Transcript
The SnowJobs Podcast: Here we go again, Snowjobs Nation. We are back bringing you episode 187 of the Snowjobs Podcast main show powered by Top Gun Backblades, the best show in snow. You know who I am.
The SnowJobs Podcast: You know who's with me.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Steve and Jeremy back again for the 187th Monday in a row. What's up, Jay?
RICK JAMES: Steve -o Not a lot. Another another week we've got. going here, buddy. How about you?
The SnowJobs Podcast: How we doing? Good?
RICK JAMES: Yeah, doing real good.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Count.
RICK JAMES: Busy week?
The SnowJobs Podcast: Yep. Yep, you broke a truck.
RICK JAMES: Everything always breaks. That's the way it goes.
The SnowJobs Podcast: ah
RICK JAMES: If you got trucks, something's always broke. We got a few of them.
The SnowJobs Podcast: One. 1 ,000 % correct.
RICK JAMES: so
The SnowJobs Podcast: Even little trucks. Something's always broke.
RICK JAMES: Little trucks, big trucks. I think I've been working on my...
The SnowJobs Podcast: Thumbs up.
RICK JAMES: air conditioner for about a month. I don't know. Sick of it.
The SnowJobs Podcast: but Just in time for summer to be over.
RICK JAMES: I'll probably get it. it Yeah, I'll probably get it fixed right in time for summer to be over. So it's been a been a hot month in the cab, that's for sure.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Really?
RICK JAMES: Yeah.
The SnowJobs Podcast: So man, it's mild as shit here. It was like 76 today, I think.
RICK JAMES: Fuck it.
RICK JAMES: Nah, it's been...
The SnowJobs Podcast: So it's been.
RICK JAMES: It's been in upper 80s, 80s.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Alright. Oh, that sucks.
RICK JAMES: Steady.
The SnowJobs Podcast: That sucks for Fargo.
RICK JAMES: Yeah.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Any rain?
RICK JAMES: Bye -bye.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Are you still in a big drought?
RICK JAMES: Fuck, no rain here. Zero.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Man.
RICK JAMES: Amen. Shit for rain
The SnowJobs Podcast: We've been getting steady rain every three or four days.
RICK JAMES: It's been really good.
The SnowJobs Podcast: We get a good rain. It's a... Everything's still growing. Everything's green again.
RICK JAMES: Everything's... Dead. here.
The SnowJobs Podcast: My son.
RICK JAMES: I don't want these... I don't let these mower guys are mowing every week. there isnt Making tracks, just leaving leaving the...
The SnowJobs Podcast: They are just...
RICK JAMES: They're just leaving the shops all they're doing.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Yeah.
RICK JAMES: They're not moving.
The SnowJobs Podcast: They're...
RICK JAMES: or anything.
The SnowJobs Podcast: No, they're mowing. they Listen, I've seen it done. like Whether it's dead or not, they will roll over the same stripe.
RICK JAMES: ah
The SnowJobs Podcast: Week after week. Fuck you, pay me.
RICK JAMES: Au revoir.
The SnowJobs Podcast: That's literally what they do
RICK JAMES: Well aware. what happens.
The SnowJobs Podcast: You know, ah and that was one of the reasons I was such a bad businessman back in the day when we did lawns, because. I couldn't do that. i just If it didn't need to get cut, it wasn't getting cut.
The SnowJobs Podcast: And we lost like... you know, we couldn't bill. wouldn't, but You know, it is what it is. I just, I have a conscience. I couldn't do that. Like just roll over the same dead shit week after week. ah you know, for a month and a half with no growth, everything's stone dead.
RICK JAMES: now
The SnowJobs Podcast: Your muffler is starting to lawn on fire as you go over it. I'm so glad we don't do lawns anymore. Holy shit
RICK JAMES: Yep.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Oh man.
RICK JAMES: is this.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Yeah. it's ah It's getting down. getting right down to the nitty gritty here, dude. umm ah I'm counting down.
RICK JAMES: Yeah, you got it. love three Three tours left and you're done?
The SnowJobs Podcast: ah If you count overtime, yeah, of my own tours, just two.
RICK JAMES: Two?
RICK JAMES: Nice.
The SnowJobs Podcast: It is just two.
RICK JAMES: Good for you, bud.
The SnowJobs Podcast: So, yeah, we're September 1st right now recording this. and You know, in just 10 short days, I will be all done.
RICK JAMES: Madonna gonna pin a ribbon on you or something there?
The SnowJobs Podcast: No, no, no. no no no no I will, I will head North on the, uh, on the retirement day and I will never come back.
RICK JAMES: Yeah.
RICK JAMES: Where are we going?
The SnowJobs Podcast: ah
RICK JAMES: Nashville? Dominican Republic? Where are we going to celebrate your retirement?
The SnowJobs Podcast: All right. We'll have to plan something.
RICK JAMES: Let's go.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Yeah, we'll have to plan something. There's no real... there's no rest you know i can't even sit back and say oh yeah this is cool i'm retired i'm literally Well, I'm done on the 12th and I'm out to Storks on like the 15th.
The SnowJobs Podcast: So it's like, you know, there's no there's no rest it's uh it's right into into the fall show season right
RICK JAMES: Yeah. Yep.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Whoops. Is Todd jerking off on his boat? What is he doing there?
RICK JAMES: I think so. He looked like...
The SnowJobs Podcast: ah ah
RICK JAMES: He was waving to somebody. i don't know who was I don't know who was driving by, but he was waving to somebody.
The SnowJobs Podcast: oh he's Yeah. Ha ha! He's either playing a violin or cutting his own throat. I don't know what he's doing.
RICK JAMES: yeah
The SnowJobs Podcast: ah
RICK JAMES: Ugh.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Oh, shit. But, yeah, no, it's going to be a good fall. We got Patty Savin says his event is ah selling tickets, and he hasn't even started advertising it yet. So it's just, the guys.
RICK JAMES: You know.
The SnowJobs Podcast: hearing about it here and signing up
RICK JAMES: Awesome.
The SnowJobs Podcast: So it should be a pretty good one.
RICK JAMES: Yeah.
The SnowJobs Podcast: And then you got...
RICK JAMES: The concert doesn't help doesn't hurt, so in big concert.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Nope. yeah you got a couple storks events you got sns you got pat salmon we are now going to equip
RICK JAMES: Yep.
The SnowJobs Podcast: So... ah Yeah, it's a busy, uh, I did check Louisville is not at home that weekend, so there's no reason to stick around and try and hit a football game.
RICK JAMES: Louisville.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Louisville.
RICK JAMES: No, no.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Louisville is out of town that weekend playing.
RICK JAMES: A little bit.
The SnowJobs Podcast: So.
RICK JAMES: Oh well.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Maybe next year. What?
RICK JAMES: Maybe.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Oh well. But, uh, yeah, so that's, I mean, that's basically it we're, uh, We're back again. We had a great week last week. Everybody is ah really happy with the the last week's episode where we helped out ah a young guy named Drake Holbrook of Holbrook Grounds out in Finlay, Ohio.
The SnowJobs Podcast: And that's ah that's what we're going to do tonight. because ah Those of you who listen to it. No, as soon as we. Started to talk about sidewalks, drinks, audio.
The SnowJobs Podcast: died and Billy just kept going. And. pure billy fashion and even though i was i was given the kill it signal He's like, no, no, no, just one more point. Yeah. But ah so we're going to start again with sidewalks. And Drake has a couple more questions for the group tonight. And we've added one. You know, we have Todd Dickerson back. We have Billy Moore back. And we added mad Mikey Santa Lucito. He is in, he couldn't do it last week, but.
The SnowJobs Podcast: you know Because we made it a two -parter, Mike's available tonight, and he's jumped in to help out as well. So if he listened to last week's episode, maybe he has some insights that we didn't think of on stuff we talked about last week.
The SnowJobs Podcast: But. That is what we're doing tonight.
RICK JAMES: Yes, sir
The SnowJobs Podcast: Everybody's back in the house for another episode. 187. 187. Holy shit. How much is this? overall 263.
RICK JAMES: Not bad.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Not bad bro, not bad Alright. Enough of that crap. You know what we got to do. We got to hear from Team Top Gun. We got to come back. We got some announcements. We got some new announcements. We got some job openings.
The SnowJobs Podcast: so uh I guess we're going to do that now. We're going to be like the classified sections for snow guys. So we're going to shout out some job openings that we were asked to talk about. and we have our our normal week in review. So we'll hear from Team Top Gun real quick. We'll come back. We'll get it on.
The SnowJobs Podcast: All right, guys, we're back. Thanks to Team Top Gun as always. So some announcements here. We got Storm Chasing Season 2, as we talk about every week. Five episodes are up. on the Storm Chasing YouTube page. with one to come. the last one of the season, the grand finale. Save the best for last. Top dog services.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Is airing, when is it? Next week, right?
RICK JAMES: No, this week the...
The SnowJobs Podcast: This week. This Friday?
RICK JAMES: It would have been it would have been wouldve been the last. It already aired when this is...
The SnowJobs Podcast: That is, oh yeah, that's true.
RICK JAMES: It's. Yeah.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Yeah, it's already dropped.
RICK JAMES: Yep.
The SnowJobs Podcast: So go watch it.
RICK JAMES: Yes, it's huge.
The SnowJobs Podcast: It's a, if you're listening to this, go check it out.
RICK JAMES: Yes. It's huge.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Okay.
RICK JAMES: Yeah.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Top dog.
RICK JAMES: It's going to be the Gonna be the best.
The SnowJobs Podcast: It's going to be the top dog. I mean, that's...
RICK JAMES: Yeah, well
The SnowJobs Podcast: ah Are you in it?
RICK JAMES: I'm in it, so why not? Damn right I'm in it.
The SnowJobs Podcast: They didn't they't cut you out?
RICK JAMES: Thank you.
The SnowJobs Podcast: They didn't care.
RICK JAMES: No, they they should I something, so I'm in it.
The SnowJobs Podcast: ah ah
RICK JAMES: so
The SnowJobs Podcast: Oh, shit. Good. Can't wait to watch it. Cool.
RICK JAMES: Yeah.
The SnowJobs Podcast: All right. So like we said, head on over to Storm Chasing YouTube page. Check out all six episodes. Season two is complete. As of the time you're hearing this. So ah thank you.
RICK JAMES: There's a glacier but a bunch of glacier boys sorry a bunch of Glacier Boys are in it.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Go.
RICK JAMES: so Check it out.
The SnowJobs Podcast: see so go check it out So, uh, season two is in the books on behalf of storm equipment and the snow jobs. We want to thank everybody that went and watched. everything we put out.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Um, Thank you very much for your time, and we hope you guys enjoyed it. September 16th and 17th is Storks. and SNS. All right. That's our Pennsylvania swing. We got Wednesday is plow tech school at Storks. ah That's teaching you how to service all your Douglas Dynamics plow and spreaders. So they ah you don't need them at 3 in the morning. It's a great class. It is sold out.
