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John Doherty

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Posts posted by John Doherty

  2. Posted · Report reply

    On the W/C issue, if you are a sole prop. and have medical coverage, some customers will accept a letter from you health provider, it's called a 24 hr coverage letter.

    We don't get too many 'traveler' types here in Colorado but we sure did in NJ.

    JD

  4. Posted · Report reply

    Jon,

    That was so completely NOT intended for you! I don't think you're allowed to go away even if you wanted too!

    While I'm at it, let me thank you directly for all of the help you have given me. That is through responses to my own posts or from the many to others that I've picked up on. You have been a great resource to me and many many others!

    JD

  5. Posted · Report reply

    I will post nothing further on this, and will only say that almost everyone here is honest and well intended, and I have received a huge amount of information from you all.

    The posers, fakers, and wannabes need to just be honest, your posts give you away.

    I've posted this in the club house for a reason.

    JD

    P.S. If you post honestly, this will not offend you.

  9. Posted · Report reply

    Eric,

    Keep in mind that there is no market for washing houses here in Colorado, the climate is too dry, so the real nasty stuff just doesn't happen here. If you want to target residential work, it's going to be decks, people don't really seem to care too much about fences here either.

    Good luck,

    JD

  10. Posted · Report reply

    In Oct. I had my first one in about 25 years (I'm 39). I did it because my 45 year old sister had to have emergency bypass surgery (she's fine now).

    Aside from that, once or twice a year my back locks up and I go in for the cortisone/lydocaine shot to loosen it up.

    I do know a few people who could have been saved had they had a physical, I'll go once a year or so now that I know better.

    JD

  14. Posted · Report reply

    This one is a little different. Next week all of the potential vendors from every trade have been invited to a meeting (at a local hotel, it's scheduled for 3 hrs), so the builder can present the project to all of the trades. After the meeting they'll hand over the spec's and expect bids within a week or so.

    I'm already an under contract with this builder so they already have my insurance info. etc.. I already have my pricing and scope of work info. I'm just looking for any input on a nice format to put it in.

    Thanks,

    JD

  15. Posted · Report reply

    As usual I'm feeling pretty stupid. I was just invited to bid a home builder for 500-600 homes per year (flatwork). Although I am currently contracted to do almost 2000 already this year, I've never had to go through a formal bid process before.

    Does anyone have a format they've used with a home builder and had success with, and that they want to share? I'm looking for format only, not pricing.

    Thanks,

    JD

  17. Posted · Report reply

    Lou,

    I feel your pain, a while back I was looking at used units and they all seemed to be on the East coast! I have an automated search set up on ebay where I get an email with all the PWs as they are posted, the search is titled 'pressure washer trailer', it cuts down on me having to go to ebay and sift through lots of junk.

    I suggest you try to stay patient, and as an ebay strategy email the seller a question about the rig and save their email address from the response. People put used units up with almost retail price expectations and reserve. You will see these end and no bids or reserve not met, and you still have access to the seller via email.

    To anyone considering a used unit in CO, I'd be happy to look at it or take it to my shop that I trust to have it checked out for you.

    JD

  18. Posted · Report reply

    Celeste,

    They do sound like they're from another planet. Is it the super? maybe you can go over their head (safety officer)? This may open another can of worms, but ask your insurance agent to send you a letter on their letterhead to the effect that if you create a hazard etc...

    I've never looked at the OSHA stuff but their has to be something about creating a slip/fall hazard, maybe not specific to p/w though.

    Every sub on a construction site has to follow OSHA guidelines of the site, regardless of their own situation (every general contractor puts it in their contract with you, usually including fines the GC can impose on you).

    Matthew, I have to strongly disagree with your safety officer. Imagine being on a construction site without a hardhat, OSHA inspector pulls up (after spending an hour from a distance with binoculars), even if you get away with it, the inspector is going to go after the GC. You never, ever want to cause your customer to come under the scrutiny of any regulatory agency.

    That said, I do agree with you, call OSHA, best advice yet.

    Good Luck Celeste

  20. Posted · Report reply

    I spent 15 years in corp America, and most of the problems with downsizing are created long before the event! The problem is usually uncontrolled and mismanaged growth! If you have a poor plan when things are going well, you will have a much worse and more drastic plan when things go bad!

