back on track!

[jeffex11]

with such a slow start to the 2009 season i am now booked out 4 weeks of work. April was tough getting work done with weather considerations. From my view point the economic times means many people are shopping prices , prices , prices..... my sales pitch is the same ...I bring a value to the work I do based on my years of experience and equipment , techniques and skill level and NONE of MY cost have gone down. I'll be here when the discount companies move on or we can book your job NOW. What prompted my post was a nice elderly man who I washed and stained his deck many years ago ( I'm guessing 8)who called wanting a price . I had given him a price 4 or 5 years ago and he balked at my modest price increase. He NOW needs deck repairs of 3 to $400 as well as pressure washing and staining. I reminded him that there is a reason that I'm still in business while discount companies have come and gone. Fram oil filters had a great commercial...."pay me now or pay me later" there is NO discount in hoping and praying that maintenance will magically put itself on hold while you decide on price.
I got a call this evening from a job I priced 2 weeks ago that agreed to the price but wanted the work done ASAP. I told the customer that ASAP was 4 weeks out and reminded them that when we last spoke I had a spot open for them and would hold it for 3 days. 2 weeks is not 3 days . I'm holding my ground in this battle where the customer this year thinks they have us over the barrel.

[soapwarehouse]

Jeff, I know what you mean. It has been a really slow start to this year. With the early winter that stayed so long in the Northeast and the rain in the Midstates we have seen it. Many of our customers also had product held over form last year because of the weather. And of course prices are effecting sales. We have been luckly though, last month we had an 8% increase in orders yet just held even in sales numbers from last year, because even though there are a lot of new little guys getting into the business the old timers are buying later and less this year due to cash flow. I have been spending most of my days either quoting prices, and almost all of them have gone up, or talking to these new fellows that want to get set up pressure washing that think it is some get rich quick or an easy job to do to tide me over thing. I try to explain to these guys that pressure washing is not what they think and is a lot of hard work that they need instruction to do it well. One guy even acussed me of not wanting to sell him product because he could not seem to understand what I was trying to tell him. I just do not want someone to get hurt or damage the rep of the professionals out there. I can not blame anyone for price shopping right now, everyone that runs a business has to watch the bottom line. But I agree with you that you have to charge what you need to make a even a modest living and that is why we can not discount ourselves into obilivion. I had an old customer call Monday to check prices, he did not order that day, but he called back 24 hours later. He had called all over and found out I was not the only one with higher pricing this year and that I was still the best value for him. I hope everyone holds on to their values like you are doing and survies this economy this year. We have already lost too many good guys in the business this past year.

[jeffex11]

I have seen many people who were laid off looking to break in to pressure washing or lawn mowing. People asking me for a job or advice on how to get started. I have referred a few to this site for info and the ones in my area ...I told the truth....no way I'm training my replacement. The thing about this message board that helps us ALL is telling new people to price HIGH to protect the viability of this as a source of decent income. I'm in a 8 month of opperation area and this year April has been a trying month to get work in. I'm looking at a 10 day forcast with showers in every day. I opperate a lawn business as well and its a struggle to get things done. Your exactly right about this being hard work. NO get rich quick types in this business ! Not complaining though . I think the competition keeps me lean and mean and I compete on value of service rather than price alone. I started in 1992 with a little electric Karcher 1500 psi unit and I still have it in the garage for washing my equipment .
what I fear the most is the affordability of my services by my clients in the comming years of heavy taxation to pay for the "change" that is taking place in Washington. I am looking into a different business right now that is not so dependant on disposable income . Diversity has been my friend in business and the winds of change mean more start ups competing for less work. Unless of cource you can get a government contract for pressure washing! I'm asking all my friends and co-workers to see the importance of next Novembers mid term elections for congress. Look at socialist countries and see how well pressure washing business' do there

[Chappy]

my phone just hasnt been ringing this year, and when it does people are definately shopping price.
With the exception of decks, until just this month. Usually a call on a deck that came from my website, 70% or so, I can sell on skill, longevity, etc., and most dont even get competetive bids. This month though Ive lost two, one was for 1/3 of my price and the other was $500 less than mine, and I had already cut my rate by about $500 on a massive deck and dock combo.
On The 1st one, the contractor is a total hack, you get what you pay for!- the second got a painter reffered by the paint store who I believe is brand new. So my excellent sales skills are not so excellent any more.
But Ive got to find a way to get the phone ringing again.

[CCPC]

After a slow start to the year, things have been great the past couple of months. I haven't done the books yet for this month, but last I checked I'm actually on course for a record April. Can't complain about that, just hope it continues.

[jeffex11]

good deal my friend...hope it keeps going. I managed to wash one today and hope to stain tomorrow. Just booked another repeat customer this afternoon. things are picking up!

[jeffex11]

AAANNNNDDD NOOOWWW heeres the weather forcast....rain ! the radar shows spotty showers all along the east coast. no staining today

[PressurePros]

We've been in stain mode for the last 10 days or so. We finally got caught up on all the open strip projects and have begun opening new ones because of the rainy forecast for the next 7 days.

As far as work load, I'm raising my prices again (I was scared to with the economy and was just going to eat the increases in cost of living). Too many people saying "yes". I'm rooted in decent communities where price, while a consideration, is not the factor upon which people make their decision.

[jeffex11]

the jobs I'm closing did not take a price only consideration. Repeat business is almost guaranteed and my photos on my web site sell results and prequalify customers. glad to hear of your success this year