A mobile detailer's worst day is not a difficult car. It is arriving at a third-floor flat with permit-only street parking, no outside tap, a car covered in tree sap and a customer who is out until five.
Every one of those problems is knowable before the van leaves.
Step 1: capture the location properly
Full postcode, and whether the vehicle will be on a private driveway, a shared car park, an allocated bay or the street. Street parking raises permit and safety questions that decide whether the job is possible at all.
Step 2: capture space around the vehicle
A detailer needs room to open doors fully, walk around the car and set up equipment. A tightly packed car park makes proper work impossible, and it is better to know that now.
Step 3: capture power and water
Whether there is an outdoor socket and tap, and whether the customer is happy for them to be used. If the van is self-sufficient, say so prominently, because it removes an objection for flat dwellers and office car parks.
Step 4: capture shelter and weather
Some processes need dry conditions or shade. A driveway in full sun, or no cover in a wet week, may mean rescheduling or a different package.
Step 5: capture the vehicle and its condition
Make, model and size band, plus what condition it is in: pet hair, smoke, child seats, sap, bird lime, heavy interior soiling. These change the time required more than the size does.
Step 6: capture access and timing
Whether the customer needs to be present, whether keys can be left, when the vehicle must be back in use and whether anyone else needs the parking space.
Step 7: capture it in conversation
SpideyChat for automotive businesses asks these questions at any hour and captures the full site brief, using the approach described in booking widget versus conversational requests.
Customer: Can you come to my house on Saturday? Assistant: Most likely. The mobile page explains what is needed on site. Could you share your postcode, whether the car will be on a driveway or on the street, and whether there is an outside tap and socket? Also, what make and model is it, and is there any pet hair or heavy interior soiling?
Workplace detailing
Office car parks are excellent territory: several cars in one visit, a captive audience and no travel between jobs. Capturing the employer name and whether permission has been granted turns one booking into a regular round.
Weather and cancellations
Rain, frost and high winds affect what can be done outdoors and how long it takes. Publishing how weather is handled, including whether bookings are moved and how much notice is given, prevents a customer waiting in for a van that was never coming. It also protects the detailer from being pressured into work that will not finish properly.
Packages on the move
Not every package works mobile. Being clear about which services are mobile and which need the unit prevents disappointment, and package confusion is covered in detailing package questions before booking a valet.
Mobile services generally
Any business travelling to customers faces the same capture problem, as described in home visit physio requests and what to capture and test drive requests without back and forth.
Setting it up
Publish your site requirements, mobile service list and coverage area, then capture location details at any hour. The guides to installing the widget and training your bot explain how.