07/26/2025
Pictures of a hurricane barn my crew and I had the privilege of doing this passed week. Very sweet lady. I would like to discuss a few things, as a new-ish business owner we learn as we go and that’s how we become stronger.
I was inquired about this barn weeks before having the privilege to actually get to said barn. I normally only try to give quotes in person, but unfortunately the day that I was scheduled to go out to give her a quote, my mother ended up in the hospital and I unfortunately, was not able to make it that evening. Be meaningful, her barn is an hour and 15 minutes away. I gave her a rough quote off of the pictures she provided for me, (pictures never do justice) I had envision that we were coming to do “Deep clean”, as she mentioned when inquiring. I priced her my rough quote throughout the pictures and told her when I got there, I could get a better look at it; the day that we had scheduled for me and my crew to officially come and start cleaning. For me, a “deep clean” means putting every bit of our effort into making every spot of your barn- that you asked to be clean, is s**c and span by the time we leave and ensuring our work is professionally aquired to gain more clientele. This was a vary tideous barn! What was asked for a deep clean, ended up becoming a “touch up and wipe down) we were only allowed to move things and wipe and mop underneath and then put them back exactly how they were - no organization just how she wanted it done. With the severity of the stalls in any other situation, I would have lightly pressure washed to help remove the mounds gunk on the stall walls… we were only allowed to hand wash them, with the shavings pulled into the middle of the stalls, so we did not ruin shavings. Me personally, with completely washing any stalls, we strip them. To completely and severely hand wash a stall walls with layers of dust and horse manure that inquires a lot of water, soap, chemicals and TIME.
When hiring companies, such as myself, our job is to ensure that we leave every barn the way that we would want our own left. I unfortunately, was not able to do that due to the specific way this owner wanted it done. Hand scrubbing takes a lot of time and determination to get finished looked, not agreeing with raising the price and to “only get the first layer and do the best you can”…. Hand scrubbing a stall, after knocking down pounds of dust onto said stalls, plus what was already on them, manure, is a pressure washing job for the price i charged... the work we had to put in and the finish look i had wanted would’ve been a solid extra $1,000-$1,500 dollars by hand scrubbing. I myself had to eat the time and money to accommodate everybody who was working, insured they are paid fairly and I make back the money for the supplies I purchase. I am disgusted with the severity I had to leave the barn because i’ve never had to before with any other passed cliental or not having someone agree to having it done the right way.
I had 4 workers present the first day and 5 the second… do the math and the amount of time it took - plus I pay by the job/the day.
I will no longer be giving rough quotes over the phone with pictures as I feel, pictures do not do justice and it ends up, biting myself, my employees and my business in the end.
This post is to NOT bash this lady or how she wanted things done. She was very sweet and kind to all of us and I appreciated her hospitality, letting us into her barn and choosing my business to better her barn the best we could to the standard she wanted / could afford.
I will post pictures below with descriptions. Thank you for everyone who follows, likes, shares and supposed my businesss. - Terri C., remember if you think your barn is clean, I will prove to you it’s not.
Give me a call 362-614-2350 to schedule an in person quote. We service Marion, levy, lake, Alachua, Sumter and volusia county!
