We recently caught up with Rob McCabe from Gutter-Vac Port Macquarie and had a chat. Rob joined Gutter-Vac back in 2015 after working in the mines for over 25 years. Get an insight into an average day in Rob’s life as a Gutter-Vac franchisee, and learn why gutter cleaning is important in the Port Macquarie region.

Where does Gutter-Vac Port Macquarie service?

Gutter-Vac Port Macquarie services between South West Rocks and Hawks Nest.

What services does Gutter-Vac Port Macquarie provide?

We provide gutter cleaning, solar panel cleaning, chimney cleaning, ceiling cavity cleaning, pressure cleaning, tank cleaning and window cleaning. Basically, anything and everything.

Why is gutter cleaning important?

Living in a bush fire prone area, having your gutters cleaned can assist in the prevention of fires. It can reduce damage to your gutters, ceilings and walls. It also provides cleaner drinking water.

What does an average day as a Gutter-Vac franchisee look like for you?

Out of bed at 5am, on the road by 6am, on site at the first job at 7.30am, and depending on Leah’s shifts at the hospital, home by 5-6pm if she is off, or 3pm if she is working to get Brin, my daughter to Dance and Eth, my son, to boxing Mon – Fri. Then, clean the trailer ready for the next day in between all of this. Then get dinner, showers and bed sorted. Usually in bed by 11pm. No rest for the wicked.

What did you do before you bought your Gutter-Vac franchise? Why the change?

I was a quarry manager for 15+ years; in my last role in Newcastle, we produced and sold 1.2 million tonnes of rock per year, 60% of that went to our seven concrete plants in Sydney. The job was stressful but very rewarding. I worked with some great people. I have been in the industry since I was 22, playing with big toys in a big sand pit, almost as good a just as the job I have now.

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With storm season on the horizon, now is the time to get your home ready.  There are a lot of things you can do around your home to minimise damage in the event a bad storm hits.

Secure any items outside your home that could blow away in strong winds

It is important to tie down or store away any objects that could blow away in the wind. This includes outdoor furniture, gardening tools and toys!

Regularly clean your gutters and downpipes to prevent blockages

Clean gutters and downpipes are a non-negotiable part of storm preparation. If your gutters are full of debris, water can’t drain away from your home quickly, which can cause a host of problems. More often than not, the water flows into your wall cavities and roof space, which can lead to serious complications such as causing your electricity to short circuit. At Gutter-Vac, we can clean your roof, gutters, downpipes and valleys quickly and effectively to reduce the likelihood of your roof leaking in heavy rain.

Check the condition of your roof

It is important to check the condition of the roof, so that you know if you have any loose tiles, eaves or screws that need repairing. Gutter-Vac provides a free roof and gutter report with every gutter cleaning service, so we can check on the condition of your home for you and provide you with the necessary advice.

Clean up around your home

It’s a good idea to trim the branches on any trees around your home. It is particularly important to remove any dead or weak branches, particularly if they can fall onto your home or become airborne in the wind.

If you have storm water sumps or drains around your home, it is also critical to make sure these are cleaned out to ensure that they can drain water effectively. Gutter-Vac can also help with this.

Check your insurance policy is up to date

Before storm season hits, you should check that your insurance policy is current and what it covers. Check if your policy adequately covers your home, contents and car, and if your policy includes the clean-up and disposal of debris. It is important to keep in mind that if your gutters and downpipes haven’t been regularly maintained, you could be unwittingly voiding your home insurance. It could be worth getting a professional in to service them before the bad weather hits, as they can provide you with a record of having them serviced.

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Earlier this year, we welcomed Brocq from Shepparton to the Gutter-Vac team. We recently chatted to him about what exactly Gutter-Vac Shepparton does, and how joining Gutter-Vac has been for him. Meet Brocq!

Where does Gutter-Vac Shepparton service?

Gutter Vac Shepparton services a lot of the Goulburn Valley, Miora and Strathbogie Shires and everywhere in between.

What services does Gutter-Vac Shepparton provide?

We vacuum clean gutters and down pipes, chimney flues, solar panels, ceiling cavities, rain water tanks, remove insulation, and clean storm water pits.

Why should someone have their gutters cleaned regularly?

There are a lot of reasons to have your gutters cleaned regularly. It lengthens the life of your gutters and helps with fire protection. It also prevents overflowing gutters, which can cause major damage to the inside of your house. It also reduces the chances of bugs living and breeding in the broken-down debris inside your gutters.

How has Gutter-Vac been a lifestyle change for you?

I worked for someone else for the first 16 years of my life and never really felt like I was ever going to get anywhere, but now that I am my own boss, I’m really starting to feel like I have direction. I’m getting good rewards for the hard yards that I am putting in.

What would you say to someone considering buying a Gutter-Vac franchise?

I would highly recommend it if you have a good will to work, are a people’s person, want to be your own boss and love the outdoors, then this would be the ideal job for you!!!! Jump in with both feet.

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We are thrilled to announce that Gutter-Vac has been voted the top franchise in Australia in the 2017 top franchise Awards. The topfranchise Awards are designed to recognise franchisors of choice, and help potential franchise owners identify and connect with franchisors that excel in areas that are important to existing franchisees.The awards acknowledge franchises that perform well, as rated by their current franchisees, so that it is easy to find the best franchise opportunities in Australia.

Congratulations to the rest of the top ten!

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1. I can clean my gutters myself

Cleaning your gutters yourself is never a good idea. Between 2001 and 2012, there were at least 276 deaths in Australia from ladder falls, with most them occurring around the home. Injuries from ladder falls can be life-altering for both the injured person and their family, so it is just not worth the risk. The job you can do yourself by hand will never be as effective as specialised vacuum equipment anyway.

