Top hundred things a customer should look for in a pressure washer.

[Dave Olson]

With regard to beards!

Most of my workers have beards, I do not. Some of our food manufacturing accounts will not let you in the plant if you have a beard!! Some will allow beard nets along with hair nets, but we have one that workers/visitors in their plant must be clean shaven! No exceptions not even for government inspectors.

Dave Olson


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Tidy Powerwash Service, Inc. P.O. Box 781, Catlin, Illinois 61817 Phone 217-427-5557, Fax 217-427-2632 We are a commercial cleaning contractor serving East-Central Illinois and West Central Indiana since 1984. http://www.tps-inc.com/preswash.htm

 

[Scott Stone]

Okay guys, leyts play nice and get along. This is getting out of hand in my opinion.
No personal attacks, please. For those of you that are confused, I deleted a post that was just ahead of Les from twoguys. If there is a problem let me know.

Scott
The-washer@msn.com

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Any statement that I make about equipment, processes or your hair color is my own personal opinion. I usually base it on personal experience. If you disagree with me you are free to reply on both the BBS and by e-mail. If I am totally off base please explain why on the BBS so that we may all know why
Bus. Phone 480-834-3434
Cell Phone 602-509-9741

 

[Two Guys Enterprise]

Yes, there are two of us.

The last couple weeks have been a turmoil around here. Here being this household and not the board, though I suppose the description would be properly applied in either case. Single parenting can be insanity.
This is a public forum that advertises itself as a source of information, a place where questions can be answered and assistance can be offered. Opinions are spoken, sometimes they reflect the beliefs of the speaker, sometimes they are random thoughts that will create a dialogue, drawing out the viewpoints of others and possibly giving weight to the initial thought, possibly showing that it was a wrong road to follow.
I read these posts and often laugh, often make a note of something that is informative and may someday help me better understand and operate my business. Quite often I walk away from the computer, head down the hill to get a pack of smokes or something and think about something someone on here has offered. When it's running right, people offering their thoughts without attacking someone who disagrees with them, we can pick and choose from the ideas and develop our own plan and information base. Items are offered for consideration and a variety of viewpoints can be exposed. When it goes bad, like it sorta has recently, some people lose track of the general information aspect and either attack someone for their question or comment or they cloud the issue with heated stands that completely distort the original thread. Most often the tone of the posts dictates the tone of the responses and lately it's not been a good thing. Even in pointing out that this has happened, some of you have to attack rather than redirect the thread to it's original path.
This thread is a textbook example of someone trying to start a conversation and some others, instead of offering prudent and helpful thoughts, tear into the list and disparage the poster for even making a list of simple terms. Don't add to the list, don't politely mention items that could help the original poster better develop his thinking, don't accept your turn on the soapbox and in a level tone of voice explain your ideas and insights, no, it's far better to cop a 'tude and attempt to inflame the mob against the previous speaker.

In our business we carry insurance because it puts a cap on potential expenses if something goes terribly wrong, like say if one of us slips and falls through a skylight or a fracture in a plate glass window explodes and someone gets hit with falling shards and loses a finger or an arm. Thank the stars we've never experienced anything even close to this but they call them accidents for a reason. Our customers have control of their actions and they accept responsibility for same. Our insurance coverage shows them that we are accepting responsibility for our own actions and they aren't risking their home, property, savings or future by inviting us to their place and allowing us to earn our living. If something breaks, they know we'll replace it. If an ambulance comes to their location they know they won't potentially have to sell their hunting camp to cover OUR medical expenses. It's peace of mind for them and for us.

Dave

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Two Guys' Enterprise
Superior Results at a Sensible Price"

 

[Les]

Thank you Dave, your point is well taken and a valid one at that. Let me also say that I agree with you. That is why I maintain insurance, liabilty, worker compensation, health, life and supplemental.

I guess I veiw some of these posts, not necessarily this one, as attacks on the small guy, or newbie as some call them, who dont have or cannot afford all the bells and whistles that go along with this profession.

While it may be good for them to know these things, I try to let them know that they arent always necessary. The last thing I want is to see some guy just starting in this business who reads a post and thinks he needs all this stuff, spends his life savings trying to get it and a few months later he or she is here trying to sell it all to feed his family.

