Question For Mobile Detailers

R

rebel88

New member
I was wondering how important it it to your clients that you provide your own water and electricity? Do most people get upset when you hook up to their water or prefer that you bring your own?

I'm trying to find a way to go totally mobile (i.e. bring my own water and generator), but am finding this to be a logistical nightmare with transporting water, securing a generator, etc. Let me know your thoughts. Thanks.
 
When we used to do mobile we would use their electricity and water with no complaints. just make sure that they know this first. HOWEVER, if you are going to do this as a full blown business I would invest in a generator and water tank. Then you can detail at their place of work and so on.

As far as transporting water and keeping a generator on lockdown here are my suggestions.

Get a pick up and throw a water tank in the bed or better yet, get a trailer and put the tank on it along with some type of locking storage space for your supplies. The generator can just bolt to the truck bed or trailer.
 
If your going to be mobile then be just that by having your own water and electricity you can detail at virtually any location. This also helps in justifying your price sturcture you can also charge a bit more because you are providing a true mobile service. You can also use your mobile set up for Deck washing , small scale pressure washing and fleet jobs.
 
I myself use their water and electricity and with no complaints.I agree with 2001civicex if your going to go full blown mobile it's a must have. Calculate your costs though...it's easy to spend a pretty penny without having leads and commitments.

Daniel
:ghost
 
Hi If Your Going Mobile You Pretty Much Have To Invest In A Water Tank And Gen. I Have Mine Set Up In An Astro Van, Tanks Are Mounted On A Platform That Is Bolted To The Floor My Gen. And Pressure Washer Are Bolted To The Floor And They Are Cable Locked Together ( I Had My Set Up Stolen Out Of A Van When I First Started Due To The Fact That Nothing Was Bolted Down ) This Also Created A Mess Since My Water Tank Was Full. When I Am At A Cust. Business I Use My Water And Generator For Electricity. If I Am At A House And There Is Electric Available I Use The Cust. Electricity. Not Only Do I Get No Complaints But They Seem To Expect It And Are Suprised When I Tell Them That I Dont Need Water That I Bring My Own. I Always Use My Water Cause My Tank Is Always Connected To My Pressure Washer. Also With A Tank Setup You Can Do Cars In Apartment Complexes Where There Is No Water And Probably No Elect. Avail. Good Luck
 
depending on how big of a rig you use and the techniques you use you can get away with very little. I use a Honda 3000i generator which fits in the trunk of my Mazda6...although it weighs like 80 pounds it it easy to move around due to its small size.
I carry with me 2 - 5 gallon water jugs and mix with QEW and use a little in a deck sprayer for rinsing wheel wells and wheel cleaner.

I have never had anybody say I cant use their stuff though. 75% of the time new clients have the hose and extension cord out for me when I show up, the other 25% offer to show me where the connections are. They do however get a smile on their faces when I tell them no need I am fully equipped to do the job without the use of their stuff. Just adds a nice touch of professionalism in my opinion.
 
If there is any hesitance, I explain to the customer...

I am doing all work onsite...Yes, I need electicity and water I can bring myself, but you see me do everything. There is no guessing if someone is driving around your car or down right just hacking away on the detail (rubbing the hose, cords, etc on the paint). Also, when I'm done, you have a car ready to go! No waiting around or organizing rides.

For QEW, I fill up a big cooler and put it in my back seat...Ghetto, yes! But it sure works and cuts out the water needs.
 
I'm a student so this is no full-time job, but in the summer when it very well may be, I still can't afford a water tank and generator (unless purchased gently used). If I make enough to afford one, I would consider it. My clients so far haven't minded at all, like others said, showed me where the outlets were, etc. However, in the winter in WI here, no one has there hose out and hooked up (freezing) and all of my clients are heated garages. So I bring along a 6 gallon jug of water, which they find really nice. I would feel weird if in the winter I needed to ask them to fill it up in their house in their sink.

I fill it up, 4 gallons, with hot hot water at my house in the utility sink. Then when I arrive, I QEW right away. My very first client had (4) 1 gallon jugs of purified water and a bucket waiting for me...But from then on, I have used the jug. In the summer, like said before, I plan on using their water and electric.

