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We take 2 vacations a year (approx 7-9 days for each). The first one is with our 9 year old daughter and the second is just for me and the wife. We were on Carnival Cruise this past August for a Mexico trip....very nice and our little girl loved it. My wife and I have been to Mexico, Spain, London, Puerto Rico, Vail/Breckenridge Colorado. This year we are thinking about either going back to Colorado or take a trip to Toronto Canada. Ryan, we are thinking about buying a snowmobile. Can you give me any advice on price for a good Skidoo or Artic Cat. I snowmobiled when I was young and want to take it back up. We own some property in the Lake Tahoe, NV area and would like to take advantage of it. Let me know.

We increased our prices this past summer for the first time in 3 years. Average increase sat at around 7% for residential power washing. Our commercials contracts are handled differently as the price is "locked in" for a certain amount of time (usually around 18 months).

Henry and Beth, It's on its way....give it a few minutes.

Interesting.....I have one company in the area that I would consider competition and he is mostly commercial flat work. Sure I get the "lowballers" (other thread) but as far as my customer base we are pretty confident in retaining them and they pay the price of what we ask for. I couldn't imagine cleaning gutters out for under a $100.00. Maybe the pricing is different because of where we live. Henry, let me ask you a question without getting into too much details ~ How much would you charge just to power wash a standard 2 car driveway with a modest application of concrete cleaniner on it say white ox or something?

Henry, This is the newspaper article about how we go into the business.....thought you had the article already? Let me know

Yikes -- we may be way off the mark but we start our gutter cleaning at $139.99 and go from there. This includes blowing out downspouts also.

I think it is a customers nature to question any increase in service -- no matter how small of an increase. Rod, you are right about not having to explain your entire business for a customer to justify why you are increasing your price. My repeat customers know my company and what it represents. When we hint that our prices have gone up....yeah, we raise some eyebrows but the customer always know that when we increase our price....it it because we had to do it. Our prices have never gone up on a "just because" reason. What Mike says makes good sense....gradually increase vs. "shock and awe" :) Sure you may lose a few customers during this transistion but you probably lost them for all the "right reasons". Rod....want to fax you something about our company that was ran in the local paper out here. Describes the foundation of what our company philosphy is all about. Need a fax #.

Good post Mike....If I am buying a galloon of gas....I am gonna go to the station that sells it cheap. Same gas but different price. We started out prices on the low end and to this day my repeat customers remind us that they only had to pay a certain amount of money back then and question why the price has gone up. This is something to watch out for also. Merry X-mas everybody!!

Henry, I am ex Navy also and use to be a firefighter until I lost me hearing in one ear.

Okay, so let's assume our industry creates a journeyman and/or apprentice program that "raises the standards" and ultimately weeds out the "lowballers". You have a customer that has 3 proposals in front of them for power washing their house. The 3 companies that are bidding on this job have all the same credentials and are recognized by the industry as a "professional" because they got this certificate from the ACME School of Power Washing saying they are professionals. All 3 carry insurance and all their references check out. The only difference with the proposals is the price: Company 1 says they can do the job at $590.00 Company 2 says they can do the job at $500.00 Company 3 says they can do the job at $485.00 You tell me who the customer is going to give the contract to? Is Company 3 considered a lowballer? Having some kind of certificate will not eliminate what one considers to be a lowballer.

We have a power wash basic package and also a power wash deluxe package. Price difference between them is a couple of hundred dolllars.

Beth, These characters are way too cool. I am loving it!:lgjump:

:lgangel: Good seeing you Jon and all our best to you.

Dale, Best wishes to you and your family.

Looks great from way out here in California ~ good job. We do not do a whole lot of deck/wood work but from what I see ....you obviously take pride in your work and that certainly will go a very long way with your customers.

I am sure that the majority of our fellow power washers in Florida are probably without electricity due to the devasting Hurricane that is playing major havoc in the region. Wanted to let them know that our thoughts and prayers are with them during this difficult time. We pray that each and everyone of them are able to recover as soon as possible and get back to squirting water. Keep them in your prayers folks!

Jon/Alan - Just got back from the "cruise". Long Beach is a very beautiful city. Traffic nightmare trying to get there but overall had a wonderful one night there. There was a Jazz Festival over the weekend there. Cruise was great. Did some snorkeling on Catalina Island. Slots were very good to me and the views at the pool were awesome. My eyes kept on wondering...good thing I had the sunglasses on or my wife would of picked up on my eye movement :) Yea, I was late on the notification to you about me being down there. Maybe next time.

Glad to see that you folks in Florida are starting to "check in" and that you are okay. Jon/Alan - I will be in your neck of the woods (Long Beach) today - Sunday for one night. Staying at the Hilton near the waterfront. We are catching a cruise ship on Monday for 4 days. Call me on my cell if you want to hook-up sometime this afternoon for an hour or so. 707.812.3702

Mike & CCPC ~ Good to hear that you are safe and out of "harms way".

Shane -- Did you receive the one I faxed to you the other night?

Brad -- I will try the email. Let me know if you do not receive it.

Randy, It's should be there -- I faxed it Thursday evening! Let me know if you did or did not receive it! Good Luck!

Shane, Not a problem and good luck! Let me know if you received it.

Chris, Do you have a fax #? If so, we can fax over our flyer that we have had great success with. I prefer to fax it over vs. posting it. Let us know.

Alan, Thanks and good seeing you. Oct.--- Good .....no excuses this time for me. I will be there :). Retire...we are too young for that. Probably wouldn't enjoy it anyways. You strike me as someone that likes to stay busy.