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COMMON MISTAKES HOMEOWNERS MAKE WHEN SCHEDULING WORK

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“Time is Money”…

Spring has arrived and outdoor maintenance is in full swing. Budding plants and trees renew our spirit with eagerness to clean and beautify our homes. With so many things to be done, each homeowner decides which tasks to do themselves, and which to hire out to a professional. Keenly anticipating outdoor cookouts and gatherings after what feels like the longest two years spent isolating, we may think that it would be most efficient to schedule all such work at once. To a homeowner, it would seem ideal to have everything done in one day, so that tasks do not linger, or go undone. However, it is exactly this “efficiency” which actually proves contradictory, counterproductive, costly, and in many cases, unsafe. Why the problem?

Landscapers, Painters, and House Cleaners do not mix with Pressure Washing and Window Cleaning Services.

Most professional services use large trucks from which they obtain their equipment. Some of this equipment requires long hoses which must be reeled out onto your property, proving a trip hazard. Many professionals use long ladders which must be carefully carried so as not to prove a hazard to other humans, plants, or property. Solvents may be used which may be harmful to new landscaping, or be hazardous to other workers. Heavy trucks may roll over hoses of other companies, causing damage or breakage, costing time and money. In many areas, parking multiple professional service vehicles presents a logistic problem, preventing work to be done. Not to mention the fact that it is counterproductive to schedule moisture (humidity) creating jobs with jobs which require dry conditions, such as mulching and painting. Also, there is the matter of safety, not just in the amount of people working on or in your home, many of which will be focused on their own work, not on the potential hazards around them, including COVID.

From a homeowner’s perspective, this may all seem very convenient, to have a ‘one and done’ mentality. However, it is not convenient for ANYONE, especially the homeowner, when jobs must be rescheduled due to conflict of time, space, efficiency, or safety, or worse still, to be cancelled altogether. All it takes is a little consideration and communication so that each homeowner’s needs may be met in a safe and efficient manner.

Very often, when these principles are ignored, the homeowner is the one who loses out, being unable to be rescheduled in a timely fashion. It is also frustrating for workers, attempting to do their job, having to spend many hours negotiating between the homeowner and the other contractors, instead of efficiently working. This costs companies time and money, when such could be avoided by honest disclosure from the homeowner.

What can you do?

Benjamin Franklin said, “Time is Money”. At Grime Fighters, we respect both your time and your money. We appreciate when our customers reciprocate that respect. When scheduling your Pressure Washing and Window Cleaning Services, it is important to communicate with our Office Manager what other services you may have scheduled the same day, and what time frame they will occupy. This positive, pro-active communication enables us to meet your needs and dynamically function so as to build a stronger community relationship.

The Grime Fighter Team looks forward to rejuvenating your home this Spring!

BUILDING THE NEW FOR 2022

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“The secret of change is to focus all your energy not on fighting the old, but on building the new.” -Dan Millman

David Allan Coe said, “It is not the beauty of a building you should look at; its the construction of the foundation that will stand the test of time.” After one of the busiest and longest working seasons to date, Grime Fighters anticipates an even better season this year, 2022. We want to show our appreciation to our loyal customers (and new ones) for returning time and again. Therefore we are excited to reveal some improvements that will benefit both our technicians and our customers, at no extra charge.

At Grime Fighters, we are constantly striving to improve safety measures. It is our primary concern! The safety of our technicians and the safety of your property are reflected in our improvements and goals. Safety, Efficiency, and Quality of People, Water, and Systems are the hallmarks for which we endeavour. Therefore, this season embarks with changes to staff, more training, and education including new methods, tools, and innovation. This includes a 3-PHASE UPGRADE with the goal of radically reducing our liability footprint, increasing the safety of our technicians and of our customers’ landscaping.

UPGRADES:

  • 1ST PHASE: WATER-FED POLE SYSTEM
  • New low-friction, high-volume hoses
  • New state-of-the-art pumping system
  • New brushes
  • New DI water filtration

(Maximizes efficiency of time, water, cleaning agents. No excess, no waste.)

  • 2ND PHASE: PRESSURE WASHING SYSTEM
  • New Mixing Valve Station

(Meters all fluids so as to only use precisely what is necessary.)

  • 3RD PHASE: ROOF CLEANING SYSTEM

As our highest liability service, we are taking steps to streamline, with a special project to be released at a later date.

How will you, the customer, benefit from these changes, upgrades, and improvements?

  • Higher Quality, without a price hike.
  • Reduced Liability.
  • Efficiency. Technicians will not be there any longer than is necessary.

Grime Fighters also benefits from these changes.

  • Better use of resources.
  • Performance Improvement.
  • Safer Work Environment.

