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Aaron Sullivan

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Posts posted by Aaron Sullivan

  2. Posted · Report reply

    currently i have a 2002 F-150, a 2001 F-250, and a 2000 E-150 cargo van. I have had troubles with the 250 since we bought it last year, the 150 is not needed except to have an emergency truck to pull our trailer, and the van is ok except it is getting up there in mileage (82k) and it is a bit beat up.

    so...

    Running the scenarios, I am thinking of trading all three in an buying a new'ish E-350 cargo van and a little ranger (or something similar.) The van to pull the trailer or run solo with a couple of portable machines. The small truck to run estimates, pick up supplies, etc...

    My question is this...can a E-350 pull a trailer and not ruin itself? I have heard both yes and no, but both can't give me any real reason for their answer.

    I am vehicle knowledge challenged, so any help would help.

    Thanks in advance,

  4. Posted · Report reply

    i am getting pictures to post, but am so befuddled as to what has happened today at a housewash, that i must ask now.

    it is a two to three story, painted hardi-plank home. three sides of the house went great. we get to the last side and pre-rinse, apply house wash, let sit for 10 minutes or so, and rinse. as we rinse, the paint rinses off as well. not flaking, peeling, or shipping. rinsing!

    i checked all the chems to make sure a mistake wasn't made. all good. question my guys on what exactly they did. all is good. we have done 100's of houses and this has never happened.

    i took a rag with the house wash on it (not even diluted as the xjet would) and applied it to another section of the house. let it sit for several minutes and rinsed it off. nothing.

    the only think i can think is oxidation. i asked the customer and he said it was painted two years ago, and seven before that. it is the side that gets sun all day also.

    could this be the issue? could the painter not have prepped the house right? what liability should i take?

    i feel like it is kind of my fault, but it appears there is something else going on.

    any help would be greatly appreciated.

  5. Posted · Report reply

    bump...

    well, not a lot of response to date, but...

    could i at least get an example of a detailed proposal for something like this.

    i have a proposal for wood restoration, but not for something of this magnitude. i would think it should cover more than just our process and our price. but what, i don't know...

    any help would be very appreciated.

    even if your proposal is for cleaning and staining several decks, or cleaning and sealing a lot of concrete or cleaning apartment buildings or townhomes...i don't care, i just need some ideas.

    so far, i plan on giving...

    1. a proposal stating the process, i.e., low-pressure cleaning, involving stripping and oxalic. staining with readyseal and why we would prefer that product. and pluses for using it for maintenance reasons.

    2. copy of bbb record

    3. copy of insurance, gl and wc

    4. anything else???

    help, help, help...

  6. Posted · Report reply

    Question 1. Needs more info such as:

    how many structures?

    pitch of roofs?

    You say wash and strip. Strip what?

    are you sealing the shakes too?

    Yes, commercial will be substantially lower than residential prices but doesn't mean give it for free either.

    Question 2. It's hard to commit to specific days because of weather, employee no-shows, etc. I would commit to the job until complete, and don't worry about your other customers. Can you have others deal with your regulars? If not, tell them that your calendar is full and you can address them when finished. How many people will be committed to this project? Are you set up to handle this (equipment, workers, etc)? How long do you envision this taking? and, is that OK with the persons asking for the bid.

    Question 3. Large commercial jobs will let you draw on funds, usually. I would look for a percentage up front say, 20-30%. That should be enough to get you through the job if you haven't bid too low. Or else payment at certain benchmarks like you described. The only problem with the benchmark thing is that commercial accounts are notorious for 30-60 day payment. Be careful on that.

    Advice: don't be intimidated by the size or scope of the project. Everything is do-able, and it may be time to let your business grow. Hire some workers, and get it done.

    sorry for the mis-title...

    how many structures? 31, not all the same square feet

    pitch of roofs? mansard style, practically vertical

    You say wash and strip. Strip what? nothing visual to strip, but i will probably lightly strip and oxalic

    are you sealing the shakes too? yes, probably use Natural Cedar Ready Seal

    as for my regulars, telling them 'i will get to you in a month or so,' won't cut it. i have to find a way to get them taken care of or not do this project. that is how strong i feel about them.

    i will have between 5-8 people to commit to it. i am purchasing a fourth machine this year also, so i feel like i have adequate resources. i envision it taking about a month and a half. i am not sure if they are ok with it yet. i plan on having a meeting with the person that called for the bid. or better yet, meet with the board.

    i like the idea about an upfront amount, i just worry about it shying them away from me. 'will he take the money and run?' type of thing.

    even though i would have been a couple of years ago, i am no longer intimidated by this type of work. i am actually excited about it! i pursued this type of work over the winter (thanks to jeff, the condo king) and this is my first big bid for the year.

    thank you for the help...keep it coming!

