Currently everyone in the pool and spa industry, and the world, is dealing with the Corona Virus. At some point in the very near future, the commercial properties will find a way to open and homeowners are already using their pools and spas more often as they stay home. Now that the time has come, we need to be ready. For your commercial accounts, this is perfect timing to reach out to your clients and express the importance of being ready when the approval to open the facilities happens.
Keeping the communication lines open between your company and your clients will be extremely important. It will remind your customers that you are essential to the opening of pools and spas and that both commercial and residential properties need to be prepared for their opening.
On the commercial side of the industry, the County Health Department requirements don’t go away just because the gate is locked. Safety is and will always be number one. Take this opportunity to review each property and make a check list of the safety items required by the Health Department, for that property.
On the residential side the same applies, with less regulation. If you see something that is unsafe, add a note in your billing. Keeping this documented, can help protect your company and the families and employees it supports, as well as protect your insurance.
Regardless if it’s a commercial or residential facility, see the check list you have provided for each property as an opportunity to not only protect you, your company, the site manager and maintenance supervisor, but also as a way to show you care about the safety of the operation. The information and estimates you provide will be reviewed by regional supervisors and property owners, commercial and residential. They need your expertise and the information you can provide as an expert in the industry.
There must be a change in the nature of the relationship between the service company and ownership or management of the property. Many companies have service techs that incorrectly think that by not mentioning a problem they see; this means everything is fine. This needs to change. They should communicate everything from baskets that need replacements, small plumbing leaks, pump seals that in time will destroy a motor, electrical connections that are fractured/broken, to trip hazards gates that are not self-latching, anything you see that is unsafe should be your responsibility to inform the customer in writing. Let them make the decision to address the problem or not. It is very important that you help protect all concerned, your company and the client, by providing them the proper information.
If you see something during your servicing of the pool, that is clearly unsafe, don’t engage the offender, simply report what you have seen to the office and let them handle the information. There are some things that require immediate attention:
See this as an opportunity to not only protect your client, but as an opportunity to make money. Provide the repair estimate and make the profit your company needs.
With the weather starting to feel like summer more often, get prepared. Keep all your normal estimates for filter service, conditioner and specialty chemicals. If you haven’t already started, this is your window of opportunity.
The average person using the pool and spa can’t see the hazards. They are counting on us to see these things. Here are some things you can do:
There will be individual families and properties that will have some financial struggles with the Corona Virus. Work with them, let them know you care coming up with options to keep pools and spas operating until they are back on their feet. Don’t look back, keep moving toward the solution.
Thank you,
Larry Walters, V.P. Business Development
California Pool Association
909-536-3027