Roof Cleaning Certification Test Questions ?

[McIntoshWorks]

I don't know how you could teach someone to be a professional.
Sadly, anyone who gets paid for something is a professional. 
I won't say the act of roof washing is easy, maybe though, just the concept.
Playing golf is an easy concept but that doesn't mean you are going to be good at it.
I think what we really need to be teaching is professionalism, which is different. I think this would go hand in hand with marketing. But marketing only gets you the job.

How do you deal with customers; their question; their complaints (already mentioned) in a manner that sets you apart from the hack?
How do you present yourself as a professional, visually and aurally?
How do you protect yourself, employees, and customers in a way that they feel safe?
What can you do or how can you handle yourself so that even a bad job or situation still ends up a repeat customer?

I will say this, I realize that we lose jobs to hacks because of price, but every now and then I bet we lose jobs because the hack acted and presented himself more professionally that the pro.

I personally like to watch college sports more than pro sports because I feel like the college guys want to be there more and work harder. I think the same can be said in any profession.

Anyway that is just some of my thoughts.

I will try to answer the question as best as I can brother:

hehe I will open with this one though : "Playing golf is an easy concept but that doesn't mean you are going to be good at it."

Have you ever played golf before? I have been playing for 29 years and carry a +2
handicap when I was at my best (+2 is 2 UNDER PAR not 2 as in 2 OVER PAR) and my tournament money earnings are in the RED BIGTIME!

Ok enough bullshit lemee try to help..


"How do you deal with customers; their question; their complaints (already mentioned) in a manner that sets you apart from the hack?"

I have experience working in a professional atmosphere teaching and serving very well respected members of the community. Many of my clients say I am very "polished" after they look at the other guy. And I am not speaking about clothes. I will show up in one of my overworked bleached out company shirts with fli flops on and close before my competitor writes down the clients phone #.

"How do you present yourself as a professional, visually and aurally?"

Refer to my response above. Although, I do try to keep my clothes and appearance clean, when  my company is at full throttle I am working and answering the phone all day and doing estimates untill 10pm at
night. I am trying to get off of the wand, but atm we are treating that like we are opening a new business,
right now is not a good time for me to launch that plan.

"How do you protect yourself, employees, and customers in a way that they feel safe?"

I'm not sure I understand you totally here but I will try. I am insured fully and pay very close attention to all details leaving no stone unturned ,<--(is that even a word?lol)
Meaning if you work for me you better listen and pick up very quickly what I tell you to do.
And when I am working for you, you will know you got your money's worth.

"What can you do or how can you handle yourself so that even a bad job or situation still ends up a repeat customer? "

I have a perfect example:
We did two big tile roofs that were neighbors in nice gated community.
I asked them (they were active on the HOA) if they thought it would be ok if I put my nice shiny very pro looking doorhangers on a few homes. They replied with "we get them everyday go ahead"

Next day phone rings..
"who do you think you are coming in here soliciting with these doorhangers?"
To make a long story short, I was totally honest with the guy about how it went, did his driveway for nothing and cleaned his roof and his neighbors. Remember, I do have experience putting out fires at very high end jobs working for a BOD. This shit is like taking candy from a baby to me.

I used to compete with the hacks, I don't anymore. The only time I will compete with a hack is if I need to keep the ball rolling or I want the neighbor. My clients or the clients I want, don't use hacks.

I hope I helped.
thomas

Yes Thomas, I would agree, I was merely trying to add to the discussion on what should be taught. I have no doubt that if I were to work for any of the people on this board they would find me an exceedingly good employee. I am insured and seem to be working the public well. I have been busy enough and have yet to advertise once. I will be advertising by the way.

I think we should play golf sometime. I play a little different though. Most golfers pay good money to swing as little as possible. Not me!! I get my money's worth!  I usually play in the shade and have a tendancy to explore other fairways! 

[Apple Roof Cleaning]

Lots of good discussion here 
BTW, Schlitz is beer, NOT Malt Liquor.
It USED to stand for the best selling beer in America.
It is back to its original formula.
The Malt Liquor Schlitz is a totally different animal.

Nice getting everyones input.
No way we are all gonna agree.

David, you are correct, HOW do I teach ALL I know w/o shooting myself in the foot ?

LOCAL COMPETITORS read these boards.

WHY should I educate them any more then I already have ?

Although I HAVE in the past.
http://www.thegrimescene.com/forums/up-roof-asphalt-tile-shake-cleaning/13806-old-delco-tile-roof-cleaning-thread.html

They always start OUT real nice.

But experience has shown that they can sometimes turn into MONSTERS,  and go after me with both barrels blazing.

Then, I get turned into the "bad guy" who "dont like competition"

WTF does, especially if I was deceived into creating it ?

Then, I get told by some of the same people who learned from me "You are gonna have competition, get used to it".

Duh, ya THINK ?

Ya think in 15 years I haven't faced competition ?

Shit, I faced Mallard, a formidible competitor, and several others over the years.

I am still here.

I just find it "awkard" to see those I once helped kick me to the curb, bad mouth and try to discredit me, hoping people wont see their real intentions.

IF some of the local people I have helped EVER said to me "Chris, help me, tell me all your secrets, so I can TRY and take your business" I would have to them to get lost.

In MY mind, these people were pressure washers, just trying to clean THEIR customers, not go after mine.

I have NEVER pressure washed, because I had RESPECT for the other guys.

I purposely LEFT the Pressure Washing work for the other guys!


In a big subdivision locally a few years back, we were called to clean ALL the sidewalks.

