Does it really matter how my house looks, if I'm trying to sell it?

The answer is yes. In many of our blogs we have constantly said that outward appearance matters. Unfortunately it does. Especially when it comes to selling homes or cars. The value is based on the appearance and what it contains.

How do we know this is true? Most times when realtors come in and evaluate a home, they look for cleanliness and clutter. They also want it staged so it becomes more attractive to buyers. Why should it matter? For most people, the more clutter a home has, it might lead a potential buyer to think that there is not enough space for their belongings. Others might think that if a home is dirty on the inside then that means it has not been well cared for. Which might lead to them thinking there will be many underlying issues, which would cost them more to fix. Now these are just issues on the inside. What about the outside?

We will always say that pressure washing a home's exterior is a good idea. Why? First, that's what a person sees first that's what we do. Second, it is a reflection of the home's interior. Third, that's what we do. Besides all that, the more a house is kept clean the better it will appeal to buyers. Its less of a headache for them. They can see any issues with it, but they will also feel so much better knowing the sellers cared. You are trying to sell the home right? Still, there are other elements to a home that can keep a home from selling. The landscaping.

Landscaping does not need to be extremely elaborate or even overly beautiful. Again, like the interior and exterior of the home, it just needs to be neat. Weeds, overgrown shrubbery, and uncut grass are not the most appealing things to buyers. No weeds, trimmed shrubbery and cut grass are extremely attractive.

Check out some of these pictures below and really think about the ones that make you feel good.

Now you know it really does matter how your house look. Especially if you are trying to sell it. 

Why commercial vehicles need love too!

Everyone thinks that its important to make sure their personal car is kept in pristine shape. While that's very true, what about a company's commercial vehicles? Why is this even coming into question, you might wonder? Here's why.

People often use the saying, "Don't judge a book by its cover." Let's get serious though, most of us will look at a company's building, tools, personnel and vehicles and will determine whether we will use their services or not. It may not be fair, but a person may think that the way a company looks, may seem to reflect how much they pay attention to detail. As we know, with most jobs, if not all of them, paying attention to detail is extremely important. It can mean a person's life. 

Then the question arises, why not have commercial vehicles detailed? It reflects the company. It really gives any new customer, a great or awful first impression. So why not woo them by having an immaculate car? Remember, it's said that you only have seven seconds to make a great first impression. Make sure those wheels and rims are shining beautifully. That body glistens with no dirt in sight and its so smooth its like it was brand new. What will people think then? Well, you will have probably made a great first impression when you roll up to whatever site you're working at. 

Besides closing a sale, why else should you have your commercial vehicles detailed? It will help protect this very important investment. By keeping the tires dressed, it will protect it from cracking. By keeping the interior vinyl dressed, it will be protected from harmful UV rays that will ruin it. Finally, keeping the paint waxed will also preserve it. Which will add to the luster of your vehicle. 

Now that you have been able to think about it. Why haven't you been getting your commercial vehicles cleaned? When are you going to set up your next appointment? 

I want to wash my car. What should I use?

Back before corrosive chemicals started to take over the Earth, there was a time when a person could just use the things they had to clean homes and cars. However, those times no longer exist. Instead, chemicals are everywhere and can be quite harmful not only to people but their investments. As a result many people wonder what they can use to wash their cars, sometimes asking the question, 'What should I use?' While this is a broad question, here are some general rules of thumb to think about while prepping yourself when washing your car.

Soaps. What soaps should a person use? Many would probably go run for the Dawn or Ajax for washing their cars. However, as the label says its says dishwashing liquid.  Unfortunately, while the dishwashing liquid will get the dirt off the car, it can ruin the paint. So the question again is, what do I use? Really any car washing detergent will suffice. Some of these even have bug removers in them and synthetic wax. There are professional types, but even a brand like Turtle Wax is fine.

Bugs. Bugs are usually an issue for those whose life is on the highway. However as was mentioned previously, some car washing detergents have bug remover in them. If you don't want to go that alley, there's another way. After you have washed your car and you are in the process of drying it make sure to wipe the front bumper really well with a microfiber towel and they should come up. It might take some elbow grease but try not to rub or scratch anything out. It could cause damage to your paint. So being gentle is everything. If its not coming up, good chances are, its already in your paint.

Interior cleaning. This is probably one of the most important elements of cleaning. Why? Well, its because we see it the most. Yet, something people neglect is dressing the vinyl. Why is that so important? Honestly, it helps protect your car from the uv rays the sun emits. Look for water based products, not oil based. Oil based products, with continued use, can cause damage to your vinyl. Again it wont happen overnight but it will cause it to look pretty awful after continued use.

Tires. Tires, believe it or not can have a huge impact on the overall look of your car. Its almost like going up to a home where the house itself, on the exterior, is nicely cleaned and power washed but the lawn is horrendous. Rims and Tires are a big deal. So try and pay some attention to them. PLEASE! The easiest way to make sure they're looking in tip top shape is by having your car washed regularly. Why? Well brake dust can collect and the longer it sits, the harder it is to clean. No joke. This will becoming extremely frustrating especially when you don't have professional grime and rim cleaner. Also, feel free to use oil based or water based dressing to get those tires looking awesome and protect them too.

So really there are a lot of things to keep in mind when trying to give your car a nice good washing, even down to the types of cleaning products to use. If these things are too much to remember, then just call a professional and have them deal with it. They'd be glad to do so.

Wax on. Wax off.

