pricing advice/help

[jay198127]

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wondered if any of you guys that do commercial have any experience with doing schools, got a call today from a cleaning company that have contracts for schools and other commercial work, there regular guy has repeatedly let them down, and this school which is a new build just been completed so may be extra dirty as well from contractors, I've virtually been guaranteed the job as they've been let down by someone else as well....all my work has virtually been residential up until last week done first old people's home, don't want to blow it on price as hoping to pick up all this other guys work as well but don't want to mug my self of either....do you guys price up by pane or on your time you think will take....any advice appreciated as have to be there 7.30am in morning (tuesday) couple pics below of rough school size if they upload...

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[Pjj]

Cannot really see how many windows it is , is in in and out or just out ? Outside only looks like a mornings work unless it's lagged in cement etc if it's a builders clean it will take 3times longer to do price accordingly , experience has tought me walk away from builders cleans more hassle than they are worth , + any scratched windows they will try and blame you , some will say have a scratch waver in place but they arnt worth the paper there written on as most firms will not pay you if there is a dispute until you pay for the damaged glass , my advice from experience is be careful price high to alow for problems , has the previous window cleaner walked away due to issues with this company ? Not paying , or claiming damage has been done by the cleaner , it's very easy to find yourself out of pocket with work like this proced with caution

 

[C Rose Cleaning Services]

From the images outside approx £150ish - shouldn't take you more than four hours once you've got the first clean out of the way. Can you get up on the side roof on the left? I'd rather see full pics of all sides though. Does it have rear windows or just that front glass and doors? I'd go with about £2.50 per panel then £5 a door if you're unsure. If in doubt don't do it though. I've had some commercial work sent my way before then I price it fairly and they expect the world and take ages to pay despite my invoices stating 7 days. I've only got a handful I trust now. (Not that residential people paying isn't an issue at times either!!)

 

[Cghwindowcleaning]

Ask your self why they have been repeatedly let down and are struggling to find some one?

No one stops turning up to a good well paying client.

That to me screams builders clean and my guess is that it probably has to be completed by Friday most builders will shut down then.

Think of a price and x4 expect to wait at least 60 days for your money.

Now if it's not a builders clean expect to clean it once maybe twice a year it will allways be filthy every time you go there and they will more than likely want inside done as well so insist on posters/pictures removed before hand.

Most schools have little to no money for window cleaning I have priced loads they want to pay a couple of hundred once a year and for me they just aren't werth it.

I clean one school it's private and they have the money and are willing to pay well.

 

[Nicky]

I personally wouldn't do it not because it's a big job because it's not.

There is something wrong ,like said before a window cleaner won't let a client down if getting paid well. My guess is they don't want to pay much for the work,and you will be chasing your payment if you get any.

Stick to your domestics mrs jones pays on time and is loyal

Presuming the back has same windows £400 outside only £80 for tax leaves £320 lnside £500 as it's all squeegee work minus £100 tax leaves £400 days wage for helper £80 total profit £ 640 if there stuck they will pay it , you want paying no later than 28 days . Be careful

 

[jay198127]

thanks guys job actually turned out to be 2 schools...well went there this morning, met the contact which turned out to be the woman's husband that called me,

with a bit of digging for information before gave him price found out

(nothing against foreign workers)

1.work had to be completed by Fri so they were desperate

2.got let down by his Romanian workers they went back to Romania weekend.

3.usually do windows them self's but fed me a line about not being able to do top floor even though told me had long poles to do trad. and they regularly do the other school themselfs

4.they tried to get a window cleaner in but let them down..

5.was new build clean pure filth screed and paint on some windows

6.said he would use me for future cleans when jobs come in but from talking to him didn't believe a word...why use me when they normally do them self's.....his workers be back after Xmas...

7.i quoted £280 still cheap in my eyes...he nearly passed out tried to get me down on price but didn't budge....agreed but felt it wasent quite right he went in to building couldn't find him so rang his missus (the boss) spoke to her said don't think the jobs for me, she said husband thought price was high but were willing to pay (but when I thought my self) managed to get out of her that other window cleaner quoted £250 to do both schools....just had to laugh to myself....no wonder he never showed...

8. thought if I do this it's more likely gonna be a one off as they all ready think I expensive so any future work there either gonna do them self's or find old bob the windy that do it for next to nothing as long as it's not on his sign on day...

9.so think lesson learned I was busy enough any way and don't need hassle working for someone else just go out and get my own work which mode them capable of doing....come this far with no hand outs...so carry on..

plus there was about I'd say 180+windows and a load of doors...some parts of building have to go on too flat roof as well and have to move van 2-3 times around building..

so what would you guys have done...

and to prove my thoughts that wouldn't use me for future cleans lol said leave the other school they will do them self's [emoji23][emoji23]

turns out think they doing both schools them self's [emoji23][emoji23]

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[Pjj]

I would have been a lot dearer than you , but not intrested In builders cleans , walk away is my thoughts sounds like trouble from the word go we have all had our fingers burned with jobs like this over the years stick to your first thoughts as they are usually right. I think nickys pricing is a very good guide not to much difference to how I would have priced it

 

[jay198127]

I would have been a lot dearer than you , but not intrested In builders cleans , walk away is my thoughts sounds like trouble from the word go we have all had our fingers burned with jobs like this over the years stick to your first thoughts as they are usually right

my intention was to charge more...but knew wouldn't accept them when did give my price thought that's not enough...was too many alarm bells ringing for me. so think done right thing walking away... xmas round corner was thinking extra £££ but then thought no walk away just not worth it.

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[Cghwindowcleaning]

I don't think your find any window cleaners with time to spare before xmas to carry out a builders clean and they know this.

I to hate builders cleans and refuse them.I looked at one at the begining of December for Debenhams it had to be finished quick I had a bad feeling with it and after viewing it turned it down.

I would have been a lot higher for over 200 windows and doors covered in filth,paint,cement.

trust me your not knocking that job out in a morning.

 

[jay198127]

like have said previous,99 percent my work is residential I recently done a old people's home which done ok out of....was going to venture in to commercial next year....so pricing up those kind jobs is new too me...thays why backed away from the job thought I done a conserv roof inside and out last week for £140 why am I agreeing to this at this price...like you say certainly wouldnt have been a mornings work...

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[Pjj]

Totally agree with you , mornings work as a regular or one of clean , but as a builders clean 3 times longer glad you didn't get ripped off

 

[Pjj]

Totally agree with you , mornings work as a regular or one of clean , but as a builders clean 3 times longer glad you didn't get ripped off

 

[jay198127]

thanks pjj, was kidding my self that could fit it in as well, I'm finishing Thursday and was cleaning my last job of the day in the dark this eve

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[Green Pro Clean Ltd]

To builders clean that, external only I would have billed around £700.

If bloke was as sketchy as you say I would have told him work would commence as soon as he transferred payment to my account.

No billing for clowns like that. Pay in advance or no play.

I would rather walk away from that sort of nonsense than that niggling feeling of am I gonna get paid or have to sue this fool.