The SnowJobs Podcast: ah Gene was talking about adding another day. If he does, we'll let you know. Thursday, you head on over to Scranton, S and &S Snow and Ice Solutions' sixth annual snow show. All right. And then if you're doing that, you might as well head back to Storks the 18th and 19th for Storks 40th anniversary open house.
The SnowJobs Podcast: October 1st in Uxbridge, Massachusetts is the third annual Northeast De -Icing Solutions De -Icing Day. All right, it's Patty Salmon and company. uh your Year one was great. Year two was even better. Can't wait to see how year three goes. ah Tickets are selling quick.
The SnowJobs Podcast: So Patty wanted us to shout that out. So if you're interested in going. then definitely get your tickets now. ah What else?
RICK JAMES: You got be present to win that, Brian. so
The SnowJobs Podcast: There you go. Get the brine. Ugh.
RICK JAMES: The tanker of Brian.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Good. ah Joe, you ran from Nordic out in Minnesota. He had. Texted me about a. I think operations manager opening. I cannot find the text anywhere, Joe, I apologize. But if anybody's out in the Minnesota area and you're looking for a new adventure, new, uh, new surroundings.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Give Joe, you ran a call over at Nordic. Uh, they, they do have a job opening for, I believe it was an operations manager. I've looked in both socials and my text threads. I cannot literally cannot find.
The SnowJobs Podcast: what Joe sent me, and I apologize. i'll get him I'll get it read next week for sure. I'll get him to send it again.
RICK JAMES: Are you crying?
The SnowJobs Podcast: Uh... No, I'm not in Minnesota.
RICK JAMES: Oh.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Nope. ah And if you're in the New York, upstate New York area. bison facility maintenance services is ah they are doing a. A big push for.
The SnowJobs Podcast: for hiring for the upcoming snow season. all right They're hiring heavy equipment operators, salt truck drivers, plow truck drivers, sidewalk crew. all from Albany all the way up to Plattsburgh for the 2026 winter season. So to apply, you can go online to...
The SnowJobs Podcast: bisonfms .com. That's bison, F as in Frank, M as in Mary, S as in Sam. dot com Or you can go to one of their hiring events, September 12th at the Aviation Mall in Queensbury from 3 to 10 or September 22nd at La Quinta Hotel. 16 Plaza Boulevard, Plattsburgh, New York from 1 to 7.
The SnowJobs Podcast: right they are They also have hiring events coming in Saratoga Springs and Albany. Those dates are to be announced. All right. So if you guys are in the upstate New York area.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Check them out. Bison facility maintenance services. All right. They are looking for operators this year. What else, Jay? You got anything else?
RICK JAMES: I don't think so.
The SnowJobs Podcast: All right
RICK JAMES: Just a store. Buy some product.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Yep, snowjobsnationstore .com. Head on over and become one of the best -dressed guys in snow. You have all your possible swag you could ever want in the store. You got tumblers. You got all sorts of good stuff. So head on over to snowjobsnationstore .com. Help us out. Help Jeremy empty out his office here and buy some swag. ah Keep hitting like and subscribe on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Drop those five -star reviews for us. They mean more than you know. And ah definitely don't hesitate to comment as well.
The SnowJobs Podcast: You guys comment. we see the comments it helps us keep bringing you more what you want like the episode today All right. A lot of good positive feedback. We got a lot of comments on on last week's episode. from younger guys and actually older guys too, saying they wish they had something like that when they were younger guys. So we definitely get the comments, and it helps us keep ah keep doing episodes that you want to hear.
The SnowJobs Podcast: All right. Anything else, Jay?
RICK JAMES: I think we're good buddy.
The SnowJobs Podcast: All right. I think we're good. So let's hear from our partners real quick. We'll come back. We'll get it on.
The SnowJobs Podcast: All right, we're back. We are back. Forgot to tell everybody happy Labor Day. because this will be dropping on Labor Day. So I hope everybody had a great weekend with their families celebrating holiday and relaxing. And now it's time to get back into work. Get your mind right. So welcome back, Drake Holbrook, to the show. Welcome, Mike Santelicito. Welcome back, Billy and Todd. and How are we, guys?
Mikey Santolucito : What up?
Drake: Not bad.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Going on. How's everybody doing?
Billy: on
The SnowJobs Podcast: Hello Billy.
RICK JAMES: Doing good.
Billy: hey
Mikey Santolucito : Fantastic.
The SnowJobs Podcast: I saw you got an award bill.
Drake: trying
Mikey Santolucito : What'd you get?
Billy: Safety Award at Simon.
RICK JAMES: Whoa.
Mikey Santolucito : who
Billy: A couple months later, they post it.
Mikey Santolucito : Somebody's lucky their insurance company likes them.
The SnowJobs Podcast: You got it where? At the at the seminar?
Billy: Ah, thank you.
The SnowJobs Podcast: At the symposium?
Billy: trade show yeah
The SnowJobs Podcast: And they're just posting it now?
Billy: apparently
The SnowJobs Podcast: oh Interesting. Wow.
RICK JAMES: Wow. Congratulations. congratulations
The SnowJobs Podcast: Yeah, congratulations on being so safe.
Billy: Thanks.
RICK JAMES: Yes.
Billy: We try.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Nice. There you go
Mikey Santolucito : That's all you can do.
RICK JAMES: Safety first.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Cool. Yeah, I saw that this morning. I was like, Billy got an award from Syma?
RICK JAMES: Got to get a bigger wall there, Billy, with all your wards on it.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Yeah. Woo!
Billy: I started moving it into the garage now from the office.
The SnowJobs Podcast: ah You should start weatherproofing them and putting them on the outside of the house.
Billy: Okay.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Nothing but awards.
Billy: The neighbors will love that.
The SnowJobs Podcast: That's it.
Billy: I'd be like, what the fuck is this shit?
The SnowJobs Podcast: Uh... Oh, shit. Drake, how you doing?
Drake: not bad just trying to survive the heat over here
The SnowJobs Podcast: Yeah, is it hot?
Drake: um I mean today we got a little lucky by a little bit of rain, but otherwise it's still hot and humid
The SnowJobs Podcast: right how uh How was this past week for you? Did you talk to any of your friends? What did they think of the episode?
Drake: I mean, everyone liked it. I mean, i don't I don't really talk to many people that are doing the same thing besides a couple local contractors. but Everyone that I talked to enjoyed it.
Drake: I thought it was.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Good.
Drake: So.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Very good. Well, a lot of lot of young guys out there did reach out this week. and And like I said, a lot of older guys, too, saying they wish to. They wish somebody would have done that back in the day. So a lot of good feedback, and we'll we'll keep going. so ah We'll start with where we left off when the audio dropped there, your sidewalks. So what questions do you have about bidding sidewalks or pricing sidewalks?
Drake: yeah i was just more curious on how how exactly you guys are pricing them and going about like how to get the pricing. and and implementing that into your quote
The SnowJobs Podcast: Well, I think the first thing is what are your options for clearing sidewalks? What are you rolling with?
Drake: Normally, we're we're running so you know your normal um snow shovels. It's a dog. Yeah. and then you know we use a couple snow blowers and we have a John Deere long tractor with a a four foot plow on it which is perfect for our sidewalks around here.
The SnowJobs Podcast: okay so do you have it set in your mind like all right if it's below two inches i'm shoveling if it's You know, four inches, I'm snowblowing. If it's over that, I'm running the tractor. Do you have any kind of structure set up for?
The SnowJobs Podcast: What's going to do what or no?
Drake: It really depends on the property. Like the lawn tractor we only used on our on that senior living center we had last year. because it was a bigger one there's a lot of sidewalks but most of my sidewalks are i'm under a quarter acre of sidewalks so it's usually just quicker to hand shovel them And I'm going frequently enough where it's not piling up a lot so I can just get by shoveling even though I don't like being out in the cold sometimes.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Okay.
RICK JAMES: And you said most of your snow events are what, one one inch, one to two?
The SnowJobs Podcast: One to three. One to three.
Drake: One to three.
RICK JAMES: Gotcha.
Mikey Santolucito : Yeah, that's a nice quick easy shovel.
RICK JAMES: Is it dry snow or wet snow usually?
The SnowJobs Podcast: Yeah.
Drake: last
Drake: it really depends on the year like last year everything was really dry but normally it's just hit or miss. One's dry, one's wet. usually Usually we don't get those 32 degree snowstorms.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Okay. so you'll you'll be doing the shoveling right you said you're going to be doing the shoveling
Drake: Yes.
The SnowJobs Podcast: So. even if you're doing it, you still gotta base the labor on paying somebody else to do it.
RICK JAMES: Mm hmm.
The SnowJobs Podcast: So. What are you going to pay a shoveler when you have shovelers? How are you going to attract a shoveler? what What hourly is going to... be able to get you an 18 -year -old kid that's going to come out at 3 in the morning and work.
The SnowJobs Podcast: work his butt off in the freezing temperatures with you.
Drake: I would probably say.
Mikey Santolucito : what's your What's your market asking for right now?
The SnowJobs Podcast: Yeah, what's what's what works in Finlay? As far as labor.
Drake: normally Normally, we're getting probably 20 to 25 normally.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Hmm.
Billy: Vsauce.
Drake: one out
The SnowJobs Podcast: Yeah, that's what I was going to say.
RICK JAMES: Yes, sir.
Mikey Santolucito : Send him to Boston.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Is that euros?
Mikey Santolucito : Let's go.
RICK JAMES: Hmm.
The SnowJobs Podcast: ah
Drake: I wish.
Billy: Let's make
RICK JAMES: Canadian.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Yeah, that's full.
Billy: Dumb. Not unacceptable.
The SnowJobs Podcast: That's 38 cents American. Oh shit. um So, I mean, just, just always remember when, once you're doing everything like. And I'm sure.
The SnowJobs Podcast: I'm sure like everybody can see me rolling my eyes. Once you're doing everything legit. And you're paying everybody on the books at all times. Just remember, whatever you're paying them hourly. will cost you like...
The SnowJobs Podcast: ah you know, time and a half basically. You got payroll taxes. You got all sorts of taxes. You got, you know, if you're using a. ah the company like paychecks or adp payroll company you know they they charge you for that So... If you're paying somebody 30. It's probably close, close costing you closer to 45 to pay them.
Mikey Santolucito : Yep.
The SnowJobs Podcast: All right, so you got to put that you got to put that in the bid So your billable hours, you know. I would go higher than that, honestly. Just round it up. If you're going to pay him $30 an hour, you you bill for you know you bid for $50 an hour.
RICK JAMES: Oh, you'd be able to see more than that.
The SnowJobs Podcast: For that guy. Hmm?
RICK JAMES: You bid for more than that.
The SnowJobs Podcast: You could. You definitely could. But right now he's doing it himself. But... Even so.
Mikey Santolucito : Well...
The SnowJobs Podcast: You know that. And then you got to get money for your shovel.
