Property Maintenance for Commercial & Residential

Q. Describe the most common types of jobs you do for your clients.

A. My most common jobs are carpet installs, carpet cleaning, painting, air duct cleaning, and handyman services as well as janitorial.

Q. What advice do you have for a customer looking to hire a provider like you?

A. I advise a customer to check references as well as insurance and license information of all contractors. This will give clients some sort of track record of the people they are hiring.

Q. If you were a customer, what do you wish you knew about your trade? Any inside secrets to share?

A. I would want to know what type of training and products the provider was using, as well as the personal ethics of the indivodual.

Q. What questions should a consumer ask to hire the right service professional?

A. How long have you been performing this service. Do you have references. Are you licensed and insured.

Q. What important information should buyers have thought through before seeking you out?

A. They should know what they want the contractor to perform. They should know the median pricing for that service and be prepared to receive the quality they expect.

Q. Why does your work stand out from others who do what you do?

A. I stand out because I give my clients immediate response and I take pride in the service that I provide. I make sure there is an even exchange. I work with my clients and listen to them so that I understand exactly the outcomes they desire. I work until they are satisfied with my performance. It is always my hope that I just earned a lifelong customer once they witness the quality I provide consistently.

Q. What do you like most about your job?

A. I like being able to help my clients with their project needs and I also like meeting new people. I like being in business for myself. I like the adventure of going into projects at different stages of development and being involved in the process of completing it. I like when the customer makes a hiring decision based on their belief that I will deliver. I appreciate that vote of confidence, and I don't take it lightly.

Q. What questions do customers most commonly ask you? What's your answer?

A. Most customers tend to believe in some situations when they haven't a clue on what to do, they wonder if you are competent enough to bring before their eyes what they need to see.

I calmly explain to the customer that I understand what their needs are and give them a detailed description of what services I am about to perform and the methods that I will be utilizing.

Q. Do you have a favorite story from your work?

A. Yes! I placed a bid on a job and won the bid. There was this Arabian property owner that needed the interior of her rental property painted, the carpet cleaned, grass cut and other tasks. After painting the house she wanted me to do other tasks that I had never performed before. I informed her of this. I didn't believe I could do the tasks. There were holes in the wall, torn frames around doors, broken locking mechanisms. Again I informed her that I couldn't do it. She said "Please!" I laughed because she was so insistent. Then I tried. I started thinking, then I was able to frame the doors, patch the holes in the walls, and fix the locks. If it hadn't been for her pushing me, I never would have expanded my business to include other tasks. I thank her for pushing and believing in me. When I finished, she invited me to her home and gave me several other jobs to complete. These were tasks that I had never done before as well. She helped me find things within myself that I didn't know I possessed. I thank her for that. This particular client gave me confidence and made me believe in myself.

Q. What do you wish customers knew about you or your profession?

A. I wish they knew the preparation and sometimes uncertainty that goes into every job. There are associated cost and liabilities that many are not aware of.

Q. How did you decide to get in your line of work?

A. When I graduated from college I had to do something because there weren't any job offers. I had been doing this kind of work off and on for other companies, so this was as good as time as any to launch my own company.

Q. Tell us about a recent job you did that you are particularly proud of.

A. I recently completed a large air duct cleaning job. I could have used some help, yet the client was trying to save money. I had to do a large two story dwelling alone that had mold and mildew damage. It was quite complex, yet I was able to complete the assignment to the clients satisfaction.

Q. Do you do any sort of continuing education to stay up on the latest developments in your field?

A. Yes! I am always online keeping an eye out for new techniques and equipment. I also read recent publications about our industry and the latest trends.

Q. What are the latest developments in your field? Are there any exciting things coming in the next few years or decade that will change your line of business?

A. There are new carpet cleaning tools being brought to market to make carpet stretching and cleaning less tedious. The equipment also delivers more quality to clients.

Q. Describe your most recent project, what it involved, how much it cost, and how long it took.

A. My most recent projects was an air duct cleaning assignment. It involved cleaning all of the returns and supply vents, removing mold and mildew, cleaning, and sanitizing the vents, and then replacing them.

Q. If you have a complicated pricing system for your service, please give all the details here.

A. I give quotes over the phone, based on the information the client provide. Once I arrive, if there are additional concerns, I address them with the client

Q. If you were advising someone who wanted to get into your profession, what would you suggest?

A. I would advise them to have their credentials in order as well as know what they can and can't do. Also, always be honest and trustworthy. Clients appreciate that. And be on time.

Q. What is your greatest strength?

A. My greatest strength is my faith in the Creator and with this belief I am able to stay in business. I receive jobs at the last minute a lot of times when I think I'm going to have to go into another line of work. That's God.

Q. What are you currently working on improving?

A. I am working on improving my marketing and networking skills. I am also looking into finding the most cost effective ways of delivering quality work. I am trying to educate myself in all areas of the business that I am involved in so that I can continue to be an asset to the business world, but more importantly, to my clients and constituents.

Q. Write your own question and answer it.

A. What do you hope to accomplish in this industry?

I am poised to keep an eye on this field to ascertain the possibility of proving jobs to others once I am able to organize strategic partnerships that would be beneficial to society, by providing jobs, to my clients, by providing quality workmanship, and to myself.