Power Washing and Roof Cleaning Forum

Capital Roof Wash · Approved Exterior Cleaner

Certification?

Eric Schnaible · Approved Exterior Cleaner

Yeah I really like Bill. I found the same "great news" in my service area Ray. Those guys have probably never even been to CA.

Ed Thompson · Approved Exterior Cleaner

Dont even blink at that nonsense. Put your blinders on. Move forward. Get found. Pick up your phone, no voice mail. Give fast excellent service. Be the best, know everything about your trade. Dress, eat, sleep and live the role. Peel off hats as you go. Attract talent. This is what makes a great businesses.

SprayWash · Approved Exterior Cleaner

Totally agree with you, Ed! Great advice you have given! I love competition, in fact I embrace it! Probably the only thing better than being successful, is knowing that you're beating worthy opponents while getting there!!!!

My problem with that other place is that I felt like my dues were directly being used to compete against me and my own market. That's unfair competition, and I don't really care for it!

John Aloisio · Approved Exterior Cleaner

I am Softwash Systems Authorized, and I do use it when doing my sales pitch. It helps with about 50% of the customers and they actually see value in it. The other 50% really can care less. Most of them do not even care if we have insurance or anything else. These people are not my target customers. I still go through everything and explain that we are state licensed and have all our insurance (GL & Workers Comp), that we are AsktheSeal.com verified, etc.... but they are looking for price, price, price!! At that point I know I probably will not get the job, and most likely don't want it, so I will not budge on the price. I think there is some value to having a certification. I just happen to like AC's, because it is very organized and complete. I can produce MSDS sheets & cut sheets for all the products I use, and show documentation of how long they have been in use. I can show that we have been trained, both classroom & hands on, with some consistency & procedure. The customers who don't care are the dishonest and ignorant ones. They are most likely to hire someone with no insurance, license, etc... I lost a job the other day to a guy who is a dishwasher at the local bowling alley and bought a Walmart pressure washer and now does it on the side. He has no insurance, license, methods, not even a truck. He shows up in his car with primer on it. The job was a 2200/sf, bi-level house wash. I was at $300.00 because it was easy, close to my house and not many plants. He did the job for $85.00. I drove by when he was there and it was most of the morning, about 3.5 hours. Boggles my mind!!!

Most of the commercial accounts that I have landed this year have been a direct result of having a certification and showing our processes. They look for it and appreciated it. I come from the roofing industry, where certifications pretty much can make or break a company, because you cannot get a warranty without one. To me it is a way to legitimize my company in a very unregulated industry.

Sorry for the long rant just in a bad mood with the rain and the cabin fever.

Ed Thompson · Approved Exterior Cleaner

Thansk Ray. It's poetic to see that letter as this forum starts to gain momentum.

Patrick G · Approved Exterior Cleaner

Up this way no one and I mean no one cares about certification and I would say over the years three people asked about it. I don't think the RCIA certification holds any water but I can believe A/C's is much better with class room training and the organization involved. You can't deny Chris Tucker's experiance but he faces many struggles in his life every day and has an inexperienced obsolete person in charge. The people this fool banned are the people on the cutting edge of cleaning, just look at how far A/C has come since he left RCIA and how far RCIA has fallen in credability. I think esp. in todays economy price is everything, that may be wrong but it is what it is. Being close in price with your certifications should get you the job, but money still is tight for folks.

JimmyJamRoofCleaninMan · Newbie

I just want to say that i'm glad i've been enlightened on the situation and whats been going on. I had gotten sick of the other forum a while ago. i hopped back on for a peek at it cause my email had been full of things that i didnt have time to read but were intriguing. I never worried about certification and thankfully never got around to sending them any money. I learned a great deal from that forum and from a lot of you guys here. I know what i need to know to get the job done correctly and safely without a peice of paper saying so.

Zach Maynard · Approved Exterior Cleaner

A certification is as powerful as you want it to be. I agree with John and as a company that came from the roofing industry too I can appreciate a real certification. I am SoftWash Authorized and spent my time and money to make that happen.
Not like the RCIA BS cert that cost me $100 and a "test" over the phone with Chris.
It is what you make it, people aren't going to ask for it, you use it as a sales tool.

Eric Schnaible · Approved Exterior Cleaner

Absolutely Zach. I dont think its true what some have said, that certification (any certification) means nothing. People don't ask for it because they are not aware of it. However, you can use it as a sales tool. If you market yourself as certified, that distinguishes you in the mind of the potential client, so there is value in it. Whose cert is better and has value is another argument.

Liberty SoftWash · PWS Vender

When I sell I always say that I am certified.

Doug Rucker · Vender

Anytime a customer ask you "how long have you been doing this" or "what kind of experience do you have" etc etc that means they want to make sure you know what you are doing. When I explain to them that I am a member and Certified by the UAMCC, and then show them the web site on my IPAD, along with the forums like this one, PWI, show them my school etc etc etc..CASE CLOSED DONE DEAL. Certifications when used properly can and will help you. I understand the thought that "no one ever asks if I am certified" but I also never have anyone ask me if I "Soft Wash"...they all consider it pressure wash or power wash. I also rarely have any one ask if I use Bleach. But I explain that I do and I explain why I do. No one ever ask if I am RCIA certified. (I am not), or if I am a member of PWI, etc etc.

It's all about educating the customer. I go into every estimate assuming the customer knows nothing, or what they do know may be a lot of mis information. It's up to me to show that I am part of a Professional Industry and that I take pride in my work, and most importantly am going to give the utmost care for their property. I always tell them that anyone can come out here and spray and try to clean, but 90% of any type of job like this is in the prep work and protecting their property. I let them know if they are looking for a 99$ house wash I am not their guy. But if they want someone that is going to prepare their property properly( cover outlets, move or cover delicate plants, cover door thresholds, etc etc) for the cleaning and or restoration that we are about to do, and then use the professional cleaning methods and techniques, along with professional cleaning products that are supplied from professional industry suppliers, (not dollar store products) then I am happy to be considered.

Most customers have dealt with at least one and sometimes a few different Pressure Washing companies..so it's the little things we do, and explain to them that we do, that can allow us to close sales at prices higher than they have ever paid or expected to pay. The best part is hearing them say afterwards..."worth every penny." Not trying to sound ****y or arrogant, but it really is all about setting yourself apart. Certifications and any type of Continuing Education can help you do that.

Eric Schnaible · Approved Exterior Cleaner

Tell it like it is Doug.

Art O · Approved Exterior Cleaner

Thanks for the very informative post Doug

SprayWash · Approved Exterior Cleaner

Excellent post, Doug!

mistersqueegee · Approved Window Cleaner

I understand the hesitancy some will have when it comes to certification, heck I was there myself once. Now I'm heading up the window cleaning certification committee for the UAMCC. I think in the beginning of any certification program it's up to the contractor to explain the benefits that come to the customer from our certification.

For instance - I let the customer know how active I am in the ongoing education that certification represents. That I'm tested by a 3rd party to ensure that I know my trade. That I am involved in helping others further their education. I now become not just another window cleaner to them but rather an expert and educator in the field. It changes their perception of me and gives me a leg up on the competition. I have in fact had more than a few customers say it's one reason they stay with our company when others low ball them.

And if I had read Doug's post before putting this up I simple could have said - Yeah what Doug said lol

-- Edited by mistersqueegee on Monday 28th of October 2013 02:09:45 PM

Admin · Head Quarters

waxman18324 wrote:
Back to certifications.....perhaps in other markets it's different but I've never been asked by a customer if I was certified by any group. They only seem to care if I'm insured and a registered PA contractor.

Hank

Well said!