mas3372

Thanks Mike, After writing up the bid tonight, I realized it was a bit steep. I will lower it a bit and hopefully gain some future work from it.

if its 935 on a friday night and your happy because everything is done and you can finally sit down and see whats new on the forum you might be...

Pics are everything. It is very tough to imagine what it can look like. Not to mention, throw in multiple peaks, dormers, etc. Hopefully technology will catch up for you. All these sites up here are fairly new, within the past year or two.

Mike, found a new site, check it out. It is not as great as the sites I have but this site can give some info for you. WWW.ZILLOW.COM It will at least give you the assessed value, neighborhood and some demographics. To give you an example of how lucky I am. Go to this site http://www.riliving.com/OceanState/TaxRecords/Default.asp click East Greenwich, click access data base and then choose East Greenwich again. Type in 2 clauson and select search top left. then click the address. I quoted this house recently. This site is average on what most towns offer, some give more info and more pics.

Dan, thanks for the help. The fence I am sure will be fairly easy, it is just stretched out over some are so that will account for some time. The wall I think will come clean hot water, just afraid of hurting the mortar with hot water, not sure if that will impact it or not. the pavers, i agree, chlorine and let sit. the landing will be the biggest challenge. Maybe I will offer to do if for $400, $475 with both sides of the fence. It is a huge house I am sure I would gain as a job one day, not to mention a huge deck and pool apron. All in a very nice area. thanks

Make sure you leave with nothing more than what you went with PLUS PAYMENT.

I use 1/2 pound per gallon, mix it with warm water. I just keep applying until the rust starts to go away. Then wash the heck out of it.

brent is on to something. Tung oil penetrates deep. If the stripper is not capable of penetrating, it won't touch it. When ever I finish furniture with tung, I am sure to fill the grain so the tung can only penetrate so much and will do so evenly.

Hey there, Have to go price out a job tomorrow for a women who wants a whole bunch of little things washed. First just parts of her 4500 square foot house, I will be sure to talk her into the whole thing. Second is some algae on her fence. That should be an easy wash. And third is paint ball paint on a stone wall. She states she has washed it off before with just water but this time she never got to it and it is not coming off. I am assuming that paintball paint would be water base and therefore a little hot water and soem soap should work. A stone wall should be able to take the heat and abuse of 3000 psi if needed. Does anyone have any advise on the paint on the wall. Any magical chem. to use or experiece with paintballs. Thanks, Mike

Thanks so much guys. I figured they couldn't be anything to caustic. Another cased solved.

I work faster in the rain. I don't have to prerinse the shrubs or rinse after. It helps with rinsing. I just mix my wash a little heavy and go to town. I also move a bit faster because my feet get cold. The homeowners havn't minded yet.

I will be sure to let everyone know. I am keeping count of how many calls and jobs I get. My first job today paid for the list, the post cards and the postage. the rest is gravy.

Good point on the mailers mike. I just did 1000 post cards and they were delivered saturday and today and have recieved 13 calls so far and 5 jobs with the other 8 pending me getting in touch with them on a call back. I bought my mailing list for $75 and it was well worth it. Gave me 1700 people with some strict demographics. The appraisal sites for me save me so much on quotes and the homeowners love it once they know they don't have to wast time to meet me and perhaps another guy to get a quote and then call back. Saves so much time on both ends and today, time is money.

Thats too bad mike, because it is a great tool. I can get the size and a pic. Also the sales price, the value and a few other demographics. Hopefully technology will catch up for you.

I am very pleased with my estimating procedure I have developed in the last month. I owe much of the east to a website I found that will show me a picture of the home, foundation size, garage size and so on. As I am taking the call I can get the picture up on the house as I am describing my washing methods, ins, licensing and what my competition does that ruins their home. Once I have the pic up I have a real good idea of what I would charge. I then tell them the $50 window, ie. "You house including the outside of gutters and front steps will cost between $375 and $425 depending on..." I then go on to say "we can schedule the work and before I begin I will tell you the definite price but it will not be more than $425" unless there are some drastic changes. This has not failed me yet. They know the max they will pay, they understand my washing methods and the job is scheduled. Decks and so forth I must see and measure. All estimates are free.

tell your friend he is right and then in a year or two charge him an arm and leg to restore it.

I have made it a point that when I go over the instructions for the homeowner in regards to closing and locking windows, moving patio furniture, etc. I also mention that all occupants must stay inside or off the property while I work. This is strictly due to my INSURANCE Carrier, They require it. Works great so far

Hello, I hate to be repetitive. But I have tried to find the thread with my last questions regarding dryvit but with no luck. Looks like I will be doing a dryvit home on monday, gray. the house is huge. 5400 square feet living space. Not to dirty, just a little mold. Just want to be sure on my technique before I destroy a 1.2 million dollar home. I was thinking to use the simple cherry over the E plus with 1 gallon 12%, 4 gallons H20 and the simple cherry mix. Very low pressure Easy around the windows edges. Any other help, please chime in. Thanks

Thanks Ken, The house is not to bad, Huge. http://data.visionappraisal.com/CranstonRI/parcel.asp?pid=31240 I will mix the 12% strong with come simple cherry and see what happens. I use an M5 almost always with the fan. So I will be sure to take it easy. I love the dual lance with the M5, it allows me maximum control of pattern and psi. Thanks again. Mike

Thanks Brent. Appreciate the help.

I put on my work order they sign that I am not responsible for any damage other than what is due from gross negligance on my part. It further reads that they must report in such damage within 24 hours. The 24 hours is enough time for them to thouroughly check your work and look for damage. Not 5 months later. Feel comfortable with the adjuster. I have many friends who are contractors that have had claims. The INS. dosn't like to pay out and if they find that you did not to the damage, THEY PROVE IT. Good luck

You guys are good. Thanks so much.

Has anyone used shimmer or any other similar product. If so, what do you think. Does is work Do people go for adding this on as an extra.

I cleaned a house a bit back and have been meaning to ask this question. The gentleman who owned the home asked me how much pressure I use on the windows. He was concerned about hitting the windows with high pressure. Not afraid I would break them however. He went on to tell me that if hit the windows of the double or triple pain windows with argon gas in them which acts as an insulator, that you can disrupt the seal that keeps the gas in. Therefore, the homeowner loses the efficience of the expensive windows and what they were meant to do. Has anyone else heard of this?

Thanks again everyone. It is nice to confirm the truth. It also helps sell customers when you can advise them of possible danger due to pressure washing and how you avoid it. Proves to them that you are knowledgeable about what you do. And then when the competition goes to give a quote and fail to mention such info, you look like the hero.