Decorative Concrete

[rico]

tl;dr....beat ya to it.

So, a month and a half ago, my best friend and I began a decorative concrete business. We put decorative concrete on the existing concrete of basements, patios, porches, sidewalks, car ports, driveways, garages, etc...anything with existing concrete, really.

You can check out the link to some of the work we've done at http://decorateyourconcrete.wordpress.com.

Are any of you familiar with this sort of work? If so, chime in with whatever insight/comments you may have...

Anyways. Starting this up and paying to advertise when we don't have an abundance to begin with (since we are just starting out) has been...strenuous. Dealing with the people has been strenuous as well. I mean, some of the shit we've dealt with already with people has just been mind-numbing. We literally have the lowest prices that you can find, pretty much anywhere...since we are just starting out and do not have employees to pay...it's just my best friend and I doing the work. Our prices generally range from $4-5 per square foot and the standard prices for it are $7-10 per square foot. However, with our prices being so low, people are STILL being scared off and seemingly make the decision to not move forward when we give them their quotes. People also will sit there and bicker with us about the prices, prior to coming to an agreement as if they are negotiating with some car salesmen.

Here are a couple of frustrating things that have happened just within the past couple days:

1.) I had a gal who is friends with our family contact me and inform me that she was quote "VERY interested in getting her basement done, for her basement leaks and she can't put carpet down because of it and loved the cocoa-bean/marble look that we have used for a couple basements." The square footage of her basement is 425 square feet. I initially quoted her at $2000. I didn't think this was unreasonable... $4.70 per square foot, for something that at most other places would cost her $7-10 per square foot. Not to mention, with it being a basement, the concrete we put on it wouldn't have the sun beating down on it to dry it, so it was going to be a 3-4 day job. She panicked after hearing the quote and was like, "oh my God, that is SO expensive. There is no way we can afford something like that! We were expecting something like $1000. Blah-blah-blah." $1000 ****ING DOLLARS FOR A 425 SQUARE FOOT BASEMENT!!! UGH!!! Long story short, we are desperate to get ourselves out there and since she is a friend of the family, we agreed to do her basement for a very low price on the condition that she did not tell ANYONE how much it cost them...that she would tell anyone who asked, that she paid $2500 to get it done. Another reason we were so accommodating is because her uncle is the richest guy in Southeast Iowa...owns a place called Fun City which consists of a casino, popular night club, bowling alley, hotel, go cart track, multiple restaurants, etc.) He owns the golf course as well as a ton of other establishments. It would be awesome landing some jobs to do for him.We were supposed to begin the job tomorrow. I just received a message from her via facebook notifying me that she couldn't go through with things because her A/C just went out. WE ALREADY HAD THE DAMN PRODUCT(S) PURCHASED AND EVERYTHING. ****!!!!!!!!

2.) Had an old guy who called me last week who wanted to put decorative concrete on his driveway. His driveway is 24 X 70 ft...1680 sq ft. I quoted him at $8400... which is $5 per square foot. A good deal...obviously better than he realized. Naturally, he wanted a senior discount and we accommodated and agreed to $7750. Fine...gave him a senior discount on top of his already existent senior discount. Driveways and basements are our favorite things to do. Driveway projects have the most potential of becoming a trend. Basement jobs will keep us busy during the winter. So we were supposed to start this job this past Monday. So, I get a call SUNDAY NIGHT from his wife and she told me not to come to their place to start the job the following morning for he hadn't discussed the project with her yet and she was pissed about it and doesn't want to have it done. WE ALREADY HAD THE DAMN PRODUCT(S) PURCHASED AND EVERYTHING. ****!!!!!!!!

3.) I purchased an ad in an advertising newspaper that covers all of Southeast Iowa. This is a free paper and very popular in our area. I was excited to see this in the paper today, but my excitement was immediately alleviated when I looked at our photo-ad....WITH THE FONT THEY USED, IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO COMPREHEND THE ****ING CONTACT INFORMATION. Everything else is legible EXCEPT THE ****ING CONTACT INFORMATION PORTION.....WHERE FOR WHATEVER ****ING REASON, THEY DECIDED TO USE SOME DIFFERENT, ILLEGIBLE FONT. I called them and discussed this with them a couple hours ago. They weren't willing to give me a refund OR run the ad in next week's issue for free. WHAT...THE...****..

ANYWAYS... I was wondering if any of you guys have any experience with decorative concrete work or concrete work in general? If so, can you feel my pain with some of this shit? These examples were from the past couple days...we've run into other frustrating situations similar to these since we started.

