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Business stinks!
- Thread starter jrwem
- Start date
Are you kidding me!!
I am dealing with everbody and their grandmother doing decks now. Not to mention the ridiculous spring weather we had.
Now we have all the hispanics starting their own businesses, low balling unbelievably! I lost tons of past customers and I have just about had enough. landscapers, pest control and lawn care guys all do decks now. It is getting to the point that I would show up to do an estimate and someone is already power washing the deck.
I think I am going to do gutter cleaning full time and forget about the decks.
I am dealing with everbody and their grandmother doing decks now. Not to mention the ridiculous spring weather we had.
Now we have all the hispanics starting their own businesses, low balling unbelievably! I lost tons of past customers and I have just about had enough. landscapers, pest control and lawn care guys all do decks now. It is getting to the point that I would show up to do an estimate and someone is already power washing the deck.
I think I am going to do gutter cleaning full time and forget about the decks.
J R ive only done 4 deck's this year.
im exit 105 off the parkway.
I have never seen so meny start-up co's, start up as they did this year. No one want's to pay to have their deck's done right.
You are right about every contractor adding deck's to their buissness. Why not for $500 you can buy a pressure washer.
Your help cost's you $10 per hour. Thompson's water sealer at $12 per gal or less. Wash 3 per day. Seal 3 the next.
$250 each.
Do you keep doing them right or do you give the people what they think they want?
I wash house's and truck's. No money in deck's.
Dan, how you doing with that $600 soap?
Im allmost out and im either going to call MARK and get the DERBY or think hard on that $600 stuff.
MARK your site say's ''make's 2 55gal of soap per kit''
You est. sheet say's ''one kit make's 55 gal's''
which one do i believe
im exit 105 off the parkway.
I have never seen so meny start-up co's, start up as they did this year. No one want's to pay to have their deck's done right.
You are right about every contractor adding deck's to their buissness. Why not for $500 you can buy a pressure washer.
Your help cost's you $10 per hour. Thompson's water sealer at $12 per gal or less. Wash 3 per day. Seal 3 the next.
$250 each.
Do you keep doing them right or do you give the people what they think they want?
I wash house's and truck's. No money in deck's.
Dan, how you doing with that $600 soap?
Im allmost out and im either going to call MARK and get the DERBY or think hard on that $600 stuff.
MARK your site say's ''make's 2 55gal of soap per kit''
You est. sheet say's ''one kit make's 55 gal's''
which one do i believe
Tim Lynch
New Member
Thats to bad about the decks not working out, I have seen alot of startups in my area too. A few years ago it was two of us in my area. I knew things would change. I even stopped putting signs on my truck saying deck refinishing so others would not get the same idea.
This is going to be my first year with a running ad in the yellow pages for gutter cleaning wish me luck.
I have a good base of customers that I take care of over the past 11 years for decks. So works easy to find and I still can pull in 100 an hour in the pocket. California as most of you know is deck country after all. But one allways fears the worst with the economy and all.
Again sorry to hear its not booming in your area for you guys.
Tim
This is going to be my first year with a running ad in the yellow pages for gutter cleaning wish me luck.
I have a good base of customers that I take care of over the past 11 years for decks. So works easy to find and I still can pull in 100 an hour in the pocket. California as most of you know is deck country after all. But one allways fears the worst with the economy and all.
Again sorry to hear its not booming in your area for you guys.
Tim
When I first started I was making so much money I thought I would be retired in a few years. It is extremely bad out there. I do a great job and will never stoop to these idiot lowballers level and I am afraid it will be my downfall. I had a revalation the other night about shotgun fungus, I think I am going to get a pesticide license in NJ and market myself as "The Funginator"! It is just dcrazy enough to work...and everbody has it so the market is huge. Anyone with in depth info on shotgun fungus out there.
I found out that the hispanics around here are charging $100 per deck plus materials! Can you believe it? Of course they are not charging tax, have insurance or anything else.
Tim the trick to gutter cleaning is learn the areas and get out there fast to do the estimate and be prepared to do them immediately. All year round! It won't be long until your list is full.
I make about 20 grand off of gutters...that is the only thing saving me right now.
I found out that the hispanics around here are charging $100 per deck plus materials! Can you believe it? Of course they are not charging tax, have insurance or anything else.