2. My gardener can clean my gutters for me

While everyone might be physically capable of cleaning gutters, it doesn’t mean that everybody can do a good job. It’s not your gardener’s specialty, and he doesn’t have the powerful specialised equipment that our Gutter-Vac technicians use. Gutter-Vac employs powerful vacuums with custom-built attachments that remove debris more effectively than any other cleaning method. The other issue is that your local gardener or handyman most likely does not use any safety equipment.

3. It doesn’t matter, my insurance will cover it if something goes wrong

Did you know that you could be inadvertently voiding your home insurance if your gutters and downpipes are blocked? In the event that something goes wrong, you may not be protected if your gutters haven’t been maintained. The benefit of having your gutters professionally cleaned is that in the case of disaster, you will have evidence of being proactive.

4. I don’t need to get my gutters cleaned, I have gutter guard

Even with gutter guard installed, it is still important to have your gutters cleaned regularly. While gutter guards block large debris, they do not stop dirt and dust from getting into gutters. Over time, dirt and dust turns into a corrosive sludge that can block your gutters and downpipes. They also attract pests and vermin, as gutter guards provide a protected, food-rich environment for them to breed.

5. Hiring a professional is being lazy

Australians spend approximately 130 hours per year doing work around the home. That’s a lot of time lost when you could be doing something better. It’s not lazy to bring in a trained professional to help out and cut down those hours. Wouldn’t it be better to spend more time enjoying your home than looking after it?

6. Blocked gutters are a cosmetic problem that can be ignored

 While clean gutters can definitely improve the appearance of your home, they can also protect your home from serious damage. In the event of severe weather, or a bushfire, clogged gutters put your home at serious risk.

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Ever wondered about the story behind Gutter-Vac? We recently sat down with Warren, the founder, owner and managing director of Gutter-Vac to answer your questions. Have a read! 

When did you start Gutter-Vac, and why? 

The business was started in 1995, the motivation was from an increasing demand for gutter cleaning which at the time was by hand. The danger of cuts, and spiders and snakes, was a deciding factor that lead to the development of vacuum equipment.

When and why did you decide to franchise?

At the time, we thought this will be easy; just sell a dozen franchises, collect the royalty and play golf. What could go wrong. That is why we did it!

If you had to do it all again, what would you do differently?

Yes, I would ask the one million questions.

What have been the company’s biggest achievements/successes to date so far?

To be stubbornly persistent and develop a business model in an industry that did not exist before Gutter-Vac, and to make a business model everyone said wouldn’t work, work. From there, we developed a business of safety systems and equipment that also did not exist before Ballantyne Safety, and so provide workers with equipment that will save their lives and eliminate wheel chair incidents. It has been a very exciting ride.

What differentiates Gutter-Vac from the competition?

In our immediate circle of gutter cleaning competitors, our difference is systems, discipline, procedures, thorough training, and system, systems, and systems.

In your opinion, what makes a successful Gutter-Vac franchisee?

Usually a home team that buy the business with their hearts not their head.

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With Spring right around the corner, it’s time to start Spring cleaning and getting ready for Summer!  Even if it’s still a little bit cold, now is a good time to start thinking about home maintenance. Here are a few tips to get you started:

In the bedroom

Pack away your Winter bedding, rotate your mattress, clean under your bed and sort through your wardrobe.

Get your gutters cleaned

After Winter, there may be a build-up of debris in your gutters. Gutters full of debris put your home at risk of flooding and fire. Now is the time to get them cleaned; before the Summer rain and fire season hits.

Dust

Take this time to dust your home! Dust your blinds, hanging lights and ceiling fans. Make sure that you dust before you clean your floors though.

Get an indoor plant

Put an indoor plant in your living room and let it do half the work! Your indoor plant will clean the air for you.

Dishwasher

The dishwasher is always something that everyone forgets to clean. Add it to your Spring cleaning list this year as your dishwasher is one of the biggest culprits of hiding grime.  Cleaning it out will also result in cleaner, sparklier dishes.

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Did you know that you need to have your solar panels cleaned? Weather events and nature can cause grime to build up on them and make them less efficient. Even if only part of your solar panel system is dirty, it can cause it to operate at a reduced capacity.

Solar panels are difficult to clean if you don’t have specialised equipment, as the glass can easily scratch and mark. Blemishes can significantly reduce the efficiency of solar panels. Even some cleaning solutions and powders can mark the glass

At Gutter-Vac, we can clean your solar panels using a soft brush vacuum and/or demineralized water to achieve the optimal result while keeping them unblemished and safe.

Call 1300 654 253 to learn more!

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We are excited to announce that Gutter-Vac will be at this year’s Franchising & Business Opportunities Expo in Melbourne, on the 26th and 27th August 2017. We would love to meet some of you there. The expo will be a great opportunity to come along and learn everything there is about becoming a Gutter-Vac franchisee. We will be there all weekend to answer any questions you have, and there will be current Gutter-Vac franchisees there to have a chat.

There will be lots of great things at the expo, such as free legal and financial advice, and free daily seminars for both current and prospective franchisees and franchisors.

Get your free ticket here, using the code ‘WEB’.

Dates & Location

Saturday 26 August 2017 10am – 5pm

Sunday 27 August 2017 10am – 5pm

Melbourne Exhibition Centre

2 Clarendon Street, (Opp Crown Casino)

South Wharf Vic 3006

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