Anyone who lives in South Carolina knows that you pressure wash your house at least once a year and sometimes twice. Any south facing vinyl will quickly grow algae and moss in the hot humid conditions.

As I am in the research mode for starting a pressure wash business I decided to try out some of the competition and chose one that has a small ad in the yellow pages. He advertises "low pressure" as a keypoint and since the front of my house is Dryvit I thought I would give him a call. His wife or girlfriend answered and she sounded like I had just woke her up from a nap since it was 2 o'clock in the afternoon. She took my name, number and address and said that "he" would call this weekend to arrange the quote.

About 10am on Saturday my wife receives a call as I was out golfing with buddies. According to my wife he asked very few questions and basically asked "is this the correct address?, do you have a screened in porch?" and that was it. The answer my wife gave was yes, that was the correct address and we do have a screened in porch. He then said that he would do it Tuesday afternoon, he would charge $79.99 and that if we weren't there he would leave an invoice that we could pay only if we were happy with the work.

Our house is a two story, 2400 sf with a couple of sections that are close to forty feet high. The north facing side is covered with summer "growth" and there are a couple of sections that would be tough to get to with an X-jet or long lance. The best price I have seen around here for a single story is $129 so this guy is unique. Can't wait to see what he shows up with but if he botches it I write it down to research. He does say he is insured.
Great way to figure out who you are up against. I find it kinda funny cause this guy could have upsold me on driveway flatwork as well as a deck restoration if he had actually stopped by to see the house. I think he believes we are single story as many houses in our neighborhood are.We shall see. I will post the outcome on Tuesday night.

For $79, I wouldn't let anybody with a pressure washer near my home.

First Choice Power Washing LLC
Lexington, Louisville, KY
859-983-5955 Direct connect 189*60*57790
Member of Better Business Bureau--Insured and Licensed
Pressure Washing in Lexington, KY

I have a sense of adventure. It's only a house.

Pretty slick, Bleemus. This guy is in for a surprise to say the least. If he does do a good job, you've got a helluva deal. If he botches it, look forward to him driving by one day seeing you wash a two story getting 250-300. At the very least, it will have been worth the 79.99 to see his face when he shows up.
I'll be looking forward to Tuesday's assessment as well.
Randy

R & R Power Wash
185 CR 3340
Joaquin, Tx, 75954
(936)269-9021
randyd1@valornet.com

Hey - we'll come upsell the flatwork and deck restoration!

Celeste

Carolina ProWash

Hope fully one of this days the shoes isn't on the other foot.

When In Doubt Think It Out

"It's only a house"

"He says he is insured"

"If he botches it..(minor consequence)"


Mike, I am with you 100%. Obviously this guy is a complete fly by nighter as is evidenced by his girlfriend/wife answering the phone like she did. No business greeting? Uggh. Dryvit is a specialty clean and a house your size should be $600-$1200 for a first time cleaning (based upon where you live..lower end for the south)

Even using low pressure to get it truly clean the entire structure and every inch of mortar has to be cleaned up close and with even strokes. It's only a house? What investment have you made in your life that has been larger? Do you have any idea how much it costs to repair dryvit and God forbid subsequent water damage if it gets behind the substrate and into your interior walls? He says he is insured? Any knucklehead can say that. What is the likelihood that this hack is actually insured? You want to find that out the hard way? I think you're crazy for even considering this. At best he will drive up, see the house, and keep on driving. At worst he will leave you with a nightmare that will take you thousands of dollars to wake from.

Ken Fenner
PressurePros, Inc
Havertown, PA
www.pressure-pros.com
pressure washers in PA

I think you may be overreacting just a hair. I will be here when he does the job and certainly know enough to stop him if he is causing damage. Also, my wife is a lawyer and on the rare occassion that a contractor has screwed us in the past we always end up winning. If he is good but cheap it is fine. If he is a bozo and causes damage I will own all of his equipment in short order. Game on.

The best research you could do right now, would be to try to clean your own home and realize that there is more to it than you think. Allowing this lowballer to work is only hurting the industry that you seem to want to be a part of. That $79 you give this guy will pay for another month in that phonebook and he'll be getting calls and lowballing your future customers driving down prices.

Real smart supporting the local lowballer.

First Choice Power Washing LLC
Lexington, Louisville, KY
859-983-5955 Direct connect 189*60*57790
Member of Better Business Bureau--Insured and Licensed
Pressure Washing in Lexington, KY

However he hasn't done the job yet and likely not if another price isn't agree up one,it seems info wasn't freely offered also.If I was him even after seeing the job and what was expected I'd walk off with another smile on my face.Another wanting something for nothing is why he still has his girlfriend or wife anwering the phone.And another thing he even offered to leave the bill and you pay later that is 'IF" you where pleased with the job.He seems like a honest guy and has plenty of work b/c he wasn't setting home waiting on you to call.He did get back in contact with you like has wife or girlfriend said he would,she may work nights as the reason she sounded sleepy,at least she did answer the phone.More than likely he can do a great job even if someone is/was standing around looking over his shoulder.I say he will do the job and take the lose than again he may not after meeting you.We powerwashers have a way of knowing what type persons to stay away from,not saying your that type person.

Making fun of another the way they do business is like......I'll stop there....I thought I'd take up for him,he would be a preacher.

When In Doubt Think It Out