"Wax on. Wax off." A phrase many are familiar with from the Karate Kid. Yet, was Mr. Miyagi really teaching the benefits of making sure cars are waxed? Well, no. However, we can! In a previous blog we spoke about the differences in having your car detailed and going to a regular car wash to have a quick clean up job. While those car washes are not horrible, we did discuss that the quality of cleanliness you car needs is not top priority, this including a REAL wax job.

So what does a real wax job include? Your professional detailer could do it one of two ways. The first way is by hand. Making sure the wax is rubbed on a circular motion, in smaller areas at a time. The second way is with a waxing buffer. After the wax has been applied it gets removed and you have a nice smooth paint job. So what does it do besides make your paint job look awesome?

It protects your car from scratches. It doesn't make it immune, but it will help prevent them. It also makes future washing easier. In the state of Florida, two times of year, we are blessed with the presence of LOVE BUGS. These bugs are super aggravating. They love to be everywhere they shouldn't be. Including the grills, front bumpers and windshields of cars. However, if you keep your car waxed, they will not cause major damage to paint and when you go to wash your car, they will come off much easier. Another reason to keep your car waxed regularly the paint job will be kept up. This means there will be a reduction to oxidation in the paint and if you want to go resell it, you can make a better dollar then with out.

So its obvious there are plenty of great reasons to make sure your car's wax is in tip top shape. So the million dollar question is how often should it be done? Realistically it should be done between every three to six months. However, these things do come at a cost. If every three months is pushing it, try every six months.

Ultimately, cars should be waxed. If you do it, or have someone else do it, it should be done regularly, and your car will continue to look awesome.

This is an example of a car that had never been waxed! Well, I stand corrected. It was probably waxed after it was purchased at a dealership 8 years ago. However, with a little love and wax, the car looks a lot better. Still needs some attention, but not awful. 

What makes AZ Professional Clean different?

Who is AZ Professional Clean? Are we just another pressure washing company? Or just another over priced detailing company? No. We're quite different then most. What sets us apart? To start we are a husband and wife team who have very high values and morals that guide our business standards. What does this have to do with anything? Most people could agree that in business, some times its hard to find someone to do work that is honest and trust worthy. Especially in the business we specialize in.

Some might contemplate, 'should we leave them by themselves at our home? Or with our car?' Yes. Why? As was mentioned before, we have high moral values that guide our business dealings, and honesty is included in that!

Its safe to say that our cars and our homes are our pride. Right?

For us to feel like we've done a good job, we want you to know if there are pre-existing issues that should be resolved and not try and bandaid it. Or if we goof, we will make sure we take care of it, and not try and hide it from you. Some businesses are in it for themselves, we are not like that. We want to make sure things are done right and the customer is really taken care of. We're different. We care about the customer. We want things to be right.

We are also meticulous clean freaks. And by meticulous, we mean it. We look for stains some car owners would never notice. We try to make the hardest of driveways pearly white, instead of kind of clean. We love seeing things go from dirty to super clean. If perfection is attainable, we're reaching for it. Who doesn't enjoy seeing cleanliness?

So we're meticulous and honest. We are also young and ambitious. We have energy and are always trying to be better than the next company. We really want you to enjoy our work! No great company leaves customers unhappy. These are just some of the things that AZ Professional Clean different.

Is Detailing worth the price?

Why are detailers so expensive? Have you ever wondered this? Many people tend to ask that question. With the rise of $3-$5 car washes, it would only make sense to think this way, right? I mean, detailers can get expensive. What really does detailing involve? Why does it cost so much?

Auto detailing is defined as "an extremely thorough cleaning, polishing and waxing of an automobile, both inside and out, to produce a show-quality level of detail. Besides improving appearance, detailing helps to preserve resale value of a car." Really detailing does more than keep your car looking gorgeous, but it maintains it. Cars that lack that deep clean are more prone to having other issues with their paint and other cosmetic problems. But besides that, you will get more for your money when you try and resell it! 

I have to admit, before we took detailing under our belt, I loved the $3 car washes! They were great, they washed the car and I was out in under 5 minutes. It left my car looking decent though, not amazing. My tires were still pretty dirty, my windows were not extremely clean, and there were still stains in the car and I had to vacuum it. For $3 though, that's what you get. We all would agree that if we want quality, it does not come cheap.

Why? Detailers mean business when they clean. They want you to feel like a million dollars when you get your car back. Think about what they have to work with. They get very different types of clients. Sometimes they get the business man who is getting his routine wash and wax, or even the soccer mom who has lots of activity in the car. So what brings gratification to these detailers?

They want you to look for stains in spots that you could not clean yourself, and see they're gone. They want you to inspect your tires and see your self in the reflection because they're so shiny. They want you to notice there is no dust anywhere.  However, they go beyond that. They clean little things that don't matter to most. They clean your vents, they clean your handles, they make sure the windows are in tip top shape. However, besides these things, detailers pay attention to other details. What does this include? They take care of scratches and make sure their buffed. Some times they even repair tires, which may not seem like they need changing.

Sounds like hard work right? It is, but they are satisfied when you are. Too, its a matter of convenience you pay for. Anyone can go and try to wash their cars themselves, but sometimes it may just be easier and less laborious to have someone else do it and right. It can take a team to do a complete detail in about 2 hours, it may take someone who is not trained to just a wax job in 2 hours. And if they come to you, you won't have to wait in a shop until its finished. You are either in the comfort of your home or even at your place of employment.

So think about it. You can go to the carwash and get it cleaned and it may not be that expensive. However, the clean will not last as long. Yet, if you get a detailer, all the spots you hate looking at, the ones that nag you while you drive, will no longer be there. Also, the clean will last longer. It might just be worth it to pay a little extra some times.