CCPC
-
Content count
1,675 -
Joined
-
Last visited
-
Days Won
1
Posts posted by CCPC
-
-
Jeez - you guys are really backing websites to the hilt. I only got online in early December - I paid these SEO guys for an online landing page last year - that never got me one job. My website now really ranks well for many local search terms. This is the first season that my website is online - I hope to god it performs like some of you suggest. But I have been let down before - poor returns on mailers - next to no phone calls from the yellow pages, tire kickers galore from classifieds, etc, etc. I really hope the website is different. I need a little luck right now.It might just be where you live. Your area is already at a disadvantage because less people are in need of pressure washing, or at least they think they aren't in need of pressure washing. Also, population probably has something to do with it as well.
It looks like Andover has an estimated population of about 31,000. that's not bad, but it's definitely not great as far as overall number of people.
You look at bigger cities and you see the difference. My market is Jacksonville which has an estimated population of almost 800,000 people.That's 26 times more people, and a lot more homes and businesses. I think the only way you are going to get the volume that you want is if you live somewhere else.
-
Most of my new customer base comes from the Internet and my website. I pay about 90$ a year, and the ROI for that small investment is absolutely threw the roof. Just to give you an idea, I've booked about 3000$ in work in just the past 4 days all from the Internet, and my website.
Take advantage of it why you can. Eventually everyone will be privy to how important advertising on the web is. Right now there is only my company, and one other company in Jacksonville, that really take the Internet seriously, and we own the search results for the Jacksonville market. Meanwhile, all of the other suckers are wasting money on yellow page ads. Life is good.
-
Don't worry, he will be gone before you know it. The problem is there will be 3 more to replace him, and they'll charge less than he is.
-
I used an xjet the 1st 5 years and switched to down streaming this past year wondering why I waited so long. I down streamed the entire year and didn't miss the bucket at all. So why did I switch back to the xjet last month? I was using more 12.5% bleach per week. My ratio xjetting was 2 gallons bleach and 3 gallons water. Down streaming was reversed, 3 gallons bleach with 2 gallons water.It was taking more chemicals per house using .0040 tip, even though I love using this tip especially on windy days. I also noticed that when down streaming my rinsing was not completely free of soap out of the line. This was noticed primarily when rinsing the windows. The last reason is, I purchased a new titan reel at the begiining of the year (which I hate ) and the bleach running through the house reel rusted out the center bar creating a pin hole leak.My supply house replaced the bar for free.My last reel lasted 5 years using the xjet but it also wasnt a titan. So long story short.. Xjet uses less chemicals for me , Quality of rinse is better due to no soap in the hose,Less wear on the equipment with bleach being a corrisive.I could burn through a hose reel every year, and use twice the chem, and still make more money per job downstreaming then I ever would x-jetting.
-
I don't understand how you feel, and God willing, I won't ever have to. Sorry to hear about your problem. Regardless of a persons situation, only a scumbag would not return phone calls, or make an effort to handle it one way or another.
-
I have yet to join any PW org.It will take some strong points to get accross and through to convince me that 350.00 is a good investment. I can invest 350.00 in a lunch for local contractors to come to and grow my business leaps and bounds just for buying meals (proven fact It works, I have already done it.)
However I am not opposed to joining or helping I just an keeping an open mind at this point.
Am I rambling again ?
That's a great idea on the buying lunch thing.
-
Dan I will start out by saying that the guy on PT State wasn't asking for advice on whether it's a good time to start a pressure washing business, he was asking for specific advice about equipment. I believe he already has his mind made up about starting the business.
I for one don't see any harm in answering a newbies questions, in this economy or any other. It's not my responsibility to decide for a newbie whether it's a wise time to start a business right now. It's their risk, not mine.
Maybe this is just coming from a guy that is fortunate enough to live in an area where things are still good and there is plenty of work to be had, but I don't feel threatened by new guys coming in. Heck, it seems like I see a new rig driving down the road every week. Who cares! some will survive, most will be gone by next year. I worry about what I need to be doing to stay busy and keep my business healthy, and that doesn't include harassing new start ups with negativity.
I will say that even if you feel the way you feel, it doesn't give you the right to **** on someone else's dream of becoming a business owner. If you don't feel the need to help answer a newbies question, than maybe it would be better to just not post at all. A negative attitude WILL ALWAYS = negative results.
