Snow Lover

We are going full time next year doing houses and mobile homes.It's been a rough year so far lost my mother in law in march,my wifes favorit aunt found out she has advanced lukemmia,my dad has to have a hip operation and may end up in a wheel chair,my aunt got hit by a car crossing the street,a friend of my wife got killed by a druck driver on july 4th and my friend just excaped serious injury in a stock car wreck a couple weeks ago.WOW what a year so far. My wife and I said lifes to short so that's when we said lets go for it next year. Getting a new truck in 3 months and buying our p/wing equipment over the winter months. I see all these estimate sheets and contracts but using a webtv I can't read any of them. Would someone be so kind as to email me a estimate sheet and a contract with a wavior about damage.My email is Badens@webtv.net Thank you,hope all of you have a great day. Tim

We were talking about p/w at work and people who p/w homes for a living. How long have people been paying to have there homes washed? My guess is some where around 25 years. I looked it up on the puter(webtv)but couldn't find a anawer,does anyone know?

Got my hours changed at work,go in at 12:30pm, some days mite go in at 10:30am. Can't work weekends because of other activity I am already involved in (racing). I have not bought any equipment yet. Got a chance to bid on some house washing jobs. Have to be home by 11:45 so I can get cleaned up for work. Don't want to spend money on equipment and insurance,then find out I don't have time to do this business the proper way. I really need your help and advice!! Thanks Tim

I am glad you guys are honest with me. Hope you guys have a great business year. Tim

Ken you hit the nail on the head,I am a newbie. Been thinking the same thing you said ever since they changed my hours.My wife said something about rushing to get done in time. I think it boils down to you being nice and bacicly saying don't do it. I am going to take your advice and skip this business idea. Thanks for saving me from making a BIG mistake. Tim

If you were going to buy a new rig would it be trailer or truck(3/4-1 ton flatbed) mounted? You would be doing strickly residential. And don't worry about money,what would you pick and why or why not for residential?

I have read about people using this and said it was great for washing houses and mobile homes. What is it,how does it work and how do you hook it up?Haven't started up yet(personal reasons) but we are going to get a x-jet,does that quick connect on to the wand?Never used one before. Thanks for the help Tim

how do these slash and dash people get away without being insured? If you damage someones property your automaticaly responsable for the cost of that repair is the way I understood it. What do they do have them sign some kind of wavier or contract that says there not responsable for any type of damage? I wouldn't do this was just curious.

A friend of mine wants to get into p/w homes BUT has never never used a p/w. Well he rented one to do his driveway only if you call that really using one. No one around here needs any help and I have not got started yet plus you work for someone around here then go out on your own all of a sudden bad rumors start popping up about you. Told me he's getting insurance before starting. He is starting out part time. He doesn't have a puter so he can't look anything up but he is a very hard and proud worker.I know he would do a great job. Should I advise him to just go for it? Did any of you start with no idea what you were doing(trial & error)?

You guys hit the nail on the head!! I used to have a lawn business so all the other things I just knew I have to take care of and never gave it much thought when he asked me. Think I better have a long talk with him before he makes some big mistakes.

Would any of you like to give out your house wash secret mix on here or email me at Badens@webtv.net Had a guy tell me to mix 3 quarts pool chlorine, 1 quart jomax,2 cap fulls of casscade and the rest water in a 5 gal.bucket,using an xjet. Looking at a cold water 3000@3.0 or a 3000@2.8 Saw a 3700@4.0 but read some where you don't want to use to much psi. Hope I don't get slammed to hard for this but I found these p/w's at lowes.Going to be doing this part time,looking at 1-3 houses a wk. Would this be ok to start out with and when/if we wanted to go bigger buy a better p/w? Not going to be a low baller,going to do things the proper way.Mite be retiring within a year and this could keep me busy after wards.