Mikey Santolucito : Pay yourself like a supervisor.
Drake: yeah Which those are, what, $60 or $70?
The SnowJobs Podcast: The shovels?
Drake: So. Yes.
Mikey Santolucito : If you get a good one.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Yeah, if you get a good one, you get the the snowplow shovels are not cheap.
Drake: Goodbye.
RICK JAMES: Yeah.
Drake: yeah that's probably we wrong
The SnowJobs Podcast: And, you know, those things walk all the time. and And that's, you know, the preed there's depreciation on shovels.
RICK JAMES: Ha ha.
The SnowJobs Podcast: but How long are you going to get out of them?
.Todd Dickerson: well
The SnowJobs Podcast: you know you know That's a seasonal replacement, honestly. In my mind, it is anyway, even though you know we'll buy 20 of them. and 18 of them will make it through the season. but you know we're still pricing it on new contracts. We're still putting that in there.
The SnowJobs Podcast: that's still a consumable
.Todd Dickerson: aye I've had the same shovel for 31 years.
The SnowJobs Podcast: That's awesome Todd. laughter laughter
Billy: you yeah Your first shovel, huh?
Mikey Santolucito : Still have the sticker on it.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Are you shoveling a lot at the airport?
RICK JAMES: See you. Let's go.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Yeah.
RICK JAMES: Still in the garage. Still in the paper.
The SnowJobs Podcast: yeah Still got the plastic on it. Oh shit.
RICK JAMES: Oh.
The SnowJobs Podcast: But, yeah, I mean, it's it's pretty crazy when you get into. When you get into machines and a lot of sidewalk, but For just shoveling. Just figure out what you want to make an hour for it.
.Todd Dickerson: I mean, you got to be at least 2X, right?
The SnowJobs Podcast: Yeah. I would say so. Yeah, I would say if you're 30, you're at least 50 to 60 on the bid.
RICK JAMES: Oh, for sure. no
The SnowJobs Podcast: Yeah, it depends how much you want to work with them
Mikey Santolucito : So are you trying to build up?
.Todd Dickerson: And then if you...
Mikey Santolucito : Are you trying to build a production rate?
The SnowJobs Podcast: Night.
Drake: Yeah.
Mikey Santolucito : Based on that
Drake: it was
Drake: it was more just for the Because Billy sent me over his... all contract form. and it's a per visit so their cost for the sidewalks is separated.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Mm -hmm.
Drake: Good. salt for the salt for the sidewalk is separated.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Well, that's separate.
Drake: Better than that.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Yeah. You're just talking to labor to shovel it.
Drake: Yes.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Then we'll get into salting it. But the labor of your shoveling, if you start using machine. Machine's easy. You figure out. you know, what percentage of that machine has to get paid for. Per hour.
The SnowJobs Podcast: for that site and then if you're if you're not sure how long it's going to take you Take the machine over there. We've taken sidewalk machines in September and we've drove them very slowly. down the entire length of what they're going to have to clear.
Mikey Santolucito : Mm hmm.
The SnowJobs Podcast: at a much slower rate than they would go in a storm, and we time them. And then we pad it out a little bit. And there's your number. So.
Drake: how How do you guys normally go about getting your your rates per for different machines?
Mikey Santolucito : same thing just take each machine out do the same pass however many Feet you can clear in an hour square foot square footage wise, whatever you want to get for that piece of equipment.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Oh.
Mikey Santolucito : depending on the the cost of that equipment.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Yep.
Mikey Santolucito : That's it and your your burden rate
The SnowJobs Podcast: What does the equipment cost to buy? How many years before basically not total, but how many years of depreciation? Are you going to get out of that before basically it's a pile of shit?
The SnowJobs Podcast: Um... And then.
RICK JAMES: Amen.
The SnowJobs Podcast: How much money do you look at that? How many hours approximately are you going to get out of that using it each season? What is your approximate number of work hours? And then you figure out how much you need per hour.
RICK JAMES: Hmm.
The SnowJobs Podcast: And then go slow. laughter laughter
Mikey Santolucito : Yeah.
RICK JAMES: You're slow.
.Todd Dickerson: Love. Low gear, low gear.
The SnowJobs Podcast: That's it. Go slow. slowest That's how you get safety awards. you You go slow.
Billy: am right Flow is key.
.Todd Dickerson: a
The SnowJobs Podcast: ah ah Slow is smooth. Smooth is fast.
Billy: Slowest key on the paper.
The SnowJobs Podcast: stop the thing That's it.
Billy: Fast as hell when you're in the field.
The SnowJobs Podcast: ah
Mikey Santolucito : Yeah.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Oh shit. Well, yeah, that's that's I mean, that's basically it. And then salt, you got to figure out how much salt you're going to need to do it. You know, the cost of the salt, the cost of the labor to put it down, how long it's going to take you to apply it. Are you using a drop spreader? Are you doing it by hand?
Drake: um I mean, you know some some areas is by hand, but most of the time it's just a certain push spreader, so the drop spreader. But um.
The SnowJobs Podcast: All right. So how much does that push spreader cost?
Drake: Are you...
The SnowJobs Podcast: How long are you going to get? you know, out of that push spreader. Are you getting more than one year out of a push spreader?
Drake: uh yes about so the one i had last year i used for salt and this year i've used it for seed
The SnowJobs Podcast: Okay.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Good. All right.
Drake: fertilized. so i'm just gonna
The SnowJobs Podcast: what brand is that
Drake: It's an echo.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Okay.
Drake: push salt spreader and i have it's been great i mean i last year i i did i did break one i blew a pin out on it bitch. and then it just completely destroyed everything on it so because I didn't catch it in time.
Mikey Santolucito : Damn.
Drake: So that was just one of those. The problem is I i like to over overload it. It's met for 80 pounds, and I kept throwing two bags in there, so it was 20 pounds over, so I just knew.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Nobody's ever done that before.
Drake: Yeah.
Mikey Santolucito : It's not overloaded.
The SnowJobs Podcast: but
Mikey Santolucito : That's good.
RICK JAMES: No salters.
The SnowJobs Podcast: I don't know.
Mikey Santolucito : That's big.
RICK JAMES: No saucers ever loaded.
Mikey Santolucito : Efficient.
The SnowJobs Podcast: No. Good evening.
Billy: We haven't boss squatters in years.
Mikey Santolucito : it's called efficiency
Billy: My guys, they take. old seat belts or old straps and they strap buckets
The SnowJobs Podcast: Mm -hmm. Put them on a bucket.
Billy: They won't use it.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Yep.
Billy: No spreaders.
Drake: Well, yeah.
The SnowJobs Podcast: yeah you do the old back of the fingers
Billy: You out there?
The SnowJobs Podcast: Yep.
Mikey Santolucito : Yeah.
The SnowJobs Podcast: That's it.
Billy: It's an artwork.
Mikey Santolucito : Fuck yeah.
RICK JAMES: deal flip Yeah. They definitely are good at that. I've seen them. they just
RICK JAMES: Yeah.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Well, yeah, you I mean, that's all. You just figure out how many. Again, how much salt you need for coverage. If you if you're doing it by the bag, you know, you have experience with this. How how far does a bag go for you in the drop spreader?
The SnowJobs Podcast: So.
Drake: yeah i mean we we like i said it just really depends on the setting How? however you're going and all that.
The SnowJobs Podcast: There you go.
Drake: thank Are you guys normally going heavier on sidewalks in your parking lot, Ray?
The SnowJobs Podcast: No, I mean, me, no. I use treated salt, so we're going light on everything because you really don't need a lot of it if it's if it's hot. Um, And normally it is hot last year. It wasn't so hot, but.
The SnowJobs Podcast: You know, we're making a change this year back to very hot salt. So we're going very light. We pre -treat too. So we pre -treat. which prevents the bonding. And then once we clear it, you know, the nice thing is once you pre -treat There's no bond there. So even with a, even with a snowplow shovel.
The SnowJobs Podcast: That shit's coming up clean. as a whistle. So you require very little salt. on the back end of it on a Post Street.
Drake: how you How are you guys pushing the pre -treating site?
The SnowJobs Podcast: So.
Drake: Because I've had a cold. We've tried to. implement so Okay.
The SnowJobs Podcast: We're not giving them a choice. This is how we do things. This is why we do it. And this is... why you hired us. Or this is why you called.
Mikey Santolucito : Yep.
The SnowJobs Podcast: um We don't give them a choice on the pre -treat.
Mikey Santolucito : yep
The SnowJobs Podcast: The pre -treat is non -negotiable because. That's the difference for, in my mind. That's the difference between lawsuits and not lawsuit not having lawsuits. You got to prevent the bond. People don't slip and fall on snow.
The SnowJobs Podcast: they slip and fall on the bond created by the snow. If it's untreated. Anybody disagree with that?
Mikey Santolucito : No. no no i feel like
RICK JAMES: No.
Mikey Santolucito : Clients complain when they see pre -trimming because guys do it too early if it's granular and then it tracks all over the place. but if you're doing it like Even 12 hours before the storm. It.
Mikey Santolucito : You can explain it.
The SnowJobs Podcast: or they put too much down a pre -treat does not require a lot of salt
Mikey Santolucito : Yep. It's not supposed to be a full treatment. half at best.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Or if that. Yeah. I mean, you you literally, all you want that. That's all to do is dissolve and create a barrier.
Drake: Are you guys...
The SnowJobs Podcast: When the snow starts falling it creates a barrier, prevents the bonding. makes the surface it less slippery and safer for people that are walking in the snow and then You come along, clean it up, clean as a whistle. and Drop a couple of handfuls behind you. You're good to go.
The SnowJobs Podcast: But, yeah, we don't we don't give them an option on it.
Mikey Santolucito : Yep.
The SnowJobs Podcast: that's That's the only way we do snow.
Drake: Are you guys all liquid for the pre? to retrieve
The SnowJobs Podcast: No.
Drake: No.
The SnowJobs Podcast: We don't, I don't do any liquid.
Drake: Okay. Okay.
The SnowJobs Podcast: ah Billy does.
Billy: I do, I do
The SnowJobs Podcast: Todd does. Mike does.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Jeremy.
RICK JAMES: just failed. Firebrand.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Fire, Brian. Fargo Fire, Brian.
RICK JAMES: Fire Brian over -salting the last time.
The SnowJobs Podcast: radio It's radioactive. it's Uber hot.
RICK JAMES: over -salting them the last time.
The SnowJobs Podcast: It's okay. ah oh shit So yeah, that's...
.Todd Dickerson: That's what causes all those Canadian fires, I think. The fire, Brian.
The SnowJobs Podcast: The fire brine.
RICK JAMES: Yeah, good.
The SnowJobs Podcast: It's...
.Todd Dickerson: Yeah.
