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Big house price advice

H

Hunty

Hi all, not asking for a figure here as I know everyone prices different but just advice from anyone with experience on this type of house.

I have been asked to quote for a very affluent area which is about 1 1/2 hours drive (so 3 hour round trip without traffic), they are very large houses in area and wanted to know home many you would expect to get done in a day and what access is like with gated entrances, do you find they are very particular in the day in which you come round, as this is clearly not going to be a round that I will pop too!

Just trying to get an idea if is worth traveling for this type of round really, and also do you charge more because of the area, I do a lot of social housing and charge less per house than standard terrace in my area, so do I go slightly higher for affluent?

Thanks for any help peeps a pic o type of house in question will follow.

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You will probably get the same response from most of the guys on here, which is, how long will it take you to clean then times that by your hourly rate.

If you have three hours travelling plus fuel, your going to have to add that on as well, which would put your price way above a windie that is local to that location. For that reason I personally wouldn't bother and get more work closer to you

 
The answer I would give to your other question about affluent areas, this is 80% of my work. It takes me an average of 45 minutes to complete a big house (if working alone) so I charge 35-40 pounds

 
Thanks Steve,

By what you have said I think I could go with 50 an hour avg in the area which is more than the 30 avg per hour I get on my terrace, so may be worth while.

Would like to have a day a month on something like this for diversity but also for cudos points when it comes to canvassing/advertising, I think it looks very good when you do properties of this stature as joe public like me think of its good enough for them...

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I would want a code to the gate, an assurance of payment on a wet day and also price in your travelling. Price, go with what you think at a profitable hourly rate.

You've been asked for a reason, either they see you as cheap and are looking for a keen price or they know your quality and will pay for it.

Tony

 
This house is considered a big house around here and the area is not considered affluent just average. Has a large but easy conservatory on the back. Takes me about 45 also and they pay £60. I cant cahrge travel as they are 5 minutes from my house.



Honestly looking at the pic you supplied I would be quoting £80 - £120 for that not includong travel.

Frequency will also affect the prices of course.

 
I was estate manager in a house similar to the one you are quoting, they had a windy at the time who charged £150 IN and OUT!! They would not pay anymore than that and moaned every time they came (monthly). Charge your normal rate plus travel time and expenses - if you start charging different rates you will more than likely get caught out.

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How have they found you @Hunty? Seems a bit odd that someone 60 miles?, away has got in touch. Maybe canvass the area to try and tag some more work onto the same day you clean this one? That job is going to take you the best part of half a day including travel. Add diesel and driving time minus cleaning bill and you won't make a lot.

 
I've got a few large houses (none as big as the one in pic)...I thought they would be some of the best to have but now I reckon they're the worst...might just be my area but I'm finding when customers have to start paying £70+ for a clean they don't want it done every month (all wanted 3 monthly) and even then I've had them say can you leave it a bit longer...I guess if the owner has millions in the bank things might be better but if people have stretched themselves with a gigantic mortgage they'll be a pain...I'd rather have 4 £20 semis over one £80 mansion.

 
I have a couple of large cleans that I do every couple of months out of town.

Reason for both is because I clean their children's houses within my day to day round - so I view it as one family package.

Plus I like going for a trip every now and again working on a nice house, surroundings etc. I start charging from the moment I set off to the time that I finish the clean - don't charge for time spent on journey back.

 
I've got a few large detached . Stand alone jobs . If I was selling any work these would be the first to go . Awkward balconys , got to get the ladder off to climb over . My hourly rate is less than my compact smaller detached and semis . I keep sneaking the prices up , but all the new start ups are constantly canvassing em thinking it's the best work to have and giving silly prices . Plus half of em are so far up there own arses they think they are doing you a massive favour by letting you on there property .

 
I do a couple of big houses and do one nearly identical to the one in picture but slightly larger.

To be honest they can be a pain .The one I do like the picture ,you have to phone in advance but they are in and out the country a lot so a bi monthly quite often goes to quarterly.

In terms of gaining other work like this I found it very rare most properties like this are so large the neighbours can't even see you so the chance of walk ups are none.and most really wealthy keep them selves to them selves you will tend to deal with the house keeper.

Another thing is the house looks very nice but most won't want or allow you to take pictures for website etc because of security.same goes for gates they don,t like giving out codes or key fobes to every one that works for them due to security.

But you can get very good money if they trust you and you do a good job they will pay highly for it not all rich people are tight.

The one in the picture looks like Wentworth or St Georges hill in Surrey a lot of them types of house are not only gated but on gated estates with security which means you can't get any were near them to canvas.

 
Is it jus this one house ? If so I would pass it on as it's a bit far.

Futherst job I quoted was a hotel 1 an half hour And it was for a lot of monkeys but didn't gets it.

 
whats knackered this job for you is the traveling three hours take in the faffing around with gates

housekeepers could 4hrs buy the time you get to next job

you could make more coin staying on your patch

 
This house is considered a big house around here and the area is not considered affluent just average. Has a large but easy conservatory on the back. Takes me about 45 also and they pay £60. I cant cahrge travel as they are 5 minutes from my house.

Honestly looking at the pic you supplied I would be quoting £80 - £120 for that not includong travel.

Frequency will also affect the prices of course.
£60 is this out only or in out?

 
I've got a lot like this bare in mind that its all small squares of glass that have to be individually cleaned. None of mine are under £100. These wealthy people usually like a perfect job and will pay the money for a person that will do it properly and know won't burgle them. I find they often pay a much higher price just so they are secure trust is everything to these people. Personally I would probably go in at around £200-£250 on this and if I didn't get it I wouldn't be that bothered because if it was to cheap I'd hate it anyway.

 
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