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Ok, well, for those of you that got the 'Joe Dirt' reference and are currently imagining me to have a hillbilly accent, I don't. I'm from Westchester, NY. I have a west Connecticut accent.

That being said, HI!

I'm James and I operate (rather, starting this Friday) American Pride Roof Cleaning. I got this business via my girlfriend asking me to pick up some phones she was buying via craigslist while on my way home from work. Having a very uncomfortable couch, I obeyed. When I arrived at this nice couple's house the wife said she needed to go inside to find the aforementioned phones. I stood in the driveway, patiently waiting while  observed the husband cleaning hiss garage. What sparked my curiosity was a shiny stainless steel hose reel loaded with some high end hose, sitting on the garage floor. Being a semi-retired fireman it resembled our booster reels, so I commented on it as being "one hell of a garden hose." He chuckled and said it "was" for his business. I asked what line of work he was in and he replied that he was a retired schoolteacher, but the business was a roof washing company. In my ignorance I asked "like a pressure washing service?" He politely corrected me, informing me of the points of roof cleaning, the algae, the tools, the chemicals, and the earning potential. He then said that it was all for sale, $2,000. My initial thought was [guard up] "this guy is just looking too unload all his crap from a failed business on the first sucker to stop by." I thanked him for his time, collected the phones, and went home. But the conversation planted a seed in my mind.

Later that night the seed he had planted began to grow. I found myself interested in how much a business like that could earn. He had an excellent point on the marketing: "you can see the algae while  driving down the road." The market pretty much advertises itself. At 3:30am that night I was blowing up google. Being a "everything happens for a reason" kind of guy, I had a gut feeling that it wasn't just a coincidence.

I have extensive experience on ladders, as I joined the fire service in 2000. I have about a years worth of time as a commission only door-to-door salesman for ADT. And with my EMS schedule of 24hrs on/48hrs off, I'll have plenty of time to work this as a side job.

The next day I called him up and expressed my interest. About a week later I got pulled into my director's office. He informed me that the company was going to end it's 24hr shifts, thus leaving me to commute 75 miles (each way, in a 1985 diesel K5!!!) a shift for 12hrs work. With my engine being a 6.2 Detroit and not a VW TDi, I simply cannot justify the fuel. It hit me that night that this was fate giving me a giant kick in the ass to go into business for myself. My last shift was Thursday and I've been doing nothing since but researching the biz online, making flyers, lining up demos,  scheduling cost only gigs for friends, and canvassing. Ok, I did steal Mr Tucker's idea to hire canvassers. I tried to post an ad on craigslist for commission only marketing reps to canvas areas I just don't feel like using the gas to get to. Unfortunately, CL "ghosted" my ad. I can go to it via the email they sent, but can't search or browse for it. So my only D-D rep is me.

In my canvassing I've tried the direct approach of "Hi...look at your roof....me make clean...." with no positive result. I'd like to believe that it's because I've been in either low income 'hoods, or where the houses are 20+yrs and they're planning replacing the roofs. But I look at it like this: I've been out of sales for 8 years. I know there's cobwebs in my presentation and objection handling. It takes hearing the "no"s, the "I'm not interested"s, and the "get off my property you a-hole"s. It takes a lot of beating the hell out of a chunk of metal to make it into a finely honed lethal sabre. My girlfriend disagrees and keeps telling me to get another ambulance job. But I have faith that this business will work out. I'm not expecting to be sitting on a yacht this summer, but fishing from my kayak with my monthly mortgage payment made would be nice.

I'm about to post an ad on craigslist (hopefully) so I'd like to see what you guys think:

What's eating your roof???

In our area, roofs are being overrun by black stains. This is caused by a bacteria called “gloeocapsa magma.” Not only is this algae making your house look ugly, it's also feasting on the crushed up limestone in your shingles. This results in deterioration of your roofing materials and eventual failure of your roof. Before you start looking for a roofing contractor, look into having it cleaned.

What is “roof cleaning”?

One view is this: <i>”Roof cleaning is the safe and systematic removal of your roofing contractor's hand from your wallet.”</i>

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In reality, that's not far from the truth. Roof repairs are generally expensive, and a new roof could run into the upper thousands of $$$! Cleaning that harmful bacteria from your shingles is a way to effectively maintain your roof and add precious years to it's longevity. </p>

You wouldn't have a mechanic change out your engine in your car when all it needed was an oil change, would you? Why have a roofer put a new roof on your home when all it needs is a good, professional cleaning? We are a service that is here to save you money.

Our system conforms to the ARMA (Asphalt Roofing Manufacturers Association) guidelines by using specific chemicals that are not only effective in removing that stubborn bacteria, but safe for the environment and <b><font color=”green”>biodegradable</b></font>. We use a safe, low pressure application system to ensure that any weakened roofing is not agitated. This soft wash technique enables us to provide the best care and respect for the part of your property that protects your house and family. We take great care to ensure the safety of your home, vehicles, landscaping, and pets. We also offer a three year guarantee that your shingles will remain algae free. Our service usually takes about two hours for a single family dwelling, but the results are evident almost immediately. Call us today and schedule a free demonstration on your roof. You'd never thought your roof could look so good.

American Pride Roof Cleaning

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About our company:

I am James Livelli. I own and operate American Pride. I respect the value of a hard day's work and believe that the key to our nation's return to prosperity is not through bailouts, stimulus plans, or handouts, but by ordinary Americans persevering through this economic slump and striving to achieve. That only by our hard work and steadfast dedication will we will overcome our challenges and accomplish our goals. It was with this philosophy in mind that I started American Pride, and it is this philosophy that I carry with me each day. I am proud that the staff of American Pride is made up entirely of firefighters, paramedics, and former military personnel. As a paramedic myself, I recognize that the level of professionalism found in such individuals is the perfect match for the level of service we provide.

God Bless America