The SnowJobs Podcast: I mean, the grave the gravel is very hot in Fargo, that's for sure. Spray that stuff. Um, Make sure the one thing I will say about sidewalks is make sure you document.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Any joints that are out of whack? that people are going to trip over. Any damage to the sidewalks already? you make sure that you document the crap out of that, especially any trip hazards.
Mikey Santolucito : and send it to them.
The SnowJobs Podcast: That is preseason.
Drake: What do you...
The SnowJobs Podcast: You take that photo, you send it to them via email so it's documented and they need to sign off on it. Bye. They are aware that condition exists.
The SnowJobs Podcast: That way when somebody takes a header on that joint It's not, oh, well, we slipped on the ice. No, you didn't slip on the ice. You slipped on because the two fucking pieces of pavement have a six inch difference in them.
RICK JAMES: Hmm.
Mikey Santolucito : I'm in hell. Take them with you. I'm sure they'd love to get out of the office, honestly.
The SnowJobs Podcast: You have to do a walkthrough.
RICK JAMES: Yeah.
.Todd Dickerson: honestly i've videoed the property prior to all you know curbs sidewalks everything so that if there's ever damage, you can go back to that video prior to the season.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Absolutely. Billy, what do you do?
Billy: Video.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Yeah.
Billy: And then anything major that sticks out, we... GPS pin, pin it, I guess if you would, I don't know what the technology would be, but.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Yeah. We cite photos.
Billy: So we drop. Yeah, drop a pin. But a lot of now ah technology's changed. It's so easy to just do a site video. um really Real easy.
Billy: you know Then it goes back to what... A couple episodes before, we actually put that in our contracts too. that. We are going to shoot video. We are going to take pictures. It's not just for Social media, it's obviously for in documentation.
Billy: preseason inspections and all that good stuff. Excuse me.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Yep. Yep. site photos is good for that like billy said it drops a gps pin where you took the photo You just have to make sure that you... You have that documented with the property owner.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Doesn't matter if you took the photo if you didn't notify them and Have them try and... rectify it. Um, but yeah, I mean, anything else on sidewalks? trick.
Drake: What are you guys doing to protect you guys? protect you guys from lawsuits. every storm. Are you guys taking pictures?
The SnowJobs Podcast: Good work.
Drake: everything.
Mikey Santolucito : Yeah.
Billy: I'm an electrician.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Yeah.
Mikey Santolucito : Okay.
.Todd Dickerson: ah
RICK JAMES: Yeah.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Yeah.
RICK JAMES: yeah
The SnowJobs Podcast: Back to back to trade school.
RICK JAMES: Yeah.
The SnowJobs Podcast: There is no protection.
RICK JAMES: Back to trade school.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Yeah. there is no There is no guarantees.
RICK JAMES: Yeah.
The SnowJobs Podcast: There is no protection. Your quality of work, the amount of...
.Todd Dickerson: detail.
The SnowJobs Podcast: how anal you are before, during and after the storm. Um, your level of service. You know, having 15 properties that take you a half an hour, 40 minutes between them to get to, you're going to have gaps. You're going to have.
The SnowJobs Podcast: you know a bad storm you could have three four inches of snow on that property And then if you haven't. done a pre -treat you're not plowing it regularly You're just asking for it. So, you know, keeping a ah nice and condensed route.
The SnowJobs Podcast: um that allows you to not bite off more than you can chew That will help protect you. you know The more often you can keep... you know, the area is safe, the better you're going to be.
Drake: Or you guys.
Billy: Lots of documentation too, obviously.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Yep, that too.
Billy: I think we we all know that. Good service records. pictures, documentation, the weather reports, whatever you you use, true weather, what have you. Um,
Billy: Keep those documents, you know in a file folder for This is what we did. Yeah. I don't care if you log it by hand. Like, Hey, we salted here, took a picture, timestamp photo. You didn't even.
Billy: There's so many free apps that just have timestamp photos and say, hey, we salted on this day. Here's the weather report. This is the freeze -thaw. uh more documentation than probably ever what's needed but you know what when you need it You're going to need it.
The SnowJobs Podcast: yeah I mean, we're not... We're not attorneys. So we're just giving you our opinions. and you know, the one you it's, it's on you, you're going to have a slip and fall sooner or later.
Mikey Santolucito : hu
The SnowJobs Podcast: It's on you to prove that it was an accident and not negligence. ah There's a big difference in payout. in those two cases. If it's an accident, the payout's a lot less. Maybe the insurance company's going to give them medical bills. and and that kind of crap, and maybe a little extra to go away, and that's it. Negligence adds a couple zeros.
Mikey Santolucito : yep
The SnowJobs Podcast: So if they can prove that you did not do what your contract said you were supposed to do, you did not.
Billy: draw handuff
The SnowJobs Podcast: You did not have your scope of work in in check. You were not abiding by that. Um, That's where you start. being able to prove negligence on the snow contractor.
The SnowJobs Podcast: So make sure your contract is tight. It spells out. very clearly what your exp expert what their expectations are, what your level of service is, what your scope of work is.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Um, Because the scope of work is important because... Say somebody slips on an area. of Like you you have now like shopping malls and stuff and ah department stores that They no longer require the parking lot size that they once did. So they'll tell you.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Listen. ah We only want the front half, the first 200 parking spots cleared. The back half, we don't. Well, if somebody slips on that back half or says they did because you didn't plow it.
The SnowJobs Podcast: You need it spelled out clearly in that contract that that scope of work told you not to touch that. That puts the onus back on the property owner and off of you. that Well, I didn't touch that because I wasn't supposed to. It's in the contract. It's in my scope.
Mikey Santolucito : Yep.
The SnowJobs Podcast: So make sure everything's. very very clearly spelled out.
Mikey Santolucito : Drake, I'm going through that exact scenario. right now from a slip and fall from January. It was a secondary entrance that during the walkthrough we were told it is not something that needs to be cleared.
Mikey Santolucito : There was another entrance door literally five feet from it um It was a patio entrance set. I don't know, somebody went out for a smoke break and decided it was a good idea to not look down and see if it was shoveled and he slipped. and Of course, it's not spelled out verbally in the contract.
Mikey Santolucito : we're going to be on the hook for it to some extent, but. There's a little back and forth going on with it right now, but... we're finding out the hard way for some of these things that the more You're missing verbiage wise on like say it so a parking garage i have a slip and fall that i just got two weeks ago from a parking garage and fucking Wakefield and what have I... my best client sites and the picture that they had in the uh
Mikey Santolucito : Then the email that the lawyer had sent over it was clearly drifted over. I know the storm. I remember the date And the guys were home sleeping because they'd been up for like 30 some odd hours. It was it was a Friday.
Mikey Santolucito : And. Yeah, you walked through drifted snow to go to your car. but Were you not being cautious? Were you wearing? the wrong shoes, like.
Mikey Santolucito : What? What could have prevented you from falling aside from you know me having a robot there that just doesn't fall asleep? and clearing it. but we're still gonna be on the hook for it. regardless.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Yep. That's how they get you. That is how they get you.
RICK JAMES: Nobody's responsible for themselves anymore.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Billy, have you ever had a situation like that?
Billy: um We've had... A couple things. One year we had something at the courthouse. Apparently he had a bench warrant. They kind of threw it out. She was she was going to jail that day. but ah there was some back and forth but they went through camera footage she you know did the looking around and oh is there a puddle there but again back to documentation
The SnowJobs Podcast: Oh my god!
Billy: Oh. God, I'm not going to jail. so But, you know, she can't sue the courthouse because it was a government entity. So she tried coming after me, but the temperature was 40 degrees out. So luckily we had those documents and what we did.
Billy: 36 hours prior and after. And then we had another general, we get a lot of, uh, A lot of bullshit. We had another customer that... that literally came out of the woodwork.
Billy: Two years later I pulled up true weather documents. Actually, at Mark, I said, well, what happened on these days? I can't find it. Nothing with, ah you know, seven days prior or after. There was no de -icing, weather was somewhat mild.
Billy: Another one looked in the camera and actually the company. Paid them out. 80 grand.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Fuck that.
RICK JAMES: Jesus.
Mikey Santolucito : Yep.
Billy: i wouldn't I didn't pay a dime. I said, you got to be kidding me. I told my client, why would you do this? He said, just make it go away. there There was nothing here.
The SnowJobs Podcast: i I swear it.
Billy: And it was on a Sunday. They were closed. This is ah this is a warehouse. This wasn't a shopping center.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Americans have lost the will to fight. like like why Why are you just going to roll over and take it?
Mikey Santolucito : I'll wait. We lost all the tools to fight.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Oh.
Billy: Dead serious.
The SnowJobs Podcast: It's ridiculous though. But I mean, if you have cameras and you have evidence that says this guy's full of shit. Fuck it. i mean you're gonna you're gonna pull that crap but i mean drake to knock it off topic you're you're hearing regardless of who's talking mike billy myself jeremy todd you're you're hearing it
Mikey Santolucito : Yeah. Don't let us scare you.
Billy: I don't talk.
The SnowJobs Podcast: you're You're hearing a theme. A recurring theme. That. A weather service.
RICK JAMES: Being an electrician.
The SnowJobs Podcast: a weather so Yeah, be an electrician. And a weather service is very valuable for more than just the predictions. We work very closely with True Weather. We work very closely with Weather Pros.
The SnowJobs Podcast: You can't go wrong with either one of them. but you You should have a weather service for that very reason. Something gets dropped on you from two years ago. Are you gonna go into your, you know, your, your pad and paper? And have.
The SnowJobs Podcast: what the temperature was when they slipped at 3 a .m what Was it still snowing? What was the the the blacktop conditions? That is all things you can get two years, all the data from the weather pros and true weather. They all have that. That's all cataloged.
The SnowJobs Podcast: So that will help you. You said, how can I protect myself from lawsuits? That's a big way to do it for a relatively inexpensive. you know, cost very reasonable, true weather and weather pros are very reasonable. And, ah Interestingly enough,
The SnowJobs Podcast: We spoke to Mark Shanaburger this morning from True Weather, and he heard your episode last week, and he wants wants to help get you started on the right foot. So he is offering you, if you would be interested, a free subscription to his forecasting service and one location for certified snow totals.
.Todd Dickerson: That's awesome.
Drake: sounds Great. I appreciate it.
Billy: I think Mark should offer it to the whole panel, right?
RICK JAMES: with Yeah, Mark.
Mikey Santolucito : Yeah.
Billy: I mean, there's a lot of drops right here.
RICK JAMES: of
The SnowJobs Podcast: Listen, Dad.
Billy: arc I hope you're listening, bud.
The SnowJobs Podcast: that's phenomenal.
RICK JAMES: Yeah. and
The SnowJobs Podcast: Thank. Thanks to my mark.
RICK JAMES: The doctor. The doctor.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Yeah. the the doctor mark is the best. I mean, there, there's not a nicer guy out there. ah So.
RICK JAMES: He's awesome.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Yeah, he takes care of people. And, ah you know, thanks to him and True Weather, that's really cool to do. And, you know, we keep hearing this overwhelming theme with last week's episode. A lot of guys, the older guys are all saying, I wish that somebody would have done this for me 25, 30 years ago.
