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PressureWashE

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Posts posted by PressureWashE

  2. Posted · Report reply

    Do you remember how you felt 10 years ago? You had spunk in your step, you did everything you could to get your name out there, You would call 10-15 real estate agents per day, You would pass out fliers in neighborhoods, and pass a business card to everyone you ran into. You were motivated, You were driven. As time goes on business owners forget the drive they had in the beginning, You need to find that drive again, And push through it, You need to have goals, and you need to plan to Achive them.

    Failing to plan is planning to fail.

    Find your drive, And use every free portal you can to spread the word about your company.

    this year was a through year for many companies, but i beg you not to be a statistic, Fight through it, Better times are ahead.

    John

  3. Posted · Report reply

    Thanks:)

    I believe the next purchase will be a surface cleaner for doing driveways and walkways--they are all concrete driveways in the area I work. What can a 4 gpm 4000 PSI unit handle in size of cleaner--eg. 20"??

    Just asking for future reference because a customer asked the other day how much to clean the driveway as well--and I was able to convince him not to do it this time, but we will get it next time in 6 months. Most people wash homes here every 6 months like clockwork.

    This was done to buy me some experience time, and also some time for the business to make enough money to purchase the surface cleaner. Mostly the first reason though:D

    ....and tomorrow I go do 2 more---and 1 on wednesday....and not so nervous anymore

    5 inches per GPM so 20 would be the max id run with a 4gpm, Make sure you pay the money to get a good surface cleaner, you will thank me later.

    John

  6. Posted · Report reply

    I can't figure out a snow cleaning model - I am max'd for equipment parking - I can't spring for a truck to do plowing. I could get snow blowers and load up the van - but that takes a lot of dedication to get up at 4 AM to do $35 driveways. I figure it's just better tighten the belt and just focus on marketing for a few months - do all my own illustrations, get all my graphics ready to be printed for flyers and mailers. The downtime last winter in retrospect saved me from total bankruptcy - had I worked hard snow blowing all winter and just relied on last years advertizing and didn't get my website up. I'd be dead in the water this year. Everything I do seems to have lots of inertia - I am just glad next month my website will be up one year. I also have other areas in my marketing that need attention that I didn't have time to do this year. I just get anxious when money stops flowing - even though I can ration what I have until spring - it still really bugs me.

    Dan, If during the winter your planning on "tightening your belt" and not pushing work, Your not making anything. If you snow blow, $35 a driveway may sound like crap, when you know you can pressure wash a house in an hour and make 300, but look at it this way, You make some cash to hold you off, But all the while building customer relationships, spring comes and now your snow blowing customers want you to wash and paint the house.

    Thats is how I look at it

  10. Posted · Report reply

    I have been using zeta 40's for 2 years now but keep having problems with the diaphrams getting chemical damage once they go so does the pump. Started replacing them before they go bad but that costs me 150 per. Is anyone using a buffer to clean or nuetralize the chrlorine. I was wondering about running something through the pump that works or getting these manufacturers to produce something that doesn't need constant replacing. I will not use low flow sureflows or other electric pumps. I want high volume fast and effective equipment. I'm not looking for know it all smart remarks from people who don't have any real info. Let's bounce some ideas around and learn from others with real experience.

    I just run about 10 gallons of water through my shurflo, so far been about 6 months and no problems with the pump, YET

  17. Posted · Report reply

    OK I have a couple contacts that I can call about local chem. supply for the 12%. I thought they were throwing me a hint with the comment of "also known as pool shock". Thanks for setting me straight. I thought that was too easy, the place was literally 1/2 mile away at most LOL

    Good Luck man, Trust me it took me a few months before Adrian on these boards showed me the light on SH, I was using 10% for the longest time and paying 15.00 for 4 gallons, Now 145 and I get a 52 gallons of 12.5 (more like 15) delivered to my door. I use so much less chemical now and clean alot faster.

  18. Posted · Report reply

    If you don't mind, how many did you send out at each mailing and did you send to the same people or a new list each time.

    I'm still trying to find that advertising medium that at least breaks even...

    Thanks,

    I sent 1500 Each tome,

    In april, I sent 1500 to XYZ

    then 2 weeks later I sent it again to XYZ

    then 3 weeks after the last mail date, I sent it one more time to XYZ (this round got the most calls)

    Then I targeted another area and repeated.

    also in the areas that i targeted I managed to get in the community new letter, and I did the tennis courts at the country club for free.

    The more they see you the more they feel comfortable, that you are a legit business.

    The cards are actually blue i don't know why they look green on my screen.

    First round of cards you send I highly doubt you will get 10 jobs like stated before in this thread, 3 - 4 is more reasonable for the first round, But as you do the second, third, and fourth if necessary more and more calls will come each time, Also since they will know you so well after the campaign expect to get more calls a few months later from the same target.

    I paid 160 per 5000K, I think I read in this thread that someone was paying 120 for 1000.

    Ken is a master of advertising, I followed a lot of his posts to gain what I have now.

    Also I used MellisaDATA.com for my demographic information and list. I saturated Currier routes in my target area, That way every single neighbor and house on every street in my zone was blanketed. you also will shave on postage this way. plus mellissa data is so much cheaper than infousa and other mailing services.

    Good Luck call me if you have any other questions.

    John

  21. Posted · Report reply

    I agree because whenever I mow a yard where the house was just washed...I can smell the bleach. I just recently mowed the property of a white house and gawd it smelled like they used straight bleach.

    How will the 12% SH be on plants and grass??

    You need to ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS, pre wet all the vegetation, then after you apply your SH rinse down all the vegetation, as long as you keep the plants, grass, and shrubbery wet, you wont have a problem, Dont do it, and a hot day will kill it all FAST.

  22. Posted · Report reply

    Michael, To your original question, Before I started this business, during the winter season I would hang Christmas lights to earn some extra income during the holidays, Now I have made holiday lighting apart of my business, Ive started advertising for it from now, and have about 18 houses booked thus far.

    Id look into it, my smallest house for lights is 2400 Sq/ft and they are paying 375 4 hours and im done.

    John

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