Random observations

Let me preface this with a disclaimer: I could not care less about this industry, it’s past or it’s future, it’s just a way to pay the bills.

I can think of few other professions where you can buy the cheapest equipment possible, know absolutely nothing about what you are doing, never researched or apprenticed with someone, ask the most elementary on random internet forums and proclaim your self to be open for business. Insanity. That’s like an electrician buying two screwdrivers and a roll of tape, asking how to wire up a ceiling fan on a forum and heading the next day to install 7 at a customers house. Half the people on this forum alone seem to have no idea how to do what they are doing. Guys are using ball valves, surface cleaners with fixed mounted guns, pink nozzles, pump up sprayers, little giant ladders, 12 volt systems for washing structures, telescoping wands, open trigger guns, shady advertising, 5 or 4 or even 3 gpm machines. If you are going to do this for a living. Do it. Pay someone to teach you how. Learn your chems. Buy quality equipment. The same guys that complain about the $99 house wash guy not being a professional will balk at spending the money to buy commercial equipment. The I will use what I have until I can upgrade is crap. If you are doing this for a living, upgrade now. That’s like a surgeon using a butter knife until he can upgrade to a scalpel. Asking questions on a forum is not a way to build a business or grow one. Think of any question asked here. How many different answers does it receive? The last question I asked on a forum related to washing was on PT State in 2007/. Look it up. It was about how to build a remote control for soap. No one knew so I designed one. Point is, a forum is a great place to socialize, compare equipment and look at cool pics of fishing. It should not be the be all, end all of how to start, run and succeed in your business. You can hate, like comment or ignore but those are my thoughts this morning as I drink coffee and watch the hummingbirds flit around the feeder on the back porch. @Tim4 if this is inappropriate delete away.

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Well said. I agree 100%.

Fishing is a lame hobby for old men. Real men build race cars and ride motorcycles.

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Lol. I’ve done both. Now I’m old so I fish and tinker

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Electrician and surgeon arent the best analogies, IMO. This is more akin to painting, lawncare, car detailing, etc. As the saying goes, this isn’t exactly brain surgery..

I agree that working with someone is the best way to learn the business… followed by researching online, and practicing on your own stuff.

I guess im a glass half full type of guy, though… when i see someone asking for advice, even if they are obviously unfamiliar with this type of work, i give them credit for trying to improve things. The guys that do $99 houses, and never show up to ask questions, are the ones doing it wrong.

If i see someone ask a dumb question, i first check the username to make sure it isnt me, and on the rare occasion it isn’t, and if i can help, then i do. How did that saying go…? Do unto others… something something… Tippecanoe and Tyler too? I might have that last part wrong.

Of course, that’s just me… if you would prefer others give you tough love when you are in over your head on something, then do the same. There isn’t necessarily a right or wrong way to respond to such things.

You are right, though, some guys ‘open shop’ a little faster than they probably should.

My 2.

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I hear you innocent bystander, this has been my experience. I live in a town of about 50,000 people. I was getting many calls for house washing. Started scrubbing them by hand…with a garden sprayer… what a nightmare ,I thought there has to be a better way. Started doing tons of research and found this website. I had to use this website because the building supply stores, rental places, Ect knew nothing and couldn’t answer even the most basic questions. I would ask " how many gpm is this machine, or " would I need a buffer tank ", " do you carry ball valves “, " orifice size " … all I would get is a blank stare… not a clue. There is No one anywhere near me i could pay to learn. So I did phone a couple of well established professional contractors that were in different towns to get advice and they refused too share any info.If there were a school, courses or apprenticeship that could be taken ( like an electrician )… or an apprenticeship I would all over it. One contractor I contacted wanted to sell me a " course” on house washing, the other directed me here. I recently discovered Southside equipment and placed an order for some proper equipment and chems. I keep my prices high, carry proper insurance, business license, lettered van, and so on. So this website has been the " end all and be all " for me because this has been and continues to be the place that answers my questions and educates me. Just thought I could share that while I drink my morning coffee and watch the hummingbirds.

