did it, wondering what you use and how. what does it correct? what products do you use to condition the leather?
 
my average detailing time as well is over 6 hours, but then again when cars are traded to where I work they are beyond trashed, everything must be addressed, frame, engine bay, headliners, many areas that I see people who detail not addressing. Nothing is left out, any where on the vehicle, but to cut time the only way you can really do it is to try to sell these people on a routine of cleanings for their car. Eat the first detail a little bit, then make up for it when you have them come in for refresh cleaning, charge a little more than 1/2 unless they manage to keep it reaaly clean, then charge accordingly. If I can't make $20 an hour on the side, I won't even look at it seriously worth while. I had one customer with a extended cab Dodge Ram, black 4X4 with about 15k he just bought from a different dealer. Every square inch of the paint had tree line scratches as well as car wash scratches, I thought it was grey before I looked at the door jams. Long story short, I charged hime $300 initial, spent 16 hours on the whole thing, and aside from the dent on the tailgate it looked new, he walked by it twice in the lot thinking it was someone elses truck. From then on I charged him from $30 to $60 depending on the time lapse from his last visit, he was a mason but managed to take descent care of it and I saw him every month till we shut down. Just explain to them the time it will take to address everything properly and charge to match.
 
Steel Wool
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Use a Cleaner and steel wool works great use very lightly jus agitate the stain break it up then wipe with towel, Cars Ive done this on that are real bad are Cadilacs with beige interior,Lincoln town Cars,Mercury GRand marqoius, I usually only use it on light color interiors, Usually U will be able to tell if its real bad with people who smoke in there cars
 
One thing in general that will help speed up your detailing process is to make sure you have the order right. I won't go into detail on that since everyone likes it their own way, but the idea is to make sure you don't create extra work for yourself. For instance, I prefer to do the inside before the outside because vacuuming and such creates a lot of dust which gets on the paint so if the outside was already done it makes another step. What I just suggested will help a little, but if its taking as long as you say its probably something else, What steps of the detail are you getting stuck on and/or whats taking the most time so that I can help you more.
-Charles
 
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