I am not sure were this should have been posted, so I hope it is not out of place
I just wanted to introduce myself. My name is Chris and I am looking to add pr****re washing (concrete only) and low pressure washing of roofs and house washing to our current cleaning business, or start a new business venture for these services. I am setting up the following:
1. 5'x8' trailer 2. 250 gal. tote 3. 13hp 400psi 3.5 gal min. cold water pressure washer 4. Fat Boy 12v pump set up 5. 2 Summit hose reels 6. 400' of 3/4" supply hose 7. 200' of 3/4" wash hose for Fat Boy 8. 400' of 3/8" high pressure hose 9. 20 surface cleaner 10. 26 gal bypass tank 11. 4 15 gal tanks for Chems
I will upgrade items as $$$ comes in. I look forward to talking and sharing experiences with everyone. Thank you all for the great information I have learned from this site so far. I will have a donation for this site in the next few weeks as well. Please chime in and give me some feedback on the setup I'm working on. Thanks
Please find any information you may need on here,and soak it all up. The people who have created this site are giving away all and any information you may need to get up and running.I hope you are actually in their area and take some work from them,and we both know that is actually taking money from them. Tell your friends also so they can get in on the act.Any information you need to succeed please let us know. I have edited my comments due to the fact I had a little to much to drink last night, my comments about clowns were out of line. But the rest I still feel strongly about.
-- Edited by Roof Cleaning Long Island N.Y 516-763-4108 on Monday 25th of May 2009 09:35:51 AM
Hey Pat, What are you having a bad day or something. Those comments are pretty disrespectful. I am willing to bet you learned a thing or two from all the post on here that have helped your business.
I do not understand your problem. If you have issues with anyone then spell it out. Don't jump on a new guy that is here to learn. I like the idea of having guys in other areas of cleaning such as house washing, concrete, etc. I hope to learn from them and expand my own biz.
__________________
Dan Shay(304) 233-6288 Ohio Valley Roof Cleaning Roof Cleaning Wheeling WV 26003 Weirton West Virginia Roof Cleaning StClairsville Ohio Cleaning Roof Steubinville Ohio Roof Cleaning
MikeD, You are right, I was out of line.I spoke with Vinny this morning who also told me I went over the line. I won't get into the whole thing with you,its like beating a dead horse. But Mike you have helped me in the past,so I felt I owed you an explanation.
Patrick, I can understand your view on this. I don't know the whole history here, but I don't need to know. I have been in business for myself for 14 years. I got into pressure washing a year ago as one of my customers required 68,000 sqft of flat concrete to be cleaned (Post construction clean up on a big box store) so I got online and learned all I could about pressure washing from many different forums. I bought the equipment, and applied the learned knowledge. I had a repeat job from the same customer a few months ago for the same size store. Again I dug into learn anything and everything I can for the job. I stumbled on this site as I had a lot of respect for Chris Tucker and everything he has done for others. I have no intentions of stealing work from others. In fact I work well together with other companies (my competition) in my area. We help each other out from everything like labor, subcontracting, leads etc. I am the kind of person that will help anyone with anything, and I hope to be able to bring some knowledge to the table here as well as learn from others. I am not a hack. I am licensed, insured, and carry workers comp. I know what my overhead costs are, what I need to make in net profit etc. I only work for myself, and I do not work for peanuts. My time is worth a lot, as any time working is time away from my family and that is irreplaceable. I saw a good opportunity to add on roof cleaning, or actually start a new business that only does roof cleaning, as there just is not any competition in my Immediate area. Yes there are guys nearby, but Hrs. away. I hope to become friends with these guys, and help each other grow our businesses. There seems to be a good Brotherhood here and I would like to be a part of this. No hard feelings here. Maybe we will meet at a round table one of these days, I'll buy you a beer. I'm Originally from Buffalo Ny. I'm sure we have some stories to share. Thanks again Pat, Mike, Kid, and Dan. I look forward to helping one another, and meeting some day.
