Clean Informer Magazine Summer 2013 | Page 8

By MoreFloods T he average water damage job is 10 times the payout of a large carpet cleaning job. To make $156,000 per year in the water damage industry, all a company has to do is get a reasonable 1 job per week. To make $156,000 per year in the carpet cleaning industry, all a carpet cleaner has to do is never put the wand down, keep a chiropractor on staff and never see his wife or kids. For the carpet cleaners that like seeing their families and want to take more vacations with them, water damage jobs can be VERY appealing. And, with a little focus & the right tools, they can be very easy to get. Here’s where water damage jobs suck for carpet cleaners: That very first call. 8 A storm just passed through your area and everyone’s HAMMERED with water calls and one of your best customers calls and says “I need you! There’s 6 inches of water in my house & I can’t get anyone out here!” You imagine a $6,000 price tag and how you could really use that check right now so you jump in the truck and head out to save the day. And so begins your journey into water damage restoration. That’s the good news. The bad news is that you have a LOT to think about…and fast: 1. Equipment. You need it, but you don’t have it. The good news is – you can rent it! The bad news is – everyone else is renting equipment too, so your local distributor is empty. You can call a buddy and see if he has any you can use, but what equipment & how much of it do you need? 2. Drying. Maybe you’ve heard of the S500 or even taken a WRT class just in case, but it’s different when you’re in the house for the first time. There are a lot of things to consider (i.e. cabinets, hardwood floors, multiple levels & wet contents) and if you miss something,