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Barry M

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Posts posted by Barry M

  1. Posted · Report reply

    I use a single QC wand and just change nozzles. I wear a cheap 2 pocket nail apron, rinse tips in one side-soap tips in the other. Normally I carry two rinse and two soap nozzles. It's really much easier and faster than it sounds. I love downstreaming but......

    why do I have a feeling that a hard core xjetter is going to chime in and say "what a PITA"......lol

  7. Posted · Report reply

    Barry,

    Great job. Where can I look into or purchase TimberStrip Pro ?

    Sorry, I've been busy lately. Looks like Shane and Mike have steered you in the right direction though, thanks guys.

    Thanks for the kind words everyone. I'm still waiting to stain these babies, it started raining as I was finishing stripping and it hasn't stopped since. I'm curious to see how bad the fuzzies are.

  12. Posted · Report reply

    Here is the deck in back. I'm guessing I got 90% of the latex off, there is still traces of it on the spindles and places that you can't see in the pic, but I'm pretty happy with the results. The HO's are just ecstatic with the results and don't want a solid on it. They don't care if some of the latex shows thru, they want a light natural colored semi trans on it to show the beauty of the wood. I guess if their happy, I'll be happy. But I'll still think twice next time, it was just too much work.

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  13. Posted · Report reply

    I preach to everyone to walk away from these darn things and then I get involved in not one, but two. Two small decks with a nasty rose colored solid latex on them. I normally turn these down because I know at best I could only remove 80% of the latex and that it just wouldn't come out right. But for some reason this just felt different, it was a referral and the homeowners are just a little old sweet couple that could easily afford my services. The old guy is really cool and insisted he didn't care how they turned out, he just wanted them a different color and would "make it worth my while". So I did a test spot and explained I couldn't get it all off without damaging the wood and that we would probably have to go with another solid. They were very labor intensive because I'm so picky, I just wanted every bit of the latex off. I used Timber Strip Pro, full strength at 30 minutes dwell time and 1000psi, each deck took me 3 hours. Here's the first deck up front.

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  16. Posted · Report reply

    Barry, once you become the Pressure Washing King of Indiana you wont be going back for them just to sign a proposal. To much time involved

    Don't you mean of the Midwest?

    I see your point Jeff, but I guess it would just depend on how much the job was. If they called and said they accept and it's a couple thousand dollar job, or maybe even $1100 like stated, then I think I would still find a way to get there and get the thing signed so I didn't end up losing the job. But then again if I was as busy as you are....your right I probably would feel differently about it.

  18. Posted · Report reply

    How do you guys deal with homeowners that call you to give them a price and they say ok you have the job schedule it everythings fine and in a few days later they call you and tell you so and so can come this week and do it. Im tired of wasting my time and money giving estimates and scheduling them only to find out I am not quick enough for them. So far this year i have lost two jobs worth $1100 together to homeowners not wanting to wait my services.

    I never give prices over the phone. I try to do estimates within 24 hours and I always try to sell the job when I'm there so I walk away with a signed proposal. If they say they need to think about it, or want to get some more estimates or whatever and they end up calling me a few days later saying that they want to accept my proposal, I try to set up a time to go there to meet with them again, get the proposal signed and set up a cleaning date. It may seem like a pain and waste of gas and time to go back just to get the proposal signed instead of waiting until the cleaning, but I haven't lost any jobs due to someone changing their mind either. Once the proposal is signed, it's $ in the bank.

  19. Posted · Report reply

    Your pricing for both is about what we would have charged for the deck. I didn't even figure the house bid after the deck math :)

    Celeste

    Same here on the deck, a story and a half high strip, easily $2.00 a sq ft. I get about $6,000 just on the deck.

    Now I might have come down a little on that since the house was to be done also but I think your bid was low. I know it sucks Aaron and it sounds like it's really bothering you, I feel ya. Just got turned down on a big job myself, three decks needing cleaned and sealed. I bid it as low as possible to try and get it, gave the normal presentation with pictures, testimonials, and referrals. Talked to the guy for awhile and felt good about it. He called back two days later and said the bid was too high and he'd have to pass. Even though he was a gentlemen about it, it still hurts. I dwelled on it for about 2 days because that's how I am, but I had to tell myself to let it go. It just wasn't meant to be.

    If I can't make $60-$70 an hour after expenses then I don't want the job. I couldn't go any lower on this deck and still make what I want to make, I'm not a lowballing hacker. I feel my level of quality and professionalism is worth what I ask. You can only do your best to get the job Aaron, the rest is in God's hands.

  23. Posted · Report reply

    Another board I visit when I have time is www.archerytalk.com check it out.

    Some of my buddies shoot the Switchback, it's a smooth and quiet bow but it's a shame you can't get the speed out of them that they claim you can. If you want speed go with a Bowtech Allegiance, very fast and forgiving.

    A good friend of mine owns a big pole barn and we've finished off part of it and made a personal archery shop equiped with bow presses, scales, cut off saw, fletching jigs, chronigraph, and all the bow shop goodies. It also has an indoor range and about 6 or 7 of us shoot there every Wed night. We also try to hit a couple 3D outdoor shoots a month, to help us gear up for hunting season. I haven't jumped on the new bow band wagon yet, I still like my Hoyt. The best thing to do no matter what you shoot is to pracitce, practice, practice. Nothing annoys me more than some guys I know that don't touch their bow all year and then pick it up opening morning and go hunting. Then they wander why they missed or wounded a deer and can't find it.

    I'll be going to Kansas for a week in the middle of November to bow hunt. Indiana isn't know for huge bucks.

  25. Posted · Report reply

    Michael

    With very little cash, I think direct mailing jumbo PC's or flyers to a specific audience is the best bang for the buck. Other ways to generate work with little to no cash are: Word of mouth, free demos, follow up with existing customers, community involvement, tie-ins with other contractors, public relations, newsletter, bartaring, take-one box with biz cards, and even smiling and being enthusiastic can generate work.

    Just remember most marketing does not work instantly. You have to stay commited and consistent in your marketing, give it time to work. A lot of business' run an ad or do a mailing and wait for the phone to ring. But nothing happens, so they change their marketing. Again nothing happens. The more they change it, the more nothing happens. Then they stop believing in their efforts and then go out of business.

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