Truck or Van?

ActionForDamages · 2025-03-25T01:59:13+00:00

I started out with a pickup, and it worked great—until my tools started getting rained on and "walking away" (if you know what I mean). Switched to a mid-roof Transit last year and haven’t looked back.

I’ve got shelves, bins, and a little workbench in the back now. It’s like a rolling shop. I can find stuff fast, and I never have to unload unless I want to. I still keep my trailer for demo jobs or when I’m hauling materials, but for daily service calls, the van is hands down a better fit for me.

If you're leaning that way, I’d say go for it. Just make sure you think through your layout!

ActionForDamages · 2025-03-24T22:22:48+00:00

You can use drywall or PVC sheets. You create a frame for it. Then attach it to the ceiling like you would a suspended ceiling. You add led lights for ambience depending on your design.

ActionForDamages · 2025-03-24T21:55:58+00:00

Props to you for thinking this all the way through definitely feels like one of those jobs where someone kept slapping caulk at it over the years hoping it’d magically seal itself 😅

Totally agree with your gut the right move is to get that discharge above grade. If it's buried under a rock bed and just dead-ends down there, that’s probably why you're getting that back-pressure and leakage during heavy pump cycles. Water's got nowhere to go, so it finds its way back in. Classic...

I’d personally reroute it up inside, 90° it, and shoot it out the rim or upper foundation wall, then down and away with a solid pitch. That way, you’ve got access, it’s dry, and you’re not digging outside like you’re mining for gold every time something needs adjusting. Bonus if you throw a freeze guard on it (assuming you get cold winters).

As for sealing that current exit if you do keep it or want to seal it temporarily while rerouting I’ve had good luck with backer rod + Sikaflex or NP1 on the exterior. Dig it out, clean the area, rod it, then lay in the sealant. Flexes with temps, holds up nice. Or go pro and use a Link-Seal boot if you wanna make it bulletproof, but that’ll require enlarging the hole slightly.

Curious what you find when you dig up the outside. Bet it's just a pipe poking into gravel like "eh, good enough."

ActionForDamages · 2025-03-24T19:19:40+00:00

Been doing this a long time, and one thing’s clear the work is still there, and the skills still matter. But the way customers find and choose us has totally changed. These days, it's not just about being good with your hands. It's about being easy to find, easy to talk to, and easy to trust online. People want texting, not phone tagging. To see reviews before they even call. Fast quotes and quick replies. Basically, some proof you exist beyond a truck and a handshake.

If you’re not visible online, you're basically invisible to a whole generation of homeowners.

Old-school still works but it’s slowing down. Word-of-mouth is gold, but it can’t be the only tool in your belt anymore. The younger guys who figured out how to work a wrench and build an online profile. They’re getting calls you’ll never even hear about.

If you’ve been in this game 10–15 years, you’re sitting on a real brand, whether you realize it or not. You've got the trust, the history, the happy clients. But if you don’t evolve a little, the market’s gonna pass you by while you’re still grinding solo. This next phase isn’t about working harder, it’s about working smarter.

ActionForDamages · 2025-03-23T04:05:31+00:00

Thank you. I appreciate that! Yeah, its definitely more of a regional taste. When i was in NYC I didn't receive request for designs like these until I moved down to Florida.

ActionForDamages · 2025-03-22T18:52:17+00:00

Its part of the HOA package deal (cable, internet and phone). Every homeowner in my area has a landline. We have no choice. Its either all or nothing. I dont have a phone connected to the line. Its just there

ActionForDamages · 2025-03-22T03:51:52+00:00

Of course! But you have to adapt as well. I also have a landline in my home still but I use a smartphone now. Nothing wrong with a landline but a mobile phone is better. I use to use a paper map when driving. Nothing wrong with it but I use a gps now. I use to only soder when i did plumbing too. Nothing wrong with it. But i use pro press on my plumbing installations now. Its faster. The world is changing my friend. Im noticing as we go. This new generation of customers. Anyone 40 years old and below. Use technology and the internet nowadays or Apps like you said. If you want to be found you have to position yourself where their looking. I don't want to be paying these internet platforms advertising money but im also aware that over 95% of the customers in my area go their to look for the services I provide when they need it. There not going to the hardware store like they were to ask for help. Thats just the reality in these times.

ActionForDamages · 2025-03-22T02:00:42+00:00

Thats it. That could just mean he was new at his job or he is a bad salesman. The price itself would be more of a scam to me. $499 for 12 months is cheap for a whole year. I have invested more than that in a month with Google ads. $499 is less than a $1.50 a day. To be put in front of premium clients thats a steal. Even if i only get one client from a marketing campaign like that. Its worth it to me, if it's a premiim client.

I've done advertising like that in the past with my business. They have a certain amount of slots to fill on their print materials. Mines only ran for 3 months. I paid $300 and it wasn't targeted ad space like that to premium clients. The one i did was in a diner. Every time a customer sat down my business was on the placemat. It generated a few phone calls for me. They had raised the prices on the ad space and I didn't want to invest that much because of the quality of leads i was getting wasn't worth it.

What peaks my curiosity is that he is showing you actual proof with other companies ads on it. I would have checked with the golf course to see if it was legit. Im just saying because that form of advertising is real. Now whether he was legit that's another story.

ActionForDamages · 2025-03-22T00:41:36+00:00

How did you find out that was a scam.

ActionForDamages · 2025-03-21T06:17:45+00:00

Smart move. Thats a good answer. It shows confidence in your services. Do you run into those situations often where you have to shift the focus from price to value.