I know there are those that sit and wait for this to happen and pounce the minute they see this guy crawling and offer him pennies on the dollar for what his equipment is actually worth.

Granted the last thing I want is my competition knowing everything I know, but I will help to the point to keep someone in business so their kids can continue to eat.

My intentions were not to belittle or demean the author of this post or anyone who responds, but to give another opinion as to what was being posted. I did actually add something to the list. Something I feel that should be on the top in the #1 position and that is customer satisfaction. How one gets to this point is of no concern. Whether it be with a hose pipe or a $20,000 washer. We all cannot afford a franchise or full fledged business from the start. I was one of those people who could not. I had to crawl before I walked which meant using less than perfect equipment, not being able to afford a razor to shave with and at one point having to work without insurance and not being a legitimate business, that is licensed, but I survived it because customers believed in me and my ability to get the job done, not what I pulled up to the job site in. Today I have those things, but most importantly I have the respect of customers (good customers) who did not judge me on my material possesions. It took work, lots of it to find these people, but they are out there if you look. Today I can get into the uppity neighborhoods but so can the guys that have all the latest gadgetry but not a clue how to use it. Then Im back to square one. My ablity to give them customer satisfaction and they already know from past experience that papers and good looks dont mean anything because the last guy had all that and he screwed up their deck and wont repair it. Some actually trust the little guy more.

Again, I hope you succeed in your new business. From your earlier posts I see that you have some of those customers like Im talking about. They got screwed by the big guy and they trusted you the little guy which made you able to take those accounts. Im sure they would have given you the chance have you not had the things I mentioned earlier, just on your ability and the repore you had with them. You were very lucky to have that oppurtunity, something some of us did not.

Les

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[Ron Musgraves]

repeat,repeat,repeat


It’s not a survey, its real fundamental information. You’re right some will not apply to you. You have added other aspects to look at. No intention of talking about principals here. This is a Very simple information page. Ken you contributed to the post and I plan on adding what ever I can derive from your post that’s positive as well.


Maybe I come off to you as being a troublemaker. I just like to get people thinking about what they are doing and have fun while I’m doing it. This is a very simple just add answers if you have. Them if you don’t read the ones there.

Hey if you want to argue just post something about chemicals. That would fire everyone up, we could get nineteen hundred reasons why to use something on surface that you know the chemical will cause damage to. Please start another thread because I don’t want to get this one closed.


i just wonder if cody, les or anyone else could just give some other positive things to read.

dave,

i did not see your other post. that post was great i totally agree that folks would rather argue about styles than be positive and biuld something.back to the original question.


<FONT COLOR="Red"><FONT size="5">Things a customer should look for in a pressure washer??</FONT s></FONT c>


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Ron Marshal Phoenix AZ
1-888-fleetwash

 

[Cody]

<FONT COLOR="e87400">You want my interjection well here it is!

I really am not sure what a customer should look for in a PC contractor. This is why I did not post, I do know however that a rig is not an answer nor is anything else that includes visual aesthetics at this point you would be doing nothing more than stereotyping the individual or company! Besides 99% of my work I never even meet the customer it's all done by phone & fax. I'm not trying to be difficult just frank. The list was posted to either add to or edit, I chose to edit. The rest I suppose is alright but I am not sure where it all really applies. When you sell a job you are selling yourself, <u>when a customer buys they are buying you</u> in most cases unless you are selling solely on price. I think a better thread would be "What does it take to make an impelling impression on the customer!"

When I hire a contractor to do a job for me I don't ask for a lot,. I usually contact my friends to try and get a referral for someone that they had luck with & I try to use folks that are members of the local Chamber of Commerce, after that the only thing that I look for is confidence in the representative (whether the rep is the owner or not) With confidence I look for all the little traits of a knowledgeable & honest individual. Like a fluent presentation, trustworthy eye contact, and quick responses to my questions. (if I stump them I do not mind as long as they provide a good rebuttal in their attempt to regain composure).

For me this sums it up. When I talk to my customer I rain with confidence, I give em my pitch and assume the order. All they need to know is that my company is "willing" to take their contract at that time!

