I get asked on almost every job I bid or do how long soft washing will last. Everyone of our customers either only ever had their roofs pressure washed or never cleaned at all. Most cases they hire us because they have tile roofs and don't want it walked on in any way. But the ones who don't mind it being walked on are looking for some time frame I can give them to try to justify the cost of soft washing cause it is significantly more than the chuck in a truck quote they got. The first roof I did was last August and I see it all the time and after almost a years there is zero sign of bacteria returning. That's my only hard evidence that it lasts Does anyone else give a time frame or guarantee? What's a good response to this question?
Jeff Thompson said
Jun 8, 2015
I'm giving a two year guarantee if pushed or think I need it to make the sale. So I kind of keep the guarantee in my back pocket. I've just moved down to Florida so any guarantee makes me a little nervous the way GM grows down here. Interestingly enough I lost a job because of, and I quote the customer....."to expensive and more importantly a dubious guarantee".
AC Lockyer said
Jun 8, 2015
Ryan,
You have one of our systems. You should look into getting Authorized so you can give our 5 Year Warranty.
AC
Bob Riddick said
Jun 9, 2015
We give 5 year warranty on roofs and 3 years on walls. One thing I tell all our customers is the closer to the ground, the less warranty. We get very few call backs.
Brandon Vaughn said
Jun 10, 2015
Jeff, (and to all) I'd be cautious about establishing a warranty program as a back pocket kind of deal... it can get you into trouble if customers ever get the chance to compare notes. Your customer you lost the job to who said dubious guarantee is right to be concerned. If it is a back pocket warranty - you will have a very difficult time tracking who you told it to and who you didn't.
My advice would be to establish a warranty you are comfortable with, and put it on everything. Print out a bunch of certificates with your verbiage and tell all your customers up front about it. You will close more deals.
Plus, yes you will go back and do a touch up here and there, partly because perhaps you didn't get a 100% kill ratio, or because it just happened to grow back faster - however it's another opportunity to get back in front of the customer, show off your customer service, get more high-loyalty referrals, and upsell on other areas you notice need attention while you are there!!!
Don't view warranty call-backs as all bad. They aren't. :)
Spencer Zeman said
Jun 10, 2015
I offer a 1 year unconditional warranty against anything on the roof except loose debris. Three years against regrowth. I operate in the Pacific NorthWest and our climate is a little more conducive to growth of all the things softwashing is good at removing.
Jeff Thompson said
Jun 10, 2015
Brandon Vaughn wrote:
Jeff, (and to all) I'd be cautious about establishing a warranty program as a back pocket kind of deal... it can get you into trouble if customers ever get the chance to compare notes. Your customer you lost the job to who said dubious guarantee is right to be concerned. If it is a back pocket warranty - you will have a very difficult time tracking who you told it to and who you didn't.
My advice would be to establish a warranty you are comfortable with, and put it on everything. Print out a bunch of certificates with your verbiage and tell all your customers up front about it. You will close more deals.
Plus, yes you will go back and do a touch up here and there, partly because perhaps you didn't get a 100% kill ratio, or because it just happened to grow back faster - however it's another opportunity to get back in front of the customer, show off your customer service, get more high-loyalty referrals, and upsell on other areas you notice need attention while you are there!!!
Don't view warranty call-backs as all bad. They aren't. :)
Good point Brandon. I will rethink this.
Bob Riddick said
Jun 11, 2015
I agree with Brandon 100%! Show some pride in who you are, the services you offer, and the warranty that backs it up.
Jim Prom said
Jun 11, 2015
Great insight Brandon!
Ryan Harder said
Jun 13, 2015
Thank you Brandon for that information. You make great points. And Bob, I agree with having pride in what you do and the services you offer. I think for our company down in SW Florida we need to separate ourselves from the chuck in a truck and give our potential customers piece of mind that we back what we do. Thanks everyone for your replies.
I get asked on almost every job I bid or do how long soft washing will last. Everyone of our customers either only ever had their roofs pressure washed or never cleaned at all. Most cases they hire us because they have tile roofs and don't want it walked on in any way. But the ones who don't mind it being walked on are looking for some time frame I can give them to try to justify the cost of soft washing cause it is significantly more than the chuck in a truck quote they got. The first roof I did was last August and I see it all the time and after almost a years there is zero sign of bacteria returning. That's my only hard evidence that it lasts Does anyone else give a time frame or guarantee? What's a good response to this question?
You have one of our systems. You should look into getting Authorized so you can give our 5 Year Warranty.
AC
We give 5 year warranty on roofs and 3 years on walls. One thing I tell all our customers is the closer to the ground, the less warranty. We get very few call backs.
Jeff, (and to all) I'd be cautious about establishing a warranty program as a back pocket kind of deal... it can get you into trouble if customers ever get the chance to compare notes. Your customer you lost the job to who said dubious guarantee is right to be concerned. If it is a back pocket warranty - you will have a very difficult time tracking who you told it to and who you didn't.
My advice would be to establish a warranty you are comfortable with, and put it on everything. Print out a bunch of certificates with your verbiage and tell all your customers up front about it. You will close more deals.
Plus, yes you will go back and do a touch up here and there, partly because perhaps you didn't get a 100% kill ratio, or because it just happened to grow back faster - however it's another opportunity to get back in front of the customer, show off your customer service, get more high-loyalty referrals, and upsell on other areas you notice need attention while you are there!!!
Don't view warranty call-backs as all bad. They aren't. :)
Good point Brandon. I will rethink this.
I agree with Brandon 100%! Show some pride in who you are, the services you offer, and the warranty that backs it up.