Is it just Me?

[Richard R.]

Is it just me or is there that many misinformed people who no nothing about power washing? I went into a lumber yard the other day and the clerk actually asked me what power washing was. I later talked to someone who was told by a carpenter that pressure washing would knock holes in his vinyl siding. Has anyone ever knocked holes in vinyl siding? I guess I better find out because the man asked me if I would replace the vinyl that I damaged.
Anyway, the point is, some of these people or so naive about pressure washing I sometimes want to walk off and leave them talking. Where is the common since in people. Maybe it's me. Maybe I'm the naive one, but when I began this business, I never heard all of this nonsense rumors. It seems as though people are really afraid of pressure washers in my area. It seems there are far more other contractors people need to be afraid of than us. I had a painter several weeks ago that after looking at a house I washed, said; "I need to hurry and paint this house before the seller and broker see it or they will cancel the painting. Obviously the house didn't need to be painted hardly at all once it was washed. He charged them almost $2500 to paint the house after I finished. Now who is the bad guy here?
It is really hard living in an area where almost everyone you run up on knows so little about power washing or what they do know is negative rumor.
Does every city have this problem? If so, how do you handle this in a large scale? How do you educate these people before the rumors ruin the business? I'm afraid I'm going to go broke before the people here are educated about this business.

Thanks for your input.

Richard R.

 

[Jon]

Richard it is that Texas attitude!

Now all kidding aside the one thing that I keyed in on is that crooked painter, go to the realtor and have a nice talk with her/him.

Explain that for less then half the cost of painting you can clean a house, use the one you did as an example, ask if they saw it once you were done then if they say yes, ask if they could tell when the painter painted a house that was clean and did not need painting.

Many people truly do not know what pressure washing is, I have people ask me the same question and I try to explain in my terms, they ever wonder why it is always clean in front of restaurants and then explain that pressure washers like myself are the reason, we are paid to keep it clean.

This guy asking you to replace his vinyl siding, you did not say you cleaned his, only that pressure washing could put a hole into it, was he scamming you?

Now you know why we have insurance, just for guys like him that pull one off on you, unless you really did damage it which I doubt very much.

 

[Glenn]

Richard,
You are at a crossroads of realization. Usually people get out of this profession here. Determination and will power will help you overcome this and other obstacles you have been posting about (winter months, slow times, consumer education). I feel you can weather this period and live to wash another day. Don't worry so much about things you have little or no control over and focus on the things you can change and manipulate. You will do well in this business if you can get through this area.
I hope you don't take this post the wrong way, but I and others here have been to this same crossroads.
Glenn

 

[Richard R.]

Jon and Glenn,
You both brought up some real could points. One was the Texas attitude which really isn't a joke. You would know what I mean if you lived here. Even though I've lived here all my life, there are still some of these people that really rattle me.
Jon, I haven't washed the house yet, but I found out why he's so worried. My Mom called me today and said the telegram had just put a piece in the paper about scam artist in the area. Everybodies scared right now.
I quess I will just have to show him I'm not a scam artist want I?
I brought it on myself though. I did some cheap advertising just recently. You know, staple the House Wash Flyer to a telephone pole kind of cheap. Not proud of it, but I feel like I have no choice right now.
I spent all day today running around dropping off flyers at every place I could think of and putting flyers on windshields at the local WalMart. Hey, what can I say. It's the only shot I have right now.

Glenn,
As for taking the post wrong, absolutely not.
I have an enormous amount of respect for you, Jon, Rick and some others on this board.
I really never looked at it as the cross roads though, but there's no doubt your right. I've been feeling kind of strange about everything for the past 3 weeks. I'm just glad you pointed it out. Maybe I can pull through it now since I'm aware of it.
I don't think I ever expected to loose my partner as soon as I did and now that I did, I'm having to look at everything in a different light. Working by myself is sure not the same. One really has to be strong to pull through without the partner companionship.
I just hope the recent flyers help.
I think if I could just get some steady work, I will be OK.
It looks like I'm really going to be forced to take the exhaust cleaning on for this winter.
Maybe it will be the break I'm looking for.