[*]Referral is not required
[*]Member of Chamber of Commerce is not required

So here's my list
[*]Applicable legal garb. ( Lic, Ins, WC, etc.)
[*]The Representative

Cody</FONT c>


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<FONT COLOR="orange">This Business is Great
Hydro-Emulsification Surface Preparation Specialist </FONT c>

 

[Two Guys Enterprise]

Well, there ya go.
Customer satisfaction breeds repeat business as well as referral business. Word of mouth advertising can either make you grow or drop you in your tracks. You earn your reputation as well as your living by doing the job right. In most cases tools were invented to make a task easier or to improve the end result. Improvements on tools were part of the growing process and the fact that there are way expensive models as well as more affordable ones shows that there is a ladder to be climbed and each operator gets as high as needed or able to reach.
I think in windows maintenance, office cleaning, power washing or whatever endeavor you've chosen, the best advice is to educate the customer as to what's possible, what's required and what they can expect from you to fulfill or exceed their wishes.
There are certain things that HAVE to be done for the job to even possibly be done correctly. That's the basic level of professionalism you must provide. Your talents, abilities, personality and method of dealing with the customer are what will set you in the front of their mind when they want the job done a second or third time.
Unlike pressure washing, in windows you're doing something that the customer could well enough do for themselves if they have the physical ability and the time available. Luckily for us the phrase "I don't do windows" has become a part of our culture and is one of our strongest selling points. The fact that we can approach the task with a professional manner and complete it with better results in way less time than the customer or our strongest competitors makes us their best bet when they don't want to deal with the aches and panes of the chore.

Licenses, insurance, proper tools and methods, a stable business ethic and an honest approach in customer relations, pricing and actually doing the job demonstrate that you are dedicated to doing things the right way, that you're accepting responsibility for your actions and your proposed involvement with your customers.
If the flashy equipment is what you need to get the job done because you feel more comfortable using it, have at it. If it's a bauble, an ego thing or an attempt at keeping up with the Joneses try to remember that both Lamborghini and Ford build cars but if you obey the legal speed limit you still need seven hours or so to drive from Philadelphia to Pittsburgh, regardless of which one you're driving. No offense meant to any Taurus owners but I'd still rather drive the Lamborghini. The point is neither machine will make me a better driver.
What should a customer look for when seeking professional assistance? Satisfaction!!
Maybe we should draw up a list of what's needed to assure that we can provide it and then discuss how to get it without breaking the bank.

Dave

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Two Guys' Enterprise
Superior Results at a Sensible Price"

 

[Bridget]

I'd love to get back to the original question....
I think it's a great "safe" topic that reminds us all why we love what we do. It's what pride in a job well done is all about.

1. licensed
2. insured
3. legitimate
4. worker compensation
5. clean cut individuals
6. state of the art equipment
7. comes on time
8. never misses
9. complies with all request
10. listen to customer
11. always polite
12. gives a written guarantee
13. does what he says
14. only works in writing
15. will not damage property
16. fully educates customer on expectations
17. Give chemical safety data sheet.
18. Removes all gum and oil every time he does job.
19. professional looking.
20. Reputable
21. Experienced
22. References
23. Returns ALL phone inquiries
24. Leaves jobsite clean
25. 9 times out of 10 some"body" answers the phone
with a pleasant greeting.
26. Calling them ASAP when you can't make it.
27. Having a positive upbeat approach
28. Sending out surveys asking them for their input
29. Expressing your appreication for their business
30. Some not all love freebies that remind them of
your business

P.S. Please don't get me wrong. Many fine points have been made..I think the gentleman starting this post was looking for a neat way of stating what all of you have said so far in one sentance formats. Don't let anyone say there is no passion on this board. You guys are some of the most passionate men I've met in quite some time.
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Bridget
United Mobile Power Wash
Our Power Is In Our Performance



[This message has been edited by United Mobile Power Wash (edited February 02, 2001).]

 

[Dan S]

when you shake hands at the end of your conversation make sure you have no snuff grains in your finger nail's !!
or worse yet make sure it is'nt visable in your teeth..
believe me they (customer's) look @ everything.

no it did'nt happen to me i just thought i add to the customer list.

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ISN'T LIFE GREAT WHEN YOU HAVE THE LORD !!!!!!

 

[Ron Musgraves]

Another Oldie but goodie

 

[Ron Musgraves]

Les I miss you buddy, I hope this Post prompts you here. I would Fly to meet you, you helped me a bunch iron out a ton of the chems I was using.