The SnowJobs Podcast: And the younger guys are all saying, this is fucking awesome.
Billy: hol yeah
The SnowJobs Podcast: Like, I took so many notes. Like it's really cool. And ah that that's a really cool thing. that uh that true weather is doing for you is and you should really You should definitely appreciate that because that you just asked a great question. How can I help?
The SnowJobs Podcast: protect myself. you know That's one of the ways you can. Because you're not going to have that information. You know... Most people won't. I mean, you, you gotta be really anal to go back in your files and have, but You know, I may even have, okay, it was 34 degrees and snowing, but I'm not going to be able to pinpoint, okay, at 2 AM. m On the 23rd of December 2018, it was this temperature.
The SnowJobs Podcast: The weather companies are going to have that kind of data stored. So that can help you. And they they have helped guys. that have gotten involved in lawsuits. They have helped guys. They've given them the information they need to fight it. The insurance companies need to fight it. And they've got, I know for a fact, they've gotten a couple of them thrown out.
The SnowJobs Podcast: So. That's ah like I said, it's a relatively inexpensive. Um, In all the things we use for snow. though The weather companies, at least True Weather and Weather Pros, who we both work with, they are relatively inexperienced. You get a lot of bang for the buck.
The SnowJobs Podcast: And for anybody that was asking, we did get a couple questions. We told you last year, get climatology reports and stuff. um I know through true weather, that's $39. I, but I already told Mark, you got to charge more for that.
The SnowJobs Podcast: So.
Mikey Santolucito : Yeah.
The SnowJobs Podcast: ah I'm serious.
Drake: wait
The SnowJobs Podcast: Like, that's not enough money. Like that's you. You got to get a little more value for that because it's that important. And once people understand how to use those climatology reports. They understand they're. They. they potentially can make thousands.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Off. a good climatology report if they know how to use it. So. $39 is a little too cheap, you know. Those guys got to make their money too.
.Todd Dickerson: Man, these retired guys just got extra money just flying all around, don't they?
The SnowJobs Podcast: that's all
The SnowJobs Podcast: 39 bucks? You spend that at McDonald's right now with a family of three, not even Sean.
Mikey Santolucito : Yeah.
Mikey Santolucito : but
The SnowJobs Podcast: You know?
.Todd Dickerson: I was just going to say, I don't.
Mikey Santolucito : Yeah.
.Todd Dickerson: Sean does, but I don't.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Yeah. Dude, you get two value meals and like a fucking ice cream cone. it's fucking $38 and fucking McDonald's ridiculous. So everything's up.
.Todd Dickerson: I don't know. I don't eat there, so, you know.
The SnowJobs Podcast: 38 is the new 10.
.Todd Dickerson: with all.
The SnowJobs Podcast: <unk> like It's ridiculous. They don't have a dollar menu anymore. They have the $10 menu.
Drake: I spent $80 at Wendy's last night to buy dinner for... all six of us.
Mikey Santolucito : ah
The SnowJobs Podcast: For who? Sean was out there?
Drake: No.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Sean was in Ohio. Yeah.
Drake: I wish.
The SnowJobs Podcast: ah
.Todd Dickerson: He came out to help them with the salting and how to do it.
Mikey Santolucito : That's.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Oh, shit. John will definitely show you how to salt. That's for sure. Oh shit. Yeah, but... ah But thank you to true weather for that. That's awesome that Mark was listening and, uh, and yeah, he just texted me this morning and said, uh, you know, if he's interested, we'd offer him a full, uh,
The SnowJobs Podcast: a full free subscription there for a while and uh I think you definitely take advantage of that. So reach out to them.
Drake: I was actually going to reach out to him hopefully tomorrow. It was all night.
The SnowJobs Podcast: There you go.
Billy: You'll like it too.
Mikey Santolucito : There you go.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Yeah. They got a good system. they got you know you can pull up weather maps you can you can get everything you need
Billy: Pretty cool.
The SnowJobs Podcast: to to do what you got to do on there. But...
.Todd Dickerson: Yeah, that's true. that's really cool mark and uh probably has a lifetime subscriber now so that's cool
The SnowJobs Podcast: It is.
The SnowJobs Podcast: The doctor. He is...
.Todd Dickerson: Yeah.
The SnowJobs Podcast: a Yep. No, they're... they They do a very, they do very good work. They definitely do. um So what else you got there? You wanted to know about site walkthroughs?
Drake: yeah about say my question on the site walkthroughs is what are some stuff that you're pointing out and looking for and what is something or what are the things that make you change on your quote to maybe adjust prices if there's something you noticed.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Now, you've been saying that... getting people to do a site walkthrough with you is a problem, right?
Drake: Yes.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Okay. That's the first thing. If they're not serious enough. to walk their site with you. Um. I don't, for me, I will never entertain anything that they're not willing to walk their site. Anybody, uh,
The SnowJobs Podcast: You guys. ah i mean anybody disagree anybody doing that billy you you'd not tell them to fuck off if they're not gonna Walk the site with you.
Billy: If you don't have the decency, I always felt that if you don't have the decency to meet with me for five minutes and. kind of look and see what's going on. let's look at your drainage or whatever blah blah blah then you're just tire kicking. You just want prices being emailed and say, okay, and it's bottom line numbers.
Billy: you know if If somebody takes the time... where i can give you a coffee mug or something and say hey thanks for Even if we're not the right fit, at least you have the you know the decency to call out three bidders or whatever and take the time.
Billy: then you care about the property. If you're a maintenance guy, i just to get three fucking bids. You're you're the cheapest. Have fun. I don't want work like that because that's that doesn't seem like it's going to go.
Billy: Go very far.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Yep. I agree.
Mikey Santolucito : Agreed.
Billy: i mean you want to look at the car before you buy it right don't you think that you'd want to Meet the person that you know you're gonna spend a lot of money with plowing your snow and especially with all the risks involved
The SnowJobs Podcast: yeah Yeah, like, you're there to help keep their fucking...
RICK JAMES: Yep.
The SnowJobs Podcast: their building safe, their, their customers, their, their workers safe. If they're not serious enough to even walk you through it and show you what you need to know, or or at least. you know, that you can have a meeting with them. then they're not They're not for me. You know, it's they got to help you.
Drake: How does it work?
The SnowJobs Podcast: That's Billy. That's a recording of Billy on one of the sites.
RICK JAMES: yeah
The SnowJobs Podcast: I can see you saying that too.
.Todd Dickerson: Awesome.
The SnowJobs Podcast: It's up at dawn, pride swallowing siege. Yeah.
.Todd Dickerson: I'm surprised we didn't get the weatherman. little sound bite when We did the true weather thing.
The SnowJobs Podcast: No, I don't have it loaded up
.Todd Dickerson: I was kind of.
The SnowJobs Podcast: i don't have it loaded up on this computer like i said this is computer number three I had to go through three to get one. ah But, the yeah, the... they gotta agree to that i mean you're a young guy starting out i know you want the work but There's... There could be a lot of things through your inexperience that.
The SnowJobs Podcast: you know, they could help you with some of them. Some guys might not have a fucking clue. But. Other guys, you know. might be able to help you. Um, By doing a walkthrough. I would.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Kind of make. I don't know. It's so tough for a younger guy that he's hungry for sights. Go ahead, Todd.
.Todd Dickerson: Yeah. So one thing that you're going to learn in this business, Drake, and I guarantee you every single guy. watching or in this screen right now will tell you. All that is, is time to build a relationship with the customer.
.Todd Dickerson: Because down the road. Wherever that guy goes, if he's comfortable or girl goes. if they're comfortable in the relationship with you they're going to bring you to your next property Right. Or. you know they're going to report back to their regional manager and say you know hey this this whole brook they're they're great people like we need to get them across the board at a couple of different properties so it's not just a site walk it's It's a job interview, yes, but it's also a relationship building.
.Todd Dickerson: time that you can. develop that relationship so that that's a huge huge
The SnowJobs Podcast: Yep.
.Todd Dickerson: opportunity there.
Mikey Santolucito : Could not have said it better.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Yep. And just make sure your work backs it up.
.Todd Dickerson: So.
The SnowJobs Podcast: because I don't care how good your walkthrough and your relationship was.
Mikey Santolucito : Mm -hmm.
The SnowJobs Podcast: If your work is shit. You're not getting recommended.
.Todd Dickerson: Yep.
The SnowJobs Podcast: You got to show up and do what you say you were going to do.
.Todd Dickerson: Absolutely.
RICK JAMES: right
The SnowJobs Podcast: and Do it on time.
.Todd Dickerson: I agree.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Very important.
.Todd Dickerson: So let me let me touch one other thing that Drake and I talked talked about after episode one.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Go ahead.
.Todd Dickerson: Drake, let's talk let's go back and watch everybody's faces here on The National. discussion that you and I had because Are we allowed to to call the whole situation out, Drake, or what do you want to do?
Drake: you
The SnowJobs Podcast: That one worked.
.Todd Dickerson: Oh, that sound bite worked. ah
The SnowJobs Podcast: ah Ugh.
.Todd Dickerson: So Drake. Drake, bring everybody up to speed because it's not only these guys, it's everybody listening. so Fire away, big boy.
Drake: so yeah i said We had a national company reach out for a couple of chain of banks in our area. for even They were even offering us. They offered us every bank. and you know in the state just on a sheet is one of those you fill out what you want done.
Drake: for whatever price So. about sim I already knew that listening to the podcast, that's pretty much a no -go. Throw that away unless it's something that you really want and it's right on your route.
Drake: But. even talk to my parents and my parents have a lot of say in in my in the company Since my dad's... own has it everything's under my dad's name so he has
The SnowJobs Podcast: Mm hmm.
Drake: final say.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Sure.
Drake: But. They were really wanting to move forward with that quote just because it was another contract and it's possibly more money. And...
The SnowJobs Podcast: What? Okay, so first of all, these... Banks are pretty much. They're kind of standard. Um, more or less don't without telling us the company. uh what was the what was the offer per location
Billy: Hmm.
Drake: it was name your price there was
The SnowJobs Podcast: Name your price.
Drake: Yes. It's one of those that you can just send us a...
The SnowJobs Podcast: Alright. So this is only my opinion and my experience. um It's a double -edged sword. Because if they're desperate. in the area They might.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Agree to whatever you. Throw out there. Within reason. But then... You got to read that contract forward, backward with your attorney. ah At $250 an hour.
The SnowJobs Podcast: To make sure there's no loopholes.
Mikey Santolucito : mm -hmm
The SnowJobs Podcast: That. They don't have to pay you. Those contracts.
Billy: We'll backcharge you.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Yeah, those contracts are written. for them to have like six or seven outs. That if you don't accomplish one of those. Seven little hidden things in the fine print. They don't have to pay you.
Billy: One photo. One bullshit.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Yep.
