It can be difficult to know what to look for when looking to hire a pressure washing company for the best service.
Fortunately, as a pressure washing company in Fort Worth, we may be able to help you ask the right questions before hiring. For example, are they licensed and insured? How long have they been in business? What kind of certifications do they have? How much experience do they have with your specific project? These are the kinds of questions you’ll know to ask to find the best possible pressure washing service for your specific cleaning needs.
Not only will this help you find the right company, but it will also keep you safe from hiring an inexperienced company that could damage your home or business. So here are those five things to consider when hiring a pressure washer company.
1. How much does pressure washing cost?
When hiring a pressure washer company, the cost will be one of your most significant considerations. When you’re ready to hire, ask around for some general quotes so you know what kind of pricing to expect.
You should ask about all included costs including supply fees upfront and make sure you have your expectations set appropriately going into your project. Compared with other commercial cleaning services, pressure washing can often be a good value if performed by an experienced professional.
Be careful of companies that price their services too high or too low. Ask questions on why their prices are so far off from competitors in their area.
Companies that are priced very high may explain to you that your property requires special care to avoid damage. If they can clearly explain their value proposition, then that is okay.
Vice versa, ask questions on why someone’s quote is so much lower than their competitors. If a company can price significantly lower than competitors due to the absence of not being bonded or insured, you want to walk away.
2. Look for an experienced pressure washer
Another tip for finding a pressure washing company is looking for experience. Don’t fall for companies that say they’ve been in business for years if they haven’t served hundreds of clients. You will be able to find many examples of a company’s work through online reviews and their website.
Referrals are also a great way to gauge someone’s experience. Many pressure washing professionals like to service multiple neighbors in a single community so they can save on marketing and transportation costs. Ask your neighbors for any recommendations if they have used any pressure washing services in the past.
Also, ask the pressure washing company what kind of chemical solution they recommend for the job you are presenting. An experienced pressure washer will be able to tell you immediately if a 5% SH solution is good for the job or a degreaser is needed, etc. Asking informed questions like this can save you a lot of headaches.
We’ve had many clients ask us to come and fix pressure washing jobs that cheaper, inexperienced pressure washers left behind. Sometimes, if too much pressure is used on a soft surface like vinyl or painted wood, then there is nothing we can do to remedy the situation.
If you want to save money, it’s okay to use a newer pressure washing contractor. Just make sure they have a good mentor or support system they can rely on to ask questions and do the job properly. Ask them how they would handle the situation, and if they cannot provide a satisfactory answer, then ask them who they would turn to for help.
3. Pressure washing certifications
When choosing a pressure washing company, knowing what certifications they have can be an indicator of their level of professionalism, but this isn’t the end all be all. Nothing beats a good work ethic, integrity, experience, with good referrals to back it up. But it doesn’t hurt. Especially if safety is an important factor to you.
A company certified by an independent third party has gone through a certain amount of training, which can lead to better results. It also shows potential customers that you are hiring a reputable contractor and aren’t just trying to save money.
Here are some pressure washing certifications you might consider:
Cleaning management institute (CMI)
The CMI offers certification for pressure washers who specialize in cleaning concrete, which is different from other companies because most organizations only test for pressure washers who wish to clean pavement and homes. If your home or business structure contains concrete components, using a CMI-certified pressure washer could be very helpful because of their specialty knowledge about how concrete reacts with water and chemicals.
Pressure Washer Manufacturers’ Associations (PWMA)
The Pressure Washer Manufacturers Association’s Certification Program is a third-party testing program that verifies pressure washer manufacturer claims. Consumers may rely on the program’s data since it is accurate and validated.
4. Check their online reviews
There are a lot of pressure washing companies competing for your business. Many are ready to provide you with top-notch cleaning services. If you’re looking for a pressure washer service for your residential or commercial property, there will be a lot of good choices to choose from. Many in our industry are upstanding, hardworking, high-integrity folks. That said, there are always bad apples in the bunch. This is why it is prudent to check online reviews before hiring a pressure washing company.
Take the star ratings from Google maps or Yelp with a grain of salt. Take time to sort the reviews by most recent, and read the first few reviews. Real reviews will explain the job and the level of customer service that the contractor or company provides. Fake positive reviews will often be vague.
Also, sometimes a good contractor may have a poor star rating because they ran into some unreasonable customers. Either way, use your judgment when evaluating consumer feedback, and this should help you know if certain pressure washing businesses offer quality services.
5. Are they bonded and insured
I cannot emphasize this enough. You want to hire a pressure washing contractor or company that is bonded and insured.
When a company is bonded, then they have bought into a system that will help cover any financial risk to you as the property owner in case something goes wrong with the job.
When a company is insured, then the contractor or company will be able to pay for any damages that might happen accidentally during the job.
Either way, these two financial instruments will ensure that you as the customer are covered in the case of a dispute, accident, or anything else going wrong. Please do not put yourself at financial risk by trying to save a few dollars and hiring a cheap $99 service that is not bonded and insured.
Final Thoughts
Pressure washing services are becoming increasingly widespread because of their usefulness. These services can be utilized in so many ways from washing roofs and oil spills to vehicles and equipment. We’ve even cleaned children’s playgrounds!
The pressure washing community is a tight one. There is a lot of competition out there, but many pressure washing contractors help each other out and work hard. If you hire a pressure washing professional, you likely will be impressed with their integrity and hard work. However, there are always bad apples in the bunch, so it’s best to protect yourself.
Follow these guidelines, and you will be very pleased with the results that pressure washing services can bring to your home or business.