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I am new to this forum & new to this “type” of pressure cleaning. I have a technical/engineering/management degree that I earned way back. I have a diverse background in many fields. I have always taken on new ventures with vigor and dedication. I was exposed to pressure cleaning in the Eagle Ford Shale oil field in south Texas where I ran a “wash rack” faculty that cleaned tanks that came out of the field. Some of the nastiest shit you can imagine. It was a ramshackle bottom of the barrel facility when I took over. I turned it into the largest profit center of a diversified oil field services company. I could go on & on about the innovations I developed & integrated into the process to increase oil recovery as a by product of the wash out process, water treatment & reclamation, employee training, etc…
After relocating back to my hometown to be near my Mom after 20 years of living in Minnesota, Wyoming, Utah, Texas, & California, I was looking for a new business idea. I saw an unfilled need in the local service industry for pressure washing. While shopping for pressure washers I first learned about “soft washing” and decided I could learn that as well.
With the purchase of two pressure washers, a soft washing set-up (12 volt pumps, tanks, pro-portioner, hose racks, etc…), 2017 F250 , chemicals, accessories, etc… I am putting all my cards on the table. I am heading to Wisconsin next Monday for a 2 day seminar, I am going the trade show in New Orleans in August. All my spare time goes into research & testing.
I have a marketing plan in place with direct mailing, internet, etc… etc… but I am going one step at a time with it because I don’t want to take on too much work before I have a better understanding of certain types of jobs & processes.
I found this forum, because if you are researching this field, you get taken right here! So far I have essentially been an observer and not an active participant. I do see lots of “dumb” questions that I myself would never ask (how to measure a flat surface?)
I am not sure if I fall into the category of hapless hacks that IBS is speaking to? I don’t think so & I hope that given my history, business plan, & dedication, I can continue to benefit from the PWRA forum. It has been useful to me, I appreciate the guys on here that are willing to share & discuss & hopefully as I progress I can contribute as well.
I know lots of guys who have been doing the same thing forever and have become the top experts in their field. I personally have tried a multitude of occupations & besides being successful at most, It has made me a well rounded person with many points of perspective. It has not been easy but it has been rewarding. Anyway, that’s me & I hope IBS keeps active here. He has some great knowledge & besides that he has made me laugh my ass off on many occasions.

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I completely disagree with you Inocentbystander. The moment you say ‘‘I could care less about this business… its just a way to pay bills’’ you lost credibility. I dont really even understand why even make a post then??? Your analogies make no sense as doctors, electrcians etc have standards, they are trades/careers that are regulated, sometimes heavily and you need to take courses and spend years and money. To counter your point, a Surgeon doesnt go right away and start cutting people up right after school he has to spend time under a fully BOARD LICENCED surgeon.

Guys that dont care about this business are the ones doing ‘’$99 house specials’’ or around here working for ‘’$25/hr’’ or more ridiculously ‘‘I charge $16/Hr but you supply equipment etc…’’

I understand the frustration you have, yes, there are guys here asking the same question all the time, but i also see genuine guys that are asking for help, who want to represent this industry, where ever they may be, to the fullest. They ask questions because they want to do a job better, faster or more professional which in turn makes the industry better. According to you we are supposed to come in this field all knowing, never ask a question and post fishing stuff. Well there are better places to post fishing related things than in a pressure washing forum, like a FISHING forum. If we use your mentality then we wouldnt have xjets, m5 nozzles, jrods, soft washing, downstreaming, remote soap injectors, ball valves, different chemicals, long ramge nozzles… we would still be using regular tips, ladder climbing or how ever is it that you run your business. The industry wouldnt be innovating. Look at how this industry is becoming, every year theres better equipment, chemicals because people come here or in other forums asking how they can do better.

