[Driftweed]

Been thinking of getting one for a while now. Starting to pickup more apartment complexes, & well pushing a freakin shopping cart just isn't the image i want:






So after the initial sticker shock from the john deere website I've been keeping my open for a deal. Today I saw one @ menards for $3500 that was pretty nice. 2*4 dump bed, winch, headlight, brake lite, even has a windshield & roof.

Am I being silly here? 1 complex alone is 12 city blocks. I figure I can backup right to the front door, unroll the hose, paint, & run hehe

 

[skillman]

Been thinking of getting one for a while now. Starting to pickup more apartment complexes, & well pushing a freakin shopping cart just isn't the image i want: So after the initial sticker shock from the john deere website I've been keeping my open for a deal. Today I saw one @ menards for $3500 that was pretty nice. 2*4 dump bed, winch, headlight, brake lite, even has a windshield & roof. Am I being silly here? 1 complex alone is 12 city blocks. I figure I can backup right to the front door, unroll the hose, paint, & run hehe

Are you legally able to drive them in complexes . What's the insurance costs .

 

[Calidecks]

Been thinking of getting one for a while now. Starting to pickup more apartment complexes, & well pushing a freakin shopping cart just isn't the image i want: So after the initial sticker shock from the john deere website I've been keeping my open for a deal. Today I saw one @ menards for $3500 that was pretty nice. 2*4 dump bed, winch, headlight, brake lite, even has a windshield & roof. Am I being silly here? 1 complex alone is 12 city blocks. I figure I can backup right to the front door, unroll the hose, paint, & run hehe

When I help build a state prison all the cheeses drove those things. Actually a lot drove 3 wheelers back then. I think its a great idea.

 

[Driftweed]

Are you legally able to drive them in complexes . What's the insurance costs .

Depends on state laws for public roads. As far as private property, if they're friggin maint crew can drive a golf cart, why the heck cant I?

Insurance would be commercial vehicle insurance policy. Here in Indiana, over 50cc it has to be registered like a car. Titled & all.

Also, the one I looked at today had 150cc engine, & tops out at 40 mph (sweeeet)

 

[Metro M & L]

Does it make you more money? Dont think so. I would spend three hundred on logod shirts and fresh whites. The rest goes in the vehicle fund.

 

[Metro M & L]

What would make you more is another complex with an employee working out of a 3k grand van.

 

[Driftweed]

See thats where I'm kinda on the fence. Is it a "I wanna new toy thing" or is it a "legitimate" business expense that gives off a more professional appearance.

Speedwise, hellz yeah it could save ALOT of walking across the property. Or worse yet, starting up the van to drive a block over. Keep in mind I do these in orders of 5 at a time. I never just paint 1 unit.

 

[Ohio painter]

Sounds more like a want than a need to me. I can appreciate the need for efficiency.
I will assume you are talking about doing the interiors of these apartment complexes?
Am I right in thinking you work out of a van and load and unload the shopping cart every day? Do you need to get the equipment to upper floors?

If you can get a UTV up to the building can you get a full size vehicle up to the building too?
I would be thinking along the lines of mounting a sprayer in a van with enough hose on a reel that you can get up and running quickly and just drag the hose / nozzle to the apartment where needed. That may mean investing in a bigger sprayer and larger hose to get this accomplished. I don't know the distances involved.

When doing these complexes are you doing multiple apartments of just one or two?

The UTV could be a legitimate business expense, I would think it depends on how much it is used for legitimate business use and how much for deer hunting etc.

Think long term, there will be maintenance costs, and plenty of other costs, plus storage and getting it to the site every day. However if it is going to make you more productive everyday then it should be considered. If image is a concern for you then I would think the money could be better spent.

 

[Driftweed]

https://maps.google.com/maps?ie=UTF...+47725&ei=TJyGUvSWOarQ2QXBxIDYAw&ved=0CDMQtgM

Here we go here is a map. Its the one off washington avenue. This is an average complex for me.

There is a front yard, so the van cant get too close. Usually 50' of hose is good enough to reach everything. I usualy just roll up, throw a drop in the living room, then park the cart on the drop, plug in, unroll & go.

I don't purge between jobs, so that when I get to job number 2 it's even faster.

With a vehicle, I am driving through a maze. With a cart I can cut through the grass. SHORTCUT!

As far as appearance, yes it does matter. It's a critical part of branding. From a logo'd vehicle, clean whites, etc...

I don't advertise, as these clients aren't hunting actively for contractors. Instead, I find them, make the pitch, & if they are tired of the crackheads doing chitty work...well here I am. It works, oddly enough.

 

[charimon]

you may want to consider a Golf cart for the simple reason that you can find one cheap, you wont care if you get paint, scratches. . . all over it or have to worry that someone may mess with it while it is parked rught outside. It will provide your crew with all the benefits you speak of. It is hard but try to keep your tools and toys separate, I fail in this area constantly.

 

[RobertCDF]

Also, the one I looked at today had 150cc engine, & tops out at 40 mph (sweeeet)

150cc is really weak, I think it'll be disappointing. My polaris 600 has a hard time pushing 50 mph, granted it is a heavier machine but I also don't have 10 gallons of paint and a sprayer on the back of it.

 

[Driftweed]

yeah but you go over 150cc & the price climbs bigtime. I want something I can pay cash for.

Also if you go gas golf carts even used, the price is close to $2500 here. Hell for an extra grand, why not step up.

 

[Golden view]

How about at least a more legit looking cart. Put bigger rubber casters on it if that helps.

 

[Driftweed]

Well, thats definitely an option. Whatever I use must meet 2 main criteria:

1) Travel through grass

2) Be able to jump a curb

 

[Ohio painter]

Help me with something Driftweed. On a typical day once you load up the shopping cart with your equipment and get to the apartment that needs painted first, how many times, or how much time, will you move around the exterior to get to the next apartment?

I am picturing that in a day you are painting apartments that are in close proximity to each other, but a good distance away from your van. On the other hand if you are painting an apartment here and then spending 30 minutes moving to the next one 2 blocks away then "travel time" needs to become more efficient.

 

[Ohio painter]

As far as how your company looks to others, are you happy with your van?

Follow up question to my last post; if you were to get a UTV how many more apartments could you paint in a day?

 

[RobertCDF]

yeah but you go over 150cc & the price climbs bigtime. I want something I can pay cash for.

Also if you go gas golf carts even used, the price is close to $2500 here. Hell for an extra grand, why not step up.

I'd rather have a golf cart than a 150 utv.

 

[pizalm]

I think my golf cart has 300 cc. lol. With the right rack on the back it would suit your needs perfectly.

 

[VinylHanger]

I'm just wondering where you stole the grocery cart from. :whistling

 

[Driftweed]

A utv would kinda "blur the line" because, between work your darn skippy I would run to the gas station for smokes.

The pros:

Better looking than golf/shopping cart

Better able to handle bumpy terrain

Storage bed is higher, everything would be around chest/stomach height

Speed: would be able to drive just the utv to the jobsite, no need to lug it in on a trailer. Golf cart would require this.

Resale value: utv hold resale value best

Cons:

price

temptation to cruise it as a grocery getter would be massive (I live in the heart of the city)

Would definitely have to treat it as another vehicle (Insurance, register/title, maintenance)


I'm trying to make a list, lol

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