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Jeff

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Posts posted by Jeff

  2. Posted · Report reply

    JL,

    That is some Property Management company you deal with. To let you clean for half the amount of time and to pay you the same money the other guy was getting for twice the cleanings. The Prop. Companies I deal with try to do the exact opposite here in NY. I've lost a few accounts that I had due to the Prop. man. Co. trying to get others to clean my accounts for half the price they pay me and you guessed it they found someone.

    If your Prop. Management Company happens to have accounts up in NY put in a good word for me:)

    Hey John, You get what you pay for. The reason they asked me to give them a price to do it in the first place was because the other company wasnt doing a good job. The main problem with the other company they would just blow out the gutters and the HOA & Prop Manager found out that they werent cleaning out the downspouts, they'd do the job and it would rain the next day or 2 and and the downspouts were clogged. So the other company could do it 10 times a year what would it matter if they do a half assed job.

    We fish every downspout and unclog any blockage or dismantle any major clog and the property has no problem with clogged downspouts anymore. This same property I PW all the buildings every 18 months also, its a large property.

    As for The Property Management Co, It is a great company. I do all thier PWing & Gutter Cleaning we work real well together. This month alone Ive cleaned the gutters of 47 buildings, Pw'ed 4 2story condos, this week we are PWing 12, 3 story condo buildings and friday we will clean the gutters of 14 more buildings and the week after Xmas we do 8, 3 story buildings. All for this one Prop. Management company. Got to love it, This company make me the $$$. They know they get a great job everytime with JL

    JL

    Like I said you get what you pay for

  3. Posted · Report reply

    Rod around here it is horrible for reliability, Contrators dont show up. forget about within in a couple hours, they dont show up the day they say they will, this is for estimates and/or doing the job. I give residential customers a time frame with in 2-4 hours depending on the work load for the day. I have people thanking me all the time for just showing up , its sad around here

    Commercial is just as bad around here. I have property managers tell me all the time how unreliable other contractors are. They know if I tell them a start date or a time I'll be there. I know its helped my reputation and keeps getting me more work & referalls

    On the rare occaision I may be late or have to postpone work, I call the customer way ahead of time. Most dont!

    Rod so basically On Time Service just means getting the job done when it should be done. Without the hassles many customers go through with other contractors in Myrtle Beach

    JL

  4. Posted · Report reply

    I thought it might be worth while to bring some attention back to this post.

    :lghohoho: Seasons Greetings:lghohoho:

    From Don and Julie!

    MERRY CHRISTMAS to your family and to everybody on Beth & Rods board.

    I Love the holiday season so much and cant wait to see what the New Year will bring for me and my family and I also look forward to seeing what new year will bring for everybody here on The Grime Scene

    Seasons greetings & Ho Ho Ho

    Jeff, Lisa, Joshua & Baby LeCours

  5. Posted · Report reply

    Inflamatory Quote removed.....

    Hey John Browne,

    This thread is about my house and others talking about their homes and buying experiences. If you have a problem with someone take it to a different thread.

    I hope this helps now that you know what this thread is about :lgwave:

    JL

  6. Posted · Report reply

    I have a dodge 1500 4x4 very little problems at 75K, the only thing I replaced is one axle recently, but i use to beat the crap out of this truck. Dodge Ive heard does have alot of design problems and as for the Dodge Dakota, Ive never heard anything good about them at all, bad mechanically, bad on mileage etc etc.

    Philip, that s--ks that you had to o through all that crap, its not right

    JL

  7. Posted · Report reply

    That is referals and everything. This is approximately our rate today but it wasn't like that when we first started in this business. Many doors were shut on our faces and were told many times that we could never make it.

    For us it was all about determination and not giving up. Kept customer service in the forefront, offered a great service and kept our price scheme fair. These three principles have kept us going early on when our close rate was not even half of what it is today.

    I agree with Carlos, determination, quality work, competitive rate and ON TIME SERVICE are why I get a good close rate

    Residential is about 75% my prices do need to go up this year on residential

    Commercial Id say 70-80% Now. This is everything, referall, new calls & exsisting clients. Im lucky many of my proprty managers only call me or if they had to take other bids per the property, they will call me and see if I can adjust my bid a lttle lower, so I have the inside track on alot of work. Most of the time its a few hundred dollars I may be off, So Ill shave off a few hundred to get a job thats say 4k, 5k or more. Also finding out what my compitition charges has helped me on other bids. Ill tell my property managers, I want the work, show me a lower bid and let me see what Ican do

    Now sometimes I cant/wont go as low as my compitition and I lose some bu I still get some of them, I tell them the bids just way to low and cant be done properly at that rate. I have a gutter job that I do twice a year $2500 each time a total of $5000, well the guy who was doing it, was doing it 4 times a year $1250 each time. I actually bid it for more , but the property manager asked me if I could stay with in their annual budget of $5000, I said sure at twice a year instead of 4 times. I got it and its easy money. Having a good working relationship with my customers and doing great work pays off & trust goes a long way.