Tim the trick to gutter cleaning is learn the areas and get out there fast to do the estimate and be prepared to do them immediately. All year round! It won't be long until your list is full.
I make about 20 grand off of gutters...that is the only thing saving me right now.
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Clean County
New Member
How about adding commercial work to your resume. Commercial work is continuous and brings in steady$$$ even if it takes 30-90 days to get paid. If you do enough commercial accounts the checks will role in at different times and keep you afloat.
in my area the landscaper's are adding pressure washing to their service's and the south of the boarder's are washing the cement with a wand. The hood cleaner's are getting the food place's.
management co's are getting their own mexican crew's to do the washing for most of what they get done.
The unskilled labour market is flooded.
Heck, ive got a 200 x 250 ft lot and i pay $25 to get the lawn cut.
All the newspaper's i used to put ads in now have ANY HOUSEWASH $100
Their is so much cheap help out their right now contractor's are adding service's they know nothing about just to keep their help.
Forget about driveway sealing.
J R im suprised you make what you do with gutter cleaning.
Do you compete with www.nedstevens
they are tri state and dirt cheap.
he has 100 crew's. "most house's $35 to $75" is his advertisement.
I am going back to school. At 38, it wont be easy but ive got to do something.
management co's are getting their own mexican crew's to do the washing for most of what they get done.
The unskilled labour market is flooded.
Heck, ive got a 200 x 250 ft lot and i pay $25 to get the lawn cut.
All the newspaper's i used to put ads in now have ANY HOUSEWASH $100
Their is so much cheap help out their right now contractor's are adding service's they know nothing about just to keep their help.
Forget about driveway sealing.
J R im suprised you make what you do with gutter cleaning.
Do you compete with www.nedstevens
they are tri state and dirt cheap.
he has 100 crew's. "most house's $35 to $75" is his advertisement.
I am going back to school. At 38, it wont be easy but ive got to do something.
It looks like the hand writing is on the wall. People will look back at the last 5 years as the the good old days. The number of contractors who are no longer in this business is staggering. The solution might be to cut losses and bail out, now or take a job and work parttime pressure washing. JR Wood is a heavy hitter with years years of experience and when he says business stinks, everyone needs to stand back and take a good look. There are guys in my area who adverise all over the place, any house washed 69 dollars and any deck cleaned 79 dollars. That's all the customer sees in the newspaper and monthly mailers. You come along with a price of $225 and they see red. It was a good run but I think it's over.
I have been doing this for 8? years I have had my up's and downs ........... YOu guys just gotta do something different then the others ....... why give up unless you cant or wont change the way you reach your customers ...... dont worry about those bone heads out there concentrate on what you can do to make your business prosper.......believe me I have had the same thoughts as the rest of 'ya . But no-matter how much I bawl around I WILL NOT GIVE UP ! I am always looking for something new >> A different way >> something that makes me stand out from the rest ... And if it means spending more money to get better equipment >> or get educated Im doing it .....
You guys can throw in your towel sell all your crap on E-bay and then in a month or so be slapping yourselfs in the face Because you gave up .. Gave in to the competion ......... BE DIFFERENT >> HIT THE STREETS ............. the time you spend on the computer,T.V , moterbike,....sitting on the deck staring into the bright sun shine ........... You could be talking to customers .
go do a deck in a "hot" location for FREE .. yes FREE and watch your business move forward .. Dont go to the store and get bleech ... use the best stuff ........... Dont slap on the sealer also use your top stuff .. AND DO IT FOR NOTHING .... but make sure you do it at a place where word of mouth will prevail ...... OR a busy highway...............
go to a trk. co. do a trk . for ZERO ... FREE .......NOTHING ....
go to a restraunt do a drive thru for the same .........
If you have done all this ...... and still cant make it work try something else
Or if you really cant or dont wanna try Then GIVE UP ! b/c you are only fooling yourself..
This "words of wisdom" is not geared towards any-body special ...Im not picking nor sayinging that you cant be a business-man ........ all Im saying is this is what seperates you from the "lowballers" ..
GOOD DAY >> and GOOD LUCK !!
