DJ,What do you think?
Some of these answers are illuminating. It seems guys go on rants about super duty wash trailers with twin 8gpm guns a blazing - emphasizing speed, efficiency, blah blah blah. When in reality we're selling ourselves, we are selling our likability - I mean some homeowners like to watch and follow the process and see the transformation. Some guys think that's a nuisance {me included} but in reality these homeowners are paying for that experience, like they pay to go to a movie theatre. When you really think about it - we're in Show-Business not pressure washing. And with a 4-5 gpm machine and a great attitude we can sell great 'theatre' - chit chat with homeowners - and make more money than the super duty two man 24+ gpm 325 gallon capacity trailer that can hose down a 5,500 McMansion in 15 minutes flat and move. Heck - if some guy washed my house $350 and spent a total of 15 minutes - I'd feel cheated too.
Scrappy, why do you remove ds tubing after soaping? To keep down on trips to the trailer just have your guys rinse with a m5. Removing tubing after you soap a part of the house is wasted time. You could also eliminate another step in your flow chart by installing a hudson float valve in your tank, then your guys wouldn't have to worry about the ball valve you have at your tank. After 9 years of doing this, keep it very simple when it comes to employees.
Another piece of advice when it comes to employees, hire guys with a sense of pride and good personalitys. I have had guys that worked great with their hands but had the personality of a rock, I have also had guys over the years that weren't as good with their hands and couldn't clean as fast but always made time to talk to the home owners. The next year when the customer calls back I have had several ask for Donald or Eddie not because they were fast or made the job look super easy but because they made the customer feel important. I have never had a customer call back and ask for the employee that washed his/her home really fast last year.
Just something to think about for 2010, I see your gearing up for the new season and wanted to share that with you.
Scrappy, why do you remove ds tubing after soaping? To keep down on trips to the trailer just have your guys rinse with a m5. Removing tubing after you soap a part of the house is wasted time. You could also eliminate another step in your flow chart by installing a hudson float valve in your tank, then your guys wouldn't have to worry about the ball valve you have at your tank. After 9 years of doing this, keep it very simple when it comes to employees.
Another piece of advice when it comes to employees, hire guys with a sense of pride and good personalitys. I have had guys that worked great with their hands but had the personality of a rock, I have also had guys over the years that weren't as good with their hands and couldn't clean as fast but always made time to talk to the home owners. The next year when the customer calls back I have had several ask for Donald or Eddie not because they were fast or made the job look super easy but because they made the customer feel important. I have never had a customer call back and ask for the employee that washed his/her home really fast last year.
Just something to think about for 2010, I see your gearing up for the new season and wanted to share that with you.