It's hard to believe but it was only three short years ago in November 2009 that I opened spray wash exterior cleaning. We're blessed with great business and a fantastic crew and are trying to build a brand for the future that will be around for decades to come!
A few of you know my story but I'd like to share it again as to maybe inspire a few guys are just starting their businesses. I spent the majority of my vocational life as a realtor and then a real estate developer. When the downturn came I was too slow to react and I literally lost everything I had worked for for 20 years. I had a great friend I known for years and helped him start a cleaning business several years prior, So I was fairly familiar with the roof and exterior cleaning business. When I realized the inevitable and that I was losing everything, I went to Home Depot and bought a pressure washer and called pressure tek and bought a Fatboy pump. Basically I began cleaning houses as a way to feed my family, as I had no other options in November 2009.
Fast forward three years and my wife has been able to leave her job and we're able to work together growing SWEC. It's not always easy and I still find myself working more 16 hour days that I really care too! But the important thing is that I am able to provide for my family and create a fairly comfortable living in these trying times.
I now have six employees and multiple rigs that are able to provide service around-the-clock. We Plan to keep growing and expanding as needed into 2013 And even see where another economic downturn could really benefit our business.
I'm very blessed and I like to thank God, my wife, and my wonderful crew at spray wash for helping me build this brand. I'm also very blessed to have made some great friends and contacts through the RCIA. This forum has helped me with my technical aspects and business growth more than you'll ever know.
Don't ever get discouraged and don't ever listen to others tell you you cannot succeed. Don't be afraid to take on the big jobs especially when you have a resource such as RCIA that can help you. Plan your work and work your plan and never be afraid to adjust accordingly! Thank you RCIA for being a part of these past three years!
If anyone ever needs help or encouragement I am always just a phone call or email away!
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Ray Burke
Spray Wash Exterior Cleaning
850.528.3226
visit our website Soft Washing and Pressure Washing
Glad to hear your doing well, I know I tell you all the time that spray wash does great work and I want Apex to follow in those foot steps. And always I appreciate the conversations.
Ray that is great to hear. I felt like you were telling my story. Minus 10 years of other work and a whole different background. This has been a great year for us as well and I hope it continues for many yrs to come.
I don't necessarily advertise to the public that I've only been doing this for three years But I did want to share that with you guys here. A big building is nothing but a large house, there's really no difference in cleaning, you will meet the same challenges and same hurdles. Biggest difference with these commercial projects is to have plenty of people on hand for pedestrian control. 60% of our commerciL jobs are sold to the consumer not requested by the consumer, Meaning that we booked those accounts by good old-fashioned salesmanship… Doorknocking, phone calling, follow up ,follow-up, and more follow-up.
There's an old joke that asks how do you eat an elephant? The answer is one bite at a time. When we book a large cleaning job we just sit down and start eating away!
One bit a free advice I can give regarding commercial properties is regarding pricing. While $150-$200 per hour is a very notable number for while doing residential properties it's tough number to get all the time on commercial job. Most people don't figure in that hourly rate for residential cleaning does not include travel time and distance between jobs, it's merely an hourly rate while on the job site. But keep in mind with commercial properties you are typically on this job site for 8 to 10 hours a day and often times on multiple days. I think a lot of guys out price themselves on jobs trying to maintain a $200 an hour rate For the commercial cleanings. If I do three houses at $1500 today or one commercial job for that same dollars I'm really money ahead on the commercial job because I've spent less money in fuel and nonproductive time paying my crews for driving around town. Just my thoughts on the matter!
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Ray Burke
Spray Wash Exterior Cleaning
850.528.3226
visit our website Soft Washing and Pressure Washing
Congrats Ray!!! I'm with Pat, I would of thought you had been doing soft washing longer than three years judging by how your company grew over the last few years that I been here.
Thanks for the kudos, guys! My relationship with all of you at the RCIA is a wonderful part of my professional life. I've gained so much from here and have "met" so many wonderful people.
None of our customers know we've only been around for three years. But I did help my friend here and there for years with his cleaning business that I helped him start, so I can honestly answer that I've been cleaning for "years" when asked.
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Ray Burke
Spray Wash Exterior Cleaning
850.528.3226
visit our website Soft Washing and Pressure Washing
We are all learning from you. I know it's not easy to tell your story but it helps others, myself included. You're an inspiration to all of us. A little over eleven years ago I lost my wife(39 years old)unexpectedly to cardiomyopathy. My daughter was a little over 13 months old and my son was 8 years old. After the initial shock wore off(it never really does) I marched forward and have provided for my kids through some tough times. My late wife has been by my side the entire time for guidance and inspiration.
Serving the Pocono and Lehigh Valley(Carbon, Lehigh, Northampton, Monroe, Pike and Wayne Counties), PA community as well as both Warren and Sussex Counties of New Jersey
Congrats Ray ! You are a great person, one who is always willing to help others on here. I have reached out to you with a question or two, and you are always willing to help. It takes more than just hard work and smarts to grow a business the way you have. It also takes a person who is honest, has the heart of a teacher, ( to teach employees and others ) and loves what he does.
congrats Ray ... yeah I'm blown away that you've been doing this for as little time as yo have. Great story as so many of us, including myself can relate. never lose that go big or go home attitude, continue to shoot for the stars and one day you get there.