Clean It Up
UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: lexid2002 on October 07, 2005, 09:26:54 pm
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Hi All
I hope someone can help me i have been asked to do builders cleans on windows inside and out only.What price should i charge per window inside and out?
Taking off stickers and tape and all the gems we love stuck to windows?
Lexi.
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Any mortar/cement on glass and frames?
I would do one window and time it, then work out how much you can do in half a day and work out what you want to earn in the time you think you will be there. Add 20% for contingencies and quote for the job.
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Thanks for your quick reply
Yes there is cement etc on the windows but they want a price house and as they have 4 sites it could end up alot of work.Is it possible to say 12 windows x £3 x 2 (inside) = £72 or would this be too cheap.
Lexi
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;)also add some more money on,for the builder,as he may well give you plenty
trouble,not happy with this,with that,they are aggro ;) make sure you ern ;D
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IMO it really depends on how long each window takes you, until you do one (assuming they're similar) you may wildly under or over-estimate. Other points to consider:-
Are you likely to get the follow on business of these properties and do you want it anyway? (So it could be an investment.)
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hi i like to say something,dont go there mate!!!!
For the little money they want to pay you, you get a lot of aggro, takes far too long, is dirty and tiring and you always have to either wait ages for your money or you end up chasing them for it.
I have done this work for te last few months and it gave me nothing but a headache so I have decided not to do any more of this type of work.
I told them today and I will be spending my time building up my domestic work. Much easier and good money and dosent take too long !!!!
End of the day its your choice, good to do for the experience.
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yes he's right you will have to chase them for your money,that is the norm for builders clean,you pay out, then you are stressed out trying to get your money,i could be wrong,but if you plenty of time, why not give it a try.
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we stoped doing these years ago,they are all the same breed.aggro :P
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somtimes they will want you there at a drop off a hat - like this afternoon >:(
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This happens to be my area....of course it is here in the US. I can relay the experinces felt here and hope that helps.
Firstly, check out this website: http://www.stopscratchedglass.com/
Stop Scratched Glass - Home
Browse around there for a bit. It has taken me some time and experince but construction clean-up can be very profitable. Especially if you speclialize in it. There are down falls with scratched glass on such but if you decide to follow this route, we can chat.
Mortor and cement do not just fall off the glass when I show up so I had to learn to scrape and what acids to use when and etc. However, once you learn it, you have it forever. The website listed above can really guide you through the first one.
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I used to do an awful lot of initial cleans for builders.
By and large you charge three times what you would normally charge per window.
Check how quickly they will pay you though, and if it is a case of invoicing and waiting for it to go through the various channels, then charge at least 4 times more per window than you would normally charge.
Point out that if there is compo (sand & cement) on the glass, then the glass may well be scratched, ditto the frames.
If the frames are UPVC and you have to take off that blue protective film....then run a mile, the stuff is an absolute bloody nightmare, and I personally won't touch those jobs with a bargepole.
This stuff rarely peels off easily, often you are picking little bits no bigger than your fingernail.
If you give them a price, make sure you give them a separate price for the different style houses that are on the site, they won't all be identical.
Also insist on a minimum period of notice, if they want it done 'today!' Then make sure that they are aware that you will have to charge a call out fee on top of what you have already priced.
And if they go beyond the payment schedual and are slow paying, whatever you do, don't keep on cleaning fresh houses!!!
Have fun, you can make good money, but you have to watch builders >:(
regards,
Ian
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Not very helpful of me, but,
I gave up tacking on Builders cleans. There is never a good one. I have had some real nightmare jobs doing these in the days when I thought I should say yes to everything I was offered. As Ian says, cement left to dry will often leave glass pitted, scratched, if you can get it off it wrecks your tools. That blue film on the frames!! Never get it all off. It should be taken off before assembled because it is wrapped round bits that are behind brickwork etc. Often site isn't landscaped, so you're wading in clay/mud. Shoes wrecked.
And round here you won't get 4 times for price!! Someone will be onto me for saying this, but a lot of builders round here are getting immigrant workers to do this kind of job for £4-£5 an hour..even less.. Making them work in freezing pouring rain...You don't get paid on time, hassle all the way for me.
There was one prestigious company about £15 years ago, were good, but they went bust! Good payers but still real donkey work.
Sorry I'm done with all that, until I'm traded as a slave to some foreign land.
Pj
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I can completely understand where PJ is coming from, if they want imigrant workers to do the job, let them!
But unless you can get at least 3/4 times what you normally charge they are not worth bothering with.
You get a good builder and You're ok, but like I said, you have to be real careful!!
Ian
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Hi Lexi.
I've just started doing builders cleans.
Like everyone has said it's not all roses.
I actually work for the house cleaners & do the outsides only, most of the tape etc; is already off.
I get £20 per house & it takes between 50mins & 1hr per house.
it's not easy work by no means but i've picked up 6 more new customers in 2weeks & get between £8 & £10 per house which on there second clean takes about 30mins.
The houses i'm working on are to be occupied within 2 to 3weeks so they are landscaped & completed.
At the minute it's working for me but any problems & i will walk away from the job.
As for payment--i get mine in cash from the house cleaners within 1week, i've told them they have got to pay on completion of each job.
Hope this helps
Regards Ray.
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I will say it again like I always do when builders cleans are discussed.
RUN!!!
Steve
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Thanks to everyone gor their posts.I am going to give these a go i have 4 to do this week.I did one a while back and used a scrapper to remove concrete etc but is their any products out their that will remove them?
Lexi.