We just have a minimum charge for service and all the smaller houses fall into that category. I tell them right up front what the charge is and if they go for it great if not that is ok too. Im sure they will find some dude on craigslist with no insurance that will wash it for cheap.
Nobody cuts me a break when I need something done so why would I do that for someone else Unless military,police and fire and the elderly. Everyone gets fair market pricing.
This is a business that provides for our families. If you worked a normal job would you take a discount in salary if your bossed asked you too. Me" Definitely not".
People with nasty houses arenât good prospects. Even if you get, theyâre not worth anything to you because theyâre not going to get cleaned again for another 10 years. You want people who take care of their property.
Racer, I appreciate you helping me refine my business.
Iâm designing a Walker with tips on the bottom for popping chewing gum on Sidewalks unless Medicare will pay for a scooter. then I can mount a surface Cleaner under it and really get some Sidewalks cleaned
As often, you donât know wtf youâre talking about. First profit isnât a dirty word. Because of the profits I make on the majority of my business, it enables me to help those who need it. I routinely give substantial discounts to people who could use, often like 50%.
I did a drive last week for a retired MSGT with 32 years in the marines whose wife is in bad shape. While he was gone to carry his wife to the doctor I washed most his house for no charge after already giving him a big discount on his drive.
Today I did a roof and a house wash for a retired guy who had a stroke about a month ago for $150. Took me 2.5 hours.
This one is funny - Tuesday I did a house for an elderly retired hs teacher. She could barely walk, probably about 75, not in the greatest of health, and in fact she fell out of the chair she was sitting in while writing my check. The previous guys sheâd gotten had torn 1/2 her screens and broken a window while washing before she ran them off. I had quoted her just based on the pics online. Standard 2 story vinyl in average neighborhood. Her yard was a mess and she had an old clapped out Kia sitting in a driveway that had never been cleaned. I felt bad for her so I told her if she would move her car out of the drive Iâd clean that for her too. Took her about 10 min to walk from the back yard to go get her keys.
So Iâm starting to wash and she comes ambling out of the garage and sitting in the garage is a brand new $70K Porsche SUV. She said sheâd bought it as a retirement present for her herself. Then she goes own to tell me all these stories about getting stopped going 90 down the interstate but she always gets out of them by telling them that she has diabetes and is trying to get to her doctors office, lol. And how she beat the dealer up on the price playing the elderly black teacher card. She was a hoot. So you never know. Yes, she tricked me out of a $75 driveway job but it was ok.
No, I was going on the original statement. You didnât elaborate on your charity work. I took offense to the âbetter neighborhoodâ comment, came off as a little pious.
Oh, and this isnât the case here either. We built our business on referrals. Get one house perfect, the others follow.
I think what we have here is a crossing of PW âculturesâ so to speak. My operation is tiny, just two people. Our customer relations are more on the personal side and I tend to focus on that. Others on here have multi-vehicle, multi employee outfits that stick with large contractsâŚand thatâs fine. There is no ârightâ way when it comes to garnering your next job, we all have our methods.
Who me? Nah. Unless my body canât keep upâŚvarious therapists and doctors are working on that.
Donât get me wrong, lots of guys on here have helped tremendouslyâŚincluding Racer. I just take exception to snide remarks is all. If we can just help each other out without the attitude, weâd all be better off.
Actually IBS has a pointâŚIâll be out of âbusinessâ after Christmas, picks up again in early March. Itâll be my 24th year, amazing how time flies.
At least you stay in decent shape year round. Late February comes around and physically Iâm a pile of Jell-o in my Lay-Z-Boy regretting I didnât at least get on the bike trainer.
I see what your doing. Your putting sprinkles on a turd ,and passing it off as ice cream. Fyi, its still a crusty turd . Iâd love to have a month or two off.
. Iâd love to have a month or two off. 