I have come here with questions and had some amazing, helpful guys help me, i have also posted things here that i hope would help other people (business plan and a break down of hourly charges). Unlike you i care about this business, i got into this business for the money yes, but i first and formost work like a professional (uniform, pro equipment etc) and a great byproduct of that is the money i make, i close a lot of business BECAUSE I CARE about this business and people feel that and trust me.

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Feel free to disagree. You are wrong on most all of your points but that’s what you get on forums

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I do a million plus annually and it has nothing to do with caring. And yes, you should come into this business all knowing. That’s the point of owning a business, to know everything about it before you have a customer.

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And were supposed to get this knowledge from where… thin air???

And it doesnt matter how much you make, its your contradicting points you make that dont make sense…

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Doesn’t really matter how much money you do annually IMHO. A person’s attitude is typically a direct reflection of the quality of their character. If you start a post on a forum that everyone says is here to “help people learn and grow their business” and then you blast the people it claims to help you just seem like an angry business owner who money hasn’t bought happiness for.

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I don’t think you are reading what I am typing. Thin air will not provide answers. Foolish to look there. Getting advice from strangers on the internet on a forum is thin air also. No great advancements have come from forums. Xjets, downtreaming, softwashing and “jrods” all predate the internet. You get knowledge from learning from other professionals and typically paying them. Or, from your own experiences. Carry on and do what you do.

I should mention that I started my business with a $250 Ryobi and knocking on doors before moving on to a less than $700 DeWalt and using facebook swap and shops, HomeAdvisor, door hangers, and craigslist. I rent or lease all the heavier equipment and trailers I need from local equipment rental jobs and we’ve moved on to commercial work. (Guess what. That’s better for tax purposes anyway.) You have to start somewhere and getting blasted for starting is counterproductive to what I think this forum is trying to do.

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Not trying to come across as angry. Just disappointed in the number of people who call themselves professionals, are actually in business, and know nothing about the business. My poibt about money is that it has nothing to do with caring about your job, it is a byproduct of the job. I don’t think many here can grasp what I’m saying so I’ll let it go.

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I’ve learned plenty from this forum and I appreciate the people here to help. In the information age and what we like to call the INTERWEBS you can get high quality information, tutorials, business classes, etc for no charge. Anyone can become a business coach for free and most are probably selling snake oil.

Never said those things came because of forums. Theyve been around longer, we know that. Thats not the point. The point is forums are a place for like minded people to meet, discuss, help, argue, give tips and advice. Its also a place where other creative people find solutions for problems. And complaining that a newbie asks questions (whether stupid or not) is not helping. It goes back to my original point. If you give 0 f*cks about this business, or its past, present or future then why post at all??? Go enjoy your millions and let us help each other out here. Let us help the future pressure washers who are serious get ahead.

And lastly your advice about paying someone or working for someone is not always a viable option. Most other contractors if you ask for help will view you as ‘‘competition’’ or ‘‘gonna undercut me/steal my business’’… very rarely youll meet a genuine down to earth, unselfish person who will guide you… and to be fair, you dont strike me as that type of helpful person judging you by your own post. No offence.

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I dont think thats a fair assessment. You are making two points.

The first:

That’s more or less a feeling shared by every established member of every profession. Nothing wrong with it, and im sure everyone here understands that point, and probably agrees with it.

The second:

This is what people are taking issue with. You say that people should learn from other professionals, but you also say that getting advice from people on a forum is thin air. Why is the advice of a professional legitimate in person, or on the phone, but not when typed on a forum?

You’re sort of insulting anyone that has used a forum to help grow their business… which is a lot of people. Ive read many many posts from established veterans, who say they owe a lot of their success to the online communities that helped them when they were just getting started.

Forums like this are great for socializing, as well as learning. No need to stifle either, IMO. People are going to ask basic questions, that’s how it goes. I think helping them is better than showing them the front door.

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Y’all are right. Carry on and grow your business. These are just my opinions. Really doesn’t matter if any one likes them or not.

I understand where you are coming from innocent, can I get the blueprints for your soap remote mentioned?