To show our appreciation to our customers, we want to give you more, without paying more. Therefore, for the month of February, beginning February 1st, we are offering a special:

  • 10% EARLY BOOKING DISCOUNT to any LEHIGH VALLEY customer
  • 15% EARLY BOOKING DISCOUNT to MONTGOMERY COUNTY NEIGHBOURS
  • 20% EARLY BOOKING DISCOUNT to any LEHIGH VALLEY customer that refers a MONTGOMERY COUNTY customer.

*MENTION THIS BLOG TO RECEIVE THE DISCOUNT.

Every business has growing pains. Every business goes through changes. Smart businesses dynamically shift with changes, allowing such to create room for improvement, not stagnancy for stubbornness. Every business has small beginnings. Its how we build on those small beginnings that matters.

“You can be miserable; or you can be strong. The amount of work is the same.”

House Washing to Winterize

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WHY YOU SHOULDN’T NEGLECT HOME MAINTENANCE IN AUTUMN.

Autumn seems naturally to be the season when life slows down. Days begin to grow shorter. Temperatures begin to lower. We, like our natural environment around us, are ready to take a break. However, this environment actually creates its own potential hazard to our homes.

It is commonly believed that a home’s exterior should be cleaned only once a year, or only if there is a problem area suffering from mold, mildew, or algae. The folly in this assumption is thinking that the problem is isolated, and not ongoing. The truth is, your home is constantly being bombarded by elements, both seen and unseen. And the combination of these elements creates a perfect storm of unseen damage to your home.

High humidity, dust, dirt, excess moisture, and lack of sunlight are the big offenders when it comes to fostering an environment conducive to algae, mold, and mildew growth on your home. So Autumn and Winter can make your home especially susceptible because of the decrease of sunlight, as well as humid and moist weather. And if its been a while since your last house wash, say a season or two, (or more), the accumulated dirt that naturally clings to your home has just laid out a welcome mat of food for fungus.

Both vinyl and wood siding are equally susceptible, though for different reasons. While wood siding is a natural food source for algae and mold, vinyl siding that is covered in dust or dirt, is equally at risk. And, as the North side of your home receives the least amount of sunlight, this is where the problem will most likely be noticed. However, any area of your home that is consistently shaded is in danger. This can include shade from trees, shrubs, awnings, and porches.

So what can be done to remove the problem of mold, mildew, and algae, or better yet, to prevent it?

Prevention is all about what you do right NOW. It costs nothing to take an inspective stroll around your home. First, look for clear evidence of mold, mildew, or algae growth, indicated by spots or streaks of green, brown, black, or red on your siding. Next, check your sources. Are the Gutters clean, in good repair, with water flowing away from your home? Check that any trees, shrubs, or plantings are pruned away from your siding so as not to encourage excess debris or moisture, that could serve as fast food for algae. Finally, check for cracks or damage to any areas of your siding, including covered porches and soffits. Address immediately anything that looks like a danger zone, including the danger of putting off a professional house wash.

Growth that is left untended isn’t just unsightly, it actually causes structural damage to your home’s exterior and interior. Algae and mold thrive and feed on these surfaces, breaking down structural integrity. Consistent, effective cleaning is the only solution to removal of this insidious problem. Regular house washing, preferably every spring and every autumn, is essential to removal and prevention of buildup as it sterilizes surfaces, making them less prone to these dangers.

Before and After House Washing in Lehigh Valley, PA by Grime Fighters

Take advantage right now to ready your home for winter. Scheduling a professional house wash will benefit you in many ways.

  1. Protect your Investment. Damage to your home will not just cost you money in repair or replacement. It actually devalues your property.
  2. A clean home increases curb appeal, and shows that you respect your home and community.
  3. Protecting your home’s exterior also means protecting your health. Keep potential for allergens and respiratory problems at bay.

Ready your home for winter. Schedule your professional house wash service today.

Why September is the Perfect Month For House Washing and Gutter Cleaning:

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Gutter Cleaning in Macungie, Pennsylvania by Grime Fighters


While the Lehigh Valley and surrounding areas of Bucks and Montgomery have had a fairly mild summer, it has, however, had its fair share of storms.  As summer ends with the arrival of September, it is important to use this opportunity to remove the stain of summer from your home.  

High humidity fosters a perfect environment for mold and mildew to grow on your home’s exterior, especially in wooded areas.  Pollutants, especially in urban areas, are carried in the air and settle into this hospitable environment, as well as debris carried by strong winds, delivered to gutters, clogging them and preventing smooth flow of water away from your home.  All of these factors harbor potential damage to your home…and that means a great expense to you. 

 
By taking advantage of our “2021 Summer Blowout” special for the month of September, you are making the wise and responsible choice of maintaining your home, while saving money now, and in the long run.  

Why not save 10% NOW on all HOUSE WASHING and GUTTER CLEANING booked for the month of September, while saving hundreds or thousands of dollars from the high cost of neglect.