Clean It Up

UK Floor Cleaning Forum => Carpet Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: JandS on December 22, 2011, 02:23:09 pm

Title: Cleaning - general
Post by: JandS on December 22, 2011, 02:23:09 pm
I've been asked a few times now about whether
I do general cleaning whilst out and about cc'ing.
I know it's potentially the wrong board but I know
quite a few on here do general cleaning as well so
I'll ask on here as well.
Basically I'm looking to start doing general cleaning
as an add on but only move in/move out cleans in
empty houses.
So a few questions

1) A list of cleaning solutions you use and where to
source them.
2) Equipment - essential and non essential that makes
life easier. I have some for cc'ing but list all.
3) The all important pricing - I know I'll either go in too
high and lose it or too low and regret it at first but a
general idea would be fine.

John
3)
Title: Re: Cleaning - general
Post by: Helen on December 22, 2011, 03:04:15 pm
Most important thing is to go and look and then put a price on, never ever quote for general cleaning over the phone. On written quotations always have lineage of "price given is based on condition of property as seen on (date). Find out when the clean needs to be done, if more than a week away add 15% to your price, cos you can be damn sure no cleaning will be done between you quoting and cleaning!
For end of tenancies, ask if the agent/landlord has a spec of what should and shouldn't be done. If no spec make one with the clients as you go around and list individually on the quote.
If people moving out....cash only.
Solutions will depend on depth of clean, so really you can only tell what you will need when you see each job.......some bathrooms would just need a general solution and some will need descaling too!
Vacuum cleaner
Mop
Bucket
Cloths
Those 4 really should be enough on equipment.
You will never be right on pricing......some round here charge £8 per hour, some charge £15 per hour.
Here in the sunny south (not)  we get around £180 - £230 on a four bedroomed house dependant on what needs to be done, that would include windows in and out aswell.  Man Hours required would be 10 to 13 ish. Carpets would be extra.
We tend not to do these sort of cleans on their own (unless they are mega money ;D)
We package it as a multi clean with carpet cleaning, window cleaning and general cleaning and then we can discount if necessary, if we want the job.
Hope that helps :)
Title: Re: Cleaning - general
Post by: Andrew Briscoe on December 22, 2011, 03:10:34 pm
Our staff do these type of cleans

1 we use northern enviromental products   http://www.nenviro.com/index.html

2  you may need oven cleaner, steam unit, and the usual odds n sods, ie mops buckets, window cleaning scrims etc etc

3 we charge a minimum 12.50/hr - 18/hr + vat
  ovens windows and carpets are charged seperately and accordingly

Andrew
Title: Re: Cleaning - general
Post by: Bedfordshire Oven Cleaning on December 22, 2011, 03:15:40 pm
Our staff do these type of cleans

1 we use northern enviromental products   http://www.nenviro.com/index.html

2  you may need oven cleaner, steam unit, and the usual odds n sods, ie mops buckets, window cleaning scrims etc etc

3 we charge a minimum 12.50/hr - 18/hr + vat
  ovens windows and carpets are charged seperately and accordingly

Andrew

Spot on, I charged £15 ph yesterday no problem, and got the carpets as an extra.

Scrims, window cleaning tools, scourers, feather dusters, rad brush too.

Make sure you have a nice smelly spray, I use a bit of odour fresh in a trigger spray.
Title: Re: Cleaning - general
Post by: JandS on December 22, 2011, 03:21:12 pm
Wasn't going to bother with windows but!!!!!
For the oven just a general anything more and
it's in with the experts.
Wouldn't dream of quoting on the phone after some
of the EOT's I'v carpet cleaned.
I have a list of what would be included in the clean.

John
Title: Re: Cleaning - general
Post by: JandS on December 22, 2011, 08:00:56 pm
Put it on the wrong board and get replies.
Put it on the right board and 20 views no replies.

