How to get in touch with wash owners in my area?

[Andrew614]

Hi all, I have been trying to break through into SS ownership for a few years. I started out pretty mild in my approach, but over the last year have gotten much more aggressive.

My question is does anyone have suggestions for how to get in touch with wash owners to inquire about selling?

For background, washes rarely go on the market where I am. And the ones that have gone on market went on a few years before I was looking and sold. Also, there is one guy who buys a lot of the washes around me( I think he owns 4 or 5 in the city). I am trying to get into a sale before it ever makes it to the market. I have researched property records, business ownership records and any googleable information about every wash in my area and even up to 3 hours away from me. Of all these washes, I have either sent a letter of inquiry, dropped off a letter of inquiry, or sent an email (to the few whose email I could find). Some of the washes are operable but in poor condition, receiving negative reviews on Google etc.

After years of trying and probably 3 dozen plus letters sent, I have gotten 0 responses from anyone. I would think after all those attempts I would at the very least have heard a no from someone. I’m beginning to think my letters are being lost in the ether.

Does anyone have better information on how I can actually contact a wash owner to discuss selling? I have tried the approach of being at the wash when they are, but the area I am searching is huge, there’s almost no way I can check each one consistently enough to be there when they are.

Any help is appreciated, I am losing hope that I’ll ever get responses.

 

[MudMoney]

You are going to have to use shoe leather, a smile and track them down in person and listen to their car wash story. I get letters and emails from tire kickers on regular basis, all of it gets trashed. Do not rule out going to their home and introducing yourself. Reach out to chemical reps is an option.

 

[Andrew614]

You are going to have to use shoe leather, a smile and track them down in person and listen to their car wash story. I get letters and emails from tire kickers on regular basis, all of it gets trashed. Do not rule out going to their home and introducing yourself. Reach out to chemical reps is an option.

How would one find out who the chemical rep for my area is?

 

[Roz]

Calls to the wash phone number with a compelling story about yourself.

I suspect that few owners will return your call unless you have something solid to convince them that you are for real.

You have no experience, do you have assets to use for such a purchase? Do you have a sense as to what a Carwash will cost?

Carwashes are very hard to finance so most owners would be skeptical that you could afford to purchase their place given the above. Way too many curious tire kickers or people with misconceptions on Carwash operations and valuations.

Lastly maybe a local broker can help you with the ground work but have a good sense what you have available to invest as even a broker will ask you that central question. If you have enough to make a significant down payment (50%) some owners will finance the remaining amount, but again it depends on the experience you bring to the deal.

PS. Mail is unreliable as many Carwash locations do not receive mail delivery. At one of my locations we have no mailbox so not delivery, at the other location we rarely receive mail so may go days before checking the box.

 

[AnalyticWash]

Way too many curious tire kickers or people with misconceptions on Carwash operations and valuations.

This x100.

On top of that, 99% of people have no idea what they are getting into. I meet new owners all the time who are trying to get out within 2-3 years.

Do not rule out going to their home and introducing yourself.

Bad advice.

 

[Keno]

If someone showed up to cold call at my home, I would never consider to sell my washes to them, even if I really needed to sell. That's way out of bounds for my taste. To each their own.

3 dozen letters is nothing in the grand scheme, you probably need to 100x that to get anywhere