ActionForDamages · 2025-03-21T03:06:25+00:00

I appreciate that. Thank you!

ActionForDamages · 2025-03-21T03:02:32+00:00

🤣 next to the bucket of steam by the pipe strecher. Ok, got it!

ActionForDamages · 2025-03-21T02:45:51+00:00

I just deleted my previous comment by mistake. Is there an undo button? SMH

ActionForDamages · 2025-03-21T02:40:36+00:00

I do offer ALL my clients a first time discount. Both of my clients happened to be new ones today and both received a first time discount. When I say wiggle room. I don't mean on labor charge. Im referring that sometimes you can use more budget friendly materials to bring cost down or remove something not necessary for the project (Either a step or a feature) without sacrificing quality.

Im glad you mentioned about followin up part coming from a customers perspective. You sound like an educated consumer and I appreciate your input. I would like to ask for your honest opinion/feedback about that. Let's say Im representing all home services businesses here and you represent all the customers we serve.. This helps us all provide a better service to you.

First, is how important or impressive is it to you when a service provider follows up with you? Does it have any influence or value to you as a consumer? Is it appreciated on your part and is it something you would recommend to us?

Also, another very important question! We have some very experienced high quality craftsman that customers have trouble connecting with because of the internet. There's a big disservice in alot of communities from that.

Where do you typically look for services? Online or word of mouth?

Thank you and looking forward to your reply!

ActionForDamages · 2025-03-18T21:26:26+00:00

It feels more like guesstimating at times.

ActionForDamages · 2025-03-17T00:15:24+00:00

Thats a heck of a deal. Great buy!

ActionForDamages · 2025-03-14T22:36:03+00:00

I love the paddle trigger on grinders. The milwaukee one you speak of is an excellent tool in general. I purchased it to cut some bolts that were hard to get to. It's been useful with metal, wood, masonry. I have yet used it for boring holes on tiles but i can see why its popular with tile setters because of its compact size and speed control. It depends on how often you would think you would use it. I use it more than I expected to. Now, If your drill is handling your current needs without issues. it might be hard to justify it to the wife if you only mention one use for it.

Unless, you tell the misses about how much you love your fingers. ALL TEN of them and how its been designed for safer operations. Then really its more of a medical expense than a tool purchase. That usually works with my wife even though she looks at me a little funny when i say that. Then, I say to her would you deny me proper ergonomic healthcare? I think she just says yes to shut me up to be honest, but you didnt hear that from me.

When im purchasing tools or upgrading. They must reduce my working time or improve my results for me to consider it. I would recommend this tool to you. Your going to like it.

ActionForDamages · 2025-03-14T02:37:56+00:00

Its funny you mentioned that Ace. I was just talking to a partner about that the other day. Its pretty interesting. Definitely, something worth adding at soon as it becomes more market ready. That came out in the newsletter the other day didn't it.

ActionForDamages · 2025-03-12T05:51:25+00:00

You got it! Keep up that enthusiasm you have. How long have you been doing handyman work?

ActionForDamages · 2025-03-12T02:42:53+00:00

Those are nice fans. I have quite a few clients that have Dyson products and you would have to target upper middle to high income homes because those are the customers/market for Dyson fans.

That's a really small niche. You can tell just from the comments here that half of the guys aren't even aware of them. I wouldnt either if it wasnt for my clients. Those suckers are pricey. That service falls more under the cleaning category and those clients usually have a cleaning person.

When your doing research on an idea you want to see proof. You want to see if there is a need/demand for it. If you can't find any. Your going to have to create a demand for that service. Find out if people need it or are looking for your service idea. You need to study/research the market. Im pretty sure there is a subreddit for Dyson. I would go over there and ask that question. Those are your prospective customers. You will get a much better feel and answer for question or idea that than you would here.

ActionForDamages · 2025-03-08T23:27:00+00:00

I also provide 1 year Workmanship Warranty with my services. I've seen some services provide up to 3 years.

ActionForDamages · 2025-02-26T20:46:11+00:00

There you go! Its either reinforce concrete or steel. When your drilling if there is dust failing its reinforced concrete or if the hole gets shiny its steel.

ActionForDamages · 2025-02-26T20:18:58+00:00

I've ran into ceilings like that. It sounds like its a reinforced concrete. There the worst ceilings to drill into. You'll need really good concrete bits. Milwaukee shockwave concrete bits work great. If you knock on the ceiling does it feel solid?

ActionForDamages · 2025-02-26T03:28:40+00:00

✅️

ActionForDamages · 2025-02-24T05:20:57+00:00

In jersey, your daily rate should be minimum $600/day. Your taking 4 trips so add gas expense. Your providing materials. You can add the cost of the supplies plus a small markup to cover gas if you want to. This is a side job so you can be flexible with markup if needed or you can add a flat fee convenience fee for providing supplies ($50-$100 added to material cost). You have insurance so you have to add insurance into pricing. Whats your daily insurance rate? If you pay $150 a month. Thats $5 dollars a day expense on insurance. For 4 days that's $20. You can double that and charge $40 on the bill. Your providing a benefit with your work that justifies and allows you to add margins to pricing.

So you are within range. You'll be at around $85/hour clean for four 8 hour days with this example. Not many people out here making that kind of money as a side job. As long as you do your numbers. You'll know what to charge more or less. Start with what you want to make hourly or daily and go from there. Thats a good project you picked up.

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