The woman who was constantly criticized...

> doing any Deck cleaning or Power Washing yet
> this summer and if so what's working best
> for you when it comes to marketing your
> service? I bought a power washer to do my
> own deck and just put together a flyer I'm
> about to test. I also found a great, new,
> long lasting wood coating that I feel will
> give me a competitive advantage. I can't
> believe how many power washers / deck
> sealers in my area think that the only way
> to be competitive is to charge less. I
> intend to charge $1.25 - $1.50 per square
> foot while some in my area charge only
> .35/cents. All I have to do is point out
> that you usually get what you pay for and
> show some wood samples that have been
> treated with various wood sealers and aged
> outdoors for the last year to close a job!!!
> The guy's charging .35/cents a foot aren't
> even smart enough to show before and after
> photos to prospects.

.35 per square foot! Jesus, that's insane!

You'll even get tired of $1.50 per square foot at times, Steve :) (And don't forget the railing!)

Your price range is a good place to start. I go with numbers around there on bigger jobs, but always make sure to compare with my time + materials "what I want out of it" price to.

So you set an hourly wage for yourself and have a per square foot price too. Try to go with the per square foot price, but when that's not enough, do yourself a favor and throw it out the window in exchange for a time + materials price.

By time and materials, I am talking about a figure of your hourly+overhead+materials price in your own head, one you will use to make a bid.

Ok, marketing.

I have been using postcards to homes in the area within a 25/30 mile radius from where I live. The homes are selected by home value, but I have found those numbers to be garbage in general.

Basically, I just need to find these small pockets of homes with huge decks, get a few hundred out to the area.I'm lucky in that the areas I need are easily selected from something less than ideal like infousa.

Flyers work well. If you'll recall, that's how I went this the first time last year. I did fine. But postcards I feel are a better ROI for me anyway.

I'm also starting to send thank you letters out right after every job with a few business cards for anyone they might know that needs work done (Jay Abraham common sense business builder). Just started, but imagine that will work out very well.

> Life is hard. It's even
> harder if you're stupid.

Or afraid to ask for a decent price....

Please tell me about the new sealer you're looking at using. [email protected]

Success,

Erik

> P.S. Jeremy was a friend of mine but I
> wouldn't hire him either.

:)

P.S. Steve, for the love of God, always remember to close doors that you open. It is disturbing to get a call from a client who had to chase a raccoon out of their home that night.

And probably even more disturbing for them.

That was my most unprofessional moment so far, and it happened yesterday.