John
Title: Re: Cleaning - general
Post by: derek west on December 22, 2011, 08:15:24 pm
foreignor abroad on the other boards john, you no speaka da lingo ke!!! ;D
Title: Re: Cleaning - general
Post by: Bedfordshire Oven Cleaning on December 22, 2011, 08:23:02 pm
Put it on the wrong board and get replies.
Put it on the right board and 20 views no replies.

John

Haha,
I am a house cleaner through and through, carpets are only a sideline for me. But its hard work on the general board. Proper tumbleweed job some days.
Lots of cash in hand, cloth dodging numpties who think they can leave their job and start a cleaning business in 7 days flat.


Title: Re: Cleaning - general
Post by: jim mca on December 22, 2011, 10:43:26 pm
John

Trial and error is the only way you learn this side of the business

Tie in with a window cleaner if needed
northern enviromental chems 
overprice as its crap work

jim
Title: Re: Cleaning - general
Post by: Jim_77 on December 23, 2011, 12:24:46 am
Quote
I have done thousands of void/end of tenancy cleans in the past, big money can be waiting for an all in one service: if a tenant has left a house in a mess, the deposit is held to put right any mess/damage caused, the house could have been rented for £400 - £xxx amount pcm, this is basically your fund for completing the work.

I'll be corrected if I'm wrong, but there is now new legislation in effect... basically, landlords/agents can't just take all the deposit money and say to the tenant "stuff you, we're spending this on putting the property right"

If I've understood it correctly, deposit money goes in to a government scheme and it has to be agreed with the tenant before it is spent on anything.
Title: Re: Cleaning - general
Post by: Carpet Dawg on December 23, 2011, 12:30:20 am
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/HomeAndCommunity/Privaterenting/Tenancies/DG_189120
Title: Re: Cleaning - general
Post by: Andrew Briscoe on December 23, 2011, 12:37:24 am
Quote
I have done thousands of void/end of tenancy cleans in the past, big money can be waiting for an all in one service: if a tenant has left a house in a mess, the deposit is held to put right any mess/damage caused, the house could have been rented for £400 - £xxx amount pcm, this is basically your fund for completing the work.

I'll be corrected if I'm wrong, but there is now new legislation in effect... basically, landlords/agents can't just take all the deposit money and say to the tenant "stuff you, we're spending this on putting the property right"

If I've understood it correctly, deposit money goes in to a government scheme and it has to be agreed with the tenant before it is spent on anything.

That is correct Jim, there is a deposit protection scheme,
however a lot of landlords will do what ever they can to reclaim it.
I know of landlords who take 100's of photos of their properties, and if
after a tennant vacates they see a scratch or a mark on a painted wall etc they reclaim for full re paint, cleans etc

Andrew
Title: Re: Cleaning - general
Post by: Carpet Dawg on December 23, 2011, 12:40:16 am
just in England and Wales tho!  ;D
Title: Re: Cleaning - general
Post by: Carpet Dawg on December 23, 2011, 12:46:37 am
Put it on the wrong board and get replies.
Put it on the right board and 20 views no replies.

John

a post titled "wearing a harness" has got more replys than you! ha ha  ;D

Title: Re: Cleaning - general
Post by: Jim_77 on December 23, 2011, 12:49:20 am
Bring out the gimp!

But the gimp's sleeping!

Well I guess you're gonna have to go wake him up!
Title: Re: Cleaning - general
Post by: Carpet Dawg on December 23, 2011, 12:56:58 am
A pair of pliers and a blow torch!  :P

Right bedtime for me.
Title: Re: Cleaning - general
Post by: Steve Rothwell on December 23, 2011, 06:24:13 am
Quote
I have done thousands of void/end of tenancy cleans in the past, big money can be waiting for an all in one service: if a tenant has left a house in a mess, the deposit is held to put right any mess/damage caused, the house could have been rented for £400 - £xxx amount pcm, this is basically your fund for completing the work.

I'll be corrected if I'm wrong, but there is now new legislation in effect... basically, landlords/agents can't just take all the deposit money and say to the tenant "stuff you, we're spending this on putting the property right"

If I've understood it correctly, deposit money goes in to a government scheme and it has to be agreed with the tenant before it is spent on anything.

