Barry M

Ken, did I understand that right. You coated it with HD wrapped it in plastic and returned the next morning? What was the ratio of mix?

I too have thought about offering different levels of housewash, I just have to sit down and work it out. Someone here uses Bronze, Silver and Gold to refer to 3 different levels of a wash, I like that.

I talked to the PM that required I have WC before starting the work, but he wasn't aware that I was a one man operation. So he said it's fine as long as I have the certificate of clearance thru the state, no problem. I can even hire a temp helper and still not need WC. I don't see the sense in paying for something you don't need. The PM is cool with it, I'm within the law, so until I have to have it, no thanks. While we're on the topic of insurance, I just got my GL ins bill today and noticed it went up a little. So I started looking at it and I see there is a new catagory called Terrorism Risk Insurance Act + $10. See they get my money one way or another anyway!

Where can you get a book of MSDS of all the chems?

Yes it does help. I guess I'll start shopping for it. Thank you Don and John.

I have a big roof job to do this spring for some office buildings. I am upping my GL to meet the requirements of the PM, but they also require I have WC insurance. So I looked into it and my state dosen't require I have it if I have no employees, which I don't. I have to fill out an application for a certificate of clearance that would make me exempt from having to carry it. My question is will this fly with the PM as long as I'm within the law? I am allowed to hire a temp helper and still be within the law. I don't want to spend extra money if I don't need to but I don't want to **** the PM off if they say I need it. This is my first commercial job so I don't want any set backs, but if I don't need WC then I don't need it, right?

The vehicle you show up in will leave long term negative effects in the atmosphere, does that mean your going to walk?

http://www.cleanupamerica.com/ Hey I thought you were the King of Myrtle Beach not America?

Key word remove. You need to kill the mold, Sodium Hypochlorite (bleach) is the only thing that will kill mold and remove it.

Plymouth, IN 2 hours North of Indy, hey Mike maybe we could meet halfway like in Carmel, how far is that for you? We could have a 2 man round table.

I use 1/2 gallon of Steve's citracleen 1 to 1 1/2 gallons of 12% and a few ounces of Steve's wet wax, foamer, and rinse aid and the rest of the bucket full of water. I x-jet with no proportioner, I do a good sized house in a couple hours. I love the way this mix makes the vinyl have a luster to it and windows don't spot.

Jeff trying buying two 4x8 sheet of 3/4" plywood and rip them in half long ways so you end up with 4 2x8 sheets and then play leap frog with them as your moving the lift. I realize that takes a lot of time but it will keep from rutting the grass and from breaking shallow utilities. Only 6" deep? A lawn dart could of hit that.

I agree with many statements in that article, thank you for posting that. I see you've really been doing some good research Bob. I often go to the library and read articles in Pyschology Today Magazine. Learning about human behavior is an advantage in marketing to people. The fact is people do not care about your company or your service, and they don't want to read about it on a postcard or flyer. What they do care about is themselves and their problems. Here are two examples of describing a product. Example 1 "Over one thousand photovoltaic cells turn light into electricity in this unit." Example2 "This solar heating system can save you $188 per month based upon your current use of energy." See how the second example is about whoever is reading it by referring to "you". That will suck them right into the rest of the ad much better than the first example. Another good tactic is to ask a question which hits upon a problem they may have. Like "Do you have black streaks on your roof?" And then give them the solution to the problem. View things thru your prospects eyes and watch your profits rise.

If your targeting the right audience, price is only about 8% of the decision in buying a service or product. What people really buy They buy benefits They buy promises you make They buy your credibility They buy solutions to their problems They buy you and your employees They buy other people's opinion of your biz They buy your guarantee They buy expectations They buy believable claims They buy hope Confidence in your business is the number 1 determinant in influencing sales. Quality in your product or service is number 2. If people are buying strictly on price I move on, because they aren't going to be loyal to my company anyway. They are price shoppers and probably found my company in the yellow pages and want something for nothing. I do not target these kind of people, they are not my customers.

There's nothing like waking up on a Saturday, sitting down at the computer with a 'Hooters' cup full of coffee and reading one of Jeff's big ass speaches. Jeff, your speaches always inspire me because it's all from the heart. Sometimes when I read your speaches I'll express certain words louder and with a deep voice and stand up and start yelling like a motivational speaker would. My wife thinks I'm nuts but it's all in fun, but I tell her that will be me someday I just have to keep after it and not give up. Thanks for sharing all your experience for us to learn from.

I think what Lance is trying to say is that both the x-jet and a downstreamer have their place.

Don't get me started on bosses, I still have one on the full time job. Once I start PWing full time I'm going to give myself a bonus check at X-mas for the good job I do myself. Bosses suck.

Delco Cleaning Systems pricing guide says the average is .10 to .25 cents a square foot. I don't do new construction brick myself, I'm sure others will chime in but this gives you an idea.

I started last last year part time with $4,000. I bought a 4gpm cold belt driven unit, good hoses, a couple wands, an x-jet, some used ladders, a phone line, biz cards, insurance and saved a little for making flyers to mail out. I believe that's about the bare minimum you could start with and still look professional.

I can't believe I'm working in Jan. but it was 50 today and a little windy. Here are some pics of a nasty rust stain caused by a sprinkler.

Steve you do see some on the trellis they told me not to worry about it they are wood and they are going to paint them. Jeff acutually I'm 2 hours north of Indy so I'm really lucky to have nice weather, they were amazed especially that it only took several minutes. Jarrod never tried iron out, I've just always used ox. Richard It's iron and it is pretty common for people who are on wells, not so much city water. One contractor told me the only way to get rid of it is to drill a new well and look for some cleaner water. Most people I know on wells have filters on their faucets or buy bottled water.

Another customers rust stained fence, I love that oxalic.

I'm going into my second year part time and I'm still working out of the truck. I think it's time to set up a trailer. I too would like to get into more commercial work, It's not hard to see that's where the $$$$$$$$ is. But I will still target residential and I want to pick up more work in that area too. So for biz tailer set up more work in commercial and res. Personal I want to PW fulltime and make a living and I just want me and my family to be happy

Celeste, I've been to that link before but I must of breezed through that part. That is exactly what I'm talking about, and it finally seems like, once the WRAPI gets going, it is going to be an organization of action not just talk.

I would like to see Lowes and Home Depot stop selling those cheap powerwashers to Mr. and Mrs. Homeowner and stop telling them "You can do it, we can help". Really though, you ask a good question Mike. I would just like to see the general public view powerwashing as more of a trade that involves training, knowledge and skill. I just want the customer to be more educated, and I'm going to do my best in my area to do educate them. It would be nice if the PWNA or another organization would print up some really nice brochures geared towards educating the public about powerwashing and then make them available for contractors to buy. I think a brochure like this from a reputable organization would mean more than if a single biz owner like me would have some made up.