Chris, I owe you an apology as wel. I read your post and jumped all over it, I am old enough to admit my mistakes and I am trying to get my foot out of my mouth.I will make it quick I am off to a BBQ { soda only Vinny.....soda only.... } I actually like your last post,it's actually what I have been trying to say but you have written it much better. My problem is this, I was already cleaning roofs before I found this site and the other site where some of these guys were on. I did ask questions there and got answers. I am talking about guys coming on here [ HACKS ? } taking what they need to get up and running, under bidding members here and finally hurting a member here in the pocket. I don't have much competition here yet,Vinny is close to my area, we talk almost three times a week about jobs,ideas and etc. Like you, I would never under cut this guy.....if shown his estimate I would tell the customer " Thats a great price by a very good company. { not the best, but a very good company.} My idea is that before someone can come on here and search, a decent donation is made { 50 or 100 }they are then cked out to verify their location and see the possible impact on an existing member. There would be guidlines so that they would be a member in good standings. Now I am not saying if you bid 500 and I bid 470 and got the job that would be a problem...but if it was happening more often then not...it could be adressed here. The way it is now someone gets it for free...runs around without proper coverage and eats us alive. Right now I dont have that problem but it could happen very soon. I have no problem with anyone getting info on here to work, the problem is the guys giving them the information may one day be the ones getting hurt.P.S. I appreciate the beer suggestion....but thats what started the problem to begin with!
Pat your a great guy and i know were your coming from with people grabbing information and not being part of this forum. i agree there should be a $50-$100 donation to belong, this would keep most of the losers away, so just keep your cool and by the way i thought i was the best on long island LOL, i'll always be you friend !
Thank's Vinny, your a good guy also. They should put somthing on those wine bottles stating somthing like...." To many glasses of this liguid COULD impair your better judgement " Vinny your the best on the East end.....ooopsss....
Pat, I agree with your concerns about low ballers on this site. The way it is set up now we are asking for it.If anyone wants proof of people here just to learn how to compete against us or to get info and run look at the list of members. Working forward from page 23 you must go to page 8 before there is a single post. Then it takes 2 more full pages until you see a member with 2 post. I was going to advertise on my next TV spot that I am a member of the RCIA but, that may not be a good idea. There is no sence in starting page 24 from hacks from my area.
__________________
Dan Shay(304) 233-6288 Ohio Valley Roof Cleaning Roof Cleaning Wheeling WV 26003 Weirton West Virginia Roof Cleaning StClairsville Ohio Cleaning Roof Steubinville Ohio Roof Cleaning
Thanks Patrick, I do understand your concerns, as well as the other members about the low ballers. I hope you had a great day at the BBQ. Well, if we meet at a round table someday the offer for a beer still stands. Only one.... ok maybe two..... Take care Pat
Nice to meet you Chris, hope we can meet face to face in Florida.
Advertise that you are certified, that should throw them lurkers for a loop....("uhhm maybe I shoulda posted duhh") Get them before they get you. Then when the customer sees your ad and asks the next guy if he is certified he can be like "well I uuhh derr" or he can lie and say he is. If you hear that let us all know so we can sue that tard for fraud!!! See, the shadey guys don't last. They can undercut till they go right out of business. I used to sell roof cleaning for $.75-$.95 per square foot to PW it!!! It was all about the pitch, sell yourself and they will keep comming. I used to go in saying.."we are probably going to be the highest estimate you hear and this is why" it worked, and it still does. Now I charge less, in fact my prices vary alot depending on the job. Ohh and some of those lurkers are actually your customers. I met one the other day. He knew all about me and is a member without a post.
Thanks Bill, I am currently working on a logo, website, business cards, uniforms. I will be sure to advertise that I am a member of the RCIA. I plan on meeting in Florida in a few months. You can have a beer....... or two with Pat and I, if he is going. I like that salesmanship, sell them on your knowledge, quality, safety........ insured licensed etc. Hope to see ya in Florida
I kinda wish some one would start NON-Pressure Roof Cleaning in my area so I would have some help introducing this kewl new industry.. It can be rough sometimes trying to educate people on whats happen to their Roofs... Hey Make it a Great Day Roof Cleaners
KID
__________________
Elite Roof Cleaners Roof Cleaning Missouri & Kansas City
I am a new guy, and I am very serious about this business, so I would have been willing to pay to get in and learn. I don't know how much of a problem letting anyone on here is. I think there is a balance somewhere. Those who don't know their roof can be cleaned can find out info here that may convince them to hire one of us. Would be nice to keep the hacks out.
__________________
Cardinal Roof Cleaning of Jackson TN 254 Aldridge Lane Jackson Tn 38305
Non-Pressure Roof Cleaning and Exterior Restorations (731)414-2446 Roof Cleaning Jackson Tennessee