Reviews Killing My HVAC Service Growth - Need to Fix This BS

DuctDoctor3

·1mo·27 replies·26 participants

DuctDoctor3⚒️ JourneymanOP1mo

I'm trying to grow my HVAC side hustle, but these damn reviews are tanking everything. Had a job last week swapping out a Trane XR condenser, went smooth as hell, but the customer left a 3-star because we tracked some dirt in - now it's dragging down my Google rating. Watched a video from The Contractor Fight on handling bad reviews, but it's not helping with the angry clients who post crap online. Switched to Housecall Pro for scheduling, thinking it'd boost my rep, but nope, still getting dinged for minor stuff. Anyone else dealing with this? Feels like one bad review wipes out months of good work. Starting to think I should just ignore online stuff and stick to word of mouth.

NotAnElectrician4⚒️ Journeyman1mo

one bad review for dirt tracks? hell, i once fixed a guy's furnace and he dinged me because my truck was 'too loud' while idling out front. feels like we're running a hotel service instead of hvac, with towel animals and mints on the pillow. started leaving booties on my guys' feet, cuts down on the mess but makes us look like a bunch of ballerinas. laugh or cry, right? 😂

ShingleShark19⚒️ Journeyman1mo

man, i feel your pain with those reviews dragging everything down. one dirt track and suddenly your perfect installs mean squat online. been there after a long day swapping a carrier infinity, only for the client to bitch about the boot prints on their new carpet. it's total BS how one pissed off customer can tank months of solid work. switched to asking for reviews right after the job via text, but even that doesnt always save you from the haters. word of mouth is still king, dont let the google noise get to you too much.

ChiselChamp⚒️ Journeyman1mo

fuckin homeowners these days act like theyre the only ones with a pulse, one speck of dirt and theyre torching your google rating while we bust our asses installing that trane xr right.

NailGunNinja9⚒️ Journeyman1mo

dirt tracks? hell, i've had customers rate me 2-stars cuz my boot print matched the wrong carpet fiber, like i was auditioning for a crime scene...

PlungeMaster🔧 Apprentice1mo

man, same shit here, one picky customer with dirt on their floor tanked my rating after a solid furnace install, feels like BS.

BoxTosser⚒️ Journeyman1mo

man, those one-star gripes over dirt or a five-minute delay kill me too, like one pissed off customer undoes a whole season of solid work. been there with my google profile tanking after a clean install, feels like BS.

GreenThumbGuru4⚒️ Journeyman1mo

man, i feel that - one dirt track from my boots tanked a perfect furnace install review and its been dragging my google score down for weeks. these picky customers are gonna kill us all if we dont figure out how to handle the bs.

DrainDiver2⚒️ Journeyman1mo

man, one BS 3-star for dirt tracks and it tanks your whole rating, while these picky homeowners give 5-stars to the clown who shows up late with a leaky truck... its total crap.

V4195🔧 Apprentice1mo

screw the dirt-tracking crap, homeowners expect perfection for peanuts but cry online when you breathe wrong. i say fight fire with fire, hit em with a demand letter threat under the review site policies if its straight up bullshit. seen it work twice already on my bosses jobs, turns 3-stars into deletions fast. dont let karens tank your hustle, grow balls and push back.

NotAnElectrician16⚒️ Journeyman1mo

same shit here, had a lady threaten a 1-star after we left a couple dust prints on her carpet even tho we vacuumed twice. ive seen guys go after bad reviews with demand letters and it works sometimes, but i worry about it blowing up worse online. boss tried it once and she posted the letter right on facebook. heard from a buddy that housecall pro has a review request tool that asks at the right time, cuts the crap reviews by half. its a pain dealing with these homeowners but fighting back can drag you down too. you ever try that tool or just stick with the letter thing?

WattWarden87🌱 Newcomer1mo

dont ignore the online reviews, one pissed off customer can tank your whole business like i saw happen to a guy who lost half his jobs over a 2-star dirt complaint.

PaintSplat⭐ Expert1mo

man, reviews are the WORST for us painters too, one drip on the carpet and bam, 2-star dragging everything down. been there with the dirt tracking bullshit, feels like homeowners forget we fixed their crap first.

ShingleShark2⚒️ Journeyman1mo

goddamn google reviews are a total scam, one pissed off homeowner tanks your rating and you cant even respond without looking defensive.

ShingleShark12⚒️ Journeyman1mo

man, one pissed off customer with dirt on the floor tanking your rating sucks, been there more times than i can count.

FixItFelix2⚒️ Journeyman1mo

man, those 3-star dirt trackers are the worst, one little mess-up and it tanks your whole rep. been there more times than i care to count, feels like you cant win with google.

DrainDevil3⚒️ Journeyman1mo

respond to every bad review within 24 hours, keep it short and offer to make it right in person - that bumps up your google algo and turns half of em into 5-stars.

DripStopper🔧 Apprentice1mo

got a 1 star last month cuz some guy swore the unit sounded like a jet engine but it was just his cat hair clogging the filter. respondin quick does help but half these folks just want free stuff anyway. tried askin for pictures first before the in person offer and it filters out the real drama queens. only took me two calls last year to turn it around with a $75 part instead of a full service redo. whats your average ticket after these reviews hit?

FlushMaster2⭐ Expert1mo

those entitled homeowners think a little dirt is the end of the world, but they're quick to tank your rating while we bust our asses in the heat for peanuts.

JoistJockey8⚒️ Journeyman1mo

fuckin homeowners think a little dirt is the end of the world, one 3-star and angi leads dry up faster than my commissions, its bullshit.

FlushMaster2⭐ Expert1mo

one bad review over dirt is nothing, seen guys lose real cash ignoring the 3-star ones and letting them snowball.

PolishPro2⚒️ Journeyman1mo

dirt on the floor beats 5 star reviews every damn time, seen customers complain about a clean house still. just start making them sign a waiver at the door so your housecall pro log shows you warned em.

SprayAndPray⚒️ Journeyman1mo

what'd they actually say about the dirt, did you offer em a quick carpet clean or just walk?

KeyMaster3000⚒️ Journeyman1mo

Set up a review gating system where you only ask happy customers to post, but keep it legal - skip the pissed ones.

PestPatrol6⚒️ Journeyman1mo

Don't ignore them. Respond to every negative review professionally, explain what happened without blaming. Had a guy sue over a bad install because we didn't address his rant quick. Costs you nothing but saves your ass down the line.

RoofRascal⚒️ Journeyman1mo

Yeah, responding turned a 1-star into people seeing you're on top of it. But damn, some customers are just trolls looking for free shit.

RoofRascal⚒️ Journeyman1mo

It's frustrating as hell. Spent weeks building my profile just for some Karen to tank it over a $5 filter they forgot to buy.

RustyFittings🔧 Apprentice1mo

Same here, man. Every time I get a solid job done on a Carrier Infinity, one review like that and leads dry up for weeks. We all feel it.