drush

The 1 contractor that did get my lead, as it turns out, not only builds decks, but they do window replacement as well.... we have 4 (20yr/o) windows that are not very efficient & need to be replaced... wife also wants a larger window in our living room for a better view of the yard, so they are calling back in march when they have another job in the area... might be a good chance to maintain what he builds, & he can repair/replace what i can't.... all may turn out ok....

hey Barry, thanks for bringing that up & . You're probably right & i'll have to handle it when it happens. Sometimes it's pay your $, roll the dice w/ the rep. that gets your account. I'm guessing their trained that way, but i've dealt w/ difficult & persistent salespeople before... beating objections, open ended ??'s about MY business & so on.... I appreciate your experience & response, i just thought i set up my situation pretty well & i'll continue to learn from it... Mike...as far as the "request", that was a mistake & I didn't realize the reprecussions to another contractor. I surely didn't mean to cause a finacial loss to anyone & i can only hope that because they are so far from here, that it's not a feasible job to pursue. If they do, i will personally apologize & make ammends. Golden rule definitely applies here. As far as S/M is concerned, i guess i will continue to read the mixed reviews on them & make decisions according to the feel i get from my rep. & if he respects my goals & advertising plan/budget. Caller id may come into play here. we're all looking for an edge & ways to maximize traffic/calls, yet mimimize expenses. That's the power of TGS... Again, thanks to those that took time to enlighten me & hope that others' may learn from this as well....

I ONCE let a guy in my house from a "you'll never have to paint your house again" vinyl painting co. gave wife & i a $14,000 estimate (1200 sq/ft) & we in turn gave him an escort to the door... then he dropped it to $11,500 if he could put a promotional "sign" in my frontyard... i helped him find the door again....

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wow, that was quick.... i just found their site, filled in some info & entered a "request" for some deck work, cleaning, washing, staining, etc in my area just to see who may be around (competition wise)... then filled out a "pro services" application for consideration... it wasn't but about 6 minutes, 5 various e-mails about my requests & a phone call to my cell from a rep in colorado responding to my inquiry. he was professional, offered info their service & options that were available... he said that there had only been 1 recent inquiry here in the 2 counties i was interested in.. i don't like somebody to glaze the donut either.... told him i wanted to do some more research & that i wasn't ready (due to our mountain weather here) to use them yet. he said ok & would call me back in 2 weeks... then i got an email to confirm resched. w/in 3 minutes.... don't know if it's something to use, but he was quick to respond (maybe not much else going on there..??) & he was wasn't pushy about why to sign up NOWWWW!!! will continue to read the posts here & learn what others have to say regarding this potential avenue.... thanks for all the great posts & advice .....

wife & i were also tired of BS (that's Bell South) monthly $60 for local call access... then the taxes, network charges, etc... so we did the V thing 7 months ago... no prob's or issues, line seem clear as w/ other & it is only $25 mo. Next day delivery, 10 min's to hook up to cable modem (required) kept our same # & can call anywhere in US, anytime FREE... #800 service is a plus too.. other phone co's try to beat the objectives advt'g that "no power", no service, but we ALL have cell phones nowadays, & we also keep that plug in phone from 5 years ago just in case... the 911 is something they will eventually have working.... just another opinion... david

Congrats Doug...!!! Not a rookie anymore like some of us hoping to celebrate & prosper like you have done... it's just the slightest info. on your post that gives us inspiration that we don't need to refinance our house to be successful & invest as we progress. Get what you need to get "what you want to do" RIGHT.... I have a pullover with bleach stains (from a vinyl wash too) that reminds me of the fun I had gettin' rid of that green stuff. Great to hear you're "moving up the ladder" by standing on the ground. keep posting your conquests & updates.. drush

hey celeste.... no, but there are plenty like it there.... this one is a property in Fleetwood Falls (near the New River) just on the Ashe Co. line... thanks D.P. it's not cedar, but standard PT wood that she/they just want cleaned up... any options to the job without going extreme...?? would like to be able to offer alternatives & keep the job...?? she knows the situation of the deck & just wants it to "look better"..... this could be a good referral situation.... NOT to be painted again, just pert'ied up a bit at best.... am going back to take some better pic's tomorrow.... willing to learn... thanks, david