    As an employee at any level you must see yourself as a contractor, not an employee. The company owes you nothing and it has has been proven time and again that you will get nothing. It is a simple contract, you give your best efforts and in return you are compensated (pay, benes etc), period! I can not understand the mentality of people who think they are 'entitled' to something more.

    As contractors we see it all the time, our customers have a bad year, they may reduce expenses, the monthly contract becomes quarterly, they go out of business, or how about if a new facility manager comes in and gives the work to a buddy. The economy goes bad and people wait a year for a house wash or deck job. What do we do as contractors? We hustle and get more business, or perish.

    A career is a business and if more people realized it the better off they would be! No one is gauranteed a job, just as we are not gauranteed to get business.

  21. Posted · Report reply

    I bought my pw biz in early 2002, was part time venture for the seller so I got it for the cost of the rig and a few thousand for goodwill. For the first year I got a night job driving a truck to make ends meet. Since June 2003 this has been my fulltime gig and I love it, I have enough work to keep me and two subs busy just about full time.

    Before this I spent 13 years in financial services, there I did everything from call center and operations management to business product management. The last 5 years or so I was a business analyst, I basically fixed operations that were broken or inefficient, and created and launched new products. My last year I developed the core client service experience (how the co interacted with clients; in person, phone, and online) for a joint venture in London.

    Although I met many great people and got to travel all over the US and the world, I found that the higher you move up the ladder the more of your soul you seem to lose. I hope to never work in that world again, and although it may take a few more years to get even close to the old money I used to make, I wouldn't trade it for anything! My success or failure is directly on me, not on politics or any of that other corporate crap! It's great to be able to sleep at night with a clear conscience!!!

  23. Posted · Report reply

    Rod,

    I looked at the Sprinter, and liked it but smaller is on the price side also, I want to spend no more then $25k for the vehicle, I'm shooting for 2, but if the bank says OK I'll get 3. I really do want to keep the equipment enclosed as you said.

    Cujo,

    The $45k includes the truck, pw unit and the goodies, I'm starting to think 3/4 ton van, the 1/2 seems more of a dream then reality. The bank (and SBA) don't want to finance any used vehicles, so my first inclination to get the price down is out the window! You're right I don't want to have to plan that carefully, and the wear on a 1/2 ton would probably over time end up costing me more.

    Andy,

    I've heard the same on the expense for maint. on the Isuzu, although the frequency of problems is lower from what I've heard (compared to the GMC or Ford). The more I think about it the more the 3/4 ton van sounds like the way to go.

    My goal is to bring this in at $35k for the vehicle, pw, and all the other stuff, the bank is pretty insistent on everything being new, which is a bummer because I know I could do it all for $20-25k with slightly used stuff.

    Thanks for your input and I'd love to hear more!

    JD

  24. Posted · Report reply

    Henry,

    Let me clarify, I do new home flatwork for home builders, price is per home, contracted for say 500-1000 homes a yr. (hope to do 2000-3000 next yr., contracted for 1700 right now). Every job is virtualy identcal, no chemicals, hot water only, jobs are 45mins.-1 hr. (if you spend more than an hr. something is seriously wrong and additional hourly billing applies).

    The margin is tight, but the work is steady, easy to train, less dangerous (no chems), advertising expense is nill (I really don't advertise at all, no # on my rig, no yellow pages or mailers). My expenses are fuel, equiment, time and insurance (not in that order). These guys pay every 2 weeks so my net is 15-30 days max. They have me on automated pay systems so I don't even have to invoice, just track payment so none get missed. Most of the guys schedule a month in advance.

    One of the things I really like are the expectations of my customers, these guys know what can and can't be done, so no crazy requests and no complaints to deal with. I also really like that it is daytime and year round, with some slow down in Jan. and Feb. but with the #s these guys push in December (15% of the year's volume), I need and can afford the slow down.

    For 2005 I want to capture a greater % of the construction market (3800 would be 10% of the projected market in CO), for 2006 I would love to broaden to more commercial and industrial work with construction paying all the bills and the other stuff making some real money.

    I'm happy to suffer the margin for now!

    By the way this is an excellent thread!!

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