Do we really need a Organization ? (poll)

[onecallpowerw]

But, Henry, the only thing you are really for is more government intrusion. I would much rather be able to compete on my own terms and not have the Fed, State and Local governments to deal with.

Look, You think that a $1200 per year insurance policy will take away all the low ballers. You are clearly wrong for thinking this. Hell, what is $1200. You probably spent that much just yesterday. I know I did.

Do you actually think the customer that wants a house wash is really concerned with weither or not your insured and licensed ? I really do not think they are that bent out of shape about it. Bottom line, if you price a 3200 sq ft house at $525 and the guy down the street in his pickup offers to do the same for $225, which do you think they will go with ? Now of course when it comes to decks, stucco etc..... You probably would not have to worry about it. Even with gutter cleaning....We charge $1.00 per linear foot to clean gutters....Well my buddy the local non insured/licensed will clean your gutters for $.50 per linear foot. Hell, I had em come out and clean my gutters because it was cheaper than me doing it...Honestly.

Bottom line and history has shown that more government brings more problems and more money out of your pocket. So toot your horn, and I will be the first one there to vote against it. And I am insured/licensed and that sets me apart from everyone else even close to me.

 

[Henry Bockman]

Gordon,

I'm not sure where the $1200 thing came in but if your already licensed and insured then why would you be against the other guys out there having to be insured and licensed?
As it is now, were much more professional than the low ballers. BUT, if the other guy will do what they "think" is the same job at half the price! Their wallets will start talking to them and they will hire the cheaper guy 40% of the time. This is going to effect our income and our ability to take care of our families. We may not be noticing that much of a loss right now but it's still happening.

That's what I'm talking about.

In Montgomery county there have been lots of reports about fly by night contractors ripping people off, robbing them and raping and killing them or their kids, we hear about it all the time in this area.

Do clients in my area worry about licensing and insurance? Hell yes they do. But when a license isnt required? they don't worry about it because they may not know any better. We know how much damage someone can do if they have no idea what they are doing. Look at my website, I've got some pictures of damage done by some of these guys. Once the home owners find out and realize that the guy at their door is supposed to have a license they are going to think twice before rising damage to their home and decks.

I am sure though, if a home improvement license was required here people would be asking for it!

Either way, what would you lose by having it be required? It's not going to hurt your income because you allready have it.

 

[Dan S]

Im glad Im going to my camp for 5 days.

The poll still stands @ 45-26........AND ANOTHER 13 SAYS THEY CAN MAKE JUST AS MUCH $ WITHOUT IT................ I REST MY CASE.

I got's to poop,I wonder if there is a license for that?

 

[Henry Bockman]

There's always the sanitary commission, EPA and in this area WSSC. They monitor all kinds of things I don't even want to think about..lol

I think the focus has changed a bit to licensing from the original topic. I'm going to guess that you don't want people to be required to have a license for power washing also..

 

[onecallpowerw]

No to more federal/state government.....

Henry,

You are correct. I do not want more governmental control over anything I do in life. PERIOD. I believe in the ole free interprise of our system. Not governmental control. Sell yourself. You are asking basically for the government to help you get rid of the little guy. Sorry, but I cant back you on this. It is a fact that more governmental control over anything cost you more money. PERIOD. I guess it is a little different for me due to where I operate. I have only three competitors in shouting distance and they do not play a factor on my income. Hands down, we are the best company for what we do in our area. Granted, you probably have more competitors that I but that is the way it goes. But do not try to regulate the entire state just because you have a low baller problem. Hell, out of the three companies that I compete against, we are never the lowest. Our work speaks for itself.

If the homeowner is an idiot and does not check out the needed info than that is his/her fault. They will either live to regret it or they will find someone that knows what they are doing. Why should we have to protect the consumer. Is this not your plight ? When I talk about the $1200, I was speaking of cost of insurance. Again $1200 is not allot of monies to be talking about. Add the cost of being licensed weither it be state/local you might reach $2000. Again, how many low ball washers do you think you will get rid of ? This is my point. You fight this and they will come (laws) and you will spend more than ever before..............JUST COMPETE...........

 

[Henry Bockman]

Hey Gordon,

I'm not asking the government to get rid of the competition but by re-reading my posts I can see how it would look like that. I've always had a problem getting my point acrossed online..LOL

I guess I could just run things the way I do and slowly put the others out of business by offering a better quality of service then the rest. I think we do that now anyway. I guess I'll just continue educating the client about proper techniques and the PWNA and let them get burned by the other guys until they find me.
I have noticed in the gutter cleaning field that there is only one other company still around that advertises gutter cleaning and repairs all year round. A couple of years ago they asked me to buy them out but I decided against it.
Sure there are a couple of other companies that toss in an add for gutter cleaning but they don't really know enough about it to be concerned with. There is a lot more to gutter maintenance than just cleaning them.
I may have some competition in power washing that I'm sick of but no one can touch me on our other services!
I guess I'm the King of gutter cleaning in Montgomery County..lol Thats not such a nice title but I'll take what I have for now.

 

[Clean County]

Henry,
I'm with you on this friendly debate. If your town/state makes it a requirement that you must be License/insured then that will raise the bar considerably. The lowest of lowballers who think they can just get into this business by purchasing a $300 powerwasher and nothing else will be history because there risk now(By being fined) will greatly outway there gain.

Just look at some jobs now that require you to have at least 2 yrs college credits....Why??So they can hire the more competitive people who want to get ahead. Different idea but somewhat of the same principles. Be requiring us powerwashers to have a License and insurance you will have more of the type of people who are taking this business alot more seriously which will raise the bar.

