Washaway

I feel for you. Often I've wondered how long before the cops show up and shut me down. I strongly believe that it would be worthwile to have 4 or 5 machines (without mufflers) running for a good hour every day for a week, right @ 7am. I'm sure he'd have a fit and would get the message.

Just drive up the street to the 401 & 427 junction and breakdown the house at the brewery! It was hovering around $3.09 a few weeks ago but I've been paying b/n $2.50 & $2.65 this week.

It won't open for me. I'm taking my services somewhere else! :)

Beth, I don't appreciate you stealing my methods!! ;)

If you'd like I can send you some home videos. (don't forget I was born in a then communist Eastern European country). ;)

Listen to David about the equipment. 3. Don't waste your money! If you really want to own one then I'll give you mine. (allocate the funds saved to #7) 5. Skip the brushes entirely...I don't see where you'd get any use out of them. (allocate the funds saved to #7) 7. Save your money for a Whisper Wash Classic 8. Allocate the funds saved on this to #7.

Scenario: Commercial client hired me for multiple cleanings per year (in this case twice) and contingent on a contract (which was signed) I applied a discount, per cleaning, accordingly. I got a call 2 weeks prior to starting our 'second pass' and was told to hold off on pressure cleaning due to other projects (tree trimming, etc.), which have not yet been completed. 3 months passed before I was given the go ahead to resume and with my schedule they will have to wait another 3 weeks. The problem is that the contract calls for discounted rates based on pressure cleaning twice per year. It's not a series of services being clearanced. When I will have cleaned the property for the second time it will be 2 months to go before a potential renewal of our contract. I'm understanding, ofcourse, but can't help feeling ripped off. Have anyone else run into such a scenario? How did you handle it? How do you prevent such a thing from happening? Maybe I should specify a time frame in which a discounted service has to be used, kind of like a Gift Certificate?

Jim, that was one of the solutions that I had in mind when starting this thread. When it comes time to renew the contract that's exactly what will happen....however still, the time frame in which multiple cleanings occur has got to be documented otherwise I'm still in the same boat.

Preferred, I understand your issue with cars and open windows. In the past I've confirmed jobs over and over and still there was a vehicle left in the drive. After making 3 calls and leaving voicemails the drive was the last to be cleaned and the truck was cleaned around. The blocked portion was obviously omitted, I got paid and thank you very much. If they'd wanted me to return they'd have to pay my minimum charge again. As far as tile guys are concerned it's also a simple fix. i'll tell them they've got to setup somewhere else and before they realize I'm on the roof and doing my thing. Trust me, they relocate what needs to be relocated in order to save their equipment.

Explain to them everything that's involved in doing your work and they'll soon think otherwise. Unfortunately all they see is the time you spent at their property. WHY?????? (is it wrong or does it set you off) Gentleman. We have to get used to the fact that we are not the only contractors who exist. Do the poolguys skip their client b/c a pressure cleaning rig is parked infront? Do the sanitation people leave the garbage bin full? Does the mailman (or woman) skip the mailbox b/c she actually has to get out of the vehicle for one mailbox (or 15 if you're counting the painters, pool guys, landscapers, garbage men, courier services or the general influx of home owner vehicles which have a tendency to be parked on county roads) There are countless times when I've pulled up to a residential home and the landscapers have taken, what I deem to be, the prime parking spot. I simply make the best of it and have to spend an additional 15 minutes of elbow grease when reeling my hoses. No big deal!! ps: If I'm missing something here, as to why you are upset, please explain b/c I just can't see it.

Preferred, I don't understand why you require your customers to be home when servicing their property. If b/c you want a signature for authorized work then have them sign when you estimate or leave a copy of the estimate with them and make sure you tell them to fax you a signed copy of everything that's involved. Besides, don't your customers work during the day? I've had problems with customers not calling the community gate and grant me access and at the same time not be available by means of telephone. Those cx will be charge a nominal fee for having to reschedule. 85% of my customers are usually not home when I perform the work and I, to be honest, prefer it that way. I get my job done faster, and quicker without the usual home owner interjections. (silly crap like "i noticed some dirt on my window. Are you going to clean up after yourself before you leave?") Things are here are much different and people don't have opened windows b/c of the heat. Yet still, I don't see why it's imperative that your clients be present at time of service. The tile guys were more than capable of doing their work and if they've hunted you down for your services then it's safe to assume that they want it. Paying you should not be an issue and checks can be mailed just as easily.

