Winter Detailing - Business???

[Young_Stallion]

Is there a market for people who get detailing done during the winter?

Also, where the heck do you detail when it is winter, snow, freezing cold, etc...

[Scottwax]

I'm in the Dallas area, so it may be cold in the morning, but usually in the 50s to low 60's in the afternoon...still, when you first start out in the morning and it is 30 degrees, it is damn uncomfortable. Beats living on ramen all winter though....

[DaGonz]

I only do it seasonally..while I do have a garage, it is not heated and does not have floor drains. I will detail until the real cold arrives. Last year, it snowed on Halloween. The year before, I did my last detail in mid December which was a week of 55 to 60 degrees!

I start detailing again in Mid March to mid April, depending on the weather.

[NY detailer]

I go all year round, at least i try to.
I have a 10x10 tent with a portable heater i take with me,
as long as it is not raining or snowing i will detail

I do run into problems when there is a lot of snow on the ground and it is hard for me to move around the car.

If i need to shovel the around the car, i do charge extra for that as i inform the customer before i come for the detail
NYD

[Wash_Me]

You’re not a real mobile detailer unless you work outside in the winter in shorts . I have gotten some nice tips on Christmas Eve.

[PrecisionOnline]

Invest in propane heaters for your garage or if your mobile, try to stick with dealers and brokerages, since they have huge heated garages.

[Scottwax]

Originally posted by Wash_Me
You’re not a real mobile detailer unless you work outside in the winter in shorts . I have gotten some nice tips on Christmas Eve.

Back in 1996, in late Febuary, we had a nice warm front come though and it was in the mid 90s for two days, then back down to the upper 60's like was normal.

I have still been in shorts in early December, but once the lows are consistanly in the mid 40s and lower, it is just too uncomfortable to start off wearing shorts in the morning.

Last year, I got almost $600 in tips from my regulars. It's one of the nicer perks in this business.

[fidelfs]

We have a saying down here in Houston. We can have 4 seasons in just one single day.

Early Morning. high 20's - 30's (winter)
Mid morning 40-50 (fall)
afternoon 80-90 (early summer. Summer in Houston is 90 - 100)
evening 60-70 (spring)

Maybe rain in between.

My sinus is killing me down here. LOL

[Wash_Me]

One thing that is a pain is I have to drain my water tank, pumps and hoses in the winter for they won't freeze. Sometimes I have do this every day in the winter.

[ahha]

what kind of work has to be done when i m detailing?