D_Tagr

Accounting and office management for me. I'm surprised that 75% are reporting the same. I thought I was the only disorganized person out there,chuckle. I often wonder though, what kind of an affect having a more organized office would have on the bottom line? Significant maybe? I regularly tear my office apart looking for number or an address I wrote down on some scrap of paper and buried with other stuff,lol. I'm sure I could save some time if I got my stuff together. Interesting poll.

I didn't understand this 3 weeks ago and I still don't today. There is sooooo much to know about all this internet stuff it's hard to learn it all and run a business. When I make a post, my website and blog appear in my signature. Is this a linkback? My blog contains a link to "The Grime Scene". Is this a linkback? If not can someone please show me a linkback. TYIA

Try paint thinner,varsol,mineral spirits etc + soft cloth.

Can't vouch for it personally...but... Duct Tape Wallets I love the name of the first project..."Quality" Duct Tape Wallet, ROFL

I have also felt the need to be careful when posting information related to my specialty. When I do, I prefer to post some kind of resource instead of directly saying I charge $x per sq ft, or I use "y" paint stripper. I'm happy to provide a link to a 60 page study,or a book title,or a marketing website. that provided me with some critical information. That way I feel that I'm contributing to the industry as a whole and I don't have to worry about a lazy man taking my market. As an example I use vistaprint for all my marketing/printing needs. The lazy man doesn't know what I just said. But without revealing any specifics, the go-getter now knows of a good resource for postcards,brochures,baseball caps,t-shirts,calendars and other schwag. He still doesn't know what items or combinations of items I use-and he never will,but he now has a good resource and it didn't cost me anything. I guess my opinion is keep posting Dan, but do it in a way that you feel comfortable with.

Aha ha ha ha! I'm so tempted!! I have one client that didn't pay despite a perfect graffiti removal from his delivery truck. He tried to comp me a meal in his crappy restaurant instead. Unfortunately my creditors don't take lasagna. I ended up using a picture of his truck on my old website so it looks like he's endorsing me. I know it's not entirely ethical but for the less than $200 he's owed for over 18 months I don't care.

I'm just curious if there is an actual marketing angle here. I bid some provincial (State level) jobs this past spring and they stated that the bids would be weighted 10% on environmental factors. Wondering if all else being equal if this would tip the balance favourably? I expect environmental concerns to be a factor (minor now but maybe growing) in most or all government contracts. For me its about $225.00 to offset my one truck. BBB runs me about $340.00 for the year. I think I will look into this. If it closes even one job it's paid for. Could be a way for the industry to look better and balance off all the harsh chemicals we use. Potassium Hydroxide,Sodium Hydroxide,Sodium Hypochlorite etc,etc.

Here's another one. My results were higher with this one. This one lets you buy offsets. EcoNeutral - Carbon Calculator I'll happily sell my planted trees for $200 per year! Please send cheques to..... :lgmoneyey

Interesting tool. I guess the purpose is to try and shame people into lowering down to average levels. I spent 2 summers planting trees which it doesn't take into account. That should remove a lot of carbon.

A friend shared this with me today. Somewhat apropos. Feel free to change Member of Parliament to Congressman,Senator, whatever. THIS IS A NONPARTISAN JOKE THAT CAN BE ENJOYED BY All PARTIES! NOT ONLY THAT-- it is POLITICALLY CORRECT!! While walking down the street one day a "Member of Parliament" is tragically hit by a truck and dies. His soul arrives in heaven and is met by St. Peter at the entrance. 'Welcome to heaven,' says St. Peter. 'Before you settle in, it seems there is a problem. We seldom see a high official around these parts, you see, so we're not sure what to do with you.' 'No problem, just let me in,' says the man. 'Well, I'd like to, but I have orders from higher up. What we'll do is have you spend one day in hell and one in heaven. Then you can choose where to spend eternity.' 'Really, I've made up my mind. I want to be in heaven,' says the MP. 'I'm sorry, but we have our rules.' And with that, St. Peter escorts him to the elevator and he goes down, down, down to hell. The doors open and he finds himself in the middle of a green golf course. In the distance is a clubhouse and standing in front of it are all his friends and other politicians who had worked with him. Everyone is very happy and in evening dress. They run to greet him, shake his hand, and reminisce about the good times they had while getting rich at the expense of the people. They play a friendly game of golf and then dine on lobster, caviar and champagne. Also present is the devil, who really is a very friendly & nice guy who has a good time dancing and telling jokes. They are having such a good time that before he realizes it, it is time to go. Everyone gives him a hearty farewell and waves while the elevator rises... The elevator goes up, up, up and the door reopens on heaven where St. Peter is waiting for him. 'Now it's time to visit heaven.' So, 24 hours pass with the MP joining a group of contented souls moving from cloud to cloud, playing the harp and singing. They have a good time and, before he realizes it, the 24 hours have gone by and St. Peter returns. 'Well, then, you've spent a day in hell and another in heaven. Now choose your eternity.' The MP reflects for a minute, then he answers: 'Well, I would never have said it before, I mean heaven has been delightful, but I think I would be better off in hell.' So St. Peter escorts him to the elevator and he goes down, down, down to hell. Now the doors of the elevator open and he's in the middle of a barren land covered with waste and garbage. He sees all his friends, dressed in rags, picking up the trash and putting it in black bags as more trash falls from above. The devil comes over to him and puts his arm around his shoulder. 'I don't understand,' stammers the MP. 'Yesterday I was here and there was a golf course and clubhouse, and we ate lobster and caviar, drank champagne, and danced and had a great time. Now there's just a wasteland full of garbage and my friends look miserable. What happened?' The devil looks at him, smiles and says, 'Yesterday we were campaigning.. .. Today you voted.'