You guys can throw in your towel sell all your crap on E-bay and then in a month or so be slapping yourselfs in the face Because you gave up .. Gave in to the competion ......... BE DIFFERENT >> HIT THE STREETS ............. the time you spend on the computer,T.V , moterbike,....sitting on the deck staring into the bright sun shine ........... You could be talking to customers .
go do a deck in a "hot" location for FREE .. yes FREE and watch your business move forward .. Dont go to the store and get bleech ... use the best stuff ........... Dont slap on the sealer also use your top stuff .. AND DO IT FOR NOTHING .... but make sure you do it at a place where word of mouth will prevail ...... OR a busy highway...............
go to a trk. co. do a trk . for ZERO ... FREE .......NOTHING ....
go to a restraunt do a drive thru for the same .........
If you have done all this ...... and still cant make it work try something else
Or if you really cant or dont wanna try Then GIVE UP ! b/c you are only fooling yourself..
This "words of wisdom" is not geared towards any-body special ...Im not picking nor sayinging that you cant be a business-man ........ all Im saying is this is what seperates you from the "lowballers" ..
GOOD DAY >> and GOOD LUCK !!
Clean County
New Member
Instead of packing it in look for options. Here are some of the following:
1-Diversify by adding more things that your business can do such as commercial work, Hood Cleaning,Painting etc.etc.
2-have add ons with your business such as Landscaping,Pool Cleaning,Tree removal,Blacktop sealing etc.
3- Find a fulltime/Partime job to go with your business
4-Advertise like crazy and see what happens
5-Look for other contractors to work in conjunction with such as painters etc.
Use your imagination and be creative.
If all else fails then maybe its time to look for another field but I would at least exhaust all options that are available. Another words don't go out with out a FIGHT!!!
1-Diversify by adding more things that your business can do such as commercial work, Hood Cleaning,Painting etc.etc.
2-have add ons with your business such as Landscaping,Pool Cleaning,Tree removal,Blacktop sealing etc.
3- Find a fulltime/Partime job to go with your business
4-Advertise like crazy and see what happens
5-Look for other contractors to work in conjunction with such as painters etc.
Use your imagination and be creative.
If all else fails then maybe its time to look for another field but I would at least exhaust all options that are available. Another words don't go out with out a FIGHT!!!
Hey Ron,
I know about Ned Stevens, There is no Ned Stevens He sold the business years ago. If you go to their website the are in like 6 states now. I guarantee they have no gutters for $35-$75.
I always sell gutter cleaning to my deck customers and the cheapest price I heard about was $90...and not to mention they make you sign a contract and try to clean your gutters 5 times a year....That is how I compete, $450 to maintain your gutters? I have a clog free guarantee, if you have me clean them in the spring and fall. As a matter of fact I went to 2 houses this morning and cleaned some leaves blocking the downspouts for free!
Thanks for all the encouragement guys, I also am on my 8th year and I will try again next year. Maybe some of these idiots will pack it in and I can get back to work.
Man I saw like three different wolman signs on the same street today....I don't know, it's getting crowded.
I know about Ned Stevens, There is no Ned Stevens He sold the business years ago. If you go to their website the are in like 6 states now. I guarantee they have no gutters for $35-$75.
I always sell gutter cleaning to my deck customers and the cheapest price I heard about was $90...and not to mention they make you sign a contract and try to clean your gutters 5 times a year....That is how I compete, $450 to maintain your gutters? I have a clog free guarantee, if you have me clean them in the spring and fall. As a matter of fact I went to 2 houses this morning and cleaned some leaves blocking the downspouts for free!
Thanks for all the encouragement guys, I also am on my 8th year and I will try again next year. Maybe some of these idiots will pack it in and I can get back to work.
Man I saw like three different wolman signs on the same street today....I don't know, it's getting crowded.
Clean County
New Member
Dan S.
I know you'll love this but I see some Ron Musgraves in your post with the free sample routine. I knew you 2 really love each other.
I know you'll love this but I see some Ron Musgraves in your post with the free sample routine. I knew you 2 really love each other.
Clean County
New Member
Just joking with ya. I know one thing- you can't catch me if you wanted to because I'll be riding my new wheels I just bought this weekend. Catch me if you can
Here's the link to my new ride:http://performance-auto-group.com/images/eBay/Stock-0031/Large/Stock-0031-b001.jpg
Here's the link to my new ride:http://performance-auto-group.com/images/eBay/Stock-0031/Large/Stock-0031-b001.jpg