Billy: corner of ah you know ah a kernel of salt that was the size of a...
Mikey Santolucito : yeah
Billy: a speck of sand you didn't get a good video of it that's your fault
The SnowJobs Podcast: Yep.
Billy: for that whole night.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Yep. And then they don't have to pay.
.Todd Dickerson: So the one thing...
Drake: That's it.
.Todd Dickerson: The one thing I tried to explain to to Drake is. that If his dad is the one who's listed on this. company. then dad is going to take on the liability at the end of the day because
The SnowJobs Podcast: Yep.
.Todd Dickerson: you know. It's his name that holds the company. Right?
The SnowJobs Podcast: Yeah.
Mikey Santolucito : Mm -hmm.
.Todd Dickerson: So regard regardless if Drake's doing the work or not, and look, we've all been there.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Oh absolutely.
.Todd Dickerson: When I was younger, there was all kinds of. you know, you did different stuff with insurance back in the day. You can't do that anymore, right?
The SnowJobs Podcast: Nope.
.Todd Dickerson: so My point is, I know, Billy, I hear you, big boy. um but My point is like. Yeah, it might be more money. like a flash in the pan but something goes wrong Old dad's going to be sitting there sweating bullets.
.Todd Dickerson: And I tried to explain to him, you know, to sit down and talk to mom and dad. and I mean, I'd be happy to explain that to his parents as well, but I mean... you know Everybody on here knows the average slip and fall right now is probably about 3 million bucks a slip. so you know and then they'll negotiate it down.
.Todd Dickerson: to like billy said 80 grand 50 grand and then they're going to cancel your insurance so
The SnowJobs Podcast: Yep.
.Todd Dickerson: Like. Then what are you going to do? because when you try to go to another carrier They're going to say, well, wait a minute, you got. You got.
The SnowJobs Podcast: You got dropped, dude.
.Todd Dickerson: Yeah.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Nope. Bye -bye.
.Todd Dickerson: Exactly. So. i'm telling you and mikey you deal with this a lot more than i do because i don't do any of the the stuff that you guys do really, but.
.Todd Dickerson: I mean, insurance and Billy, you do too. The insurance is getting harder and harder on that side.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Oh forget it.
Billy: What's that?
.Todd Dickerson: So.
The SnowJobs Podcast: It's virtually impossible.
Mikey Santolucito : Yep.
.Todd Dickerson: Yeah, exactly.
The SnowJobs Podcast: You're begging them to bend you over and hammer you in the ass.
.Todd Dickerson: so
.Todd Dickerson: or Or just get your pliers and your belt.
Billy: Politely putting it.
.Todd Dickerson: tool belt back on and you're back at trade school.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Right?
The SnowJobs Podcast: Well, yeah, that I mean, again, we're back to electrician.
RICK JAMES: so
The SnowJobs Podcast: I think we're ah we're all in agreement.
RICK JAMES: Let's do it.
The SnowJobs Podcast: That's probably the way to go for a young kid, man. Make your millions.
RICK JAMES: Yeah.
The SnowJobs Podcast: You will make far more money with a lot less headache.
.Todd Dickerson: Yeah.
The SnowJobs Podcast: um
Mikey Santolucito : Yep.
The SnowJobs Podcast: You burn a house down as an electrician? There's another insurance company that'll insure you. I guarantee it. Snow is not that. You get slip and falls. You're getting dropped, and then nobody else is picking you up.
.Todd Dickerson: You can still use the TrueWeather app but even if you're an electrician.
The SnowJobs Podcast: And it.
The SnowJobs Podcast: There you go. Yeah, today's not a good day that to wire things outside.
RICK JAMES: Yeah, yeah
The SnowJobs Podcast: um But no, listen, man, that's a decision you got to make for yourself. What I would tell you is do your homework. Don't just listen to us. um Although I think we're being pretty fair. um That that's how... that's how it rolls with that, with those type companies.
The SnowJobs Podcast: um If you go on. Go on any of the forums. Go on any of the Snowplow, the Snowplow Mafia, Minneapolis Snow Pros 2 .0. You can go on any of those group chats on Facebook. Join up.
The SnowJobs Podcast: and just in the search bar. Type in nationals. and see the discussions that come up For every hundred comments. You'll get 95 guys. saying. They owe me money. They screwed me out of this. They screwed me out of that. They did this. And then you'll out of every hundred comments. You have 95 saying they screwed me.
The SnowJobs Podcast: And then you'll have. Two or three guys. saying. I've never had a problem in 25 years. I have a sinking feeling those are bots. or their plants.
The SnowJobs Podcast: They're, you know, they're guys with fake accounts that are just trying to. ah you know sway the uh the thing i've never met anybody that i know and i've met in the flesh that says that The nationals are great to work for. They pay me what I need to make and they pay me on time.
The SnowJobs Podcast: And remember, even if you do everything right and they are going to pay you, read that contract. Because... See? You take a bigger, not the banks. The banks aren't going to kill you. um But say you take a large site. for a national.
The SnowJobs Podcast: You have to read that contract backward and forward to make sure that you're on the right payment schedule Because it might say net 60. or net 45, whatever, and that may work for you.
The SnowJobs Podcast: A lot of times the fine print is it's net 60. from when they get paid. That could be four months after the winter. There are guys just getting paid now in August.
The SnowJobs Podcast: for work done last winter. If they're getting paid So. You got to, you got to really read that. Cause if you take on a big site, you got four or five loaders, trucks, all that. And I'm not even speaking to you right now. I'm speaking to everybody out there.
The SnowJobs Podcast: you You take on a site that you had considerable investment in. And you're expecting payment. If you can't float whatever you're, you're laying out to do that site for the winter. If you're not prepared and can't handle floating that expenditure for six to eight months.
The SnowJobs Podcast: without going under, then don't take the contract. Because you can't count on that money coming through. Because you're at their mercy to pay you.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Anybody disagree with that?
Mikey Santolucito : Nope.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Feel free. I love.
Billy: 100 % agree.
The SnowJobs Podcast: I want. I want. Somebody, I mean, I hate. fucking Hate it. Hate being right all the time, but it's easy with the Nationals.
.Todd Dickerson: somebody else
Billy: Someone's got to do it, right?
.Todd Dickerson: Somebody else?
The SnowJobs Podcast: Uh...
.Todd Dickerson: Somebody else is opening a can of whoop -ass on the Nationals here, seeing us all.
The SnowJobs Podcast: The what? What happened?
.Todd Dickerson: Somebody else is opening a can of whoop -ass on the Nationals. I saw here recently.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Mmm. Okay. i don't I didn't see that.
.Todd Dickerson: Yeah.
The SnowJobs Podcast: but
RICK JAMES: Josh. Josh's.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Oh yeah? Oh. All right. Good for them.
.Todd Dickerson: Yeah, I agree.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Beat them up. but You know what? Listen, man, if you are. If you're getting paid. If you're paying people and getting paid properly. then And you're paying on time. Good for you. Let's like. that That's the dream. Pay guys what they're worth.
The SnowJobs Podcast: All right, and pay him on time. If you can do that, great. But a lot of these companies you're dealing with, Drake, that that we're talking about. That is not the case.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Like I said, we talked about it last episode. You said there's a company that's failing on a couple of those bigger lots. It's probably because they ain't getting paid enough. To do it properly.
Drake: and
The SnowJobs Podcast: That's the problem.
Drake: And what I've heard is they don't have enough ah people to do it. and they were screwed or subcontracted.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Well...
The SnowJobs Podcast: Well, because they probably can't pay the subcontractors what they're making. Like, I mean. I don't know. those You get you get ah a Jimmy John's. Get a Jimmy John's, get another half acre site, maybe a third. And I guarantee you are making more profit with a quarter of the time spent. and a 18th of expenditure.
The SnowJobs Podcast: As one Walmart. through a national. So if if you're asking the panel here. I would tell you to stay clear, and I don't think anybody is disagreeing.
The SnowJobs Podcast: But that's up to you. You know, that's do your homework.
Drake: I do have an answer on that today. They... decided to go with no on that.
Billy: you
The SnowJobs Podcast: Okay, good.
Drake: So...
Mikey Santolucito : Attaboy.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Good.
.Todd Dickerson: good job Good job, mom and dad.
The SnowJobs Podcast: That's probably the best no you'll ever hear. There you go. That's good, man.
Mikey Santolucito : See? You learned from my mistake.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Um, the only other thing I wanted to add for the site walkthrough that I forgot about. So site walkthrough. You're paying attention to the complexity of the site. Not all one acre sites are created equal.
Mikey Santolucito : Yep.
The SnowJobs Podcast: You could have a one -acre site that's wide open. Easy to plow. two stacking sites, one on each side. Great. That's easy. That will be your cheapest price that, or I shouldn't say cheapest price. That'll be the one you can afford to.
The SnowJobs Podcast: To go little. Um. Then you got islands, a couple islands, four islands in an acre. okay that's a little more difficult now you have to do some cutting in and stuff around the islands Fine. That's a little more expensive because it's going to take you more time.
The SnowJobs Podcast: You know, every time you plow it, it's going to take you a little more time throughout the winter times three years on that contract. So you have to bid that one a little more. And then you have the ones that have 15 fucking islands on a one acre fucking lot.
The SnowJobs Podcast: And it takes you three times as long as if it was wide open. So. The walkthrough is where you start really mapping out and paying attention to that stuff. Because not all one acre sites or not all parking lots are created equal.
The SnowJobs Podcast: in time or effort.
Drake: I guess I also have another question. i If I can give you an example of a property that I'm bidding on that I did for a subcontractor last year.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Good. ahead
Drake: which That one it was just... He doesn't. he's not doing that property anymore but so this property they make us piles and they push all the parking lot snow on the one so the main parking lot into one pile.
Drake: on an island Amen. Then that all sits there, but then where it's sitting right next to a, the park parking lot's connected to the property next door.
Drake: but there's like a six inch drop that's sloped and it just all puddles there. How would you guys, I guess, change your quote? tackle that.
The SnowJobs Podcast: is there Are there drains in the parking lot?
Billy: And just, you know...
Drake: Yeah, I mean, it drains, but but half of the time it's covered in... you can't get to the drain. from the water for the water. to get to it.
The SnowJobs Podcast: I mean... Anytime you're doing a walkthrough and they're talking about stack sites, you're you're trying to stack it slightly uphill from a drain. So that as it does melt It's melting into the drain and it's not creating a giant pool of water that's going to refreeze every night that you're going to have to re -salt.
The SnowJobs Podcast: But it doesn't sound like that's an option here.
Drake: now because that
The SnowJobs Podcast: There's no drains in the parking lot?
Drake: That would be on the other the slope down to where the pile sits So if you pile it on the other side, it's going to start. Blocking the main entrance to get in from the drive -through and all the exit of the drive -through and getting to the exit of the whole parking lot.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Okay. What was your question again then?
