We’ve been offering pressure washing and power washing services to homeowners and businesses in and around the Long Island area for over two decades. While we’ve put all our time and energy into improving our skills and growing our business, there are unfortunately some companies that have appeared (and then disappeared) that didn’t have such good intentions. That’s right, we’re talking about scams and we’re going to talk about some of the most common ones in this article.
Common Pressure Washing Scams to Be Aware Of
Avoiding scams is all about looking out for red flags that may indicate that something is not quite right. Remember though, these are not iron-clad rules written into “The Pressure Washing Bible”, so a perfectly legitimate company may do some of the following things. But if enough of these red flags are displayed, it’ll likely be apparent that the contractor pitching to you is up to no good. Listen to your gut!
Pricing That Is Unbelievably Low
No one can pressure wash an entire home exterior for $50 and make any money. It’s just not doable. It’s true that some newer pressure washing companies do offer low rates initially to try and gain some traction, but it’s also a very common tactic used by scammers.
They draw you in with a very low price – everyone loves a great deal – and once you’ve agreed to hire them, they may either ask for a deposit and then disappear, or they may cut corners and complete the job well below the standard that you expect.
The question you have to ask yourself is “why is this pressure washing company offering such a good rate?” If they aren’t a new contractor trying desperately to build a client base, it is really quite suspicious. Never base your decision on price alone!
Contractors offering very low prices will likely not have the proper insurance or equipment (or both), and will not invest the necessary time into the work you’ve asked them to do.
Door to Door Sales
Now we’re not condemning all companies that go door to door trying to drum up some sales as scammers. Many companies do this when starting out, as it’s a very quick and affordable way to market their services to their target market. But it is often a tactic that scammers like to use. They can put you on the spot, and it’s often much easier to talk someone into hiring a service in this situation than it is via phone or email. So be on your guard.
If you do let them examine the areas that you would like pressure washing, be wary if they quote a higher price because of the presence of algae or difficult to remove stains. This is a common tactic that is used to bump up the estimate, but in reality, no extra work is required.
If you’re not sure whether what they’re saying is true, get some quotes from other contractors before committing.
Using “Special” Cleaning Solutions
Like with the “difficult stains” this is another gimmick that you shouldn’t fall for. These days, the biodegradable or eco-friendly card is often used to bump up the price of products and services. In some cases, it’s justified. But this is not one of those times. The truth is that most of the cleaning solutions manufacturers recommend are not getting any more biodegradable than they already are. If a contractor is using this ploy to try and bump up your bill, they don’t really have your best interests at heart. It’s not a cut-and-run scam, but they’re still intentionally massaging the truth to extract more of your hard-earned money from you, without providing anything additional in return.
Insisting On Payment Upfront and In Cash
The payment terms that are requested are sometimes an indicator as to how likely it is that the contractor is a scammer. The biggest red flag is if the only form of payment they accept is cash, and they’re asking for the full amount to be paid upfront. If you comply, there’s a good chance that you’ll never see them again.
Never pay the full amount in advance. You only pay once the work has been done. Reputable contractors may sometimes ask for a small deposit upfront, depending on the size of the job, but never the full amount.
The Best Way to Avoid Being Scammed?
The absolute best way to avoid being scammed is to do your homework before you commit to working with any pressure washing contractor, us included. Here are a few things that you can do to have more of an idea of whether a particular company is reputable or not:
- Look at Online Reviews – Any company that has been operating for a few years will have some online reviews. Angie’s List is a good place to start. It’s better to check 3rd party platforms as opposed to profiles that the company has control over (like on their own site or Facebook). Also, it’s better if they are “Verified” reviews. Reputation is everything.
- How Long Have They Been In Business? – Try to find out how long the company has been in business. The longer they’ve been up and running, the more you have to think that they must be fulfilling their commitments. That’s not to say all new companies are dishonest, but they’re a blank canvas currently, and you can’t draw much information from a blank canvas.