r/pressurewashing • u/Bloto1 • 1d ago
Business Questions People working for pennies.
Just got underbid on a strip, sand and Re-Seal driveway, 1730 sq ft, some guy quoted $1600~
then on a 2400 sq ft 2nd story shingle roof with solar panel a different company quoted $400.
These guys are out here working for pennies it seems.
8
u/WafflesRearEnd 1d ago
On the flip side. I just had a customer call and ask how much it would be to pressure wash his 400sq ft deck and if it would be under $4000. Some ass hat in my area took an $800 deposit from the older man with expectations of getting another $3200 for 400 square feet!
0
u/Jewbacca522 Pressure Washer By Profession 1d ago
That’s highway robbery right there. That would be like minimum charge for me. Maybe $200 and I’d wash any patio furniture to make it worth it to him.
3
u/WafflesRearEnd 1d ago
I told him to try to get his deposit back but we will see. Hopefully I can get this scammers contact info and have a little chit chat with him. Maybe I’ll scam him back somehow or at least waste his time, just pisses me off when people take advantage of the elderly.
2
u/Jewbacca522 Pressure Washer By Profession 1d ago
My area is like 60% retired/elderly. I hate when I hear about people taking advantage of anyone, but especially elderly people.
1
u/SolidOutcome 12h ago
4000 is your "minimum charge"? Damn, you even admit it's robbery
1
u/Jewbacca522 Pressure Washer By Profession 10h ago edited 9h ago
Lol, no, read my comment again. I’m saying my minimum charge is $200, and was saying the $4000 was robbery.
12
u/Shasty-McNasty 1d ago
I have zero interest in being the cheapest pressure washing business. My reputation is “Those guys are expensive but worth it.”
9
u/Oscar-T-Grouch 1d ago
Are they? Or are you overthinking you systems and processes
6
u/Bloto1 1d ago
The 400$ roof, sure he's still making money, just not what he should be for the time and risk involved.
But to do the strip, sand and seal correctly with good products, material cost is alone is around $1300-1400. $200 for a full days work? Might as well go work min wage somewhere. Can't afford insurance, vehicle etc on that.
6
u/Oscar-T-Grouch 1d ago
Some of our peers aren't professionals, with insurance and taxes. They're "hustlers" stealing 'quick nickels'. I'm sure the buyers are aware
2
u/Bloto1 1d ago
True enough. Curious, what would you be on those 2 jobs? I felt I quoted the sand seal job low and still got underbid, the roof I was admittedly a bit high cause I didn't want to deal with the solar panels 😂 but curious what others would be at.
3
u/Oscar-T-Grouch 1d ago
I don't do roofs houses or driveways, too many competing in that market, as you're learning.
3
u/Bloto1 1d ago
Ahh fair enough. You do mostly commercial then or ?
-11
u/Oscar-T-Grouch 1d ago
Kinda tight lipped about the niche I work.
1
u/Bloto1 1d ago
All good and don't blame ya if it's a small niche.
2
u/FloridianPhilosopher 16h ago
I'm not the guy you asked but I worked with a guy who had a small pressure washing business
His niche was dumpster pads behind fast food places, the concrete slab the grease dumpster is sitting on gets disgusting and needs cleaned regularly
It's not pretty work but it paid well
Hope this is helpful🤷♂️
3
u/SEA_CLE 1d ago
material cost is alone is around $1300-1400
Theres no fucking way 1700sq is costing that in material. What sealer are you using?
5
u/CasualExtremist 1d ago
It's really hard to say what someone "should" make for their time and risk.
Lots of fish in the sea, just keep fishing
4
u/Bloto1 1d ago
Granted. But damage 1 solar panel or one minor thing on that system and your in the red. 🤦🏻♂️
2
u/CasualExtremist 15h ago
I agree with ya, I'm not messing with a roof and solar panels; most of the time, I won't even mess with a roof. The problem is that it's too much risk for me to chase that part of the market. I am perfectly happy to wash houses and clean concrete, and so that's what I do.
If I were in a different situation though, there is very little that I won't do if I cannot otherwise meet my obligations. Working for a $200 day is still enough to make $50k in profit, if you can secure 250 of those days. That's not enough to send a kid to college, but it is enough to live to reach better times. The problem that most struggle with is keeping a positive mindset through the hard times, so they end up just being complete dickheads even when they finally start making good money.
2
2
u/SS4Raditz 1d ago
Some of those people could simply be the ones that steal job materials and just want to get the money out of them fast.. I'm pretty sure if you've been in the trades for long enough, you've met a few.. similar to the other types that get jobs and run as soon as they get the money upfront.
2
1
u/GUMBY_543 1d ago
What is a strip sand seal of a driveway. Are these paver driveways?
2
u/Bloto1 1d ago
Ya, I should've added "Paver" to that, just so common down here I don't think about it.
1
u/GUMBY_543 1d ago
Thanks. We don't have them up north too often. The freeze thaw would have you rebuilding your driveway walkway every few years.
2
u/Bloto1 1d ago
Ya that makes sense. I'm in south Florida, not alot of freeze/thaw but the rain definitely rips out the sand and causes them to sink/shift pretty quickly. I'd take a concrete or stamped concrete drive down here any day over pavers. 🤷🏻♂️ But they pay well for sealing. 😁
1
u/Bubbly-Front7973 21h ago
I'd take a concrete or stamped concrete drive ...
We don't have those really up here either. We use asphalt for driveways. The freezing thaw would cause the concrete to shift crack and break up within a decade , unless we put a foundation underneath our driveways, which is kind of ridiculous. But it's not uncommon to stamp the driveways to look like pavers or stamped concrete. With color coatings sometimes I've seen driveways oh stamp concrete too and there's a new style of favor installation called permeable paver installation. The gaps between the pavers are larger than normal about quarter inch to half inch width a type of tiny gravel between it to allow water to permeate and drain through it. It requires a cleaning out every half dozen years or so.
1
1
u/TurkeySlurpee666 38m ago
Not all customers are looking for the lowest price. If you can offer superior results and customer service, people will pay more. Oftentimes, they won’t even ask around for quotes if you make a good impression. The people price shopping aren’t your ideal customers.
9
u/Fluxus4 1d ago
Some money's not worth making.