A lot of problems could be prevented just by asking questions. In life, in relationships, and most definitely in soft washing jobs. You’d be surprised how many headaches you can skip just by having a quick talk with the customer before you start washing.
The pros who’ve been doing this for years will tell you: the questions you ask before you start are just as important as the technique you use during the job. Let’s get into it!
The questions you need to ask:
Pre-Existing Conditions & Problem Areas
A good practice before you soft wash anything is to take a good walk around the area. You’ll see stuff like cracks, loose paint, or any other issues that might mess with your job. But there are always things you won’t catch unless you ask. Here’s what to ask the customer before you do anything:
“Has this spot been soft washed before and has there been any problems with the results?”
The point of this question is to figure out if there’s a chance the same problem might come up again when you wash it.
“Any water leaks inside the house from cracks or gaps outside?”
Leaks can cause problems when you soft wash an area and you don’t want to make it worse.
“Any repairs done around here lately?”
Fresh repairs can be fragile and might not hold up well even with low pressure so you definitely want to know that.
“Mind if I test a small spot in a hidden area first?”
I always recommend doing a spot test on any surface before starting to soft wash. Make sure to let the customer know that you’ll do a spot test in a hidden area so you won’t risk damaging anything just in case. See our article: SPOT TEST BEFORE SOFT WASHING
“Had any bad experiences with other companies?”
Because you don’t wanna make the same mistakes that other companies have made.
Utilities & Safety
“Where can I hook up my hose for the water source?”
I’ve seen a lot of guys asking on FB groups what to do or charge if the customer doesn’t have water or water access they can use. Typically the customer will understand you need access to their water, but it’s always a good idea to ask where you can get access. If the customer doesn’t have water (which is very uncommon) or doesn’t want you to use theirs, you’ll need to charge extra if you’re gonna provide your own water source. (But that’s usually a red flag.)
“Any outdoor electrical wires or outlets I should know about?”
This is really important because you don’t want to spray wires or outlets that could cause a problem. They’re usually easy to spot, but you never know, so it’s always good to ask.
“Do you have any pets or kids who would be in the house during the job schedule?”
If you know there are pets or kids that might wander around while you’re working, you’ll be more attentive when doing the job. Pets and kids can get in the way, and worst case, you might spray them with SH by accident.
“Any spots where the SH mix might run off and hit your plants or yard?”
Homeowners are usually pretty strict about their plants and landscaping and this question is a good way to make sure you don’t end up ruining their landscaping with chemicals.
Access, Scheduling & Payment
“Will you be home while I’m working?”
A lot of customers like to get their house or roof done while they’re out, so you need to ask this in case you need access to anything or if you need to get any special instructions from them.
“Where’s the best spot for me to park my truck or rig?”
This is pretty much a no-brainer for anyone, but sometimes you can get a ticket for parking in the wrong spot, especially if you’re at a big house and you’re gonna be there a while.
“What’s your preferred method of payment?”
A lot of guys don’t feel comfortable asking this upfront, but you should know. Like I mentioned earlier, some customers like to be out while you’re working, so you’ll need to know how they plan to pay you. It saves you from chasing them down later.
Common Red Flags You Should Watch Out For
Every now and then, you’ll run into some customers that just aren’t worth your time. That’s just part of the business. But you can avoid them as much as possible. Here’s a quick list of what to watch out for:
Homeowner doesn’t want you to use their water line
If they don’t want you using their water, it might mean they don’t trust you or their water isn’t decent quality. Either way, it can be a pain to deal with if you don’t factor in additional transport time if you have to refill your tanks from another location.
They had a bad experience with another company but won’t tell you what went wrong
This might mean they were part of the problem too. If they’re not willing to talk about it, that’s 100% a red flag.
The customer tries to lowball you
You should know this by now. If a customer is trying to get you down on price before you start, they’ll probably keep nickel and diming you the whole time, asking for follow ups to wash areas that weren’t part of the original agreement.
They keep adding stuff to the job but don’t wanna pay more
Don’t ever fall for this trick even if you’re that desperate for a job because you’ll just end up working for free. There are a lot of jobs out there!
Conclusion: Ask the Right Questions
At the end of the day, every job and every customer is different. Some lessons you’re gonna learn the hard way but asking the right questions is going to save you from the worst outcomes.
It’s always easier to ask a few questions before you start than to deal with a big mess later on.