thanks all... CPW, she has been properly warned/managed & told there could be minor damage in some spots due to age... also, she said that if you can't see it from the front, don't worry about it. Thanks Tess, willing to some sanding, but that deck would probably cost her $20,000+ to replace & i'm willing to do it for the work it may bring (... it is a 3 sided wrap around deck w/ a lower, carpeted deck w/ jacuzzi. celeste, actually the pic of the back deck is one she wants done next year because it doesn't have as much paint flaking...included front deck pic, but covered w/ some snow... other pics illustrate the condition of front deck area.... yes, BIG air from that deck & doesn't want the back side of bences done.... WHEW !!! she wants the front entrance deck, (left) side walkway & steps down done. Paint seems to be consistent... didn't quote job until march/april so may have opportunity to do it in stages... she's aware of weather here... beth, thanks for your advise.. let's say i do the job, what kind of stripper/cleaners/ neutralizers/stain/sealers would you recommend..??? have used painted on "gel" type, but not crazy about them... would prefer something to spray, dwell & low pressure wash off. Any ideas or suggestions..?? I'm not opposed to making an investment in chem's that could be used for other jobs...this could lead to some other nice jobs ... tried to cover it all....thanks all, david

Thanks P.P. this couple just bought this house 2 yrs. ago & the house rents very well during the year for them, 35 out of 52 weeks.... they don't want to sell, they (she) knows it looks bad & didn't bat an eye when she saw it could be at worse, a $2600 job. it's just me (& my wife helping p/t) doing this, i have time on my side as i'm just starting & waiting out the elements here in NW NCarolina. As i mentioned, there should be another $800 ( I can sell them on sealing)when they see what it could look like.... Am willing to put in 5-12 days to get it done. I also told her that she will need to have it maintained at least every 2 yrs.. (repeat biz. here) Willing to work hard to get it done, cuz this resort area has LOTS of $$$ coming in every week, especially the spring/summer months. Thanks again for your input... david

Hi all & thank for all the good advise as I build my "research manual" here... I may be a newbie here, but I do know of a company that makes/sells shoes & boots w/ a NON skid rubber sole. As a former restaurant manager, i have personally worn these many times in a slippery kitchen while watching others slide around & grab onto something... they skimped on the "Mart" brands or some other innappropriate tennis shoe. The name of the co. is Shoes For Crews, based out of Fla. They will send you a catalog & even offer a payroll deduction program for your employees.. Slips & falls can be a costly & direct hit on all of us. Just my .02 The thaw is coming.... david

around christmas when my wife gave me a ... don't laugh, small electric pressure washer to do some around the house cleaning. especially our 400 sqft PT deck that hadn't been cleaned or sealed since being built almost 5 yrs. ago. well, the deck turned out pretty good using some Olympic deck cleaner, a good rinse & a light dilution of bleach & another good rinsing. Then came the idea. Read lots of posts by alot of successful people that do this for a living & seem to ENJOY pw'ng. Then find a place to read those posts, maybe a call a few (hundred) of them... ok, just a few & find out what they do, use & then listen. Thanks Roger, Russell and a local guy that took an hour to give me the "dirt" on what made him successful in his commercial biz. Do's, don'ts, use this, not that, etc... I then proceded to do a deck for mom (she actually paid me as a biz write off) then more work (free at this point) on her house & also traded my creative sis her deck for biz cards layout/design & some estimate forms & letterhead. Also, took pic's of all the work i've done & have the usual before/during/after shots of progress. Getting there. Will get license, ins. & inc. soon. I'm geting the hang of this by now, but know my little unit is going to peter out soon. You guys are ALL right by advising some practice & reading up. With 20 yrs. of restaurant mgmt. exp. I have the people/CS skills to sell myself & make a living from this. I want to focus on decks & build from there. There are so many in this part of NC, rental/vacation homes, & my wife is a realtor w/ co. that rents/sells them. I already have a 1200 sqft deck to strip, clean, neutralize & seal !!! Now, i'd like your input on a starter PW mach. that will get me started. I have a 4x6' trailer, Jeep to pull it & willing to invest more after the 1st yr. Budget of $1000-1500 for machine, another $2-300 for chems/cleaners & a few necessities. Here's what i'm thinking.... honda motor w/ 9-13 hp, 3-4000 psi w/ 3-4gpm's, belt drive, cold h2o (hot later). What can i get into for this, or should i bump the budget for something like a Hotsby ($2100)? Have checked into Dewalt & also a few others w/ Honda motors. I also read alot about General pumps. How many more units are there i don't know about to consider? I'm probably not qualified to build my own. Thanks to everyone for ALL i have learned here in the past month & look forward to learning more. Water is OUR friend. David in Boone, NC