Street sweeping

revolve77

revolve77

New member
we just lost a huge account the other day due to the econonmy but we may have just gotten an even bigger opportunity with some of our current clients. They want us to provide street sweeping for 11 of their plazas as well as pressure washing. My question is since we are rather newbies to the street sweeping scene, is their any type of sweepers that we should be looking at and how do you go about pricing per sf? I just want to see if it is worth it to invest into a sweeper.
 
There are a lot of places to buy the used machines, I have seen some good used ones for about 20K and up, just depends on what you want.

I would talk to Terry since he is not in your area.
 
Lets put it this way, if they are going to give 11 plazas YOU WOULD BE OUT OF YOUR MIND NOT TO BUY A SWEEPER , We price per Sweep not by the SQ FT, it all just depends on the size of the centers and how much back pack blowing it will take, things like that. But you will make a good living doing it and it is year around too, but then again your in Las Vegas so temps stay good down there for the most part. I wish somebody would give me 11 more centers :shocked2::yes::D

If your just chasing paper you can buy a smaller sweeper, but if you have heavy dirt or even sand build up a big one is the best way to go.


How often do they want them Swept?
 
Terry Campbell said:
Lets put it this way, if they are going to give 11 plazas YOU WOULD BE OUT OF YOUR MIND NOT TO BUY A SWEEPER , We price per Sweep not by the SQ FT, it all just depends on the size of the centers and how much back pack blowing it will take, things like that. But you will make a good living doing it and it is year around too, but then again your in Las Vegas so temps stay good down there for the most part. I wish somebody would give me 11 more centers :shocked2::yes::D

If your just chasing paper you can buy a smaller sweeper, but if you have heavy dirt or even sand build up a big one is the best way to go.


How often do they want them Swept?
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Thanks for that info guys, I know I can always count on you to get an honest answer.

They want the centers swept twice a week along with minor tree and bush trimming and pressure washing once a week. The manager flat out told me the price to beat and basically said the job is yours.

We are looking at a few different models for under 20k. Whats the major cleaning difference between a slide in unit and a truck thats a dedicated sweeper? Im trying to avoid a costly mistake. Thanks again.
 
I would not get a slide in unit if it were me, but it is your choice. If the price is right and he gave you the price to begin with then you should be able to figure out the profit margin, just make sure it is not real low ball so you end up working for nothing.
 
revolve77 said:
Thanks for that info guys, I know I can always count on you to get an honest answer.

They want the centers swept twice a week along with minor tree and bush trimming and pressure washing once a week. The manager flat out told me the price to beat and basically said the job is yours.

We are looking at a few different models for under 20k. Whats the major cleaning difference between a slide in unit and a truck thats a dedicated sweeper? Im trying to avoid a costly mistake. Thanks again.
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That statement right there says a whole lot. Either he is tired of the existing company or is wanting a cheaper price, either way what is to say that he will not do that to you later on? He is doing that to the current contractor right now.

That is really something to think about, especially if you are seriously considering a large investment like a sweeper. It could be no loyalty or wanting another contractor in there, I would try to find out a little more before spending the money.

Just my opinion.
 
Tymco I heard might be going out of Business but it was only rumored to me so I don't know, so stay a way until the dust settles, for small look at Masco and even Schwarze has some small ones, Victory is coming out with a small one from what I hear but that you would have to buy new. Victory is Mark Schwarze, he sold Schwarze Industries about 7 years ago and when his contract was up after 5 years he started making Victories and did a lot of up grades on them, NICE SWEEPERS maybe my next one.
 
Christopher said:
That statement right there says a whole lot. Either he is tired of the existing company or is wanting a cheaper price, either way what is to say that he will not do that to you later on? He is doing that to the current contractor right now.

That is really something to think about, especially if you are seriously considering a large investment like a sweeper. It could be no loyalty or wanting another contractor in there, I would try to find out a little more before spending the money.

Just my opinion.
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Thats what I initially thought but he told me they only sweep once a week and they were trying to raise the rates on him. He was wanting to up the sweeping to twice a week.
 
Yea the hydraulics are not bad, but they just don't have the power that a motor Driven one has, I have run the SK Sweepers and they have hydraulics and I tested a Night Hawk, But it sucked real bad on sand and if the sand got wet it was even worse. Schwarze and Victory both make hydraulic sweepers too. We get tons of sand here in Nevada and the hydraulic ones just did not have enough suction for me, I want my places REAL CLEAN, but for small stuff and paper the are OK. Nothing beats a Pony Motor for suction power they Rev much higher, most hydraulics rev about 2000 RPM and the fans are smaller. I get a lot of Heavy Clean Ups and need the power and I get more Money for them too :yes: My Masco is not bad, but it is not good for heavy sand or worse LOL but I can sneak into center that have sound restrictions and nobody even knows I'm there it is so Quite so thats the main reason I got it and it will fit in a park garage where my Schwarze won't. But I like the Dirty Clean Ups, Big Money in them :yes:
 
Terry Campbell said:
Yea the hydraulics are not bad, but they just don't have the power that a motor Driven one has, I have run the SK Sweepers and they have hydraulics and I tested a Night Hawk, But it sucked real bad on sand and if the sand got wet it was even worse. Schwarze and Victory both make hydraulic sweepers too. We get tons of sand here in Nevada and the hydraulic ones just did not have enough suction for me, I want my places REAL CLEAN, but for small stuff and paper the are OK. Nothing beats a Pony Motor for suction power they Rev much higher, most hydraulics rev about 2000 RPM and the fans are smaller. I get a lot of Heavy Clean Ups and need the power and I get more Money for them too :yes: My Masco is not bad, but it is not good for heavy sand or worse LOL but I can sneak into center that have sound restrictions and nobody even knows I'm there it is so Quite so thats the main reason I got it and it will fit in a park garage where my Schwarze won't. But I like the Dirty Clean Ups, Big Money in them :yes:
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Which one would you reccomend for heavy sand?
 
If you have ever thought the pressure washing world was cut throat, see the sweeping industry. I almost got involved big time, but it seemed like everything would have to go perfect to make any $$ and it still did not seem like it would be worth it. This is the Atlanta GA market, yours may differ.

Jeff Robison
Clean Up Atlanta
678-360-2518
 
My brother used to hsve a sweeper, besides the cut throat aspect the big problem he had was the salt rotting out the boxes in the winter...prob not a problem in NV.
 
Paul Kassander said:
My brother used to hsve a sweeper, besides the cut throat aspect the big problem he had was the salt rotting out the boxes in the winter...prob not a problem in NV.
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Nothing but sand out here.
 
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