newlook

John, As you know we are knee deep in landscaping/concrete. We don't do the maintenance. Yes, your average customer on a new home will spend approximately 45-85k on landscaping. Some of our jobs tilted at 375k....I posted some pics of that job last year on TGS (Tennis court, pool, a ton of concrete, putting greens and etc) Can landscaping and power washing co-exist? Yes. It needs to be managed. We stepped away from playing in water last year as we focused on building something with our landscaping business but are diving back into the power washing part late '07 or early '08.....

I believe in accountants and am sure that they add "value" to any business model. We have had bad luck over the years as it relates to getting our accountant to do the work that was necessary for him to do. We fired him and hired another one only to fire him also 30 days into our contract.

Like GMC's but you are right about them riding low.

we build redwood overheads and sitting benches but not to the degree of what Celeste posted..... Look in the archives of TGS and you may come across some previous pics of our wood work.

I would suspect that it would not be too hard to make.....

Life is so precious folks....hug your kids daily and give them a "wink" as they walk out the door!!!

Nice table....pretty unique design. What kind of wood is that?

Spending the day at watching the Oakland A's play ball....then it is off to Mexico next week for a much needed cruise!!!!!!

What has happened to our fellow power washer was a horrific tradegy. Our prayers and deepest symphathy goes out to his immediate family. God Bless you as you go through this very difficult time!!

LOL...pretty awesome stuff....I myself was at the computer watching the "magic" for awhile also...

Good luck and would love to see the "after" pics when you are done!!!!

Hey Alan...well wishes from us up here in the Northern part!!! Happy belated b-day

I never give out prices over the phone ~ no matter how hard the customer tries to explain what we would be working on!!!

Isn't Trex decking made of some high commercial grade plastic/rubber? Go on their website and see if there is any instuctions for cleaning...

Though we took a giant step away from doing residentials at the beginning of the year we are receiving numerous calls to still do residential. Called 2 repeat customers back just today to advise them that we are no longer in the residential washing business.

An old whipper snapper told me a long time ago that with success and money comes much responsibility.....Spend your money wisely little grasshoppper!

50k will not carry the load from start to finish but it will certainly get the education org through it's exploritorial phase in determining how the org. can benefit this industry ~ not how the industry can benefit the org. I have a great deal of respect for Mr. Fenner but disagree with his point when he says this is not the right time. Anytime is the right time to help steer an industry in the right direction. To validate my point, we are seeing power washing companies across this land continually being attracted to well planned out round tables. One of the many reasons for this is that these companies are yearning for progress/direction and are getting this through these venues! The round tables are filling a void and I would suspect that over the years could be represented all across the United States. So ~ if the industry was not ready and/or wasn's sure what it wanted I would venture to say that the success of the round tables would be short lived. From what I read on the BBS and in my discussions with folks that are directly involved with the round tables they appear to have been able to "tap into" and sustain the interest of the power wash companies that attend them on a regular basis. Just my .02

Hey ~ Hey from Calif!! Love it - love it - love it!! Keep up the good work Beth and Rod!!!

Rod - You got me! I gave blood last week and was asked what type of blood I had ~ I answered by saying "TGS positive" :lgsideway

J Man - congrats bud....as I leave/left the fold the TGS just keeps on stacking more talent on this board...I miss it already! Got get 'em!

It is with much sadness to say farewell to an industry that I have grown to love and respect over the many years that I was affiliated with. I started this thread a week or so ago but did not hit the "Submit New Thread" tab here on the TGS ~ I deleted everything I typed and walk away from my computer. As I reflect back on the "ups and downs" our industry has experienced over the years I want to thank each and everyone of you for your insight and perspective. As our industry continues to take shape and evolve, I am overly optimistic that one day there will be a seamless relationship between powerwashers and a organization, in which it will continue to put the needs and desires of all powerwashers in the forefront. Being a leader in the industry is a tough billet to fill. Though the PWNA has certainly had their share of criticism over the last year I do want to wish them the very best. I do want to publicly thank Everett for reaching out to me when I was involved with WRAPI. I walked away from our conversations feeling more optimistic about the direction and path the PWNA and WRAPI could of embarked on. Even though I have not formally met the folks at Delco I would like to take a second and pay tribute to Robert H. for paving the path for so many. I owe so much to you sir and I thank you!! To all my friends on the TGS **this is the hard part** Over the last 4 years I have pretty much planted myself on the TGS. I ventured out every once in a while to see what Ron's board was up to but for the most part I remained close to the TGS as I considered it my home! Ron, you have a hell of a site over there. Keep up the good work and it was great catching up with you last week on the phone! All of you at TGS have been part of my life going on close now for 4 years! Alan, Celeste, Squirtgun, Scott S., Craig, Jon in N.M., Seymore (in the house), John T., Matt, Jeff, Aplus, Ron M., and so many more I can't name you all...... You folks are the ones that will continue to shape and drive this industry into the direction that it needs to go. I want to thank each and every member on the TGS in allowing me to share my experiences as I grew my own company from scratch to what I consider to be a very successful venture. I pray that the advice that I gave was sound and helpful. As a mod, I always tried to maintain a neutral approach to our industry dilemma's and offered what I thought was prudent but fair direction. Thank you all for allowing me the latitude to do that. Beth and Rod - Even though I have not even met either one of you I am every so grateful to have made your acquaintance. It has been a joy to be part of the TGS over the years. I am not a big BBS person, as I have a business to run, but over the years I have witnessed a sustained momentum of productivity on your board. You are fair and have a keen sense of what this industry needs as it relates to moving it's agenda! I want to thank both of you for filling in the *blanks* for me to get me up to speed on the industries current events. Over the years I have found your advice to be honorable and reliable. Thank you. Beth, thank you for allowing me to serve the TGS as a member and also as a Mod. I know that my departure comes at a surprise to many but it is time. Your most recent selection of mods are individuals that carrry a wealth of experience in all facets of our industry and I am simply amazed of all the talent that surrounds this board. Donald Trump was once asked why he was so successful....his answer was that he surrounded himself with talented individuals. Beth/Rod ~ God Bless both of you! My business model has changed going into '07. Several opportunities have presented themselves to our orgnization in '06 with a launch in '07. My landscape/concrete business has grown tremendously over the last couple of years and we are now focused in on growing that side of the business. Our recent acquisitions puts us in 7 Bay Area counties vs. the 3 that we were previously working in. During this time we have not taken on additional power washing accounts due to the growth of our other ventures. Is this good bye...well kinda....I will still pop in every once in awhile to make sure that you folks are still behaving :)....but I do thank you for the memories! Please stay in touch. Carlos a.k.a Newlook Signing off

Everybody thank you for the kind words and wonderful emails. I will pop in every once inawhile. You all take care. C

I do a 3% to 5% payout on any and all referrals!

Took delivery of this beautiful CL 500 Mercedes-Benz on Saturday. It is more for the wife than anything as I am content with a pickup truck and a good ladder rack!!! LOL. The pics do not give this vehicle justice but there it sits in my garage!! When I took it for a test drive I could not believe all the "bells and whistles" that this vehicle has ~ simply amazing!

LOL Jim...my GMC Sierra is what I get around in these days. Haven't been in the Benz since we bought it..oh...my bad ....had to take it to the gas station to fill it up for the wife...go figure!!!