The Crucial Importance of a Business' Curb Appeal

Call StarCare Power Wash to learn how we can help you improve your business' curb appeal!
707-580-3665

Hey small business owners, as the saying goes, you never have a second chance to make a first impression. This is especially true in the competitive world of business, where a single negative review or bad experience can send prospective customers (and their dollars) elsewhere. Even if your prices and customer satisfaction levels are beyond reproach, a lackluster, dated, or damaged storefront may all but ensure that many would-be customers will never make it past the door. One of our merchants that we introduced the Clover™ Station to have a nice little shop in Glen Ellyn, IL and if you happen to stop by you can get some great ideas on how to make some changes to your store front for more curb appeal, while enjoying their inventory inside too!

Read on to learn more about the impact curb appeal can have on your business, as well as some steps you can take to instantly improve your curb appeal and pull in more customers.

Why is Curb Appeal So Important?

The term "curb appeal" is often used in the context of residential real estate sales: the greater the curb appeal, the quicker the sale. But curb appeal is just as, if not more, important when it comes to retail stores, restaurants, and service-based businesses. A building that looks run-down, doesn't have obvious signage, or lacks good lighting can be unappealing to passersby, leading them straight to your competitors.

One local study found that 70 percent of first-time sales were based on curb appeal, which means a business lacking in curb appeal could be leaving a major amount of money on the table.

How Can Businesses Grab Attention and Increase Foot Traffic

Even if you're dealing with a building that could use some TLC, improving (or creating) curb appeal doesn't need to be an expensive or time-consuming process.

Improve Wayfinding and Signage
It's important for passersby to not only be able to find your business, but to have some idea of the products or services you offer. Make sure your street number is easily visible from the storefront (or even painted on the sidewalk) to make it easier for map or GPS users to find you. If your business has a fairly nondescript name, consider using a logo or short slogan on your signs and storefront that will let the public know what to expect.

You'll also want to ensure that all your business's signs are large enough to be easily read from wherever your potential customers will be traveling, whether a nearby sidewalk, highway, or somewhere else. Even if your sign seems large when you're standing right next to it, if people driving by can't read it, you're unlikely to pull in many new customers.

Repair Walkways and Steps
Crumbling concrete sidewalks and stairs can pose a tripping hazard for customers. Not only is this a liability risk, it's likely to deter would-be customers from making their way inside your business. Having damaged exterior concrete patched or repaved will reduce the risk that a customer could be harmed on your property while also improving your building's overall look.

Clean it Up (Or Hire a Cleaning Service)
While having a steady stream of customers can be good for your bottom line, it also entails a certain amount of daily and weekly cleaning. If you don't have the time or staff to handle this yourself, you may want to consider hiring a cleaning service that can do things like pick up trash around your building or in the parking lot, wash your exterior windows and sidewalks, and empty any outdoor trash cans or cigarette containers.

Use Landscaping to Create an Inviting Atmosphere
Businesses that are surrounded by a stark, vacant lot without any adornment can be off-putting. Adding some bushes, flowering plants, landscaping boulders, or other decorative elements can give a friendlier impression, as can using foliage to create a direct path to your business's door.

If your storefront doesn't have much in the way of grass or greenery, you may want to consider installing a rock garden instead. Not only are rock gardens modern and eye-catching, this type of xeriscaping is extremely low-maintenance and won't eat into your overhead costs.

Lure Customers With Discounts, Samples, and Offers
For retail businesses, placing a few deeply-discounted items outside can draw in bargain-hunting customers. In other cases, using outdoor signage to conspicuously advertise free samples, trials, or other offers available inside can get brand new customers in the door when they may otherwise have walked right past.

Invest in Seasonal Decor--But Keep it Timely
Seasonal decor like holiday lights, pumpkins, or American flags can be an instant way to update your building's exterior and keep its look fresh. On the other hand, having your Christmas lights still up when Easter arrives can indicate your company is disorganized, overwhelmed, or even closed for good. Make a point of updating your seasonal decor on a regular basis to avoid sending the wrong message.

Use Trim and Shutters to "Finish" Your Building's Appearance
A new paint job can freshen up any building, but if this isn't in your budget, installing new shutters or adding some coordinating trim can instantly give your business a streamlined, updated look. Trim or shutters that match your business's colors are even better, providing a source of exterior branding in addition to your signage.

By taking these steps, you'll help your business remain competitive in an increasingly image-focused market.

Article Source: http://insight.getvms.com/curb-appeal

A Clean Backyard is a Happy Backyard

Get your backyard ready for spring entertaining by having your patio power washed by StarCare Power Wash! We also do driveways, sidewalks, bricks, and house washing. Our cleaning process includes using environmentally green soaps and products. Give us a call today to make an appointment!

