Tegrey

I have been watching about six different BBS for the last 5+ years. All different and most very helpful. The knowledge and dedication of some is amazing. People dedicated to growing their business and helping others. What we want to accomplish on the ***** and all sites. One negative thought: Why do people spend so much time attacking others? I see post after post, condeming the LOW BALLER, village idiot, on and on. Some people spend most of their valuable time posting negative thoughts and info about others. If I spent 1 hr. a week posting, that is 50+ hrs. of information per year. If you make $20. / hr. thats $1,000. of your time. Some go on as to make up ficticious characters, videos and songs about these folks. Amazing how much time is crapped away on some one we don't know. ' Now on the other hand, if you spent the same time sharing positive ideas and growing your business, you'd probably make a lot more then the $1,000. Also gaining knowledge and fresh ideas. What is the benefit of attacking others? What is the benefit of growing our businesses? You only have so many hrs. to live on this earth. Wouldn't it be better to do it making someone else and yourself better? Just a thought.

Thank you all for the response. My comments were to open up eyes on how we waste time. Time which could be used for growing our company, doing estimates, gaining information and networking. I don't have a problem with adding how we got beat out of a job by money or the lack there of. We all started working for less then we charge now. Our experience came with time and actually doing the job. Some people will never improve or grwo their businesses. I learned a lot from other contractors in the PDCA. They shared everything and we grew. The same as here and other BBS, If I don't see Value in a post, I'm gone. Reading about Billy BoB, getting drunk and showing the "lowballers" errors doesn't improve my business. It bothers me to see the person who maybe a few years ago, knocking the very existance they started in. They were the "lowballer " then, and only grew from the post of intelligent contractors posting intelligent information. Please don't take me as a DUD. I am happily married, have a great family, party with the best of them, not as often as 20 years ago, and enjoy a good time. I guess I look at the post as a way to learn and share. Thus growing our business. I don't have any bad feelings for anyone. Our time is spent as we feel we need to. HotShot, Totally agree with constructive criticism. I do it daily with my employees. MMI, We are busy. Right on, knowing your enemies is a great start. Scott, Now the cost is $50,000 wasted! LOL Too much for me.

Rob, Any reputable paint store has them.

We built our deck two years ago using Deckorators. These products are simple and easy to use. Not too cheap though.

David, Stick your hand in it for a minute or two. Then you'll smell like it too! LOL Just don't drink it. Please.

RJ, I believe that many company's are jumping on the band wagon. They will take advantage of any situation to increase prices. I do believe we have a problem with rising gas prices. We again are taken advantage of by someone? What our business is doing is finding ways to offset the rise in fuel. We are actually spending money to save money. We will buy bulk as possible, bought a Saturn Ion (estimating), for fuel savings, and a new building, smaller yet much more effecient. We changed our advertising, added a website, have vendors that want to meet us on our terms. This all adds up. I believe we have or will save possibly as much as $50,000 in the next couple years. This is a lot of fuel surcharge. Maybe I'm wrong, but when I see afule surcharge, I see a business that is either ineffecient or making more money from the situation? Does anyone see the same, or am I missing something? Thank You.

JON! Thanks Man. I needed that! LOL Why just yesterday it sunshined for 15 minutes. We don't have sun burns up here and we don't have to worry about the next sunny day. Because we don't have any !!!!!! I only used to like to fish, when I didn't have anything else to do. Now I don't fish because I'm too darn busy. I will be down to visit you one day. Mark my word. I will be down to visit you one day? OWHHHH! Back to work. Thank You. LOL

Bob at Pressure Tek has photos listed on his site. The Bandit. Awsome Rig. We paid ours off in a few weeks.

Gotta raise our rates!

Trouble is we have too many just like it. LOL Thank You.

Cool. Hot tub with babes all around! I'd watch the guys though!!LOL The dude in the diapers? Scarey. I used to do (dress like them), women on Halloween. Till I kept getting offer by guys! LOL LOL

Ugly fence, No Problem.

Man it would be cool to start a singles group, but my WIFE would KILL ME!!! I couldn't believe all those folks were in the hot tub together. LOL

Carlos, Great post. My Mother is no longer with us, but I will never forget her. The idea of just saying Thank You, make many Mothers feel good. They deserve it. Especially if they had to put up with me! LOl

Rob R. Any stains can be sprayed. You just need the proper sprayer. Check your local paint store. Or each stain should list it's pressure and tip for what your spraying. Hope this helps.

Jon, It looks like Sikkens?

Cool, Technology is good sometimes! LOL

Nate, It is amazing how bad folks let their homes get! Keep up the great work.

Matt, Whips are used on most sprayers. They do help. If it helps me save labor, I usually buy it. Also, Ken has a great idea.

Good Morning. I know it is good when I open my eyes up and don't see dirt! LOL We are very busy. The phone rings about every 10 minutes. I had 30+ calls two days ago. It will be nice when our two newest helpers start Monday. We have our plan and budget in place, helpers and equipment ready to go. It would be great if we had more then two days of no rain. Mornings are a good time for me. I get some peace and quiet. Till about 8am. Then it starts. Our new phone ads and a special ad in a community magazine came out yesterday. I know the rings will increase. It is an interesting time we live in. Thank You.

14 right. Must have been the 60's! LOL

Ken, I'll be happy with anything close to the Ohio / Pa. border. We are Tegreytractor! LOL I will give you everything I have within 300 miles of Phila.!

Ken said, • Purchase used vehicles outright. • Don't buy more equipment than you need. • Refine your advertising to what works. Do this by tracking results. Don't fall for every form of advertisment that comes down the pike. • What Celeste mentioned about routing • Pay one crew leader well, his/her helper substantially less. • Buy in bulk • Systemize your operational techniques to be as efficient as is possible. I say Ditto! LOL 1. We do purchase new vehicles, to eliminate maintainance, Plus we get GM Discount. 2. We purchased one new car,for estimating, 30-35gpm, One large sprayer for three buildings we will do soon, they paid for it. 3. Cut our advertising by 2/3 this year. Added a web site. 4. Always buy in bulk if possible. 5. Learn what your competition does. They will save you money. Thank You.

Beth, We started years ago when it wasn't popular. Trouble with us, we don't have enough suppliers who are pushing anything green. We switched some of our paint to PPG. They have more products then most. We rebuilt our home and made many changes. More windows, less light. Bamboo floors. Low VOC paints. Low volume water. Etc. If we live it, we bring it to work with us. Oh, we have had a non smoking company for 10+ years also. Thank You.

I'd ask yourselves, "Where would you be if no one helped you?" My 2 cents. Thank You.