My 25 year friend, mentor, and competitor, Scott Cramer of Seminole Softwash in Tallahassee, FL called me last night with this story, I just had to share it here.
Last Thursday (11/18) he cleaned a roof. He actually took the bid away from a large roofing contractor in Tallahassee that had recommended the customer replace the roof to remove the stains. Fast forward two days later to Saturday night and the customer calls him with a complaint. Turns out the POLICE had just left her house; the next door neighbor called the Police to complain about the "rancid smell". The police came to the house where the work was done to investigate if any crime had taken place, what had been done to the house, etc. The customer is a little upset now with the whole process since it has inconvenienced and enbarrased her.
Of course, nothing was pursued. Its just a really sad state of affairs that the neighbor is such a busy body and couldn't have simply walked next door to inquire about the roof cleaning/smell. Its also sad that the police didn't send that neighbor a bill for wasting valuable taxpayer resources and/or give them a complementary "tazing" while they were on the call.
In the larger pictuyre, I think its just more proof that we'll need a strong assocition in the near future to help us combat the inevitable legal/regualtory challenges that we all know are comming down the pipe.
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Ray Burke
Spray Wash Exterior Cleaning
850.528.3226
visit our website Soft Washing and Pressure Washing
Being a former Deputy, its easy to place a call to the local PD and start crap, with the roof cleaning its just a matter of claiming you smell a Meth lab down the street.
Trust me, that call will bring some units to the area.
I think if you are legit and have vehicle signs, equipment, etc.. your fine.
I know many have started with just a 55 drum, but that adds to the LE confusion, heck if homeowners don't know roof cleaning, what makes you think LE does.
I have a homeowner in my subdivision that waits to see if a person walking his/her dog stops and dumps on his grass, he has confronted many, and I feel its a matter of time before he confronts the wrong person and boom...
People could be upset that they are put out with the smell, etc..
Heck I knew a guy that hated the smell of fresh cut grass. LOL!!!
Something to consider, although it won't appease all grumpy neighbors:
When I'm restoring a roof in a high density area, OR when I see neighbors out and about in their yard, I make it a point to go introduce myself, business card in hand.
I very politely let the folks know that as a result of restoring their neighbor's roof, they may notice an oder. I then assure them that it will disipate very quickly , yadda yadda yadda.
This approach does two things for me in those situations:
It makes the neighbors informed, so they're less likely to have major concerns
It brings attention to roof cleaning, 'cause chances are, they need it too
We have to try and turn every situation in to an opportunity. An opportunity to inform, market, sell and grow the customer base.
Ted: I totally agree with everything you said and try to do the same practices in my business.
Looking down the road a little bit though, I worry about the repercussions of a neighbor such as that taking to another type authority, such as EPA, etc. and getting the ball rolling on some regulations on our industry.
It just another reason I think it so important for us to have strong representation via a trade group such as the RCIA.
__________________
Ray Burke
Spray Wash Exterior Cleaning
850.528.3226
visit our website Soft Washing and Pressure Washing
Ted: I totally agree with everything you said and try to do the same practices in my business.
Looking down the road a little bit though, I worry about the repercussions of a neighbor such as that taking to another type authority, such as EPA, etc. and getting the ball rolling on some regulations on our industry.
It just another reason I think it so important for us to have strong representation via a trade group such as the RCIA.
Your forward thinking thought process (and that of the RCIA) is 'spot on' IMHO Ray. And thank you Travis.
My 25 year friend, mentor, and competitor, Scott Cramer of Seminole Softwash in Tallahassee, FL called me last night with this story, I just had to share it here.
Last Thursday (11/18) he cleaned a roof. He actually took the bid away from a large roofing contractor in Tallahassee that had recommended the customer replace the roof to remove the stains. Fast forward two days later to Saturday night and the customer calls him with a complaint. Turns out the POLICE had just left her house; the next door neighbor called the Police to complain about the "rancid smell". The police came to the house where the work was done to investigate if any crime had taken place, what had been done to the house, etc. The customer is a little upset now with the whole process since it has inconvenienced and enbarrased her.
Of course, nothing was pursued. Its just a really sad state of affairs that the neighbor is such a busy body and couldn't have simply walked next door to inquire about the roof cleaning/smell. Its also sad that the police didn't send that neighbor a bill for wasting valuable taxpayer resources and/or give them a complementary "tazing" while they were on the call.
In the larger pictuyre, I think its just more proof that we'll need a strong assocition in the near future to help us combat the inevitable legal/regualtory challenges that we all know are comming down the pipe.
This is the main reason I use green apple! No problems!
I do the same thing on larger multi unit Roof Cleaning jobs. On regular residential jobs I just make sure the customers are aware of the smell and approximately how long it will last.
The perfect roof cleaning day is when it rains the day before and pours the day after. with bright sunny skies on the day of.
Today I was watering the neighbors grass and bushes more than the jome were doing, and the neighbor confronts me. "its already all over my grass" he says. I say thats water because im watching out for you. " I was actually waiting the whole morning for a visit from the police.
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I posted a thread not too long ago about this happening to me with a disgruntled neighbor and they brought the "law" with them. Sometimes neighbors can be a real pain for no apparent reason. My guess? Misery loves company.
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Very funny story and well put but I have to add something here.... I don 't know about you guys but I guess there is a lot of road kill where I come from or something but when you do a "moss cleaning" for those of you that tackle these bears, you get a distinct horrible dead person smell. Well my right hand man Joe and I have been noticing a few turkey buzzards and vultures lately circling around our heads lately. So we make jokes about it but when we do a moss job they start coming out of the woodwork man. 2 weeks ago I was on a ladder spraying he is hosing and the mother of all Vultures swoops down and misses me by 3 feet I didn't see it really just felt the wind and noticed a huge object go past the back of me. After I totally almost fell Joe dropped the hose and couldn't talk he was laughing so hard and giving me the " get off the ladder, there is a pterodactyl after ya!" arm wave. I got down he expalined what happened.
This isn't the first time they have gotten close to us either. We see them all of the time now and even predict at which point they will be there. They just circle around waiting for my fat rear end to fall over, They are probably thinking what I am doing isn't safe and they have lunch coming.
Does anyone else deal with this?
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