Business name: Home Team Power Clean
Name of owners: Brian and Sandra Petts
Address: Battle Creek, Michigan
Date established: March 1997
Web site address: www.hometeamez.com
What is the purpose of your business?
To perform power washing and property clean-out services for the Marshall and Battle Creek Area. Specifically: house washing, deck and fence finish restoration, fleet vehicle washing, property clean up.
What does your business offer that is unique to customers/clients?
This is a profession that typically sees a lot of new people showing up every spring, and then they disappear, in a short time, the only problem with this, is the amount of damage that the beginner can unintentionally do to your home, when an untrained person is in control of a powerful pressure washer. Then for reasons unknown they are gone before the next season has started. This reputation has put a bruise on the industry. That is our challenge to overcome; we continue to do that.
What makes us unique is our perseverance, expertise, quality standards and perspective, which includes over a decade of perfecting our techniques, procedures, and our very own brand of customer service. We provide tried and true methods for washing home and building exteriors, washing, maintaining, re-sealing, and/or staining decks. We also love to wash the flatwork, such as drive and walkways.
When it comes to vehicle fleet washing services, there are a few companies from out of our area, that often don’t carry insurance or DEQ permits, that can under bid us by just a bit, but once you try our services for an extended period, you see that we are conscientious, and consistent, the biggest complaint I hear from fleet managers, is getting the Service provider to show up!
Shortly after starting Home Team a realtor friend wanted some help cleaning out a repo home, and that basically is how we got started in the “Got Junk?” or “Clutter Busting” services. It has since evolved into the addition of private individuals calling for hard to handle junk hauls. It is important that you don’t give your debris to someone that may dump it illegally, yes... it still happens. We are now reaching out to banks, credit unions, and realtors in the increasing foreclosure clean up sector. What makes us unique in this field, is our attempts to recycle, and re-use, debris whenever possible, while donating to local charities.
What is your business philosophy?
In keeping our services few, and the quality up, we are able to give our full attention to every customer and their individual needs. One of the reasons I went into the business in the beginning, was because real “customer service” was taking a back seat in so many service sectors, and the sales aspect was way too pushy. With my background, I knew I could make a difference, even if only in my small scope of services.
I continue to ask my customers that if there is any reason why they couldn’t refer us to their neighbor, with confidence, please let us know, Happy, returning customers are critical to keeping advertising overhead in check. That keeps us affordable.
What is the best part of running your business?
I have met some incredible people! I like being the driving force behind something good. And the challenges presented to obtain steady growth. My regular customers are the best! And I get to work in a lot of really beautiful places. Outdoors!
What’s it like doing business in Calhoun County/Battle Creek?
Shortly after high school I took off and toured Florida, as a highly motivated beach bum. I ended up settled in to the Fort Lauderdale area for about 12 years.
When I finally got married and had a baby. I knew where we needed to live. Battle Creek is a great place to raise a family, and it’s close to so much.
Local government is very friendly to the entrepreneurial spirit, with all the concern over economic issues these days; I have experienced growth the past two years, and expect it to continue. Battle Creek and Marshall areas have a character that can only be described as positive and very strong!