Pressure washing businesses can be incredibly lucrative endeavours if a number of things are taken into consideration and done properly.
One of those factors is knowing what areas to target in order to find homeowners that have the need for and are willing/able to pay for your pressure washing services.
If you spend your time knocking on doors in a low-income apartment style neighbourhood, chances are you won’t be able to find much business, if any at all.
Most Common Areas Homeowners Hire For Pressure Washing Services
It is incredibly important to pick your target areas based on relevant information like house and lot size, relative income of homeowners in the area, and the condition of those homes.
It is best to target middle to high class neighbourhoods that are home to families who have disposable income to invest in a pressure washing job. Look for areas that have larger houses with the features that can benefit from a power washing service.
The most common areas in/around a house that will have homeowners hiring for pressure washing services are siding & garages, wooden decks & docks, and concrete or brick areas like a driveway. Other parts of a house can be power washed like windows and shingles or other roofing.
As a pressure washing business owner, it is important to familiarize yourself with the parts of a house that benefit from a good power wash, and use this knowledge to target the right neighbourhoods with appropriate housing.
How To Pressure Wash Residential Areas
In order to ensure a successful pressure washing session there are a number of steps to take and important things to remember.
Let’s do a quick walkthrough of how to pressure wash a residential area.
Preparation
Before you start your pressure washing job it is important to prepare yourself, your equipment and your working area properly.
To start, read any paperwork or instructions that came with your pressure washer in order to be sure that you have the right washer for the job. This may depend on what part of the house you are cleaning, size of the area, type of surface being cleaned etc…
Learn how to set up your pressure washer and familiarize yourself with any important quirks, characteristics or qualities of your machine. Figure out exactly what settings are available on your pressure washer and make sure to choose the correct spray pattern for your job. Settings will also vary between high-pressure cleaning and detergent spraying.
Preparation doesn’t end with your pressure washer. It is also very important to prepare your work area in order to ensure a smooth, efficient and successful job. Take a good walk around your area and make sure to move all furniture or any other obstacles that could be a tripping hazard or cause the washer’s hose to snag.
Turn off the power to all external outlets and electrical fixtures and then cover them tightly with plastic to avoid any water damage. Trim down any plants or trees covering your cleaning area and finally, properly close all nearby windows, doors and other openings.Cleaning With A Pressure Washer
Using a pressure washer incorrectly on the wrong areas can cause significant damage to a home’s exterior. Be sure to read the machine’s manual thoroughly to get information on sprayer settings and the recommended spraying distance for different surfaces and areas.
It is never a bad idea to test the high-pressure spray setting on a small area in order to ensure that it will clean effectively and not cause any damage.
Some stains and grime build-up on a home’s exterior may require a detergent spray to remove. When adding detergent to your spray fluid, be sure to ONLY use detergents that are intended for pressure washers and will not cause damage to your machine.
When using a detergent spray, employ a low-pressure spray setting in order to produce a nice even coating. Let the detergent sit on the surface for a few minutes before rinsing so that it has a chance to act on the stains or grime.
Do not however let the detergent dry onto the surface. Pass over the area a few times while rinsing to ensure that all of the detergent and any residual grime have been completely removed. Work in small sections to keep track of your progress.
Best Pressure Washers For Residential Use
To get started with smaller jobs around the neighborhood, you can find some great gas models on our best pressure washer review page. These will be on the lower end of the price scale considering the amount of use you will get out of them, but definitely would want to use a gas model because of the ability to complete jobs quicker.
If you’re looking for an upgraded model to start to expand the business from a one day a week side gig to tackling more consistent projects, see our top picks for commercial pressure washers.
Conclusion
Starting and maintaining a successful residential pressure washing business requires proper market research and the ability to identify lucrative locations to target for customers.
We have discussed some important tactics for business owners to implement, as well as provided a brief overview of a handful of the best pressure washers on the market. Consider this advice and best of luck on all future endeavors!
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