Thanks Again Guys.
I appreciate you more than you know.

Richard R.

 

[Larry L.]

<b><font color=green>Richard slow down your NOT at no crossroad and most on this bbs have part time jobs or full time jobs and have for years so don't go realizing dat your realizing.

There are some great ONE MAN teams out here Richard,don't worry about losing the partner companionship.

Stop running and make a stand at what kind of trades in this trade your more pleased about doing.Gear more so in those areas as in learning more about them.If its flatwork come get some of it,if its housing come get some of it,if its ect. come get some of it.I think you used your head with your way of the ad's,everybody looks at those poles what better way to get your name out there as to who's in the area that does that type of cleaning,try the manrooms frontdoor and don't forget the womans too.They told you to get your name out there anyway you can didn't they,,so don't take it as a cheap way it takes alot of time and money to do what you did.DON'T look at it as the ending but the being of a great one man team.

Just slow down and become that great ONE MAN team...come GET some...............no wait I mean get some down there don't need a great one man team around here they'd put me out of bussiness.

.......Great One woman teams too......

 

[David Saulque]

Hood exhaust cleaning trade isn't something you look at doing in the winter when it's raining. If this is the impression you have you are sadly incorrect. To us, the PW is a tool among many in fact a five hour service you might use the PW 45 minutes and everything else in the other 4 hours plus hr.

I would build my spring appointments in the winter or in the off season between jobs. You best get out and start pounding on doors and not waiting for some flyer to work.

David

 

[Richard R.]

Thanks Bigboy,

I'm glad you look at it like that.
I can't think of another Profession that I would like to stay in more than this one. It's a lot more work than I ever anticipated, but the results and rewards are greater than any career I've ever had. Same with the customers. I've never seen more satified and surprised faces than that of my customers.
Bigboy, If it is true about positive attitude in this profession, it's no wonder why you have the cutting edge in your area. If I could get just a smidgen of your positive attitude I know for a fact I could make it.
I appreciate the confidence you sent in your post. It sure makes me look at things a lot different.

Thanks Again.

Richard R.

 

[Richard R.]

David Saulque,

Besides identifing yourself when they answer the door, what do you say to these people?
Surely you don't tell them you notice their house was dirty and ask if you can clean it. They'd probably draw their six gun, shoot me and slam the door in my face. Although I admit, there are those that I would like to approach that way, but I can't and don't believe that is the correct approach to take.
I base that on the same fact that I don't want someone knocking on my door soliciting their services to me. I would rather get a flyer that allows me to decide in the privacy and comfort of my home in my own good time. I don't know what it's like in Sacremento,CA., but here in the Red Neck State of TEXAS, when someone says, "not interested", people get belligerant and hostile if you say another word, especially the women. If they close the door in your face you had better not knock on the door the second time unless it's to get you boot out of the door.

Exactly what is it that (YOU) say when they answer the door?

I'm open for any suggestions.
Please tell me the right approach.

Thanks

Richard R.

 

[David Saulque]

You missed the point-the term pounding on door is a term for cold calling-not ment in the literal sence. I don't call on home owners-I was just trying to help-sorry. Next time-you don't need my responce.

David

 

[Bob]

http://www.powerwashnetwork.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1708David,

Always miss understood too. I read some of your posts with Mr. Marshal. Ran him off too.


Richard,

The knocking on doors is a great idea, knocking on homeowner’s doors is another story. Stick with the flyers and give it a chance. Change the flyer if it isn’t working.


if you decide to do flatwork on businesses? Cold calling is the only way to go. Mailers work well also. Theirs a post that was started by Beth & another by Ron Marshal in marketing. Check these posts out they offer many different ideas and approaches.

Keep a good attitude, believe it or not customers can tell if something looks wrong.


http://www.powerwashnetwork.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=2556


http://www.powerwashnetwork.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1708

 

[David Saulque]

You have the wrong person SOB-I didn't run Ron M off this bb. That is the most ridiculous post to date. Get you facts right.

