newlook

ohhhh...looked through the phone book also while I was there....no power washers listed at all. The one or two that I saw were using Home Depot specials attached to a poly tank. Average cargo load from U.S. cost around 5k. out of the port of Miami. Lets see...mmm...post construction clean-up is a possibility as there is a huge brand new development being built. All type of residential, boat and commercial work. All over the island there are restaurants galore....dumpster pads and etc....

I also have been slowly floating this idea with the wife aka the boss! While in Aruba I did some checking around on real estate and took the time to drive into the neighborhoods off the beating path. Stopped and ask questions at Real Estate offices regarding the market. Needless to say I was encouraged about what they told me as it relates to cost and the ease of purchasing..... Rick...take a look at this link... Aruba Real Estate - Search Results After hitting the link ...click on HOUSES at the bottom of the page...after that your cruising! Costa Rica....yep. I have been receiving emails since last year on the investment opportunities there.

Rick - Happy 20th man and trust you will have a great time in St. Lucia. There is something about 'carribean life' that just draws a person. If and that is a BIG if....if I had the $$ and the ability to pack up and move....I would do it in a heartbeat!!

Matt - no continent - part of the carribean chain. Have fun in Florida Matt....you deserve the break!

bare with me...some more pics!!!!

More pics......:) Pic #3....I am out there snorkeling somewhere..... Pic #5 ...Me and my family....

THE 4TH OF JULY Have you ever wondered what happened to the 56 men who signed the Declaration of Independence? Five signers were captured by the British as traitors, and tortured before they died. Twelve had their homes ransacked and burned. Two lost their sons serving in the Revolutionary Army; another had two sons captured. Nine of the 56 fought and died from wounds or hardships of the Revolutionary War. They signed and they pledged their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor. What kind of men were they? Twenty-four were lawyers and jurists. Eleven were merchants, nine were farmers and large plantation owners; men of means, well educated, but they signed the Declaration of Independence knowing full well that the penalty would be death if they were captured. Carter Braxton of Virginia, a wealthy planter and trader, saw his ships swept from the seas by the British Navy. He sold his home and properties to pay his debts, and died in rags. Thomas McKeam was so hounded by the British that he was forced to move his family almost constantly. He served in the Congress without pay, and his family was kept in hiding. His possessions were taken from him, and poverty was his reward. Vandals or soldiers looted the properties of Dillery, Hall, Clymer, Walton, Gwinnett, Heyward, Ruttledge, and Middleton. At the battle of Yorktown , Thomas Nelson, Jr., noted that the British General Cornwallis had taken over the Nelson home for his headquarters. He quietly urged General George Washington to open fire. The home was destroyed, and Nelson died bankrupt. Francis Lewis had his home and properties destroyed. The enemy jailed his wife, and she died within a few months. John Hart was driven from his wife's bedside as she was dying. Their 13 children fled for their lives. His fields and his gristmill were laid to waste. For more than a year he lived in forests and caves, returning home to find his wife dead and his children vanished. Some of us take these liberties so much for granted, but we shouldn't. So, take a few minutes while enjoying your 4th of July holiday and silently thank these patriots. It's not much to ask for the price they paid. Remember: freedom is never free!

Good one Rick....Hope all is well back east and Happy 4th to you man!

Had a 20 oz piece of prime rib tonight for chow and it did not look at all like the pic above. mmmmm...I am hungry again... Wife had ribs and the daughter had shrimp...

Same here Celeste - many fires around the area to the extent that we came home from Aruba last week and had to show proof of residence due to a 4k acre fire burning down the street from us. If that is not enough, yes the drought word has been on the lips of many out here. I have been talking with Mark from Easy Cleas on a regular basis and I have had contractors call throughout the state expressing their fears and apprehension of what "may" come as it relates to water restrictions. Seems like Calif. is on the verge of experiencing what you folks experienced down in the Southeast. Factor in the above with a less than "robust" economy has put some business owners on the edge for the first time. The hits just keep on coming!!!

