Referrals

[Referrals]

I too, love them referrals! I have one customer who is responsible for probably $4000 worth of work the past three years, and another to the tune of about $3000. I send a $20 Applebees gift certificate along with a letter for any referral I get from any customer. It's the cheapest form of advertising there is! I actually dropped my newspaper ad July 1 last year, and stayed busy through October thanks to this type of customer. Saved about $1200 in ad expense too!

I'd love to get new construction decks around here, but everyone here thinks you have to wait a year, then they put some Thompsons crap on it themselves (at least the first time).

[Wood type identification]

Based on your location, you'll do fine to start so long as you can differentiate between cedar and PT pine. In my experience, people who have the more exotic species like Ipe, know it and will be sure to tell you just how much their deck cost to build, and how special and rare it is.

[Cabot's SPF]

I did a sample board with the SPF products last year, and they look good, but the acrylic thing is the trouble. Thankfully, the local Cabots supplier here never ordered any in, or I might have been tempted to try a deck with it. Dodged a bullet there!