Thanks guys,I was thinking about those lowe's machines today,the more I thought about them the less I liked the idea of getting one. There is a hotsy/landa dealer about 35 miles from here that has a cold water direct drive 3500@3.8 for $1380.They also repair and will lend you one if yours is getting fixed. I haven't checked on the belt drive prices yet. They also sell chems. Tim

After consulting with the doctor again and telling him what I would be doing every moment. He said "didn't think you were doing that". He thought I was going to be climbing up and down ladders,crawling on roofs,lifting 150lbs stuff all day and operating a big machine. So I got the go ahead to p/w. Now my wife wants to go out and help me seeing how the doctor said it's ok. Everyone of you is awesome,your help and your support really made our day.Thank you. Tim

nightly massage would be awesome. Going to build a ramp so I dodn't have to lift it out of the truck.I figure a couple of 2x6s should work ok. Tim

Hi guys,I am getting back into plowing next year doing residential only. Buying a new chevy 4x4 short box with western 7.5'plow next month but going to work on getting the p/w business started first so no plowing this year.

Thanks for the plowsite info,I checked around and thats the going rate $35-40. Since we will have a it jumps to $50 but that was this year aybe it will go up next year. Nice pics again Paul,thanks. Tim

LMAO that was great!! I am working on it.

Hey Don,I am going with a chevy 2500HD gas with a 8.5'western V.Think I mite have picked up some commercial accounts too.I could sub out for the co.that plows the apartment where we live. Starts out at $35hr if you got a V it's 50hr. Paul those are some awesome pictures if you have any more please post them.I like the first one best with the sunrise or set. Tim

Went to the doctor this morning told him about the p/w business idea my wife and I had and he said "I don't so"with the look the doctor gives you when he means business.He told me I have 2 discs in my back that are going bad. So that shot this idea,thank you for all your information and sorry to take your time up. PS Asked him if I could mow lawns then and got the same response,higher tone of voice though. I should have known better than to ask.LOL Thanks Again Tim

Wife and I talked about it last night,looked at Ryan's idea but she's against anything to do with p/w,said she doesn't want to talk about it any more,then I GOT THAT WIFE LOOK.LOL I am a firm beliver that both of you have to be 100% for it other wise it's not going to work. Don't want fight over this it's not worth it. Again thanks for you help,good luck everyone.

Was searching around and found a old post from Jan.5 of 04 by Ron M.he was going to make a Pressure Washing Reference Guid for newbies and seasoned people.Was that guid ever made? I sure would like a copy of it. Was curious so thought I would ask. BTW this board is awesome,it's nice to be able to ask questions and not have someone call you all kinds of names just because you didn't know.

My wife and I are wondering about profit margines when doing house washing. Read chems running between $4-$8(1 story) home. Say your washing a one story using a cold water 3500@4.0 unit.Lets say your chems cost $10. Have a bus.lic.and insurance(300K). Your charging $150,average rate around here. How much of that is profit,ballpark figure? Been told $75 another person said $100. A friend of ours is a realitor and said between him and some contacts he could keep us busy. Anyone ever work for a realitor and if so how did it go? They pay the same day I wash the home(s)just got to be at there office by 6pm. Tim

It's kind of hard to answer your question,it depends on what your setup to do. I am going to do just driveways,around here the average home driveway goes for $20-$25. A lot of guys will have 30+ drives and they plow when the snow gets 2"that's a trigger point. Some the trigger is lower and some higher. Where I live you figure there is 15 snow events but there again it could be more or less. Some guys bid it by the year and you get the money before the season starts. Commercial plowing is a whole different ball game,you can make BIG BUCKS but it cost you big bucks to get started. Tim

Thank you,you answered our questions. Looking forward to starting in 2-3 months. You have been a great help to us. Thanks Again Tim

Ok I see what your talking about. Sorry about that,should have added the information below to it. The truck(2005 plow truck)and equipment will be paid for,the insurance and biz.lic.will be paid in one lump payment before we get started. Want to make sure this is the right thing to do. Will be no employees,I will be doing it all. My wife works(RN)so not worried about this being the only income. Hope this helps on my question little better.