By reading Gordon responses here maybe in his area this idea doesn't work because he doesn't have that much competition but in my area and most others that I correspond with agree with this principle about requiring us to be Lic/Ins.

When there's tons of competition in ones area like mine and Henry's every little advantage that you can add to your business like being LIC/INS, Being a PWNA member etc. counts. If you have little to no competition than you can set any guide line for your business to follow because no one is out there causing you to raise the bar.

As for Dan S. pooping, the area should be quarantined immiedetly and the Hazmat boys should be called in Forth With [wsmile]

 

[MBryan]

You are always going to have lowballers and wannabes no matter how good you do your job, you will never put them out of business because there is always someone looking for a cheaper price. The associations make it even easier for these hacks to look respectable. If anyone can join the PWNA or IKECA no matter how good of a job they do then it makes us all look bad.

 

[Dan S]

here here!!

 

[Henry Bockman]

So what are you saying, that there should be some type of power washing 101 test and Proof of insurance to ensure that people who want to join are knowledgable and legal?

If that's what your suggesting I agree.

 

[MBryan]

Absolutely!

 

[Henry Bockman]

Now let me ask another question, make it a poll if you like. If there were some type of guidlines like proof of performance/knowledge, insurance or licensing required to join PWNA would you be more inclined to join?

Do you think it would help the PWNA raise the bar for the industry and gain more recognition and support or not?

 

[MBryan]

I say it would definately give us more recognition and support and respect. It would take a while but if it was run right, I think washers would be lining up to join.

 

[Henry Bockman]

Hey Matt,

I appreciate your comments and I agree, I think it would make a difference how other pw companies saw organizations if there were some basic requirements to meet before joining. After all, everyone should have insurance to cover themselves and their clients. A license is a legal issue in some states too so these are only bare minimum things any company should already have. The PW 101 test could also be used as a learning tool to new companies.

 

[Dan S]

64 to 28

my ~o~ my !!

no wonder there is such a big demand to join the @@@A hehehehehehe

 

[CaroliProWash]

I'm going to pose another couple of questions here - not to make anyone mad or start anything else but:

(1) If you've never joined an org - how can you know if it will help your business?

(2) If the org has no reputation to speak of at present and you join - how would it hurt your business?

We can all beat this organization thing to death....it has been time and time again. Bottom line is, it's a business decision that each person (business) makes for themselves.

Leaving you with this thought though - If this organization does grow and develop into what members are envisioning? In two years or 4 years or 6 months, do you want to be left behind or sitting on the bench bitching because you didn't do anything when you had the opportunity?

Exiting stage left

Celeste

 

[Dan S]

yep!

It has not grown to any huge proportions since I have been in business a whole 12 years of it.... Oh sure it grows a couple members here/there .............. a boat party here and there ............

I will exit stage left and will lead the other 64 people!!

 

[CCPC]

Leaving you with this thought though - If this organization does grow and develop into what members are envisioning? In two years or 4 years or 6 months, do you want to be left behind or sitting on the bench bitching because you didn't do anything when you had the opportunity?

What do you mean by opportunity? If one can join at any time, most will simply hold off till they see a real benifit to joining.

 

[johnny]

Dear Celeste,

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think you are a new power wash business owner/operator. Being new (we've all been there), so many unnecessary things become important to you. The more experience you gain the more you realize that things you thought necessary really aren't. You learn efficiency and focus through repetition and trial and error.

Being a member of an organization will not make you a success. Dan S and others of us have been in business for years without seeming to need the power washer organization. It works for him and others not being a member. We are successful in spite of it, you might say.

The association does not have as good a track record of success as Dan and others have. New members join and are hot for it and then their companies suddenly vaporize, they are no more. I have read it time and again. Go back to the beginning of this board and wonder where are they now.

None of us is so naive to think the association can represent us, or keep our interest for more than the time it takes to read and write on these bulletin boards. $ucce$$ful businesses focus on what we do best and leave the memberships to those with more time on their hands than work!

I will exit stage left with Dan S and those other 64.

 

[Clean County]

Celeste,
On the other hand I've been in this business for 10 yrs now and I've been a PWNA member for 5 or 6 yrs(I can never remember if I became a PWNA member in 99 or 2000). I have never regretted being a PWNA member except for maybe once and that was my very first year. I believe I may have lapsed 1 year of my membership after that first year because I wasn't satisfied...Then after reading and talking to many people who where PWNA members and how they benefited from this Organization I found my answer..These people made the PWNA work for them by there participation. They did not sit back and wonder why the PWNA is not working for them. The ones who did just that were the ones you read about it who were unsatisfied. So the lesson I learned and it works for me is when I put into this Org I get alot more out of it and that is what I believe others have realized that stayed with this org.

Just last week when I had my first PWNA sponsored Roundtable in NY yes it took me a bunch of hours of my own time to get this off the ground but just being there and sharing with PWNA members and non members was priceless. To be perfecty honest if I wasn't a PWNA member I would have never hosted the roundtable but with some other PWNA members supporting me to do it..it got done. There so many positives that I see in the PWNA that benefits me and my business and for the minimal cost to me of $195/yr membership its a bargain x 10..

Speaking of groups I am contemplating on joining BOMA association maybe in a year or two. I hear a ton of great things about them but there price tag of $1000/yr and $250 a month is to much for me to float at this time. I do know though from talking with one of there members that its the way to go if you want to make the big $$$$ in commercial Powerwashing. Just ask Tom Daughtery a PWNA BOD and I believe a past President of the PWNA in the 90's. Things you learn.....priceless!!!