In our last article we talked about why you should pressure wash your property. We gave you just five reasons of many. In this article we want to help you decide who you should hire to do the work for you. Sorting through all the google listings can be overwhelming. How do you pick? What do you ask? These questions and more will be answered in this article.
1. Insurance
The most important thing you should look for in a pressure washing company is that they are insured. It doesn't happen often but accidents can happen. The last thing you want is property damage that you end up paying for yourself. Upon request you could ask the company to send you a certificate of insurance for your specific address or just simply ask them for proof. Legitimate pressure washing companies will carry a copy with them.
2. Business License
There are a lot of "fly by night" businesses out there that are unlicensed, driving around with a pressure washer in the trunk of their car. You will want to hire a pressure cleaning company that is licensed and insured. The state of Florida does not require a pressure washing company to obtain an occupational license, but instead a business license with their local county and/or town which means they are paying taxes to that local area. You can search for this status here (Hillsbourough County).
3. Reviews
This seems obvious and might be the easiest thing to do. Considering that people are 23% more likely to leave a negative review compared to a positive review, Google reviews are a great place to get a general idea of how the company operates. Another interesting statistic shows that businesses with 4.0 or 4.5 star reviews are trusted more that those with 5, 3.5 or lower stars. Negative reviews happen no matter how good the business treats its customers so a company with hundreds of reviews and still has 5.0 stars seems a little unusual. Check their Google listing activity. If they are posting and adding updates often they are actively growing their business and means you should receive quality service.
4. Equipment
Ask them what they use. Some pressure washing companies specialize in different types of cleaning. Using the wrong type of equipment can damage your property. A good company will tell you if they have the correct equipment for the job you have. For example, if your roof needs to be cleaned, you will need a specific soft wash machine. Using high pressure can damage your shingles taking life from your roof. Causing you to replace it sooner.
5. Experience
Ask them for referrals if you have the time. Hearing from some of their customers can put your mind at ease and help you make your decision. If you don't have the time to take this step at least ask them how long they have been power washing and how many jobs like yours they have done. If they can't or don't want to answer, move on to the next company.
Not all pressure cleaning companies are created equal. Some aren't even a business! Do a little homework. Get a couple quotes. Follow these guidelines and you should have a pleasurable experience.
Thank you,
The Clean Start PW Team
Call 813.499.7888 for an estimate.