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bnkeenan · Guest

Did Free Roof Cleaning for a local business.... Owner says "Disappointed"

Washed-up · guest

Did he understand fully that this was a demonstration of sorts? I guess this would be the down side of not meeting face to face, but I do feel your pain.

Guest

I did the same thing on a high profile roof in my home town. I mean this roof was bad, had tons of moss on it also. I did the front side but not the back side. She said it looked great but why didn't you do the back I told her that we only agreed that I would do the front of the house. I then said if you help pay for the material cost I will do the back, that was 5 months ago. I haven't done any free bees since, I would approach him and say hay if you help with the cost of the materials and see what he says. Or just go do it and hope it pays off with referrals and just good publicity of being in a high profile job. well good luck either way

Oct 18, 2010

Bob, this statement in your post...I mention that I'd do a demo for him at no cost to clean the roof at no cost to him as a showcase, as it is located on the busiest road in town, with huge exposure. He agrees,

It pretty much gives me the impression that you wanted to do the whole roof for him for free and use it for advertising. He may have also misunderstood that the demo was not just for potential customers but for him also. Am I reading this wrong??? Maybe I'm just over tired. confuse

Xstream · Guest

I agre with Larry. I was thinking the samething when I read it. I guess what you could have done ( can do in the future ) is write it up on as a propsal explaining what you will and wont do. This will cover you in the event that only half the roof is suppose to be clean and they wanted it all. You would have it in writing. But hey I dont know. I still new and learning myself

WDE · Guest

From your info above, it seems he was under the impression you were doing the whole roof then you would be able to display sign or get references. I would call or email him and state is was a misunderstanding and we will complete the roof for payment or sign displayed as discussed.

Some business owners don't show appreciation, they expect.

Roof looks good.
Good luck...

TBD · Guest

I would ask him if he like the job? if he said yes, then explain this was a demo for references and request two roof references from him and you will complete his roof for free..... (if you can at least get 2 roof jobs out of it) is better than going home with your tail tuck under.....

The demo is a appreciation of your quality of your work.....for yourself....
OR : complete the job and suck it up for now ....and hope he will throw you a bone in the future.. emote.img?ID=8424

Good luck
Some time you got to lose work to gain more work to get your name out...
I've done it and I'm sure there are many here have got similar stories for what your going threw now.....

-- Edited by TBD on Tuesday 19th of October 2010 07:35:00 AM

Central Iowa Roof Cleaning · Certified Cedar Shake Roof Cleaning Specialist

The only freebies I do are Churches. Let the Lord sort the rest out!

RCIA Founder

Go back, do the rest, and get your exposure, you got nothing but an angry owner now.

Roof Cleaning New Jersey · Oct 19, 2010

If this guy was too busy to get back to you about free work they recieved, do you really think he'll have the time or courtesy to go out of his way to give you recommendations? I would do the rest only if youre getting something really special out of the deal, like some serious advertisemnet or signs on the property. Otherwise write it off as a lesson.

Chowell77 · Guest

I personally would suck it up and do the rest and treat it as a lessoned learned. He may have been too busy to give you reccomendations or appreciate your work but it's been my experience that people are never too busy to complain to others about service they feel was unsatisfactory whether it was or wasn't.

guest

Give me a break you said you would clean the roof at no cost, lol

and now you are complaining about how long it took you and how much materials cost you, I would be pizzed too, sorry brother you shouldn't offer to do things for free then complain, and on top of that you just defeated the whole purpose of doing this job..

If I were you I would complete the job and tell the owner your that your an azz ( you ) and that you learned a valuable lesson.

sorry brother to be so hard on you but you deserved it.

That stinks you did free work and now your created a bad relationship from it, ouch.

-- Edited by Roof Cleaning NJ on Tuesday 19th of October 2010 08:41:53 AM

Xstream · Guest

Roof Cleaning New Jersey wrote:

If this guy was too busy to get back to you about free work they recieved, do you really think he'll have the time or courtesy to go out of his way to give you recommendations? I would do the rest only if youre getting something really special out of the deal, like some serious advertisemnet or signs on the property. Otherwise write it off as a lesson.

He wont be to busy to tell others that you didnt complete the work. Remember the old saying in customer service. I think it goes like this but dont quote me on it.

Happy customers tells 3 ppl, but a disapponited customer tells everyone he knows!

