What's new
By:
Car Wash Forum

This is a sample guest message. Register a free account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members through your own private inbox!

Buying an existing wash

M

mac

Well-known member
Recently closed on a local 5 and 1 wash that had not been ran and maintained for quite some time. As a salesman and tech for way too many years, it has been somewhat eye opening. You know, there really is a lot of work in operating these things. You can stop laughing any time now. It is exciting though to turn this around. Location is great and I'm putting in an Istobal that will wash extended height vans, and vans with ladders on top. Fresh paint (guys should NEVER be allowed to choose colors. This thing is pea green), landscaping and lighting, kick butt chemicals, and wash clubs are all in the works. Even close to the Marine Corps League for promotional events. Should be a hoot. And it has been fun to talk to the customers and thank them for their business.
 
Owning a wash gives you street cred Mac! Hope it does well for you.

Maybe you could start a thread of your rehab in the wash showcase subforum.
 
Congratulations Mac. I know you will run a top- flight operation once you rehab everything. Best of luck with the new business.
 
Any particular reason for the Istobal over others? Not sure If I remember if you work for them or not? Looks like a nice machine
 
Yes I still sell them. Sold my business but still like to sell and I’ve found it’s much easier to sell something if a prospect can see one.
 
Well making progress. Taking out an older Sunnys Ryko clone next week. (Still available if anyone wants it.) Then acid clean the bay, paint the bay, new lighting, plus getting the self serve things all working. The previous owners had a Crypto Pay installed in count down mode only, so new timers and some wiring. new extended height Istobal Flex 5 coming first week of next month. It has full friction and touchless capability, and will wash any of the extended height machines on the road. Still trying to figure out which of the wash marketing methods to use, and there are many. Have all the internet, phone, electric, water, etc all switched over. In an area of the city where a LOT of the newer millenials are moving to and setting up businesses, so want to have a good handle on social marketing stuff. Plus the usual stuff of landscaping, lighting and complete repaint. Just doing couple of hours each day. it's fun talking to the customers and thanking them for their business. Have been taking pictures so will post when done and when I can figure out how to do that. Some great craft breweries just opening in area and the city is in a major redevelopment of the entire business district. Have a mom and pop taco stand on site that I rent to that makes the best tacos in the city. probably 30 to 45 days to get the majority of it done. It also helps that most of my competitors don't have a clue what they are doing, and they charge more to boot. If anyone wants to stop by and help for a few hours, I'll supply the beer and tacos. Located in Cape Coral, FL.
 
Just go to the ticket counter and they will be there for you. Just be sure to tell them Mac sent them. This has been a real eye opener. Things that I thought were simple, like setting up accounts with Crypto Pay, are a little more involved. I'll remember that next time I sell one. Dealing with the customers has actually been fun. Even had one customer call mad because he lost $1.50. Was right around the corner and when I got there and apologized, I sent him through the automatic. He was so pleased, he said he was a preacher and would I mind if he prayed for me? And the man upstairs really knows how many prayers I need. Taking out old auto in 2 days. This is gonna be fun.
 
Are you selling or scrapping the old auto Mac? Not interested in buying, just wanted to know what condition it was left in.
 
The thing is still working and turning out pretty clean and dry cars. Had it on ebay and thought I had it sold twice only to have the buyers evaporate. Have it back on ebay for the best offer on an open auction. If no buyers, I'll just haul it to the scrap yard and maybe get 0.25 a pound. The reason it's working so well is the previous owners had my company doing the service and we got things working and fed it with good chemicals.
 
The new Istobal comes this morning. It's actually sitting on site now on a trailer. Really getting pumped now. Took most of a week to remove the old machine so that it can be reinstalled to someone else, acid and pressure washing thw bay, then patch and paint. Old metal halide lights gone and looking for the best deal on LED lights. Then clean and paint the equipment room. Just can not install a new machine in a place that doesn't look nice. Should have it washing by this weekend. Meanwhile have to replumb the equipment room for water treatment reasons, get a website and social media going, along with the regular operating chores.
 
Regarding lights...

I redid all my lights at my washes earlier this year.

Got all the lights from here...

LED Lights - Commercial, Industrial and Residential | ELEDLights

USA-based LED lighting supplier. We offer the best in LED lighting, plus free value-added lighting services and great customers support. Shop now.
www.eledlights.com www.eledlights.com

They had a 15% off sale when I ordered mine.

It was easier/cheaper for me to just get new led fixtures than try to put retro kits into the old housings.
 
Axxlrod said:
It was easier/cheaper for me to just get new led fixtures than try to put retro kits into the old housings.
Click to expand...
Speaking of cheaper, I know someone who used city subvention to replace his HID fixtures with LED. They did the work and provided good quality lights - his end cost was about half of what the fixtures alone would have cost him. It's about as bright as it was but it's using 20% of the electricity.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top