Drake: i guess how would you I guess, how would you tackle... that onto a quote and maybe adjuster quote or even Because you're going to have multiple callbacks on salt for the snow melting and refreezing. If you would happen to get that contract, what are you doing? to make sure that problem is solved.
Mikey Santolucito : i would just tell them
The SnowJobs Podcast: billy or mike you want to take that it sounds like a mic question that definitely sounds like a mic question
RICK JAMES: power
Billy: Yeah, it sounds like the mic.
Mikey Santolucito : i I deal with that quite a bit and I just charge them for it. There's no way around it. If the snow has to go here. and there's no good way to get it to melt to that drain or the drains constantly covered because it's in that snow storage area.
Mikey Santolucito : Sorry, you're you're getting charged every time I come out there and treat it and as The melting occurs you know day by day. from the sunlight, from a few days of warm weather.
Mikey Santolucito : You go up to them and say, hey, let me. Let me bring a machine in here for an hour or two. Let me expose this drain a little bit. Let me get this cleared for you. And.
Mikey Santolucito : Fuck I just lost my train of thought.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Don't read the chat board.
Mikey Santolucito : I have to.
The SnowJobs Podcast: don't Don't read the chat. that's that's You got distracted. You were on a roll.
Mikey Santolucito : I was on a roll. uh
The SnowJobs Podcast: Refocus.
Mikey Santolucito : Yeah, so tell them like an an hour or two of the machine on site. yeah just to expose that drain a little bit better. Actually, what I get good traction with is in the fall time, i take when I take these clients outside, I go and inspect these drains with them.
Mikey Santolucito : Because... usually they don't clean them that often. So I say, Hey, I get a great. you know, a guy with a vac truck. I got a guy with a clamshell truck. let me come in here and clear these for you real quick that way we know that whatever snow we get that drain can hit that can handle it. There's no leaf material in there built up.
Mikey Santolucito : that'll slow it down the drains have all been removed the water can get to them And if there's any collapsed. uh basins or bin block, you know, you can get it fixed before the winter and before the asphalt plants shut down, but you're just going to make them understand you you're getting charged for it because this is going to be a lake that I got to deal it with and I own all the liability. You don't.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Amen.
Drake: I'm...
The SnowJobs Podcast: Good. I think that about nailed that. Um... Want to hit some commercials real quick? Yeah, let's hit some commercial. We'll be back in 45 seconds.
The SnowJobs Podcast: All right We're back. we are back What else you got, Drake? You got any other questions, buddy?
Drake: um I guess. how are what's How are you guys going about measuring properties and getting the size of them? i guess
The SnowJobs Podcast: There's a lot of tools for that out there. ah You can do it. You can do it as simple as what the hell's the turf company that has the GPS. Um...
The SnowJobs Podcast: Fuck.
Mikey Santolucito : Go Ilan.
The SnowJobs Podcast: No, I'll think of it in a second. Tell them what you use, Mike. What do you use, site photos?
Mikey Santolucito : ah We do have Cyphos. We don't use those for the maps anymore. We use... property Intel because it's a part of our aspire platform
The SnowJobs Podcast: Ah, Spire.
Mikey Santolucito : very Very similar. Very similar.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Gotcha. Let me see.
Drake: i'll say because i've always i've just used google maps for everything I'm going to drop the pen and measure.
Mikey Santolucito : Yeah, yo. You'll never go back when you can just send any of these sites an address and in less than 24 hours they kick it back to you with everything mapped out.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Man, I'm totally brain farting. I use it all the time for green stuff on the ah
The SnowJobs Podcast: i can't believe i'm totally uh sod solutions there we go sod solutions area calculator If you Google that, you get like 10 free searches. you Pump.
The SnowJobs Podcast: pump in the address there and uh you can actually draw the entire property and it's It's not, you know, you're doing it from a satellite It's not you know, Exact.
The SnowJobs Podcast: But. I found that on 50 ,000 square feet, it's accurate to within 1 ,200 square feet.
Mikey Santolucito : So when you say drawing Steve you're talking about drawing the boundary line
The SnowJobs Podcast: Literally, you're drawing the inner and outer boundary and whatever you want to whatever you want to map there, it spits out the the distance. It splits out the square footage. It spits out like.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Five different measurements, you know, side to side and the end.
Mikey Santolucito : Next.
The SnowJobs Podcast: to end ah Yeah, it's pretty handy. We use it a lot for ah for the sod jobs. just to get a rough estimate of what we're going to need. Turf wise. Um. But yeah, that, I mean, that's a real easy way type in the address and.
The SnowJobs Podcast: You know, if you don't have any software like Aspire or anything like that. um i think even yard book now has has that option that you can do that on there and that's a real simple i think it might still be free for the basic package Of that.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Um... You know, you can definitely do something like that. Yeah, Sod Solutions. uh aerial calculator What else?
The SnowJobs Podcast: Or... Get a measuring wheel. And walk it off.
The SnowJobs Podcast: That don't, uh... That never hurt you.
Drake: I've never skid my steps. in
The SnowJobs Podcast: No. Or you could get a laser. You know, get the... ah Get like a hilti. laser or something. That'll, uh... That'll help you do it.
The SnowJobs Podcast: But what else? Anything else? We cover everything.
Drake: I mean, those are the only questions I had written that I'm rolling down my... notebook. Mikey, do you have anything to add on from last week?
Mikey Santolucito : No I do want to retouch on one though. so
The SnowJobs Podcast: Touch it.
Mikey Santolucito : We talk about sight walks, right? and Getting the client out there with you for the walk. you will find that there will be times that it's not possible. They probably live in a different state.
Mikey Santolucito : they're a few cities away or they're on the other end of the the country. It's... ah it's imperative that you try and figure out who their engineer is they send to that site because they definitely contract somebody to maintain that building in their absence.
Mikey Santolucito : that is the guy that you want to walk around with first even though he has no decision making like say in the process of whether they hire you or not. he can at least vouch for the things that you're going to be putting into that bid.
Mikey Santolucito : that raises the price up from whatever the base contract was calling for and You can be descriptive in your email to them with the proposal. you can take photos you know you can explain yourself as much as you want, but when you have somebody in your corner to back it up.
Mikey Santolucito : It'll help push it. to the finish line quicker so you can get the correct amount of money you need for that contract and they'll know that you're not bullshitting them.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Mikey does very large stuff. campuses, stuff like that. Jimmy Johns, you're probably looking at the regional manager as the head dude.
Mikey Santolucito : Yep.
Drake: Yeah, but I'll say... can no
Billy: He's right. ah I just signed a a VA a hospital and ah Actually, today we ah we do green for them. Um... The management company that manages the building is down in Alabama.
Billy: she will openly admit i have no clue about snow it's 104 i don't really care
The SnowJobs Podcast: Yep.
Mikey Santolucito : Yep.
Billy: But what gets conveyed back is the guy boots on the ground guy Um... Kind of walk through, hey, this is a very sensitive site. This is high profile areas. This is why we're doing doubling the service. This is why it's so expensive.
Billy: So when she asked me a question, I already talked to Tim Tim said that you said this and this and this and this We're good.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Yep.
Billy: you know.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Yep. And then send her your safety the award.
Billy: So absolutely correct on that.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Send her your safety award. Boom.
Mikey Santolucito : mm -hmm
Billy: Absolutely.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Got it.
Billy: So, you know, another thing too is we use site photos because it's actually pretty easy and it's actually pretty easy to make.
The SnowJobs Podcast: ah
Billy: pretty interactive maps.
The SnowJobs Podcast: It is. Yep.
Billy: So. If. I feel like if it's a a client that I really want to earn that business, I'll send them the interactive map of, you know, Angelo, make a map, here's snow piles, drainage.
Billy: It's really kind of nice. It sucks when we don't get the job because they'll probably take that and give it to somebody else. But. They also see it like, wow, you took the time to do this. And then you have a. plan which we've talked about many many times You have a plan of how you're going to do the snow, where the high profile areas are. fire hydrants and dumpsters and handicap and all that good shit.
Billy: um So that's another good selling point when you get to the walkthrough or even print one out saying, hey, this is. This is what I got going on here for you.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Yep. And if you want to see how to do that.
Billy: Because... How many people are really doing that?
The SnowJobs Podcast: Yeah, and if you want to see how to do what Billy's talking about with site photos, making a map, ah you can head on over to the Snowjobs, what is it, Snowjobs Podcast or Snowjobs Nation YouTube.
Billy: What's up
The SnowJobs Podcast: Um, And it's on there. Mike actually did a whole webinar. Teaching guys.
Mikey Santolucito : Was that the one that we did? like year one
The SnowJobs Podcast: Yeah.
RICK JAMES: Yeah, yep.
The SnowJobs Podcast: teaching guys how to Teaching guys how to make maps off of site photos. So it's still up there.
Mikey Santolucito : Damn.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Yep.
Billy: Really easy.
The SnowJobs Podcast: it's ah yeah it's not hard it's it's pretty cool and i think most of site photos are still like almost free.
Billy: mm -hmm
Mikey Santolucito : Yeah Mike's a good dude.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Yep. What else, Drake? Got anything else for us?
Drake: Can't think of if anything go right off the top of my head at the moment
The SnowJobs Podcast: No. Any closing thoughts for him, Billy?
Drake: i was
Billy: ye We've been communicating. I've got to send some stuff to these guys. I was lacking today. I had some irrigation issues come up and never heard of those at 100 degrees here. Um...
Billy: keep the Keep the smile. i mean Eventually, yeah you get 20 years, there's not a lot of smiling left.
Mikey Santolucito : Yeah.
Billy: It's more like anger and brass knuckles.
The SnowJobs Podcast: ah
Billy: and You know, you'll have balls of steel by the time you you know get Todd's age.
RICK JAMES: um
Mikey Santolucito : Don't! Fucking tell them now.
Billy: oh Look at Jeremy's even playing with them on the air.
The SnowJobs Podcast: We already told them, go back to electrical school.
RICK JAMES: Yep.
The SnowJobs Podcast: go Go to electrician school. Save yourself the headache.
Billy: It's a thick skin business, bro.
Mikey Santolucito : and
Billy: That's all.
The SnowJobs Podcast: It is. It's yeah. Big boy pants. Absolutely.
Drake: That's what I heard from you Billy today. that you did not have a good day.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Turn four. Anybody else got anything for him?
Billy: We need it, Todd.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Todd, anything to add?
RICK JAMES: Excuse me. You're muted, Todd.
.Todd Dickerson: I am muted.
Mikey Santolucito : Uh oh.
.Todd Dickerson: Look at that. I think the overwhelming theme tonight is protect yourself from liability. You know, that's got to be the first thing you think of with every. opportunity that you get.
.Todd Dickerson: Like even that six inch drop off that you're talking about is. you know How do I protect myself liability -wise?
The SnowJobs Podcast: mm -hmm
.Todd Dickerson: you know the money the money's not that great if you if you gotta hold it for a lawsuit right so you know. I think that's paramount. on anything that any of these guys do including myself.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Yep.
