Dirty houses today!

He hasn’t, he started pwing late last year ,if I recall. Been a window fella for maybe 24 ,I’m assuming

How’d the bank go ? You turbo nozzle your way through the vault and take all the loot and bobbles n what nots ?

Correct.

We turbo nozzled a two story brick building from top to bottom lol

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I think you took what @Racer said the wrong way. I’m sure what he intended was ‘better’ in the sense of more profitable clients, not that they’re better people.

I know I’m not the ideal customer for many companies that offer services I could use. I’m not spendy (but not cheap, either) and I can be fairly picky about what I pay for.

Nothing wrong with helping folks out who need it. You just need to balance that against your primary objective of building a profitable client base.

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I get it, totally understandable.

I look at it this way. My friend works at Ford, making about $18/hr. He works weird shifts in a hot building, has muscle spasms from lifting tools and suspension parts for ten hours, and his take home a week is around $540 after taxes. We as window cleaners and pressure washers are completely privileged to take home that EVERY DAY if not more, so I have no problem doing a 4 hour house for $500 compared to some of the jobs I’ve had in the past.

I come from humble beginnings, it’s hard to forget that.

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I LOVE dirty vynal!

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Right? Much more satisfying than washing some clean house. Same goes for a nasty window.

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Nothing wrong with being humble but if as business owners we can maximize our return on time, money, and training that’s a huge win!

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I agree with what you’re saying. I worked in the hospitality business for almost 20 years waiting on tables. A good night for me in that time period was $150 for a shift. Worked darn hard for every dollar. Th other day I was thinking about the money I used to make as a waiter compared to the money I make washing houses/concrete and I really appreciate the craft that we do.

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Racer you are my hero,I love making money as much as the next guy but at this point in my life when I can help someone in need that’s what makes the world go around,the prices some of these guys charge is sinful,keep up the good work :+1:

Yes it is,these guys with the giant rigs are not impressing me,I don’t need two 8 gal machines to go clean a small house and I don’t need to charge hundreds of dollars for a job that will take me 30 minutes

You ever compose a reply to someone, but then get distracted with another thread before you hit post? This popped up when I opened this thread. I had drafted it way back when this was an active discussion. I think it’s still relevant, I guess:

Totally hear ya. $500 is not bad at all for even a full days work.

Also, most guys here with larger machines and a more dialed-in workflow would probably have had it done in 2 hours or less. I might’ve had it done in 3. Not sure.

So no one should really tell you that $500 wasn’t enough for that house (and actually, not sure if anyone actually has said that; maybe I’m arguing with the voices in my head again)

At any rate, I try not to think about what people in the labor force bring home each week; it kind of depresses me, and makes me just a bit guilty feeling. My brother in law works the night shift in the bakery of a chain grocery store. I have made more in one hour of work than he usually takes home in a week (they won’t give him a full 40 hours because they’re too cheap).

I was talking with a friend of mine this afternoon who does missionary work in Zimbabwe. He said that hired laborers there take home between $100 and $200 a month, and they’re treated almost like slaves.

What helps me with the “guilt” (for lack of a better word), is reminding myself:

  • I offer a service that to most people is an optional expense
  • There are cheaper options available to them
  • I am never dishonest or unethical in any part of my business dealings
  • People have me back time after time and write the check with a smile on their face
  • I try not to be selfish and look for ways to share my success with others
  • and so on.
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Exactly. I’ll also add that self employment labor doesn’t stop when we drive off, that $200/hr gets spread out over many more hours at home dealing with…stuff. For every day we provide a service there are two more dealing with CPA’s, Quickbooks, avoiding crazies on the roads, keeping vehicles and equipment up to par, doing countless searches on this site etc.:+1:

And that’s just the PW part of my business!

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He means that you should focus on a different audience… It’s good advice man… If you focus on the wrong neighborhoods you’ll starve

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Nah. I have too much going on with window cleaning and screen repair. PW is a ‘fill in’ service for me. I do like one house a week, if that.

Til your arms give out…

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My back isn’t happy, does that count?:laughing:

2 hours for every paid hour? You lost me there. :slightly_smiling_face:

Hyperbole, I’m sure. It certainly feels like it at times, though…