For many homeowners, autumn means gutter cleaning time. For people who live close to any tall trees, this is one critical maintenance item that must be undertaken before winter. By not cleaning the gutters in late fall, damage, such as water seeping in behind the facia board, can result from ice damning in the winter months. Costly repairs can be avoided by having the gutters cleaned now.
Even though a gutter cleaning service requires little startup capital, you can earn a significant amount of money in a matter of a few months. In terms of profit, it's very common for two people to earn $500-$1000 per day.
Starting your own gutter cleaning business is simple. All you need is a long ladder, a 5 gal pail, a few hand scoops, some garbage bags, and you're ready to earn some serious money in the fall.
There is more than one way to take care of a dirty gutter. There are many factors taken into account, such as the type of home, the amount of crud in the gutter, and any unforeseen landscape challenges.
One of the fastest ways to get the job done is by using a power leaf blower. In some cases (as long as the debris is dry), you will be able to walk along the edge of the roof while blowing leaves out of the gutter. A standard house can be completed in under a half an hour, including tidying up the debris on the ground. If you choose to use a gas powered leaf blower to clean gutters, you will be making at least $100 per hour while on the job. Of course, most gutters are not dry and other techniques must be used instead.
Ideally, it's nice to work on a roof with a gentle rise so that you can scoop wet debris into your pail as you walk along the edge. More often than not, the pitch will be just a little too much to walk and you will have to keep setting up your ladder every ten feet or so around the house. For each ladder placement you will need to climb up and get as much debris as you can. This is the most tedious way of doing it since you must keep handling the ladder - climbing up and down each time.
Whenever you are working at heights, always make sure that you use fall arrest gear.
Gutter cleaning season may be short-lived, depending on where you are located. In November, it's not unusual for the sun to set at 4:30 p.m. in many areas of Canada and the northern US. For this reason, you need to make every hour count; even if that means operating seven days a week. Fortunately, it won't last long. In December, business will come to a halt. Using every bit of daylight is important to earning a nice profit in the short time available.
Marketing your gutter cleaning service will be easy. At least one month before the busy fall season starts, you need to place a newspaper ad and deliver a few thousand flyers. You can rely on the fact that many homeowners will, undoubtedly, keep your ad and call you when they need you. If you don't have enough business by November, don't panic; you can walk through the neighborhood marketing your services in person. Offer people an instant quote and you'll be astonished at how many will take advantage of your services instantly. Some gutter cleaners even organize a crew of two or three together and go door-to-door, doing the jobs right away - as soon as the service is sold. Keep in mind that many homeowners love having instant service and will take you up on your offer to do their gutters that same day. Because people tend to hold off until the very last minute and procrastinate, this works well.
Canvassing door-to-door is one powerful method, but you need to contact City Hall before you start - just to make sure that you are not breaking the law. A number of cities require a permit, and many won't tolerate any kind of door-to-door canvassing at all.
If you're operating every day and your roster is organized, you should be able to generate a few thousand dollars a week in prime season. The problem is that gutter cleaning season is very short. Due to the seasonal nature of gutter cleaning, many companies offering this unique service can't do the business on a full-time basis unless they are based in a warmer climate. On the other hand, it's not out of the question to have an influx of phone calls from desperate homeowners in early spring with overflowing gutter troubles.
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