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Barry M

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Posts posted by Barry M

  1. Posted · Report reply

    I know Beth and some other wife/partners will back me up here - if you are both heavily involved, it is an enormous advantage. Maybe we need to start a wive's forum just so those of us that are working in the business can help support this type of newbie :) PWWSS (Power Washing Wives Support System)

    Celeste

    I think this is a great idea! You offered your number before Celeste, for my wife to call, back in March when I got laid off and went full time. I couldn't get here to call but I think she would visit and post on a forum.

  2. Posted · Report reply

    Jeff, I remember last tax season you posting about goning thru all your reciepts and being so unorganized and hating every minute of it. I see nothing has changed, you do need help....lol

    But I can't really help you, some guys are neat and organized and some guys aren't. I am anal about neatness and organization. I label and file everything, I have a box in my truck where I throw receipts in the heat of the moment but within several days I'll take them to my desk and record them all in the expense portion of my accounting book. I'm still small enough that I do everything manually. Anytime I'm on the phone I have a notepad and pen and I'm writing everything down the customer or prospect is saying so I don't forget. Once I do a job for them, I file a copy of the estimate, agreement, invoice, and even the chicken scratch paper I had from the first phone call. I keep a daily planner in my truck and write down every appointment, estimate, job or whatever. That's one of my weak points, remembering things, so that's why I write down everything.

    I think your problem is time Jeff, not so much a lack of skill. If you had time you could read some accounting and computers for dummie books and teach yourself. But in the mean time I think you'll find someone to help you, good luck.

  9. Posted · Report reply

    What's up Barry. I've been around, just haven't felt much like posting lately. I've been preoccupied with some other ideas I've been working on. July is pretty slow for me, which kinda gets me thinking outside of the pressure washing world for a spell. How are things around your neck?

    Oh yeah, I'm also 4 days in to trying to quite smoking again. I've been going at it cold turkey with very few problems, accept for eating twice as much. Everyone wish me luck, I'm gonna kick this thing if it kills me.

    Pretty slow this month here too, but still surviving. Good luck with your not smoking, damn things are too expensive anyway. Glad I gave it up years ago.

  10. Posted · Report reply

    Normally every state has different labor laws. I know in Indiana you have to pay them on their normal pay day or at least have it in the mail by that day. Also if they have any vacation time they hadn't used yet, it's considered the same thing as "earned wages" and you have to pay them within 30 days of termination, if not you can be liable to pay them their normal days wages for every day your late after 30 days. Most employees don't know about the vacation pay and if they don't press the issue, by contacting the labor commissioner, you can normally let is slide.

    Same laws apply for employees that quit too.

    I know this from being an employee, when I quit the full time job, jackass boss tried to screw me. I pressed the issue! lol

  11. Posted · Report reply

    While on vacation last week in TN, My dad, brothers, and I played a few games of golf. I'd never really played before, but I believe I'm hooked now. I went down and bought a set of clubs the other day, and have been hitting at the driving range a few times since. Who ever knew golf was so damn difficult. I've always been a very agile, and coordinated person, so I figured it wouldn't take any time at all just to get my swing down, boy was I wrong. I think that's why it's so addicting, because it's not easy. Anyone else play golf around here?

    Hey Lance

    What's up? I hope the reason you haven't been posting a lot lately is because your busy PWing. Have you been doing a lot of roofs?

    This is why I don't go golfing. I know I'll suck at it, it will **** me off and then I'll have to conquer the game by playing constantly. I love a good challenge but I don't need another expensive hobby. Have fun and take care!

  12. Posted · Report reply

    I have a Little Giant, cost $425.00 from Amazon.com. I really like it, except when I have to move it, or extend it.

    That's like saying: "I have a new truck I really like it, except when I have to drive it." lol.....okay, I'm bustin your balls a little bit, it just sounded funny when I read your post. Seriously though, I understand what your saying. Thanks for being honest about it instead of just saying the Little Giant is the best thing since sliced bread.

    Sorry for giving you a hard time I just hate when someone bumps this thread to the top cause my dumbass didn't know how to spell ladder that morning. lol

  15. Posted · Report reply

    Mike, if you can't tell a difference I doubt there is much of one, and at $40 cheaper it will be hard to pass up.

    How much do you put in your downstreaming mix,

    I have been wondering the same thing. How much of each ingredient do you mix to a five when downstreaming.

    Mikes reply sounds right, I use 4gal of 12% and 1gal of citracleen.

