Jason Reider

Wow...it must be true if it is written on the internet. :stupid:

Any Table of Contents available to give us a peak of what is included?

I remember Everett Abrams discussing this before, but I don't have a link to it Steven.

Websites, postcards, and referrals. Truck wrap has picked up a few also.

Yep, a late start, but the calls/emails have been a steady flow since mid April.

I'm sure all of you in the northeast are already 2-3 weeks behind this season compared to last year due to the weather. This is already causing a decent backup of jobs. We are anxious to start some of our decks next week, but the temps are supposed to be in the low 40's and then there is the moisture issue (which we use a moisture meter to check). I use AC most of the time, and it states to apply at 50+ degrees. What is the lowest temperature you will start staining?

Thank you everyone! Also, thank you Jake! Your advice and professionalism is always top notch. Plus, I landed a 3k deck restoration job because a customer was referred to us by you. I really appreciate that. The scary thing is, the customer almost changed their mind and wanted to put Restore on instead for a while. Luckily I was able to educate them. Have a great start to the year everyone.

Rita - I agree with Beth. Contact Keith at KBK Design. He does great work for me, and in my opinion, it is always best to have a professional create you promotional material.

We needed our generator last week due to the ice storm. A lot of people lost power for up to 6 days around here. I looked at it like a camping trip for the family, but my better half wasn't as amused. More snow coming Thursday...I'm more than ready for spring!

I couldn't talk my neighbor out of using Restore completely, but was able to at least get her to test it on some wood lawn chairs first. After doing the chairs, she finally agreed on what I was trying to tell her. It is a terrible product plus looks awful, and like Beth said "If the coating is not permeable.....RUN." All of these companies keep trying to develop a product that can beat Mother Nature. The fact is Mother Nature will eventually win.

Interesting idea that I would have never thought of Rod. I also have a Bostich framing nailer and a Dewalt portable compressor. I'm going to give it a try once this dreaded cold weather stops.

For those in the mid-Atlantic area or similar regions, when do you typically quit accepting/completing deck jobs? I am being bombarded with quote requests, and am afraid to take them due to the recent colder weather, frost, leaves dropping everywhere and my tight schedule. I thought about possibly offering a small discount if the customer signs a contract and waits to have the work completed in Spring of 2014. What are your thoughts or advice. I am still a solo operation and plan on hiring a helper for next season.

Happy and blessed 2014 to all.

As always Shane, VERY beautiful work!

I didn't accept the 1/2 down they offered. It just felt like too much, and I did have thoughts like Adrian stated above. I went with my standard contract that is required by Pennsylvania. The state doesn't specify a % down for these contracts, but suggests 20% as a common down payment.

Update - I offered a small discount and was very upfront about my concerns with the last 3 potential customers. Today I received a nice email from the one customer stating she was happy that I was open and honest and that I wanted to make sure the deck was completed under the proper conditions for the best results. She agreed to wait until the Spring and offered to pay 1/2 of the job upfront now and the other half at completion in the Spring. This is a nice $3k restoration job that I am happy to get. How do you feel about her paying half upfront? I thought it was excessive, but maybe I should take her up on her offer and order supplies now before they go up in 2014.

Thank you for the input everyone. :peaceful:

Very nice!

"I am a great believer in luck, and I find the harder I work, the more I have of it." - Thomas Jefferson

Good luck Jim.

Teacher and College Coach.