PWkid is right but not for peel out marks. I've got a client who had someone leave a pretty burn out mark behind. There is nothing that will remove it. (short of replacing the pavers)

I too use Advanced Surfaces' products but do my very best to stay away from sealing projects. They put too much kink into my regular schedules.

Dan, once you get those pavers clean make sure they stay dry for 48-72 hours. Infact it's not the pavers that are the concern as much as the sand. Sand retains water very well and that moisture will continue to rise to the top for days. Mix those sealers with the moisture and you'll give the client a pretty, hazy design I'm sure they won't be happy with. Turn sprinklers off, and if it rains your ' T minus ' countdown is reset. Don't forget to blow off any surface dirt with a leafblower before sealing and keep vehicles off freshly sealed surface for atleast 48 hours. (foot traffic is acceptable once sealer is dry to the touch) Good luck and take pictures.

Thanks Ron. You'll hear from me today for sure. I need to discuss the other thing aswell. Yesterday was just too much and it slipped my mind.

Maybe I should quit pressure cleaning and become a landscaper. Possibly then I would not be put on hold? Understand that this account is a community of 23 buildings where we clean all sidewalks. We're not talking about a homeowner with 2 palm trees in his front yard, nor about the local gas station manager with the same. Their reason for holding off (to the best of my knowledge)was legitimate but incredibly inconsiderate and somewhat business hindering. I'm not planning on jumping down anyone's throat b/c this was the first time something like this happened. However I intend to implement some sort of measure that discourages behaviour of this kind. I'm thinking about the future, not crying about the past 3 months.

Rod, Thanks for input. It feels good to be understood and I'm glad to see I'm not the only one with whom something like this leaves a bad taste in their mouth. I'm not loosing sleep over this nor will I develop a complex, and most certainly I will not start seeing a shrink. The reason I made mention of this was to see how others would feel about such scenario and how they would handle it. The point is that I'm looking to try and prevent it from happening again.

Ken this is the first time something like this has happened. And I would like to take some sort of a measure, even if limited by it's means, to make sure that this is the last time. As Rod has mentioned this begins as a principle issue which, due to it's domino effect, becomes somewhat of a problem on a larger scale. In the end it affects scheduling, work loads, overhead cost, defered income etc. 3 months down the road it won't be affecting me....but once again that's not what we're talking about. I don't offer the level of service I do to have to go chasing to make up for lost income in the long run. There are reasons why I issue discounts and the criteria which effects those discounts don't apply anylonger due to a time delay. If I were to pull something like this rest assured that no longer would I be contracted by that particular client. On the flip side then why is this type of behavior acceptable towards myself and why should I just sweep it under the rug? This particular project is a 2.5 - 3.5 day project. If it were a residential client I wouldn't think twice of even mentioning it. I will schedule them as soon as I can make it fit. I will honour my contract price however est assured that my contracts will be rephrased, ammended and altered in hopes of preventing such occurences in the future.

20 CENTS A SQUARE FOOT FOR ROOF WORK?????? Holly &^%#. I have to move.

Rod, That's exactly what I'm talking about and that's exactly what my problem is. I'll have to come up with something to include for the future. What a pain in the butt.

I don't understand why my customers complain.....I'm simply trying to save water. ;)

Ken you're correct. However I'd have to say that if the tables were turned I'm sure this client would not have waited and additional 4 months for services due. I realize that things aren't always simple black and white, however this situation bothers me much.

For $2000 I'd throw in the family dog as an add-on.

Before I even get into particulars, one of the first question I ask is "What time frame were you expecting to have the work done?" If they need rush service and I have to adjust my schedule to service their expectations then I will charge an emergency fee. (It's along the lines of charging a fee to a client who neglected to call you through the gate and now you can not do your work) Don't forget that the people whom have cancelled on you got a better deal somewhere else. This means you are probably better off not having them as clients. If to a potential client you were highly recommended, or they were impressed with your knowledge and presentation then chances are that they would wait as long as they have to.

I'm sure you're going to get a lot of X-jet responses but I'd walk the roof. Granted, it's a very uncomfortable walk but with the proper fall prevention gear you'll be alright. It's definately a two man job (minimum)!! ps: charge accordingly