I have a guy who is trying to sell me a curbing package...should we purchase it?

Does anyone have any business advice for me? Is doing concrete work with an emphasis on decorative concrete a good idea? Why or why not? Should we get into contact with people who do this How do you deal with some of these people who try to low-ball you when your balls are already low to the point where they are digging a hole in the ground? What are some good advertising resources that I should utilize? I've hit facebook, craigslist and the local newspapers really hard with the advertisement component. We are getting a lot of interest, but getting people to commit and/or ****ING FOLLOW THROUGH (GOD, I JUST CAN'T IMAGINE BACKING OUT ON PEOPLE A DAY FREAKING BEFORE THE PROJECT WAS SUPPOSED TO TAKE PLACE!!!)

Also, not sure what the rules are about this sort of thing (I'll edit and delete if necessary)...and I have my doubts that anyone is still reading at this point anyways, but I am from Southeast Iowa, but at this phase of our business, we would be willing to travel 4-5 hours away to do a job...so if you are interested...pm me or email the email address on the site. Or call the number on the site (link above).

[Sweet Daddy Hate]

When I read the thread title, I thought of Jeff Foxworthy.

[Katipan]

For sure I would stop purchasing product without a contract signed or a down payment.

[Sweet Daddy Hate]

Our business policy is 1/2 down prior to work. Separates the players from the playas.

[AndChiefs]

Yes, never buy material until the contract is signed and everything is good to go.

[rico]

Check out some of this shit that we've done in the past couple months. Have to brag a bit, because I think it's pretty cool.

BEFORE



AFTER








BEFORE



AFTER







OTHER STUFF

[rico]

Originally Posted by 505 Chief

When I read the thread title, I thought of Jeff Foxworthy.

Did he do a piece on decorative concrete or something?

[Baby Lee]

Got a buddy whose dad has a HUGE concrete operation that also does decorative. Has a house out in Chesterfield that has a basement with 12 foot ceilings where everything if decorative concrete, Man Cave/Theater, 'Driving Range' with both real and computerized driving chipping and putting, sauna/hot tub, dining room.

Driveway is concrete made to look like cobblestone. All sorts of simulated surfaces that are actually concrete.

Though, understandably, the bulk of his $$ comes from laying down highways and bridges.

[rico]

Originally Posted by Katipan

For sure I would stop purchasing product without a contract signed or a down payment.

Good idea, for sure. Oh, the pains of being a kinesthetic learner. Thank you.

[Baby Lee]

Originally Posted by rico

tl;dr....beat ya to it.

So, a month and a half ago, my best friend and I began a decorative concrete business.

Mess up the proportions in your pizza dough?

[rico]

Originally Posted by 505 Chief

Our business policy is 1/2 down prior to work. Separates the players from the playas.

I think we will probably have to formulate a similar policy. Thanks!

[rico]

Originally Posted by AndChiefs

Yes, never buy material until the contract is signed and everything is good to go.

Thanks, man!

Thanks to everyone giving their advice!!! I genuinely appreciate it!

[rico]

Originally Posted by Baby Lee

Got a buddy whose dad has a HUGE concrete operation that also does decorative. Has a house out in Chesterfield that has a basement with 12 foot ceilings where everything if decorative concrete, Man Cave/Theater, 'Driving Range' with both real and computerized driving chipping and putting, sauna/hot tub, dining room.

Driveway is concrete made to look like cobblestone. All sorts of simulated surfaces that are actually concrete.

Though, understandably, the bulk of his $$ comes from laying down highways and bridges.

I'd love it if these decorative concrete driveways became trendy (in the Midwest). I was so pumped that we HAD a driveway.

The pizza thing.... I wasn't able to get a loan to pay the franchise/start-up fees despite having perfect credit... reason being, I've never had a credit card in my life. I think I'll be more happy in the concrete business though.

[LoneWolf]

A few things:

Get a portion of the money up front.
Get a written contract.
If someone cancels at the last minute, keep the money that covers the material.
Only give discounts if someone is a cash customer.
Put a description on your website of the process used and expected longevity of the product.
Always remember that one disgruntled customer will cancel out 10 satisfied customers.

[Sweet Daddy Hate]

Originally Posted by rico

I think we will probably have to formulate a similar policy. Thanks!

We do a lot of work with GC's, and I have had to personally write up a contract tailored specifically to them because as a sub, they try to use you as a bank to float their projects.

Private individuals, especially on COD work, are MUCH easier to deal with.