Tips for Choosing a Power Washing Company

There are some important factors that you should take into account when choosing a power washing company for your private or commercial needs. Getting the appropriate company will ensure that you get a reliable and good service at competitive cost. Power washing is an important method of carrying out cleaning processes both of domestic and commercial applications. For instance, if you are in a working environment with a lot of oil residue, then washing can be of great importance.

It is important to note that finding an affordable and reliable power washing company is not an easy task. This is so because many companies have branded themselves as the best in the industry and therefore posing a great challenge in determining a company that is offering quality services. There are several companies out there. There are also different sources from where you can get such companies. The internet can be a great source to find the contractor or company of your choice. You can easily find a company at your locality which you were unaware of at your locality.

After getting the various companies at your locality, it is important that you request their estimates for your project. It is important to note that some companies are willing to provide free estimates. It is therefore important that you request the estimates from different companies for comparison. This is one of the best ways of finding an affordable cost. Your budget is quite important and therefore you should work in accordance with it.

Another important aspect you should take into account is the insurance and the licensing of the power washing company. Licensing is part of the government and legislation. It is important to note that any company that is to carry out power washing in your estate should be licensed and registered by the required bodies. You should never be afraid to inquire about their current licensing, certification, type of insurance and any other qualification they have.

Communication is very important when it comes to selecting power washing company for your domestic and commercial needs. If in the first case, the company is reluctant to take your calls or even respond to the emails, this is a sign of how unreliable they are. It is possible to pay them in advance and fail to complete your project. It is crucial to contact the company you are engaged with and ask some details from them before contracting them.


Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6387446

Do Gas Stations Get Dirty? We Are The Clean Machine!

When the concrete or pavement is so dirty, it sticks to shoes and travels with everyone walking in and out of your store, or into their cars and trucks. But, just a little bit of maintenance from time to time can solve those issues and have your service station looking as close to new again as possible. See the dramatic difference in this one photo!

Call StarCare Power Wash to set up your own maintenance schedule today! 707-580-3665

StarCare Power Wash Offers Rust Removal

StarCare does rust removal with awesome results on a beautiful residence in Vacaville CA with our new EBC Restorer! Give us a call for more information and to schedule an appointment. 

707-580-3665

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Can Gas Station Pressure Washing Be Eco-friendly?

Foot traffic from hundreds of people quickly degrades the surface of a gas station’s hardscape and interior flooring. In addition to the oil, gasoline, and grime on these surfaces, you’ll also find stains made from puddles of dumped-out beverages, chewing gum, windshield cleansing fluids, and rubber marks that are difficult to remove using traditional cleaning tools. Pressure washing gas stations is the best way to lift stains and tough grime from flooring and pads. By working with a pressure washing company that has high environmental standards, you’ll keep your station sparkling and meet the environmental standards of the company that you represent at the same time.

PRESSURE WASHING GAS STATIONS: KEEPING IT GREEN
When a green pressure washing company cleans a gas station, it will perform the services in a manner that has the least impact on your operations. The workers set up special equipment that prevents wastewater from going down drains and into surrounding surfaces before pre-treating the area in which they’ll work. If you want the professionals to clean the exterior of any buildings, they’ll take precautions to protect surrounding plants and landscaping.

Following industry standards, the professionals clean the pad and surfaces using the safest nozzle and pressure settings to lift dirt, grime, and tough stains and protect the equipment in the gas station at the same time. During the cleaning process, the technicians also use equipment that collects the wastewater. If their wastewater cleaning processes don’t clean the dirty water while on-site, they’ll store it in tanks and deliver it to a disposal facility.

When pressure washing gas stations, it’s best to use a professional service provider. Doing so eliminates the risk of accidentally contaminating the surrounding environment and local watershed, which may result in a hefty fine. Hiring a pressure washing company also eliminates the need to invest in high-quality pressure washing equipment and train employees in their safe and proper use.

PWNA Safety Procedures
The Power Washers of North America, a group that informs members on best practices for safety in pressure washing. Make sure your technicians are ready for work, wearing appropriate clothing and operating power washers in a safe manner. Take time before each project to train our pressure washing crews on safety issues.

Article Source: https://www.pwna.org/can-gas-station-pressure-washing-be-eco-friendly/

Ultimate Benefits of Having Your Home/Business Professionally Pressure Washed

Our homes and business are subjected to a lot of filth on a day to day basis, which eventually accumulates and can drastically lower our exterior appearance. Even though this may concern you and provoke you to purchase one of the readily available pressure washers from your local hardware or big box store, getting rid of accumulated dirt and grease can be a daunting task. The operational process involving control of heat, pressure, water flow and cleaning solutions is similarly complicated. Hiring professionals to pressure wash your premise is may be the only assured way of getting the job done without nightmares and costly mistakes.

