A home's roof is one of the most visible parts of the house. Some people want it to look nice and clean and some people need it to stay clean for health reasons. Offer your roof cleaning services as an ongoing job so it won't just be a one-time deal. You will need a pressure washer, and possibly some cleaners for exceedingly dirty roofs. You should charge $25 per hour or more.
It is amazing how much a roofs condition can influence people looking at a home. A roof can give the overall look of a home a negative, or positive, slant. If the roof has lots of dirt, tree droppings, bird droppings, or even moss growing on it, it will make the whole house look unkempt. A home's roof is one of the most visible parts of a house.
There are several reasons to offer a service of cleaning peoples' roofs. Some people want their roof to look nice and clean, others need it to stay clean for health or safety reasons. What ever their reasons, this could be a very good 'business idea' to give thought to, especially if you like to work outside with your hands and hate the typical nine-to-five office job.
Offer your roof cleaning services as an ongoing service, so it won't just be a one-time deal. Offer to come by on a regular basis, as often as your customer would like their roof cleaned. Some people may want you to clean their roofs on a monthly schedule if they have many trees near their home. Others may only want you to come by once a year, but make sure that you offer to make their next appointment for a cleaning, before you leave.
Your initial investment for a career in this field will not require too much. You will need a pressure washer and possibly some cleaners for exceedingly dirty roofs. You will also need a vehicle to get you to your different roof jobs, which can also carry your cleaning equipment and cleaners. You also may want to invest in waterproof boots and clothing to wear while you are busy working. A sturdy tall ladder would also be helpful, especially if you need to clean out the gutters around a roof that you are cleaning, a bucket may be required for that too.
If you are not sure what to charge your customers for this service, you should charge around $25 – $50 per hour, or more. Check in your local area what the typical charge is for this type of service. The size of a home or roof can make a difference also.
Check with your local hardware or lumber stores and see what different types of roofing products are on the market. Do some research and learn the different kinds and materials that are applied to roofs. This is an excellent way to find out what the proper care is for all of the different types of roofs. The more that you understand about the many roof types the better you will be at your profession. This will help your customers to feel safe hiring you.
Make sure that you also take all of the needed precautions for this type of job. Since there is a possibility of you falling and hurting yourself badly on someone's property, you should make sure that you carry insurance; this will put your customers at ease when hiring you. This information can be included on your business cards, advertisements, and on your contract with your customers.
Advertise your services in your local newspapers and yellow pages. It is also a good idea to include advertising on your vehicle and carry a sign that you can post on the lawn while you are cleaning a roof.
It is also a good idea to check with your local real estate agents also. Leave them information about your services; they may want to have their clients hire you when their home goes on the market for sale. It will help the house show well for prospective buyers.
Resources:
http://www.pitchwitch.com/
http://saferoofcleaning.com/
December 9, 2008