    Can someone figure this out for me? Above is my mix ratio for downstreaming. I used to xjet at 2:1, I would use 1 1/2 gal of 12% and 1/2 gal of citracleen and the rest water in a 5er. Now here is the question, for xjetting I would also add 2oz of wet wax, 2oz of hanger, and 4oz of rinse aid. So how many oz. of these additives do I add now for downstreaming?

  16. Posted · Report reply

    I'll let you know how I like the citrus cleaner. Just got it yesterday (had to go pick it up an hour south of here where it was erroneously shipped!)

    Hey Mike, maybe I missed it but did you ever say how you liked it? Is it comparable to citra cleen? How much do you put in your downstreaming mix, just wandering if its as concentrated as citra cleen.

  17. Posted · Report reply

    I have lots of cleaning chems in the house.

    I have bleach, laundry soap, dish soap, windex, degreaser, odo-ban, carpet cleaner, oxyclean, etc etc.

    I also have some PW chems in the house, but nothing of any danger to anyone. I have some stuff on the carport too. Nothing flammible. Most chems are in the enclosed trailer.

    Touche!

  18. Posted · Report reply

    You all know as well as I do, that there are others who are storing or have stored chems in the house or have not had MSDS on hand. This thread has reminded me of the seriousness of the storage of chems, I knew when Jon jumped down my throat that I was going to be taking one for the team. I doubt anyone else will admit to the mis-storage of chems now, but that's alright. Ken has posted a great safety link that really shows the seriousness of this matter. I just hope by showing my ignorance, that some others realize how much care should be taken when storing chems.

  19. Posted · Report reply

    Thanks guys, I've been pricing some pre built 16x20 barn style sheds and they really aren't that bad. There is a company out of PA that will deliver me one assemblied to IN on a truck for $3200. Of course I'd have to insulate and run electric to it, but I could do that myself to keep cost down. But then again I could probably build the shed myself for even cheaper, if I had the time.

  21. Posted · Report reply

    Hey Matt, I hope you get it. Call me if you need help, I'm slooooow. Biggest job I did was 4 two story apartment buildings this summer (1st year full time) I made good money, and it took 3 days by myself, did all the walkways too. Nothing the size of the job you bid, but I do have a bid out to wash buildings and clean out gutters of 36 two story apartments and 26 detached garages. Biggest ones are 14 units, smallest is 8 units. Huge, huge job for me. But I don't know if I got it yet, but I'm hopeful. The money involved in a job this size is mind blowing when your not used to it.

  22. Posted · Report reply

    Jon, thanks for giving it to me straight, it doesn't bother me. I don't have 12% in the house right now, sorry for making it sound like I did. But I have in the past, but won't anymore. What I do have in the basement is different brands and colors of sealer and a 55 gallon drum of citra cleen...lol. That one ain't coming out till it's gone. In the shed I have a drum of 12%, all my deck resto chems, gutter shock, and some other misc chems. But it's not just so much chems its all the buckets, tarps, equipment I don't need on every job and such. My trailer is small so I only take what I need to each job. Then I got regular shed stuff, bikes, yard crap, lawn mower, blah blah. I just need more room. I am leaning towards buying another shed just for my stuff. Just wandered what others did.

  23. Posted · Report reply

    Hey all,

    I'm starting to accumulate a lot of chems, supplies, equipment, parts, etc. And the old 12' x 8' shed is gettin pretty crowded. Some of my chems I keep in the basement to keep cool and that's getting old too, walking up and down and thru the house. I've actually laid in bed at night when my mind is racing and dreamed about adding on to the shed, only to wake the next morning and realize what a dumb idea. I don't know if I should buy or build another shed or rent somewhere or what. I don't have the funds to build a garage right now which would be ideal, a place to park the trailer too instead of the drive. I live in town to which really sucks, but I was just curious what route some of you took when you reached this point. I have to do something before I start storing containers of 12% under my bed.

  24. Posted · Report reply

    Started up in spring of '05 part time, I washed 12 houses most of them were people I knew. I love seeing some of the high numbers posted so far, it gets me pumped up.

    67 last year, for the year. ( one of those jobs included 56 town homes) = 123 total

    53 so far this year. (plus I picked 2 H.O.A.'s so it isn't over yet)

    Adrian what's up,

    How do you pick up H.O.A.'s or how do you target them? I landed a job with one this year for 4 apartments but they found me in the book. I can't seem to find anymore associations similiar.

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