-
Hi GuysNew member with trailer question for residential cleaning.
From what I've read from most of you folks is a 6X12 enclosed trailer ( w/side door) would be a decent size for this type of work, I'm thinking about a single ( 5200lb ) axle setup., any imput from those with experience would be most appriciated.
FWIW
When I was cleaning fuel tanks and bilges on Motor Yachts my one bilge cleaning truck was a 14' (NPR) flatbed which was nice but since I sold my company and moved up here to Ga and started a window glass repair company and figured a trailer rig would work better for now being my glass truck could be duel purpose/use
I would really recommend going with a tandem axle with electric brakes.
-
I got a single axle 5x10 open. Its works fine. 325 gal tank, 5.2gpm 3000psi legacy pump cold machine, 200ft Pressure hose on a reel, five 5gal buckets on the side ready to go to town. Even with my tank full it drives fine. I keep my surface cleaner and ladder in my truck bed. I got a Chev 2500 4x4.Do you keep that tank full? That's really pushing the limit on that axle is that is the case.
-
No mercy mang! Call the guy when you know he is in there and leave message that you'll be over in 30 minutes for your "" meeting. Get a few big rough looking guys with hoodies on and have them park their Continetal across the street when you know he up and around. Have them stand there staring at his house for a few hour. Then you come and make a bunch of motions to them as if your telling them what ya want done. They should be shaking their heads and shaking your hand and comforting you. Pay them a C note right there if ya like...LOLThen hook up with him when he heading to work, going to store, etc. and tell him in private he needs to pay up or them guys are gonna straight up ruin his life in unbelievable ways...
Personally I'd say just tell him the facts of what's gonna happen and tell them ya know where they live or that a restraining order doesn't actually keep them breathing..lol
I'm a big enough scary guy to get away with it myself..unsure about you so... Trick is to talk really weird and crazy not in a threatening way but in a factual way. Helps to let them know that your not one to take it to the judge or to be taken advantage of. Could explain to him that your principles just do not allow you to forget this and that you'll have to get him in the most imaginitive ways when he least expects it. Sure fire method of getting paid is to walk up to his wife somewhere and tell her what's gonna happen to her wonderful husband that doesn't pay the bills.
Collections are best handled off the record.
I wouldn't recommend going this route, but in a world without consequences it sure would be a fun way to handle it!
-
I guess I've been lucky so far. I've a few slow payments, but never had a customer flat out not pay. Good luck with it, and if all else fails; sneak onto his property when he's not home, and throw a few gallons of paint on his deck, and house. That will show him.
-
Send him the bill and a demand letter giving 10 buisness days to pay the amount due or you will begin a civil suit against him. The letter needs to have your bill copy and needs to be sent registered mail retun recipt required ( will run about 13 dollars at the post office) The return is considered legal service to him of a debt owed and if he does not reply to it you then go to small claims court where you are licenced to do buisness and file a warrant in debt for the ammount in question. You will need to fill out the paperwork write out a bill of particulars ( what happened) and file it withthe court and pay fro the sheriff to serve it ( here in VA the filing is 35 dollars and the service is 25 dollars) ONCE SERVED IF HE DOES NOT PAY OR GO TO COURT ONCE THERE YOU CAN BE COMPENSATED NOT ONLY FOR THE BILL BUT YOUR TIME AND COSTS TO FILE THE PAPERWORK. If he doesn't show the judgement will be issued against him and any tax money he gets the following year will go to you first to stisfy the judgement and the court will enforce it you will not have to do any furter once the judgement is issued by the court.Sounds like you've been there, done that.
-
In this same discussion I'll remind everyone that as you participate in threads, you should add TAGS which are keywords. TGS has a tag cloud, which is basically a composition of all the keywords used in the tags and how often. All this is good SEO and helps the threads get found. So, if you are linking, make the links count with the use of tags as well.Beth
I wasn't aware of that. Good to know.
-
have a happy born-on date.
-
I try to close open windows. If I can't, I will wash every area on the property that I can with the exception of that small area around the window. Explain to the customer the situation, more times than not they will feel bad for leaving in open, and inconviencing you. I will offer to come back next time I'm in the neighborhood and hit that spot.