Well Ron, it seems I have to diagree with you once again although not completely. On your list of what customers should look for, you put

4. worker compensation
Why would my customers look for this. Workers Comp protects both the employees and the employer. If one of my workers were to get hurt, workers comp would compensate for damages. We would both benefit, meaning me, the employer would be protected from suit, and the employee would be compensated for damages but what if I didnt have employees. Many people in this profession operate alone. A contractor carrying workers comp would be of no benefit to the customer if this sole proprietor were to get hurt. In other words, my workers comp protects me, not my customers. I could still sue them if I could prove it was their fault. In order for them to be protected from legalities resulting from my injury they would have to maintain a workers comp policy themselves. Maybe I should be asking my customers if they carry workers comp. For information purposes, I do carry workers comp for my protection and also in my state it is elective if you employee less than 3 workers.If Im wrong about this please let me know. I have been known to be wrong on a few occasions.

5. clean cut individuals
Yes, I am clean cut, shave daily and a hair cut (close #2 guard) every couple weeks and yes I agree that it would have affect on certain customers, but the guys with long hair and beards, possibly a slight smell about them and lets throw in a few piercings while were at it, have their place in this business such as those jobs that I personally do not care to do.Much like a recent post about gang members asking a contractor to not remove graffiti from a wall. I dont go to these neighborhoods. There are people who will hire these types and the people who hire these types I do not care to work for. These types have no chance in my market. What happens when these guys decide to clean up and get out of these places? Then who will do the jobs I dont want to do. They like the way they look. They like doing what they do. If they didnt they would clean up.Please dont educate them. Let them continue to do what they are doing so I dont have to. What would happen if we all wanted to be president? Who would do all the other dirty work? I'm glad God had a creative sense about him and didnt make us all alike and most definately didnt have a single standard. This world would be pretty screwed up if we all thought, acted and looked alike.

6. state of the art equipment
Once again, I can assure you that a brand new state of the art pressure washer with all the latest bells and whistles is not necessary. In certain situations, a pressure washer is not even needed. Remember the post about the x-jets and extension wands. If your using pressure to wash a house, your wasting your time. ( dont bother asking me how. Like others on this board, there is only so much I will tell and I just told it)What about painters? Does the painter with a Top of the line airless sprayer do a better job than a guy with a $3 roller? I personally roll the decks I seal not because I cant afford an airless, by the way, I have one, but I feel I get a better job with a roller. Of course I guess it could be a state of the art roller.

17. Give chemical safety data sheet.
Why in the world would I do this? Do you think they would know what they were looking at? What use would it be to them? Why dont I just tell them how to wash the house while Im at it. ( and know I have nothing to hide, if they asked I would show them and yes I have them on the truck)

My customers need to know one thing. That I will guarantee their satisfaction. How will they know this you ask? Because I am honest with them. I do not hide behind words and papers. As a matter a fact when Im talking to customers, other than briefly tell them the scope of the work and answer any questions they have we talk about whatever the conversation leads to. Weather, sports, news, their pet, kids, church, life, anything. This way they get to know ME. What kind of person they are dealing with. Of course Im in the south. Just us plain ol country folk. Not real bright like the rest of the world.

If my post appears to be sarcastic,it wasnt directed at you. I was only trying to answer the questions as I went that will be picked to death by somebody called 2 guys.

Ron, this being only my second post, I am probably in no postion to say this but please give it a break on the surveys. Cant you see where the board is going. Everyone has lead to a slugfest and Im sure this one will too, especially since I have started it in that direction. Not purposely, but only to express my god given opinion.

In the words of Forest Gump, "thats all I got to say about that"

Later

Les


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[Ron Musgraves]

dan,

most of my rigs dont have any paint. i get them ryno coated. trailers are ryno coated too. paint stinks and so does wood in trailers.

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Ron Marshal Phoenix AZ
1-888-fleetwash

That was long ago

 

[boho444]

I have my setup on the back of my truck. I have a really nice matching cap and my Landa sits on a bedslider. I can fit my surface cleaner, hoses and gas cans no problem. All my work is residential

 

[Ron Musgraves]

Wish I could Find Les