David

 

[Richard R.]

David Saulque,

Your right, I did misunderstand your post, but I think you misunderstood my post too.
It wasn't necessarily slamming your idea. Although when someone tells me I'm "sadly incorrect" and tells me to forget the flyers, which I worked very hard to pass out, I have to admit, it did raise my eye brow just a little.
It wasn't my intentions to fire back as badly as it seems you took it. I was more so slamming the area and the way people respond here in Texas with a little "sixgun" humor included.
My next point was to get an idea as to what you say to folks when they answer the door. So you see, I did take your comment literally. I apologize. My mistake. I shouldn't have been so sensitive.

There are truly times I would like to knock on the doors even though I don't agree with that approach. I just thought if you knocked on doors and was successful you might tell me what to say because I seriously don't know what I would say.

Sorry about the confusion and misunderstanding.
Please don't let this stop you from giving me your two cents worth. You may not need my advise, but I need yours regardless as to how it may sound at the time. A language barrier should never stand between two friends and I definitely consider you a good friend.

Thanks

Richard R.

 

[Bob]

Spoken by a true gentleman, Richard you make me feel bad. Maybe David doesn’t realize he pisses people off.

I’m sorry too David,

 

[Jon]

Ok guys, both Texans and Flordians,

David has never that I know of pissed off anyone, I have spoken with him on the phone a few times and he is a pretty nice guy.

Now I did not know he was a cop once, but what the heck my brothers in laws are cops too, keeps in inline!

But truthfully there are only a couple guys here who enjoy putting others down. The rest voice their opinions and help each other in ways they feel are right.

now Richard R. just being a Texan does not mean all those tails are BIG. Heck we got em larger here in Calif.

Ah to be a true blooded Californian. it sucks. I want out.

 

[Richard R.]

Bob,
I guess there's some that might feel that way, but I have seen David reach out far and beyond his call of duty.
I should have known better than to bite back like I did in the first place. David's got a heart of GOLD and would give the shirt off of his back to anyone who might need it.

If I hadn't answered the way I did, this would have never happened.

Sorry

Richard R.

 

[Bob]

I said i was sorry, ok

 

[Richard R.]

Can't we just blame it on Jon and Bigboy and be done with it?

Richard R

 

[Bob]

LOL

 

[Glenn]

O.K., O.K., O.k.
It's my fault and I meant to do it. Only because Bigboy made me do it.
Yes Bigboy, it is a crossroads with the road on the left and right being the quit and get out of the business roads. We all have been where he is now.
Richard,
I am still a one man team and always have been. I too did the flyers last year, we all have. It takes time to build a business. Some of the best advice I got just starting out was to give it three years and I got it here. Some on here told me to quit my full-time job the business would come and they had all they could do making $$$,$$$. Glad I didn't take their advice. You can expect some times like you are experiencing now, it's just normal. Suck it up and move on. It gets better.
Glenn

 

[Richard R.]

Thanks Glenn,

My problem is that I have no other choices. I have to make it or else.
I wasn't as smart as the rest of you guys.
When I found this new career, I was already medically retired and living on a small pension from the Police Department. I had some cash to live on for a few years, so I done a real stupid thing. I listened to someone who inspired me to invest everything in this business. They made me feel real confident so I did it. I spent every extra penny I had to buy into this business. I really thought I had it going on for a while and then the bottom fell out. The phone stopped ringing and the business account ran dry. Now I'm stuck with my self made flyers, a hope and a prayer that they will work soon. If they don't, I will have to sell out just to make it for the winter.
It's hard to get a part time job with someone else when your on a medical disability. I lasted 12 1/2 years after the bullet struck me in the chest, but that was about as for as I could make it.
I know the answer is out there somewhere, but it's basically like you said, I have to suck it up and move on to find it.
All I know to do is keep putting out the flyers and pray for the best.
I guess everybody goes through a little feeling sorry for themselves until they realize the bills or not getting paid.
I know there is people out there a lot worse off than I am, so I can't complain to much.

Take Care

Richard R.