  7. Posted · Report reply

    I am putting together a bid on ~76,250 square feet of cedar shake roofing, and I have some questions.

    1. how would you bid this thing? honestly, we are moderately high on deck and fence projects, but we stay busy with homeowners that are ok with that pricing. commercial jobs are a different animal, and i feel like we are going to bid ourselves out of this thing if i go with those prices.

    my thoughts are to lower the initial price per square foot (mabye 5-10%), then charge that much for the first third, lower it another 10% for the second third, and another 10% for the last third. the only reason is because i see us getting faster and faster as the project goes.

    2. how do i keep this thing from 'killing' my 'normal' business? my thoughts here are to work on this property three days a week (monday, tuesday and friday) and do normal (residential) jobs the other three (wednesday, thursday and saturday). i don't want to drag it out forever, but i don't want to shut the doors on my regular customers to get this done as quickly as humanly possible either.

    3. is it ethical to ask for 'draws' on the project? and if so, how should i structure it? i cannot let this thing go to completion to collect one check. my business would literally die from lack of funds. i assume it wouldn't be abnormal to ask for draws from the total. e.g. ask for a draw for every 3-5 building completed (cleaned and stained.)

    i obviously don't want to discuss my pricing on here, but would be willing via email.

    please help me with any information you can. this is, by far, the largest job i have ever bid on. i feel very comfortable doing the work and it would be a big boost to my numbers this year, so i would like to get the job...just not at the expense of loosing tons of other work or loosing my a$$ on my pricing of this one.

    it seems like a fine line...where does it not become profitable enough to continue pursuing?

    thanks in advance for your help.

    if you would prefer to contact me by email, it is located below.

  8. Posted · Report reply

    I live in Nashville, Tennessee and am in the process of starting a pressure washing business. I will be doing residential to start out. I have already got some equipment and done a couple relatives houses. If someone lives less than an hour or two away I'de be willing to trade free labor for some hands on knowledge. Let me know, even if it is 20 or 30 degrees around here!

    sorry i just now saw this.

    i would be happy to show you around for a day or so.

    we too are in nashville, but wouldn't mind you coming with me or one of my crews.

    call me on my mobile if you are interested.

    615.416.5582

  9. Posted · Report reply

    Today we change this before we expericenced down time in the fiield.

    I guess i dont wait for my tires to blow either, I change them ater 50% and i like not having breakdowns.

    Its just and opiionion , so dont take it offensive guys please.

    If i didnt have a press i might let them go longer also.

    what would a press like that cost? and the new fittings? i would love to have one, but i am sure it is costly.

    as of now, we will fix a hose twice before tossing and replacing.

    i have seen the 'in the field' repair kits also. anyone using these?

    we do 80% or more residential work, but go through two to three hoses per machine a year. seems above average per the comments here, but we baby them as much as can be babied.

  10. Posted · Report reply

    we have a minimum of $150 for any job. so it is usually $150 for that side, or $225 for the whole house. (pending those are the real numbers) or i will take the amount for that side and add $100 for trip and time.

    more often then not, we get the entire job. i believe most people think washing a house involves ladders, brushes, etc... which translates into a lot of labor which equalls a lot of $$$. they think one side will cost a couple of hundred dollars plus, so when they hear the actual price they are pleased.

    i have learned not to get aggravated with anyone because they typically just don't know or are trying to save money. it's the ones that hire us and tell us what to do and how to do our job that gripe me!

  12. Posted · Report reply

    My prediction is that whoever the Democratic candidate is, they will win easily. The Republicans have completely alientated much of their base and are too stupid to realize it or too arrogant to care.

    although i hate to enter political or religious conversations, here we go...

    on the contrary, i believe the democratic party is so smug about Bush and his two terms, that they think they can put anyone into office. (just look at the candidates) all of this without addressing american's biggest concerns.

    they are running against Bush and the Republicans instead of running with their own (and America's) ideas to make a real, positive change in office.

    i am not dumb enough to think that it will be an easy race, but i think democrates are kidding themselves with the 'leaders' they have put out to run. republicans will need a little 'luck' with the image that Bush has put out (with the added help of the liberal media), but it WILL NOT be a landslide by any means.

