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What would you do?

RyanL

Member
Messages
67
Hi all,

I'm going to quote a gutter clear and clean with fascia clean and windows on this tomorrow, no conservatory and excellent access at the back. I'd normally go in at about £160 as it's in leafy Weybridge in Surrey but there are only 5 houses on the gated estate and I'm confident that if I don't go in too high I can get most of them on board too. My other dilemma is that I was put on to this by a gardener who's a friend of a friend type of thing and if I do a good job and the customer likes me would happily pass more work my way.

Would you go in higher and hope for the best or go in at say £20-30 less and hope it pays off in the long run?

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Yeah sorry, they're included too. Do you think I could push it up a bit? I don't want to price myself out of any extra work that may come my way but also don't want to under sell myself. Saying that this is in a very affluent area! Life was much simpler when I was employed and cleaning race courses and hotels!

 
That job would take half a day at a nice meandering pace and with giving yourself 4 hours to do it will mean you do an excellent job. An excellent job is what most want :thumbsup:, then you will get the recommendations. You won't get recommendations if you cut corners. If your half day rate is £100, then that's too low for that job IMO and go in at £160.

At the end of the day, I'd say half your day rate.

 
Thanks mate, just needed reassuring really. Thinking of the area and the type of people who live there £160 to do something none of them would ever dream of doing themselves seems more than fair. I used to work my nuts off for £75 a day in central London starting at half 4 in the morning so these days I enjoy a nice meandering day! I'll let you know how I get on.

 
If the windows are minging, go round the frames and rinse them as you do the plastics and come back and do the glass only when the drips have gone off the frames.

 
There are 4 apex's what I can see on that property with plastics on. 2 at the front and 2 gable ends so I would price to include them too.

Myself I would go in about £240 or more but that's just me as I don't think it's unreasonably due to the amount of work involved. I'm not bothered if anyone else wants their's doing as each house owner if they ask is given a separate quote anyway that could be more depending how awkward the job is.

Don't take any notice of me as go with what you want for a day's worth of work as by the time you have finished that one you will be knackered to fit any more jobs in that day./emoticons/biggrin.png

 
I'm more used to this kind of stuff and not having to price it up! Oh for the easy life again! Actually scrap that, even if I price badly I'll still be better off!



 
Pricing is simply what you want out of the job including any risks involved and added cost. It does annoy the hell out of me when ppl start spouting what they want to earn an hour and then base there cost solely on that alone. /emoticons/biggrin.png

 
I forgot to mention I would also check and clear the 4 small roof valley's too. Also check and clear all corners properly by hand plus downspouts & guttering then do a water test to make sure it's all free flowing. That's all before I started on the plastics then afterwards do a deep clean on all the windows & doors. /emoticons/biggrin.png

 
I'm lucky in a way as my Mrs has a great job so I tend to only do 'School hours' so I can be home for my boys. That means some days I'll be out doing just the one job for more money and the next I'll be working on building up my small round for half as much. It's all good to me as long as I'm doing what I want. I thought I had a job for life in the engineering/Lawnmower engine game until 2009 and I spent 2 years in a Bupa call center after that (which nearly killed me!) so being out on my own earning anything is a bonus to me now! Think I might go in at about £200 and that will give room to negotiate!

Thanks for the advice Smurf, I've read so many of your posts on this that I reckon you should write a book /emoticons/smile.png

 
Let us know how you get on /emoticons/wink.png

If you win every job you quote then you're too cheap.

 
Quoted 180 in the end as the gutters are practically empty! She gave me a horrified look and said she'd get back to me. She hasn't yet!

 
Quoted 180 in the end as the gutters are practically empty! She gave me a horrified look and said she'd get back to me. She hasn't yet!
Oh dear, sounds like she's going to phone around for other quotes. You can't really call her back and drop your price. On what advice did you go in at £180?

 
Like I said before you don't win them all but still that was a fare price for the work involved.

 
I always when giving a price break down the cost and explain exactly what the work involves, methods etc used and how long the job is going to roughly take. It's all about selling yourself and to prime the customer so they understand fully you are going to do a quality job safely.

My favourite price priming saying at the mo is "it's not going to be cheap" /emoticons/biggrin.png

 
All depends on how I read ppl reactions when giving a price so I may say something like "well how much were you expecting to pay" Again overcoming objections is down to you how bad you want the work or not.

I've found most will pay a premium if they know the job is going to be done properly and safely by a specialist cleaner like myself.

So, how much would SHE want paying to do that work?
 
Gave her a breakdown and explained I'm insured pay tax etc.. but hey ho you win some you lose some. Found out she only pays the gardener £12 an hour so I'm guessing I was expected to work for the same! Not happening. Told her I used to clean for Harrods and the RAC club (used to work for this lot http://www.rubynest.co.uk/ ) but it didn't wash! lol. She reminded me of the sort of person who when I was doing house removals would give 6 of you a £5 tip to share after a 14 hour day. Guess there's a reason people have money! Good thing was I quoted 2 neighbours for the windows so may not have been a wasted visit and the job I looked at on the way to this one brought in £40 a month in new work.

 
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It does really pee me off when I talk to a customer and they are desperate for gutters and facia cleans , I told one customer I'd clean her gutter in and out facia and soffit and including her windows for , £84 and that was still top much , people in Derby expect gutters cleaned for £10 , tight as a ducks **** springs to mind

 

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