Higher Level Of Experience And Better Techniques

Experts have are obviously merited with significant experience over one-timers and or fly by nighter contractors. This is crucial for the fact that application of wrong techniques in concrete cleaning or driveway cleaning may result in unwanted results like compaction of the grime or etching of the surface. By understanding the powerful nature of a pressure washer, you will realize that only professionals can be able to work with it without causing damage. Professional cleaners also understand the right soaps and detergants needed to clean effectively. With their expertise they will be able to determine the appropriate technique to apply on different platforms to accomplish the job flawlessly.

Better Equipped To Handle The Job!

Another point to consider is that professionals are better equipped to do their job. Even though you might shop for pressure washing equipment, it probably isn't ideal for the job. It is right to let the professionals who have mastered their career and invested on it do the cleaning for you. Most contractors have thousands of dollars of equipment to complete the job correctly. Items like hot water pressure washing units, surface cleaners, soft wash systems, and other pieces of equipment will provide a better level of clean for your property. Also their dedication to the job complemented by division of labor will prove indispensable for your sidewalk cleaning or gum removal needs.

Understanding Of Environment Protection Agency Guidelines

Most cleaning activities that involve pressure washers have detrimental effects on the environment and this is something that only professionals know how to handle. The fact that their equipment's are updated based on the most recent EPA guidelines, implies that they are fitting to prevent environmental damage that may result from surface run-off. Contractors also understand the importance of reclaiming soaps and detergent, and the proper steps for disposal.

Avoid Damaging Your Property

With the dangers associated with pressure washing, you should stay away to avoid putting yourself or your premise at risk of possible damage to your property. If not done correctly one could cause permanent damage to concrete, window seals, wood, and siding. Apart from having the experience of using pressure washers to safely clean the areas of your home or business, professionals also have insurance backing that guarantees compensation for anything that may go wrong.

Save Your Time And Money

In addition to the above mentioned benefits, professional pressure cleaning companies can also save you time, hassle and replacement expenses that may result from doing the job yourself. Thus, if you have any cleaning needs for sidings, shingles, driveways, eaves, roofs and others do your research to find a highly reviewed contractor in your area.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Tristan_C./1639259

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7859506

Top Reasons For Removing Graffiti

Graffiti is the visual scourge of American cities. As power washing experts, we’re thrilled to have the chance to clean up the USA and Canada’s gorgeous metropolises. Graffiti isn’t easy to remove—it may require a combination of pressure washing and sandblasting, both of which need specialized machinery. But hiring a professional power washer to handle that graffiti removal will bring you real benefits.

Benefits of Removing Graffiti

—Attract New Customers. The old adage advises us not to judge a book by its cover—or a business by its exterior. Yet potential clients do just that. The neat, attractive, well-kept business sends the impression of a well-managed business. Removing graffiti is a must-do for business owners looking to thrive.

—Minimize Crime. As writers such as Malcolm Gladwell have pointed out, seemingly small signs of blight can lead to more serious crimes. The thinking behind the so-called “Broken Windows Theory” goes like this: One bit of graffiti attracts more. Taggers see this area as a safe spot to spray. Other criminals get the message that this zone is rarely monitored, and they are more likely to commit crimes there. So, cleaning up graffiti makes whole neighborhoods safer.

—Strong building structure. Exterior paint is specially formulated to protect edifices. Spray paint weakens your building’s layer of protection against the elements. Moreover, the longer graffiti is left in place, the deeper it sinks into the subsurface and the more damage that’s done to the underlying building material.

—Steep long-term costs. Business and homeowners can’t swallow the cost of graffiti over the long term, one of which is a declining property value. Looks do impact real estate prices, and over time, graffiti sends potential buyers the message that your property isn’t worthwhile. Another cost of leaving graffiti in place: spray paint gets progressively harder and more expensive to remove as time goes by.


Why hire a professional? Because they are covered by liability insurance, experienced enough to avoid causing damage, and educated on how to get your job efficiently.


Courtesy of The Power Washers of North America blog

Is Your Parking Lot Caught in a Sticky Situation?

If your parking lot and storefront have become covered in gum then it's time to call StarCare Power Wash. Our experienced team can help make your business look cleaner and brighter.

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Quick Service Station Cleaning

With the right machines, cleaners, and power, what was once an oily mess is clean again. 

https://starcarepowerwash.com