  13. Posted · Report reply

    again, to make it easier for my guys, i usually just have them use the same concentration for any application. my guys cost me ~$20-$25 hour, the bottle of product doesn't. if they are goofing around for a half hour trying to figure out a better mixture so they don't have to use as much product, they are costing me more than just using more product.

    now, if i was doing it, or you are doing it yourself, then the bottle has directions that apply to each application. or, you could experiment in the field.

    hope that helps.

  14. Posted · Report reply

    we were fortunate enough to test the new stripper/cleaners that sunbrite came out with last year. we liked them all, but pretty much just use the 'rip it' product. it strips everything really well, including acrylics. it is probably overkill on some projects, but it is just easier to have one product on hand instead of three for different scenarios.

    make sure you are using the 'wood britener' (their spelling, not mine) after stripping/cleaning. you probably already know, you just didn't mention it.

  17. Posted · Report reply

    i have a deck to do a proposal on and the customer says the wood is 'palupa.' one, i don't know if i am spelling it right because i can't google it, and two if it is a type of wood, what is it?

    it appears very dense, like ipe, and i am not sure i have to know what it is to work with it. but, if it is a super dense wood like ipe, i would like to be upfront with the customer on longevity of stains on the surfaces.

    thanks in advance,

  21. Posted · Report reply

    we are currently working on a tennis club property restoring two large decks. the manager, today, added the surrouding aggregate as well. we have ran into a stain that runs the length of a section and it appears to be from rain/irrigation runoff. it is green, gritty and pretty thick. hot water won't get it off at all. i am assuming it is fertilizer?! i am not totally sure, but i need to know how to remove it as they want the area sealed as well.

    thanks in advance,

    aaron sulllivan

    alpine pressure washing

    nashville, tn

  22. Posted · Report reply

    Deck alone would have been $4500. House another $5000. If I was desperate for work maybe $8500 for both.

    Silly question.. why were you quoting a job of that magnitude over the phone?

    i did the estimate in person. gave her the proposal over the phone. i know, it should have been in person, but it took two weeks to get it going and like i said previously, she was the mother of a great contractor we do business for.

    oh well!

  24. Posted · Report reply

    Aaron,

    If i may critique you though, this doesn't sound like a Williamson Co. house, or a WillCo customer. Or GH, BelleMeade (target zones). For this to have been the response, at the PROPOSAL OF BID, you obviously didn't weed-out aggressively enough. I bet it was a YP call. You have to be aggressive in weeding these out....point them out to pics on your website and say, "is your house about this size? Oh yes, this was a great project, they were thrilled. You can call them as a referral. We did X, X, X, X, and X, all for $6,800 on this home, which is a great value for a high-end Co. like ours." The good customers will just ignore this and say, "i'd like for you to stop by when you get a chance," the bad ones will say, "it's gonna cost that much? I didn't realize that." At that point, say, "well, knowing this is the price range we are in, are we wasting each others time to pursue with an estimate? I realize quality service isn't cheap, but what are your options?" If they say, "come on", there is a good chance they are a buyer and were setting you up with the "dang that's high" remark. If they are a gentleman and cannot/will not afford it, they'll pass. If they are true white trash, they'll still ask you to come, and tell you it is ten times higher than they want. Tough to weed those out.:)

    actually it was the mother of a contractor we do alot of business for. i am by no means that burned up over it, i just wondered if i was in line or not.

  25. Posted · Report reply

    ok,

    you aren't going to hurt my feelings here, but i want to know what ya'll would have charged for this job. i got hungup on when i gave her the prices for this project. i feel like they are very fair prices, but you never know your customer.

    anyways, here is what it was...

    a deck, one half story off the ground, easy access all the way around...1800 sq ft of floor and 270 linear feet of your typical railing.

    a house, one story on two sides (138 linear feet) and one and a half on the other two (62 linear feet). overall on this project is about 1820 square feet.

    i bid the following...

    deck - clean, strip and stain with ready seal - $2565

    house - clean, strip and stain with ready seal - $3640

    let me know what ya'll think.

    thanks,

    aaron

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