One of the hardest things to do when you are trying to "get your foot in the door" is to not bash your competitor (publicly that is :) ). Remaining professional when you are talking about your company services to a potential client is critical in winning them over, especially when they already have a power wash company performing the work for them. I have attached a standard letter that we have been using over the last couple of years in our attempts to "reach out" to potential fleet wash and commercial accounts. This positioning, as I call it, affords that opportunity to get our "foot in the door". The next time you approach a bank chain, restaraunt chain, fleet wash or apartment complex and the powers to be say that they already have a power wash company doing the work.....thank them for their time and consider mailing them the attached letter. I think it could keep some doors open for you. What do you have to lose? valleyfarmtranscvrltr.doc

Just giving this a good marketing "bump"

I would suggest invest in a ladder rack. I have a 32' fiberglass one.....it is heavvyyy.

Brian, Welcome to the Grime Scene....glad to hear that this board has helped you out with your business.....

In the 90's in cali....ahhh love the weather.

ahhhhh Thailand....takes me back to my Navy days. Pattaya Beach ~ you can get every brand of beer there. Make sure they open the bottle/can in front of you. Be careful with tapped beer and remember......don't drink the water. :cheers: Have fun Doug!!

Rick - welcome to the Grime Scene. May I make a suggestion regarding your question on what house wash to use? Research, research and research this site ~ dig into these forums ~ the answers are here!! Welcome again my friend!!!!!

Cool.......

Sounds very educational....too bad I will be on the beaches of Aruba during that time :lgbounces

Mark - OUTSTANDING JOB. A ton of great information that was put out and it was great to meet and talk to contractors from our neck of the woods. I also would like to express the *****'s sincere thanks and gratitude to Mark for giving us some "floor time" to talk to all the contractors that attended about the ***** organization. David from A-1 - great to finally meet you man. Sorry that I got up from our seats to move....I am deaf and could not hear a darn thing from where we were sitting. I enjoyed our conversation. Thank you for your suggestions as it relates to the ***** organization and the networking approach you proposed. I spoke to one of the *****'s Transition Team members already about what you said and we whole heartedly agree with what you mentioned to me. Thanks again. Great to meet Mike from Action Cleaning Concepts. I trust that our discussion displayed to you where the ***** is heading and thank you for your support. I will certainly call on you for that lunch the next time I am in Sacramento. Congrats on your VERY successful business that you are running. Maybe someday I will get to the level where I am driving around in a 10k galloon water truck to service my washing accounts. It was great to meet those at JC Pressure Washing. Keep up the good work. Also, the father and son team at Miguels Steam Cleaning. I hope some of the suggestions I gave you helps your bottom line. Manny who is Marks right hand man - wow...alot of years in the industry. I was honored to speak with you and thank you for the historical discussion of how washing was done in the 70's but more importantly how our industry actually started forming organizations. Your insight will certainly be helpful as the ***** continues to make strides in a positive fashion. Aimee Norman, Senior Environmental Consultant that attended had some very interesting insight as it relates to waste water. A ton of resources for washers in California. Mark, thanks again for your hard work on this event. Your dedication to this industry certainly shown and was felt I am sure by everyone that was in attendance. Oh, that was some pretty darn good bar-b-que you had for us at lunch. This Round Table went down .... California Style!! Can't wait until the next one

I spoke to Jon right before he went into surgery. He asked me to send him 2 bottles of some good Napa Red ~ which reminds me, I need to send them. I will give him a call in a week or two. Thanks for the update Scott. For those that don't know Jon - he's a good man!

So, have the environmental questions been answered? Lets keep this on topic guys. :lgangel: Mel - hope things are well down in your neck of the woods. I will be in FL in a few weeks catching a flight over to Aruba. Are you going to the MB RT? It will be great to meet you.

Wishing all mothers a very special Happy Mothers Day - enjoy your day!

Matt - nice add - like the colors.