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Aplus

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Posts posted by Aplus


  1. There are 2 mobile home parks here in the local area that I plan to door hang and paper with flyers this spring for power washing. I am hoping to get a good response and maybe pick up some add-on jobs (driveways, sidewalks, etc) while I'm cleaning the mobile homes. I have driven around the 2 neighborhoods and it looks like alot of home owners could use my service there.

    Is there anyone that has alot of experience with mobile home parks who might be able to offer some advice, tips or tricks? Thanks.

    Mike

    hoosiermike@hotmail.com

    Here is the original question.

    If it's a modular home park, price and wash them just like a regular house wash. The market may bear higher prices and appreciate quality service. Flyers can work for you.

    If it's an older park with trailers on axles, even if they are covered by cheesy skirting that blows off when you try to rinse it down, you may not be able to sell higher end washes. Or maybe not washes at all.

    If it's a trailer lot similar to the one Joe Dirt's parents lived in, chances are flyers aren't going to do much good.

    I would evaluate each park and based on observations, and decide whether or not I feel the disposable income is there. If so, do flyers, if not...no flyers.


  2. When I bought my 05' Chevy, the diesel was about $4000 more. And, diesel fuel was at least 10-20 cents per gallon more than gasoline.

    Since I don't need to tow a bazillion pounds, the gas engine made better economic sense.


  3. He also keeps channel locks, and the sand paper on hand. He also keeps pick and a set of o-rings. Spare QC's and such are a good idea too. A spare part on hand, can save a load of headache.

    Beth

    One thing I've come to realize is that all the spare parts in the world don't do a bit of good if left in my garage.

    I have a Rubbermade snap top 18 gallon bin in my trailer, that I keep assorted parts, and a toolbox full of every tool I will need to remove/replace the part.


  4. Actually, it's the q/c's & plugs that wear out, not the guns themselves. Even with stainless steel, I've found that the plug actually mushrooms on the bottom ridge of the fitting, where it plugs into the q/c. Every time the trigger is pulled the ridge of the plug slams into the q/c couple causing the metal distortion, It can be filed somewhat, but it's easier to change the couplings.

    I have to change the couplings about twice a year, at less than $4 a pop. Well worth the versatility they add.


  5. In the local paper around here a man cleaning his drive bare footed went to spray off his feet that got dirty and forgot how much pressure he was using. It peeled his skin like a potaTOE.

    Man my toes just curled up reading this.

    Operating a power washer bare footed or with sandals is not a wise idea. No one ever plans on having an accident with it. But it happens all the time.

    Be Smart.......Wear appropriate foot wear. Period.


  6. I started out doing this part time for the first six years. At first it was just to make some extra dollars, but by year three it was starting to get out of control. Summers were nothing more than work every day, from dusk to dawn. I couldn't get away to even see my kids ball games. It started to be too much.

    By the fifth year, I knew things were going in the direction of full time, but I didn't have the guts to give up 17 years in the computer biz, with bennies and 4+ weeks of vacation. During the sixth year, things took a bad turn at the day job, and it became apparent that gig wasn't going to last much longer.

    So I resigned, at my own timing and my own free will, and pursued power washing full time. It's been four years now, and I'm so glad I did it. Of course it's been a struggle, because afterall, medical insurance costs a fortune, and now I have to pay it all by myself, AND make a living.

    The big things I didn't understand was just how much insurance, workmans comp, and related expenses was really going to be. Add to that rising fuel costs, and it becomes tough to squirrel enough away to make it thru the off season.

    And then it's tough to accept that even though the work is coming in faster than ever, and revenue is increasing rapidly, that I'm not seeing any more dollars in my pay check. That's because employees cost so darn much money and they somehow manage to eat up a good portion of the increased revenue.

    Having an extra crew is basically break even, or maybe make a few more dollars. I'm thinking 3-4 complete crews would be the point where significant increases in my income become feasible. It's an economy of scale thing, I think. Don't know for sure, I'm not there yet.


  7. I can't see any valid business reason why you should have to show them your "equipment", or even your machines.......:)

    Maybe they somehow percieve that a certain level of equipment correlates to your ability to do the job. Pretty strange request.

    But, if it were me, and they persisted, I guess I'd let them take a peek if that's what it takes to get them to sign on the dotted line. Of course I'd keep all my chems private, they don't need those specifics.


  8. Rick,

    Ive done 1 redwood project with RS and when I talked to Pierce and I gave him the details and history of the wood, he said to use regular RS without the special redwood only formula. This thing was old and nasty too, like the pic you posted, that is really dry....... my point being when I sprayed it with RS natural cedar it was pretty damn dark which concerned me, but when it reached it final color in about 10 days it looked good......I stripped it with SH and when I neutralized it, I used Oxalic and I really hit it and let it stay on there for a long time, so when I sealed it, it was BRITE !!!

    best bet is to call Pierce....

    good luck :cool:

    I tend to agree with Mike here, the stain may appear dark upon application, but after a week or so would most likely lighten up.

    I've had many occasions staining old neglected wood where RS, when first applied, looked like crap. Several days later, it looked beautiful.

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