One thing I will not do that I'm a bit supprised that so many on here say they will do is take chances cleaning around the open window. I'm not a big fan of incurring the risk of bleaching out a customers carpet, furniture, etc.
-
Scott,The Cards are not there, at least in Arizona. After what, 20 years in the desert and the team cannot sell out their first home playoff game? Maybe time to move yet again, and find a market that values professional football.
Although that may have been the case with their last playoff game, they sold out the NFC Championship Game in 6 minutes.
-
go Jags :lgtear:
-
What kind of washer do you have, and does it have a downstream injector?
Your best bet, if you are dead set on cleaning it yourself, is to downstream your chems through your pressure washer. Even better, higher a pro to clean your exteriors and stick to what you're good at. :)
-
I consider my business an exterior cleaning contractor. The definition of a contractor is:
Independent entity that agrees to furnish certain number or quantity of goods, materials, equipment, personnel, and/or services that meet or exceed stated requirements or specifications, at a mutually agreed upon price and within a specified time frame to another independent entity called contractee, principal, or project owner. (businessdictionary.com)
Based on this definition, if you write up a service proposal outlining the work that you will perform, for a given price, and you have the customer sign that proposal, you are acting as contractor.
And yes, as you stated here in Florida the pressure washing trade is coded as a construction trade in regards to worker compensation laws. If someone owns a pressure washing company in Florida they are required by law to carry works comp insurance on every employee (including themselves). Only exception to that rule is up to three owners that own at least 10% of the company can file for exemptions from the state, of course to recieve exemptions the business must be a corporation, or an LLC.
-
I got in a debate with someone on a forum about how to do a good job pressure washing.You can see the thread here, it starts at post #32.
I setup a series of questions on my website and I would like to get your opinion by voting on the polls.
Thanks
The fact that you felt the need to take your concerns from the other thread to a REAL pressure washing forum means that you obviously care, and that is a great first step. the next step is to listen to the advice given by the other pros and hang around for a while and get your "learn" on.
-
It's a shame you didn't see any red flags about this guy during the estimate. I've turned down customers that I think will be a pain in the a** for way less than what this guy is all about.
-
do you have any pictures of the rig/equipment?
-
i was starting to clean a very nasty driveway when my #1 surface cleaner blew a gasket. i hooked up my spare and got a decent cleaning but left alot of stripes on the concrete. after rinsing off the dirt i m5'ed 12.5% straight with no proportioner which gave me around 4% cleaning power. the stripes disappeared in a short time and the driveway looked great. it cost me a little more to do it this way by having to use more chemicals but the final results were well worth it as the customer was impressed.rando
This is the procedure that I use on the average algae, mold, mildew driveways that I see around here except I use a high flow pump up sprayer to apply my chem treatment.
1 clean with surface cleaner
2 rinse concrete
3 while concrete is still wet, spray a thin layer of full strength chlorine
4 watch left over grime disappear
5 rinse chlorine if you so choose, but I usually let it dry on the concrete
6 collect check
7 go to next job
I'm a firm believer, when cleaning large build ups of mold, etc that it better to clean the concrete with your surface cleaner first, and then treat with chems. otherwise many times your chemical only cleans/treats the top layer of scum and never reaches the bottom layer. Also you will use far less chems doing it this way.
-
I got this email earlier today. Hilarious!!! Maybe some of you Obama supporters can come up with something, or maybe at least just make something up. LOL!!!!
Chris Matthews slam dunked Senator Kirk Watson, when he asked the Senator for just one example of Obama's legislative accomplishments.
Want to see a politician choke on national TV?.....watch this....
Chris was surprised when the Obama campaign's own surrogates are left utterly
stumped when asked to list his legislative accomplishments as a Senator.
CLICK HERE:
Business from websites?
in Residential Pressure Washing
Posted · Report reply
I would say if you don't have any skills in web design, better to pay someone who does, but you have to be careful on who you hire. I see a lot of really nice websites, but with horrible on page optimization.
the other side to this coin is that I'm a big believer in expanding one's horizons, and it never hurts to learn something new if you have the time to do it. I feel that if you know a little about something, you at least know what to look for when hiring a pro to do it.
I had some skills with web design before I got into this business, but had zero understanding about SEO, and have been teaching myself for the past 6 months. there's really not to much to it. The key is to stick with it and don't slack off. Off page optimization is an on going process that never ends.