    JL

  9. Posted · Report reply

    We just moved into our large home, 2376 sq ft plus 3 car garage, wanted the 2423 home but was not going to be ready for a few month.

    Heating bill, hush, electric bill, hush again. Taxes are more then in CA but cost of new house was less then half and size twice as big.

    Not counting the fact the whole house has upgrades from 2 to 5 levels up.

    Don't even think of asking me the cost unless you want to make a payment for us.

    We are changing our names from Jon and Remy to Bonnie and Clyde :)

    Hey Jon congrats on your new home, sounds like a good deal, Our Taxes & Insurance arent to bad around here at all, plus with the sale of the 2 homes we will be putting down around 40%+ with alittle emergency money left over, which helps. so our 400K+ home & land will be less than 250K, home prices around here are better than most of the country we're lucky

    Now we just have to pick out all the fixtures, appliances, tile, carpet, etc etc etc what a project this is going to be. I'll tell you Im getting excited now that the loan is approved

  10. Posted · Report reply

    We got the house loan. I did a lot of shopping around and got a real good rate. Its amazing to me how the rates vary from lender to lender.

    We are siked, its going to be a great home and I have room to add a large garage on the side for my trailers and a shop, when I can afford it. Now the PITA stuff getting the 2 homes ready for sale.

    We meet with the builder and start hashing out specifics, its all alot for my little brain, Busy business, building house, moving, another baby on the way and just everyday life. Life is GOOD

    Yay a new castle for the Pressure Washing King lol

    JL

  11. Posted · Report reply

    I have 1,000,000 GL which also covers scheduled list of equipment in my enclosed trailer, does not cover open trailer

    Workers Comp, covers employees not me. many projects require it and it protects me & my employees

    Commercial/Personal Auto, which covers my enclosed trailer. the comm/personal was cheaper than just comm or personal

    Health, dental & vision is through my wifes work, at a low rate. If it was not for the health insurance Id probably have my wife be a stay home mom, someday that is what we would like.

    Have some Whole Life & Term Life policies to help my wife if anything ever should happen to me, I have a young son, one on the way & my wife is 18 years younger than me, so I pretty sure I'll go 1st, it makes me feel better knowing they will be protected somewhat. I also have some on my wife.

    On my new house, I'll be looking into mortgage life coverage

    Ive looked into disabilty and really havent found anything worth while

    Starting college plan soon for my children and also signed up for Upromise, Upromise pays everytime I or anyone in my family pays at supermarkets & some gas stations, also my life insurance added to it also, its a little extra money towards college fund & its free

    there are some coverages that I have to have for biz and some I feel better having, than not for personal. It all cost to much

    JL

  12. Posted · Report reply

    I do NOT recommend anyone purchase the new line of general pump surface cleaners.... now selling for 399.99 on most sites its usually advertised as (professional model) got 3 of them and EVERY one blew the bearings and shaft a day later..local shop got a few in and said he had the same prob...whirl aways still good and of course whisper washer if u have the money lol

    I saw the Generals even cheaper than that, I just thought it was to good to be true at those prices thats why i just got the Whisper wash classic

    To bad Generals selling a crap surface cleaner

    JL

  13. Posted · Report reply

    I pay the big bucks for my rubber boots. I have big calves, and so standard boots dont work for me, because I have to split the sides. I have had a couple of pairs of boots that were as comfy as Tennis shoes. Try www.muckboots.com or Cabelas or http://www.gemplers.com/a/shop/product.asp?T1=126088-10&UID=200512140933112815934891 These are not $20 walmart boots, but they are Really comfortable.

    Scott Stone

    Thanks everybody, what would I do without all of you Thank you

    Scott I like the boots thanks for the sight

    JL

  14. Posted · Report reply

    Well we're half way done with our 1st large parking garage job. Im real happy how its going, BUT, damn do my feet feel it by the end of a 10 hour day. Rubber boots and concrete werent made for each other. Any suggestions for relief for my old tired feet

    Are there any good boots or inserts for this kind of work?

