Question Of The Week: Is This Vendor The Right Fit For Your Facility?

Getting off to a good start is important when hiring and working with a new vendor. Here are some tips and tricks from Segura & Associates, a consulting firm that works with both cleaning contractors and building managers.

Cleaning contractors should always keep marketing their services to the facility managers who hire them, in good times as well as the not-so-good times. Unfortunately, some vendor-facility manager relationships get off on the wrong foot right off the bat.

vendor
Credit: Thinkstock Images

Below is a list of tips and tricks from Ron Segura, president of Segura & Associates, a consulting firm that works with both cleaning contractors and building managers, to help both parties get off to a better start.

Good Contractors Should…

Not Show Up Unannounced: You should not be expected to stop everything you’re doing to meet with an unexpected salesperson, no matter what services or products they are marketing. Make sure potential contractors schedule an appointment.

Know Something About the Facility: Many times, a multi-tenant office building, for instance, attracts similar tenants. Some buildings attract attorneys; others architects and designers; and still others, volunteer organizations, etc. The cleaning needs for a facility filled with attorneys will likely not be the same for one occupied with non-profit volunteer groups.

Offer Free Service At Start of Service: Everyone likes something for free!

Provide Service Options: You may want to know the charges for five nights per week service vs. three nights per week. Or how much it would cost for full service three nights per week, and light service the other two.

What are some of the ways you’ve made sure a potential new vendor is a good fit for your facility? Please share your experiences—both successes and failures—in the Comments section below.