I COULD have sprayed em with a secret sauce that whiten concrete w/o pressure, but the sidewalks were slanted, and grass would have been compromised.

Plus, it would have meant TAKING a LOT of work from what I THOUGHT were my "Pressure Cleaning Brothers"

So, I TOLD them to call a few people I suggested.

Bottom Line ?

MUCH of the sidewalks were simply sprayed by those I suggested with Chlorine anyway, and grass was killed indeed.

THIS kind of stuff seldom gets mentioned on these boards.

So David, we have a dilemma, and I am MUCH more selective what local competitors I teach anymore.

Of course, the "dark side" will spin this rant like this "Chris teaches local people, and when they TRY and get work, he jams them"

My response ?

"You GD Right I do, because I feel disrespected and deceived?

Had ANY of those locals I taught or showed anything to EVER indicated they would go right after me, they would still be asking questions.

If they choose to compete with me, then they have crossed that line from "someone friendly, with roof cleaning questions" to "someone trying to effect my livelyhood".

They will get my full, undivided attention, like any other competitor.

[Squirtgun]

Who certifies the certifier?This looks like the classes pwna used to offer IMO.

People get certifed,but not by any recognized authority,other than someone who gives them self the title.

[Peerless]

welp Chris, I am getting tired and my eyes are tired from playing video games so I will leave you with this to
think about..

You can't keep contradicting yourself over and over and not expect some lol, the 10%'rs to miss your
trip ups. Now you love to go and search dig up old posts and try to take stuff out of context but you have
keyword kowboy'd your self silly:

You are opening as you stated..the first forum dedicated to teach roof cleaning and here you are on TGS:

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Apple Roof Cleaning
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May 24th, 06, 11:52 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mike Williamson
So what you're saying is that it's just fine for you to work with and help MY competition, since they won't be competing with you? Gee thanks!

I have no problem with helping my competition. The better to show them where prices ought to be. Better that than some hack with no guidance at all blasting away at a customer's roof with full pressure and ruining a future customer for any of us.
My my, how things can get turned around ?
By being a "Forum Leader" YOU are helping MY competition, and now you can bet that ANY calls from Gainesville I get will get "extra special attention", LOL
Just kidding, of course!

Mike, I respect your opinion, and your good intentions.
But one has to remember, that not all out there reading this stuff intend to make their ONLY living doing this, like we do!

Here in Tampa, we have Tampa Electric Employees, and Fireman, on a 4 day work week.'
These bastards are making over 50 grand at TECO, and 40 grand as Firemen!
These part timers will undercut you in a heartbeat!
Tampa is crawling with these roof cleaning whores, and that does not include the Carnival guys, and the Crack heads!

You can TRY and "educate" them as to where prices should be, but they dont care.
They just want to make some extra "beer money" and could care less if they put us all out of business.
Unfortunately, it's almost better for them to pressure wash, because then they aren't offering the same thing we are ?
Here in Tampa, people wont let you pressure wash a roof, unless MAYBE Tile ?
So the pressure washing butchers are automatically eliminated.'

I guarantee the people I have helped are miniscule in comparison to the many competitors turned out by these boards.
And, I actually get to know those I help.
Sure, I can get scammed, but posting info on a board, how do you know that your local competitor isn;t reading it ?

I would really hate to have to face a wife and hungry kids because I enabled someone to put me right out of business ?

And, BTW, most of the calls I do get are from people in really out of the way places, where no one is offering this service anyway.





Now Chris,

Why are saying you can try to educate them in this thread and they don't care and you have tried to before and it failed!!!!! now you want everyone in on a price
standard?

 
Then you state how it is better for them to just pressure wash, because then they aren't offering the same thing we are ?

[Clear Shine Maintenance]

Who certifies the certifier?This looks like the classes pwna used to offer IMO.

People get certifed,but not by any recognized authority,other than someone who gives them self the title.

True Scott, but that happens everywhere and in every profession. Lets take a look at college for example. Business to be exact. Professors are teaching and educating people who are getting degrees and are teaching business classes, but yet most have never once owned or operated a business. But yet, they are an authority on business. Just like many other cerifications from other companies, most aren't worth the paper they are printed on. That being said, I for one like the idea of a ceritification, but to pretty much use as a marketing tool.

[Apple Roof Cleaning]

Who certifies the certifier?This looks like the classes pwna used to offer IMO.

People get certifed,but not by any recognized authority,other than someone who gives them self the title.

Then, don't get certified Scott ?
No one is twisting your arm 

[Apple Roof Cleaning]

Now Chris,

Why are saying you can try to educate them in this thread and they don't care and you have tried to before and it failed!!!!! now you want everyone in on a price
standard?
Then you state how it is better for them to just pressure wash, because then they aren't offering the same thing we are ?

SOME do not care about education OR certification, these will not be RCIA people, obviously.
Ideally, I think it will be best to have some price guidelines, but that is MY opinion as a roof cleaner.
IMHO< we need SOME way to stop cutting each others throats ?
It did NOT work before,  but I like the idea, in THEORY,  IF we could successfully implement it.
Again, this is MY opinion, and NOT the opinion of the RCIA.
There are NO "plans" to control prices.
We MAY suggest pricing guidelines, in an effort to make all roof cleaners lifes better.
Delco has long suggested prices, don't mean everyone follows them ?

[Chris]

I thought that the Schlitz company went out of business. I have not seen that brand of beer in stores here since the 80's.

Is it really good beer or average for back then?