That is correct Jim, there is a deposit protection scheme,
however a lot of landlords will do what ever they can to reclaim it.
I know of landlords who take 100's of photos of their properties, and if
after a tennant vacates they see a scratch or a mark on a painted wall etc they reclaim for full re paint, cleans etc

Andrew

they can try, however they are not allowed betterment, which means that they cannot charge the ex tennant to make the place to exactly the same standard, as there has to be wear and tear taken into consideration.

I have just successfully taken my last Landlord to court for the full return of my deposit and won.
The scam merchant was trying it on. As it was in the DPS (deposit protection service) I got it back, however now have to take same landlord back to court as claims cannot afford the costs incurred last time.

I make a hobby of tennancy law (yes I need to get out more)

 ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: Cleaning - general
Post by: ian harper on December 23, 2011, 06:56:36 am
John
Title: Re: Cleaning - general
Post by: clinton on December 23, 2011, 08:02:26 am
Maybe just start with the end of tenancy cleans john and see how it goes mate..

Title: Re: Cleaning - general
Post by: JandS on December 23, 2011, 11:02:46 am
Thanks for the replies.

Did an EOT carpet clean last week.
The place was spotless but they had
held back his bond because..............
.............they found dust on the radiators.

John
Title: Re: Cleaning - general
Post by: ian harper on December 23, 2011, 01:44:59 pm
John
Title: Re: Cleaning - general
Post by: Helen on December 23, 2011, 03:30:37 pm
Thanks for the replies.

Did an EOT carpet clean last week.
The place was spotless but they had
held back his bond because..............
.............they found dust on the radiators.

John

We had this "excuse" fired back at us a couple of years ago on a "packaged" clean we did...... turns out the inventory company who did the checks, did not go in until 2 weeks after we had cleaned, yet they knew when we were cleaning!!!We obliged by going round and having a look again, did no further cleaning.The dust cover was minimal and would have fallen after our clean, which we told them and they went "didn't think of that".  duh ::) and duly released the tenants deposit.......

Title: Re: Cleaning - general
Post by: JandS on December 23, 2011, 04:50:21 pm
Cheers folks especially Ian.
Still mulling it over.

John
Title: Re: Cleaning - general
Post by: Jim_77 on December 27, 2011, 02:38:48 am
Quote
when they use carpet cleaners they dont get quotes just use "Their Guy" and he just bills. so unfair for tenant but good news for "Their Guy"

1) Not possible now, tenant must be informed of and agree to anything stopped out of their deposit

2) Like hell is it unfair.  I work on this basis with a fair number of clients and it means that the landlord or agent is GUARANTEED to get the carpets cleaned to the best standard, so they are happy and have their arse covered; the landlord is happy and the tenant can't grumble... they can not be subjected to any further costs.

3) Yes, good news for their guy, and best of british to him.  It means he has gained their trust and proved that he is worth a lot to them.  It's called building a good business relationship, rather than being the cheapest to win the job on price.
Title: Re: Cleaning - general
Post by: Ferenc G. on December 27, 2011, 11:51:25 am
2) I work on this basis with a fair number of clients and it means that the landlord or agent is GUARANTEED to get the carpets cleaned to the best standard, so they are happy and have their arse covered; the landlord is happy and the tenant can't grumble... they can not be subjected to any further costs.

3) Yes, good news for their guy, and best of british to him.  It means he has gained their trust and proved that he is worth a lot to them.  It's called building a good business relationship, rather than being the cheapest to win the job on price.
I do pretty much the same. I guarantee the jobs and thats why my main agent recommends me for free on most occasions. That way the tenants can be sure their deposit is released shortly after we finished, the agent knows we allways do the best possible to complete the job asap to their satisfaction --> everybody happy and we get paid and treated well for our efforts. :)

PS: building a good business relationship is one thing, maintaining it is another. Once you are in you allways have to do 110% or you will be replaced in a split second. This is how agents work.