I hope you guys can answer this one. I quoted a Strata(HOA) in good faith for some flatwork and windows on a 40 unit condo complex. Now one of the members of the council says he can do it cheaper with a rented machine and is preparing a quote. I am ******* pissed. I have been talking and e-mailing with my contact throughout and he wants to use me but council is waiting for their member's quote. What protection do I have (if any),or recourse if this mutt picks up this job? So far I cut price by about 5%(hated doing it) and have tried very hard to explain the differences. Here is an excerpt from my last e-mail. Hi Jason, Here is the revised quote for 2120 Central Place. I have also included a copy of a contract which must be signed by a council representative or your property manager. It's important to note that often pressurewashing is regarded as something that any one can do with a rented machine. This is only partially true. Often specific knowledge or skills come into play, in my case chemical knowledge for removing graffiti or stains on concrete, or knowing that window seals can be blown very easily leading to fogging or "weeping". Having a $2,000,000 liability policy,Worksafe coverage,and being a BBB member unaviodably add to my cost, but this only ensures that your Strata gets the service it deserves - professional. If this fails and this mutt steals my job what are my options? This is the first time it has happened to me,but I figure it must be fairly common.

Wow, can't help with your site X but talk about timely, I just started a cleansheet redesign of my own site!! Awesome info Beth. TY!

Once again thanks for all the support. I love this board!! After my last e-mail the council decided to accept my bid! I'm not sure what changed their mind but I'm not going to delve too closely, at least until the contract is signed! I agree totally with what John said about duty of loyalty. I'm also on a council and it is sometimes difficult to put personal interests or agendas aside and focus on what is best for the Strata. At any rate I think it's extremely unethical for this guy to bid. I wouldn't (and didn't) bid on our Strata's pressure washing this year and had to sit in silence as this year's PW'r did the same crappy job as last years for $5000 less. I didn't see the contract or the bid sheet, but I got to supervise! I called them back 3 times. They hated me, lol!! I was fully prepared to move on so this is a nice late in the day surprise. :) Has anyone experienced a similar situation? I'm curious to know how you handled it.

I'm having a reasonable time with this job here except for the north side which looks like this. I used a regular house mix which Hotsy makes and then a mild caustic degreaser which Hotsy also makes with a 15 deg tip and I went up to 120 Fahernheit. I don't want to go higher in temp for fear of stripping but I want those streaks gone. These are great clients who are selling their building, the lower portion used to be covered in graffiti. My only thought is to try some combinations of 12% + TSP and/or Borax + Dawn. Any comments or suggestions are appreciated. I'm also trying not to get electrocuted!! For obvious reasons.

Won't that eat the paint? I'll try it diluted first and work my way up the concentration ladder.

Hope one of you window guys can help out with my noob questions. First off here are the pics. I don't have a water fed pole system but I do have access to a 30ft Genie (man lift) and a pressure washer. So my plan is to downstream some sudsy ammonia, brush and then squeegee. I don't have DI but our water here is naturally soft. Is there a better way with my limited equipment and experience? Also I have no idea how to bid this, or how long it will take. There are a total of 117 individual panes (glass between frames) of varying sizes. I thought I might go $2.75-$3.50 or so and estimate 4 hrs. This is definitely not my cup cup of tea. Please relieve me of my noobish ways.

Thanks.

Thanks for the info guys. Does 1 gallon of 12% + some Dawn in a 5 gallon pail sound about right?

Thanks Dane!! Excellent little web site they have there. Got a kit coming now. I'm only going to do exterior windows here. I've got an allergy to working indoors.:) I had estimated somewhere around this price too!

So would you be bidding this per pane? By hour? Some other basis? I'm not a "true" window cleaner that's for sure but I'll try it. If I like it and I make money I'll take a serious interest. Thanks for the help.

So I'm a 3. Anybody do graffiti removal not in my area want to link? Send me a PM. And thanks for the explanation Ken.

It definitely works for me. Not saying your wrong but I don't think you can clean 80 sq ft in half the time. 80000 sq ft you'd definitely kick my butt. Vast majority of my jobs are under 100 sq ft. Graffiti is not as endemic in Canada as it is in parts of the US. But it is growing.:lgmoneyey It's a good point about the fuel though. When I go into resi and commercial work I will definitely increase my flow rate but because of the nasty chemistry involved with paint strippers (sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, propylene glycol, etc) the less runoff the better. I do agree with the general sentiment of the thread as far as the "Green Agenda". A lot of it is driven not by scientists but by "believers" and dedicated acolytes. I am in the same region as David Suzuki (environmentalist broadcaster) and Paul Watson (cofounder of Greenpeace) and there are legions of followers. I call them "Greenatics". I guess in a nutshell I do what I can afford to do and I do what I know from experience and trial and error what is feasible. But if going green truly distinguished myself from my competitors I would jump with both feet. As it is many market green but very few achieve. Good thread.