Its obvious he cant say anything about the before/after. But what he can do is tell ppl he knows that needs their roof cleaned that you didnt follow through with what you said and that your not a man of your word. You cant afford that to happen!!

To be honest if I lived in your area, I would find the location, go clean it. Make the manager happy!!! Now I have all the refs. I was the company that saved the day.
And you know he has made the phone calls already. He cant afford to have his boss in his a** on why half the roof was cleaned and the other wasnt. He's going to get to get it done. By you or someone else, but its going to get cleaned.

Not trying to p*** you off, but you have to remember your in business to make money just like your competition. You need to start thinking like them. If you leave the door open they will walk through it, close it and lock it before you have a chance to.

This board is here for us to learn from. Trust me when I say their are other ppl reading it and never posting. They are looking for opportuinties just like this one. Don't let them be the kinght in shining armor and save the day.

Guest

What I read is that you did not tell him you was only going to do half, if you did tell him that it was a demo and you was only doing half than I would have written some type of small contract out and had him signed. If you told him only half now he just want's something for free and as a business owner on his part he will squeeze what he can out of you to get it for free. No difference from a home owner that only wants half done, than once your done one month later they want the other half done because the home owners association is still hounding them. Since he is a business and you can get a recommendation from him just do the other half and let him know that you will use his building as before and after photos for your commercial side of your business. Hope it works out and sorry to hear it, stick with church freebies at least they will be more appreciative to the work you do.

Roof Cleaning New Jersey · Oct 19, 2010

I'm not buying it. It appears as though you cleaned the most visible side of this building. You've enhanced the curb appeal for free. Is this guy so irrational as to not appreciate it? What's happening in this world? Who's to say you won't clean the other half then he'll complain about the siding or walks? But wudu I know? Go spend another 2 hours and $75 chasing good after bad.

Green Apple Roof Cleaners LLC · Premium Member Roof Cleaning Institute of America

I would say to be very selective on free bees. Church free bees are great because you can gain much exposure from their members. People do appreciate and recommend when you volunteer your labor and material.
Private businesses are different. If you were to damage anything on or around their building , they may want to be compensated monetarily. That would suck because you made nothing and now you give them something back for nothing. For all your work they may not let you even advertise. The person that you just did his roof could be one of these people. I am not telling you not to do free bees, just be causes. Make all of your free cleanings advantageous to you. I would at least have my material paid and have an agreement how long you will advertise on their property

biggrin

-- Edited by Roof Cleaners of Southwest Pa on Tuesday 19th of October 2010 03:45:00 PM

ATTICUS Roof Cleaning Ohio · Guest

Well I can offer this. If I were you I would get back and clean the rest just as good. Business men know other business men and so on and the more you know or have contacts with the more opportunities present themselves.
Ya it's a financial hit but I am sure you will find it will pay off in the long run.
My vote is to finish it up for the guy and go with your "plan A" and utilize it as advertising.

mfulton · Guest

Bob I have found in the past that bad news travel way faster than good. One guy especially a business owner could do a lot of damage to your rep. I would take it on the chin and tell him there must have been a misunderstanding you will come back in good faith and finish the roof and chalk it up to experience. Make sure you shake his handle and ask him for at least 3 new referrals before you leave. I'd definitely get it in writing next time.

-Mike

Oct 19, 2010

I have to agree with Chris and Garth. I would do the following, send an email that you just wanted to make sure he was satisfied with your work before you proceeded further. Then when you are finished I would put a nice before and after " xtra large lawn sign " on his property facing traffic with before and after photos of his location. Get a couple made incase they go missing. He won't say "boo" to that,how could he? Now he's happy......he feels you kept your word and won't mind telling others how great you were. You will spend more then $ 200 on some sort of advertising that can't compare to what you can get out of that location. Good Luck!

white fox · Guest

I'm with everyone else you just got a mad customer now better go and finish it

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Dwayne Miller
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Lake Marion Citrus & Sumter Counties in Florida

The Roof Cleaning Institute Of America Training & Certification Forum "Find A Certified Roof Cleaner Directory"

Dwayne MillerFLORIDAWASH

Lake Marion Citrus & Sumter Counties in Florida

The Roof Cleaning Institute Of America Training & Certification Forum
"Find A Certified Roof Cleaner Directory"

Dwayne Miller
FLORIDAWASH