.Todd Dickerson: So.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Drake, if I can offer you one piece of advice in closing here. Don't. be tempted to fall into the same pitfall that claims so many young Not just snow guys, young guys in any any business, any field.
The SnowJobs Podcast: They they're hungry. They're energetic. They, they, they have a plan. And they take everything that comes their way.
RICK JAMES: undersell.
The SnowJobs Podcast: whether it's whether it's good for them or not. All right. Whether it's it makes any some of the time, it doesn't even make any business sense for them to do it. They're taking ah ah they're taking snow properties 45 minutes away from each other. you know, just to make a buck and say they're growing.
Mikey Santolucito : okay
The SnowJobs Podcast: Don't do that. Stay tight. Stick to your guns. Target. Target. spots in your area, very close to other spots you already have. Um,
The SnowJobs Podcast: Build slowly. Don't don't feel like you got to blow up overnight You know, my rule when When I started... when When I started all hands for myself and and wasn't working for anybody else anymore, when I started my own business, my rule was I was only taking on.
The SnowJobs Podcast: ah one property a year. possibly a second. but only what I knew I could get done on my worst day with everything breaking down. I had to be able to guarantee to myself that I could do that because if you fail.
The SnowJobs Podcast: You're done. You know, you you have one. Have a plan B with one truck, because if that truck goes down mid storm on a 10 inch snow storm, that's the biggest Finlay Ohio has ever seen in the, in the last.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Five years. If you go down in that storm and your properties can't get serviced. You basically go back to elect electrician school. Because your your rep is shot at that point. Seriously, like.
The SnowJobs Podcast: You build a thousand bridges, you know, that old saying, it only takes one one storm to ruin a reputation. And people talk about it. you know i know I know exactly the four companies around me that failed last winter. When we had the big 23 -inch storm.
The SnowJobs Podcast: You know, I, everybody knows everybody in the business and everybody in the property property management business knows as well. So. You get one shot at this, so don't bite off more than you can chew.
The SnowJobs Podcast: grow methodically, slowly. have a set of, it doesn't hurt to have a set of a list of things that each. Potential site. you want it to have.
The SnowJobs Podcast: you know close to your core area, the right price point, the right type of site that you're comfortable doing. Little liability is possible. You know. I'm not.
The SnowJobs Podcast: I don't chase like, ah I don't know. What's a good example? I will never do a lawyer's office. I do doctors. I don't do lawyers.
The SnowJobs Podcast: You know, I just don't, I, I, I don't feel like, uh, that's, uh, people are already going, going in there for a reason. why Why be the guy plowing it? But it's just, you know.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Make. Make a list. and stick to it. Don't just take anything that comes your way. Don't take fucking shit the Nationals are throwing at you. They're throwing it at you for a reason.
The SnowJobs Podcast: you're getting a list and they'll give you every fucking bank in the state probably because they can't get anybody else to take it that knows what they're looking at. So... That. That's what they do ah year after year. They try and get guys that don't know that they shouldn't be touching them.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Psalm.
Billy: As you grow too, you know, year after year. Uh... You'll start to get a feeling about things like, you know, like, man.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Yeah. Absolutely.
Billy: that That doesn't sound too good. Like, I keep getting this thing in the mail that it says I won $2 million. dollars like
Mikey Santolucito : ah
Billy: I'm real close here. But just something tells me it's not real, you know.
Mikey Santolucito : but
The SnowJobs Podcast: The man with the big check didn't show up yet.
Mikey Santolucito : Yep.
Billy: Yeah, Ed McMahon's not coming.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Nope. Then nobody knows that reference. I was going to use it, Bill, but I'm like, man, we're going to really date ourselves. Only Todd will know that reference.
.Todd Dickerson: this kid doesn't know Yeah, this kid has no idea who Ed McMahon is.
Mikey Santolucito : ah
Billy: Last three.
The SnowJobs Podcast: ah
Billy: Heh heh.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Oh shit. All right. Anything else? We'll wrap it.
Drake: got another question that I just thought.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Okay.
Mikey Santolucito : i
Drake: um
Mikey Santolucito : Let's go.
Drake: So on. and So I still use subcontractors and all that. How are you guys going about paying them? and if we're in How would you go about it if you were the one being the subcontractor, if you're doing a subcontractor work?
The SnowJobs Podcast: I don't have subs. Billy, you got subs at all? No.
Mikey Santolucito : Make sure that your payment terms line up with.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Mikey?
Mikey Santolucito : theirs if you're ne If they're net 30, you're net 30. And if your client's net 30. you know, ah you're gonna end up floating them. one way or the other because your client inevitably is going to pay you on day 31 or day 35 but Yes.
The SnowJobs Podcast: What are you doing, on Mike? W9?
Mikey Santolucito : W9, yep. That's it. But yeah, I just... had that conversation with them hey the smaller stuff obviously i can pay pretty quick the bigger storms like your 12 inch plus the ones that don't come very often and like I can probably float you, but until I get paid. I may not be able to get to the whole thing or just save as much as you can. and Pay him the whole thing and wait for the client to...
Mikey Santolucito : to get the uh check to you but here's the other here's the flip side of that that we're still dealing with on my end If they don't pay on time consistently. You can look back and see how much like revenue I guess in the off season you do with them. So like you and I doing landscape, like.
Mikey Santolucito : you know do we do enhance or work with them how many draws we sell outside their base contract. do they do you know like a 50 plus percent. enhancement to maintenance ratio.
Mikey Santolucito : Okay. All right. I can deal with being 15 days late. You know? to a certain degree When you start getting 60, 90. more than 90, and they're consistently late with shit.
The SnowJobs Podcast: By design.
Mikey Santolucito : They're better served by somebody else who can deal with that. It's not for guys like you that are trying to grow your business. build your reputation and start out. like on the right foot.
Mikey Santolucito : You're gonna find those clients and you're not going to want to take them back, and that's totally fine. like don't beat yourself up over walking away from people like that because if you can't pay your sub who went in there and killed themselves and did that work because they can't pay you on time and you're floating that sub just to make sure that they their business and their costs are covered.
Mikey Santolucito : It's not a symbiotic relationship and you got to walk away from it.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Amen.
.Todd Dickerson: So I'm not going to mention any names, but... You guys know. a lot of the profiles that I do in in the country.
Mikey Santolucito : Yes.
.Todd Dickerson: And. There's one right now that I literally. Billy's probably going to laugh because we talked about it earlier, but. There's one that has not paid me since January.
.Todd Dickerson: And. I literally just put them on We are, this turn this is terminated. We are no longer interested in doing business with you. And if I told you who it was, you'd probably.
.Todd Dickerson: you know fall out of your chair so and And we're not talking small dollars. you know.
Mikey Santolucito : Mm hmm.
.Todd Dickerson: Don't ever be afraid. to terminate the customer. because they're not afraid to terminate you. And there's plenty.
Billy: What is that?
The SnowJobs Podcast: Absolutely.
.Todd Dickerson: There's plenty more out there. Walk the deal and go find another. and somebody else will follow them im i'm telling you and somebody will take their spot
The SnowJobs Podcast: 100%.
.Todd Dickerson: If... If you're delivering the service that you should be delivering.
Mikey Santolucito : Yep.
.Todd Dickerson: So. But as the one other thing, when Steve said, if you fail your reputation.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Amen.
.Todd Dickerson: That's all you have in this business is your reputation. And word gets out, I promise you. No matter. No matter who you are, they're gonna find out about it.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Oh yeah.
.Todd Dickerson: So. You know but Look, I just want to say.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Probably. Probably from this show.
.Todd Dickerson: Well, yeah. wow yeah I mean... I mean... Kudos to you and, and you know. Jeremy for, for this show and, you know, getting the reach that it has. But the other thing that I just want to say real quick, cause I kind of initiated this and I think.
.Todd Dickerson: you know Steve and Jeremy, obviously Mikey, thanks for jumping on tonight and Billy, but. i think I think this kid has a lot of spunk, a lot of grit. And I think he's eager to learn.
.Todd Dickerson: which is kind of cool for me being the old dog i guess in this in this room which Thankfully, I don't say a lot in the rooms that I hang out in. so um But, you know. Thank you guys for jumping on and helping this kid because I think he.
.Todd Dickerson: Although he probably should have been an electrician, he's he's passionate about what he's doing. so
Mikey Santolucito : Hey, man, listen, I know a plenty of electricians at Plow Snow.
.Todd Dickerson: So do I.
Mikey Santolucito : Nobody gets out.
Drake: I mean. um
.Todd Dickerson: Exactly.
Billy: Well, I think it was a good idea because I had a lot of people reach out to me in the last 10 days that.
Drake: this
Billy: especially in Michigan. like This is great. like Again, we talked about it before. I wish I had it. I actually met a lot of cool people already in the last 10 to 14 days just because of this show. They listened to us. uh ben johnson being one of them from forge and randy dotson and you know i met these people and they're just they're good people they have questions and And this kind of brings everything to light. So this was I think these last two episodes were really great. so
The SnowJobs Podcast: Absolutely. Everybody gets better. Everybody makes more money.
.Todd Dickerson: Exactly.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Bottom line.
Billy: Hallelujah.
The SnowJobs Podcast: educate the people that are coming up that are starting out. They need to charge accordingly. All right All right, Jay, you got anything else?
RICK JAMES: Nope.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Okay.
RICK JAMES: I'm good.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Okay. Drake, you got anything else for us before we let you go?
Drake: No, I just greatly appreciate you guys having me on. and you know, show me the ropes. Tommy the electrician.
The SnowJobs Podcast: i'm dead serious about that dude don't let me down i'm gonna need an electrician sometime So go back to school. You can always plow snow. But that's a nice fallback.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Definitely is.
Drake: like just out the green side out and just go full electrician.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Yeah. Fuck the lawns, dude. Yeah, go learn how to be an electrician. or HVAC, whatever, plumber, that's what you do during the day. Run your own damn business. And you can plow snow all you want as a hobby. It's a lot easier to say no. to the wrong contract, trust me when you have another paycheck coming.
The SnowJobs Podcast: All right. All right, we'll wrap it there. Jay, you good? Okay. All right. So we'll cut it there. Thanks, Drake. Appreciate it, man. Glad we can help you out. And all we'll cut 187. Episode 187 is in the books. All right. As we said, everybody. Hope you had a great Labor Day weekend with your families. Hope you got to relax and celebrate some.
The SnowJobs Podcast: And ah to these guys, thanks for giving up their time and expertise as always. Billy, never never a dull moment. Mike is awesome as always. Todd is a legend. Me and Jeremy are me and Jeremy. And, you know, we we're glad we could help you out, Drake. And if anybody else has these ah these kind of issues. Let us know.
The SnowJobs Podcast: You know, this is a... This is why we're doing this. All right. So everybody have a great week. We will talk to you next week. Keep pushing.