    Anyway the property is thrilled with how the garage looks and we will be doing it annually every December. Nice winter work we can count on. The GM has been taking pictures to show the homeowners before & after. I guess the past 2 years it was done with a contractor who just sprayed chem and rinsed it off with fan nozzle no surface cleaner and just cold water. They are amazed with the surface cleaner.

    Help My dawgs please !!!!!

    JL

  15. Posted · Report reply

    Thanks everyone we are excited!!!! Im working to get a crew together, now I just have to come up with a name if its a boy, it has to begin with a J

    Maybe Justin ?

    And if its a girl, oh god. That poor girl would never be let out of the house and Id finally have to go buy a gun.

  16. Posted · Report reply

    Looks like my wife & I are going to have another BABY !!:wave: She's been telling me she thinks she's pregnant. Well she took 2 home EPT test and it says she is. WOW!!! My son Josh is going to have a playmate, I dont know if he's going to like it right away.

    We're SIKED:lgjump:

  17. Posted · Report reply

    Basic House wash I use 12.5% & Citra clean, good for most residential homes & commercial buildings

    Concrete driveways & patios, Just surface cleanner or good concrete cleaner I use RPC 2000 and for irrigation rust stain on concrete or most surfaces, Oxalic Acid

    Black streaks on gutters, Gutter Shock or Gutter Zap. many other products out there. Keep surrounding areas wet as product can spot siding surfaces if not kept wet

    There are many chems from many companies that work,, these are just some that I use

    JL

  18. Posted · Report reply

    What a day, I havent had time to set up my outside Xmas decorations so today I did it and I had a great time. I didnt stop from 7:30am till now 4:00pm. It looks great I outlined the whole front of my house with green lights and so so so much more. I cant wait until it get dark out.

    I LOVE CHRISTMAS

    Im going to take some pictures tonight, I hope they come out alright, if they do I'll be posting them soon

    Anybody got any pictures they want to show, please post them

    Well Im off to Toy R Us to do some shopping , My boy Josh is going to love this Xmas 2 1/2 he knows whats going on now

    Ho Ho Ho Merry Christmas

    Jeff, AKA Santas Helper

  22. Posted · Report reply

    Correction to my post regarding "Bristol Bay" rain gear. That is the Line - the commercial fishing grade. The manufacturer is "Viking".

    Two things to add 1) the bibs have a great plastic release clip that makes them easy to get on and off (especially when you have to take a leak in the trailer or box truck). The Heely Hanson has a metal hook that is hard to get out so you end up leaving it attached and pretty soon the elastic is streached on the suspenders. 2) The jacket has an awsome neoprean arm cuff feature - it closes tight on your wrist so that if you have arm raised (as we often do when washing) the water can not run down. No more arms soaked to the armpit and beyond.

    I think the only way to stay dryer than using this rain gear is to stay in the truck and let the help do the work!LOL

    Thanks Tim I tried to look up bristol bay, couldnt find it I'll check out Viking now Thanks JL

    Someday the help will do it all, but for now it looks like Im getting some rain gear

  23. Posted · Report reply

    They both spray water. I don't think the water that the Landa sprays is worth $3k more!!! The Pressure-Pro unit looks like a very nice machine. I am looking at that exact machine right now, and should have it on the trailer in the next week or two.

    I like my 5.6 Pressure Pro its a nice unit, Id like bigger fuel tanks and I had to repace the flow actuator already after not much use and they have a pop off valve that I had to replace because it was defective. But they overnighted me the parts, they didnt want to pay for the overnight charge but I told them they dont have anyone in my area to fix it the least they can do is pay the overnight charge, They did! andI also have spare ones now just in case

    The machine runs great, I now wish i got the 8gpm, but I'll probably be getting a second skid in the next few months or so and I would have no problem buying a Pressure Pro again

    Landas are great machines I hear but are they a few thousand $$$ better, I dont know

    JL

  24. Posted · Report reply

    Thanks for the stats. I have had a similar year(s) between start up and following year and could use some help as new accounts come in. Only so many hours in a day!

    What type of advertising are you guys using? Word of mouth, yellow pages, knocking on doors, flyers etc???

    Thanks

    In my area Yellow Pages works well for us residential & commercial. For residential, I like fliers & postcards mailed to homes and HOA neighborhood newsletters work well & are usually pretty cheap. Commercial I think you have to target the market you want and go after it many different ways, fax fliers, write letters, knock on doors etc. etc. Ive found its alot of work trying to get commercial work at the beginning, but if your persistant and target this kind of work every month or two, the work eventually starts to come.

    Good luck to you

    JL

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