Also, at Autopia or here (can't remember) somebody posted about "Professionals, yeah right!" type thing about hack detailers. That got me thinking about myself...I really haven't had any training officially (detail "school"), but yet I see myself as a better-than-average detailer (compared to those detailers I see in my area that have shops). I guess what I'm saying is if I'm one of those "Professional, yeah right" type people. I feel like the results I achieve are great though, on par with most people on the forums here. Would it be wise for me to get some training, though, just to say I'm officially qualified? I just don't want to be a hack detailer, but I do detail at autopian and detail city "standards," just no official training.....

Carl
 
Carl,
Probably the best training you can get is life experience! Apparently you must do a good job already because you seem to have repeat customers. Keep your eyes and ears open to learn what you can along the way. The things that can improve your business, put into practice ... the things that don't let it be a lesson in what not to do. Wanting to satisfy the customer is lesson #1 ... Keep striving for that goal and you will go far.
 
Rebel

If this is a full time deal for you then I would suggest that you equip a trailer or van. That way when you pull up to a business or house you project an image that this is what I do and I’m totally committed. A trailer or van is a good source of advertising also.

If you carry your own water you also have the option to use spot free water and I can guarantee you that none of your customers have this. It gets Hot in Austin and the first half of the car you washed will be dry before you can finish the second half. You can bring your own shade as well.

I need every advantage I can get I do this Monday through Friday some times Saturday. I have three kids that like to eat and a house that’s not cheep. I believe that if you are truly Mobil and a total professional than you should be able to make the whole experience as easy uncomplicated as possible for your customer. If that means detailing there car at there office because he has Base Ball or Soccer with kids on Saturday or a golf game with his friends so be it. When you say your Mobil it's like saying that you offer total convince.

If you need help with a setup or have questions send me an email Im in
San Antonio
 
That's a great thread. I am just starting up my business and I feel like I will probably get more business if I can go to there place. But I was a little hesitant because I didn't know how they would respond if I showed up with my stuff, but used their electricity and water. I guess it sounds like it will be okay, but I would really like to set up a rig like Ron or Anthony or anybody, but I just can't right now.
 
Aloha guys , I am a Mobile detailer and I agree w/ everything that has been said except the "hack" detailer part. I don't have seperate water and electric 100% of the time . Does that make me a hack ? I never went to school or training. I learned 90% of things here . Does that make me a "hack" ? No it doesn't . There's another thread here about a guy looking for a better detailer in his area. He paid 275 and got wax on his black plastic and just a poor job. Thats a hack if you ask me . Ok enough of that .

I never had to turn down a job from not having water and electric . Most people here in Hawaii are very accomodating and the market doesn't require me to have them . This is my second job . Yeah I would love to have a water tank and a nice generator but its a big investment and I'm not getting turned away from jobs. I think every situation is unique.
 
No hard feelings. When I said "Hack," I didn't mean it in reference to mobile detailers w/out their own water and electric (mainly because I'm one of them). I was just trying to get others opinion on if I should get training or not. Yes, I've learned most of my skills on the internet forums (autopia and DC), but the results I get are, IMO, superb. I don't see what $1000 in training would do for me, except me being able to tell my clients I received "Certified Training." The results speak for themselves.

Carl
 
Aloha Carl, No hard feelings at all. just giving my opinion on the matter. I think every case is different if the business owner needs water and electric. And what kind of market and services that he wants to provide.
Some of the best guys on here work out of their trunks . And then others do it all year full-time w/ Vans and/or trailers with the full get-up..

Jon
 
I'm a year round mobile detailer and of course have my own water and electric supply. However, when I go to a customers home, 90% of the time they offer their electric and water. IMO whatever it takes for you to do a good job and you enjoy detailing (the results). Then I say go for it. Good luck!
 
I am a fully mobile detailer also.

My business vehicle is a 1961 Austin Mini. Out here in SoCal, image is everything!

So I pride myself on having a super compact operation. Here is what I do. I wash with QEW and S&W. This is possible since cars out here are usually just dusty, with little to no caked on dirt/mud/salt. I carry with me up to 4 gallons of distilled water. I use about 1/2 gallon of water per vehicle (unless it is a large SUV).

I have a 1500 watt power inverter wired to run off the cars battery/charging system. Since I do 99% of my polishing jobs by hand, I only need the power for the vac. This is more than enough to power my tools.
 
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