No place to detail! How to solve ?

DaC

DaC

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Ok guys.... living in a big city like São Paulo is a pain to detail, because there're more building than houses and everywhere is overcrowded with cars, anything is just too expensive to rent which is a big problem if you don't have a regular costumer base.... and no novice doing this on the side will be able to rent a place to detail....

Now the question is.....
Where do you guys seek for places that offers a nice condition to detail ?
How do you approach the manager / owner of these places to ask them to use it to work ?
How much do you usually pay ?
For how long do you rent it ? Day, weekend week ?

Well, I guess you already know what I mean and want to know... give me your tips... :dblthumb2:
 
You can try it like I started out. I started out in a small single bay garage that wasn't even big enough to detail out of, I would keep my supplies and tools in there and detail under a canopy.

I did that for about a year then started looking around for automotive shops that were closed at 5, and or weekends which I found rather quick a few towns over for $500 a month. It worked for me to do it that way because I could work after my regular job and on weekends and it worked for him because his shop kept generating revenue and those same customers would them go to him for his automotive needs and vice versa.

You just have to keep hunting and no matter were you're detailing out of, when you find that perfect spot you have to be prepared to drop everything and jump on it. Which is pretty much the spot I'm in right now, I found my perfect location and now I'm hustling trying to get the loan and capital to move my business to this shop.

Either way it takes patience and determination, if you got those then you'll find a spot in no time. Hope this helps
 
It sure helps! Thank you for the tip.... this kind of tips are very valuable.
My guess is that for paying a $500/mo rent you probably had a lot of costumers already, right ?
This must have been somehow tiresome to work double shift detailing...
BTW, it does concern me to have residences close by... the neighbors can complain about the noise....
 
Actually when I made the first switch I only had about ten regulars, I received a lot of business from his customers. He used to offer the service himself initially but he hates detailing(it's not for everyone, so please hold back the hate mail and replies) so stopped doing it. His customers liked the extra service and he loved my work so it helped. Sort of a gamble that payed off.

It was tiresome leaving my full time job but whenever I would get in the shop and see the latest canvas I would get excited and full of renewed energy. It did out of hand sometimes when I would try and work in two or three cars into a single night and not finish till 2, 3, sometimes 4 in the morning. Fiancé didn't like those nights to say the least lol.

I never really got a complaint about noise, but neither my machines or I were really loud so I don't know about that one
 
There are several auto detail shops in my local area that rent out storage places to do their work...seems to be alot cheaper then renting a building.
 
ProDetail said:
You can try it like I started out. I started out in a small single bay garage that wasn't even big enough to detail out of, I would keep my supplies and tools in there and detail under a canopy.

I did that for about a year then started looking around for automotive shops that were closed at 5, and or weekends which I found rather quick a few towns over for $500 a month. It worked for me to do it that way because I could work after my regular job and on weekends and it worked for him because his shop kept generating revenue and those same customers would them go to him for his automotive needs and vice versa.

You just have to keep hunting and no matter were you're detailing out of, when you find that perfect spot you have to be prepared to drop everything and jump on it. Which is pretty much the spot I'm in right now, I found my perfect location and now I'm hustling trying to get the loan and capital to move my business to this shop.

Either way it takes patience and determination, if you got those then you'll find a spot in no time. Hope this helps
Click to expand...

generating revenue and those same customers would them go to him for his automotive needs and vice versa.

customers would them go to him lol wheres your spell check pro think it shoud be then your not that good at spelling also
 
I'm great at spelling, I blame that one on fat fingers and a small keys on my phone. But now it's becoming childish bringing my post into someone else's post. Not very helpful either Master Detailer
 
master detailer said:
generating revenue and those same customers would them go to him for his automotive needs and vice versa.

customers would them go to him lol wheres your spell check pro think it shoud be then your not that good at spelling also
Click to expand...

Really? What was the point of your post? Everyone knew what he was saying. Spell check won't pick something up if it's spelled correctly and just not the right word. Especially if it was sent from a phone.
 
Ok guys, let's try to keep on topic here.... no picking with each other...
@ProDetail I can see you really worked hard to get your business going... congratulations for that!

I liked the storage place option too.... but I don't know up there, but here in Brazil this type of place is usually not "very friendly" in a way I think it might be dangerous start taking cars to detail there.... you know... someone could get interested on what you're bringing in as I'm gonna be there for a long time alone with the car.....
 
DaC said:
Ok guys, let's try to keep on topic here.... no picking with each other...
@ProDetail I can see you really worked hard to get your business going... congratulations for that!

I liked the storage place option too.... but I don't know up there, but here in Brazil this type of place is usually not "very friendly" in a way I think it might be dangerous start taking cars to detail there.... you know... someone could get interested on what you're bringing in as I'm gonna be there for a long time alone with the car.....
Click to expand...

Security is a must for any location, if you personally don't feel safe being there with sometimes vehicle then odds are it's not a good place to be. Just keep hunting, you'll find the spot you want in no time.
 
ProDetail said:
...if you personally don't feel safe being there with sometimes vehicle then odds are it's not a good place to be...
Click to expand...

That's a good way to think actually. I was detailing at a parking lot before and I must admit I really doesn't felt any safe there, so I decided it was better not to detail at all there than taking the risk... But it's hard to find a place that won't ask rivers of money to lend some of their space for some hours.
 
Yesterday I decided to visit a new parking lot close to my house, much safer and better to work.... Although the owner asked court more money than I'm used to pay and only allowed me to work on saturdays from 7am to 3pm....
I usually take longer than that south a car, but well I.can try to speed up using better technique....
Another down side is that I can't use water....
 
When you first start out honing your techniques is MUCH more important than speeding up. Only possible outcome will be a bad job faster.
I'm not saying that you do a bad job, but trying to speed up your work without a solid foundation is more than likely going to lead to failure. If it is more money than you are use to paying, with less time allowed to work on your craft then I would pass that spot up.

Or what you could do, is use that spot until you find a better location at the same or cheaper price and offers you the security you are looking for.
On a good note, it's good that you decided to look for better locations, just remember that it may take time, just gotta be patient, even if it means passing something that doesn't feel right. :props:
 
Yeah after talking to some pros here like you I realized my technique and method was my main problem rather than working conditions, which also helps for sure.
I'll keep this spot on hold, for the reasons you've mentioned.... I don't feel like doing hack job. It defeats the purposes of the reputation I want to build and already started to.

My approach with these places will be like this now:
I'll take my car poping and shining there, because everybody gets impressed when they see its shining, and ask the owner: "I work polishing cars, and have some clients but I need a space to work on them. How much would you charge me for that ?"
I say polishing cars because we don't have such word as detailing in portuguese.... I mean.... We do have, but not with the meaning you guys do.
 
Way to go buddy. Just remember one thing, when working on cars customer satisfaction is key to a successful business. Anyone can say they detail, but only a few can back it up with a constant flow of return customers who value your work. You work on your skill and everything will fall into place.
Keep us updated
 
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