Clean It Up

UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: jim bean on March 29, 2012, 09:02:41 pm

Title: Price check big school
Post by: jim bean on March 29, 2012, 09:02:41 pm
Hi, just got a job of a local school every 6 months. I'm going to be doin the lot trad.
There's around 100 1m x 1m windows and about 30 odd little hoppers.
There's also 2 sides of the gym which are basically pure glass about 5m x 8m with various size windows all joined into one.
Just wondering what to charge as never done anything like this before. I guessed a price while I was there based on how long it will take me; I guessed somewhere around 4-7 hours which I priced at 80-120.
Is this about right?
Title: Re: Price check big school
Post by: deeege on March 29, 2012, 09:18:49 pm
Just a small school then.

How did you price it at 80-120? Did you say if it takes you x hours it will be £80 and if it takes you x hours it will be £120? Just give them your high end price first off.

March / April is a good time to be pricing schools as they have just received their budgets for the year. Bump up the price. :)
Title: Re: Price check big school
Post by: geoffreyspecht on March 29, 2012, 09:37:42 pm
your price sounds low to me even at a £120
Title: Re: Price check big school
Post by: idealrob on March 29, 2012, 09:45:18 pm
Any most schools are uptodate with H & S laws, hope all your documents, job method statements, new risk assesment laws are complying with current legislation, for me we spend nearly as much time supplying this as we do to clean the windows.

idealrob
Title: Re: Price check big school
Post by: jim bean on March 29, 2012, 10:03:40 pm
Ive got none of that lol! Already set the date for next Wednesday ..
Title: Re: Price check big school
Post by: idealrob on March 29, 2012, 10:13:45 pm
LOL.............

idealrob
Title: Re: Price check big school
Post by: Tomboler on March 29, 2012, 10:20:23 pm
sounds low to me too. When were they last cleaned? - I bet it'll take a whole lot longer than you think
Title: Re: Price check big school
Post by: Xtremely Clean on March 29, 2012, 10:47:57 pm
7 Hours £120 every 6 months is be charging minimum £200 probably nearer £300
Title: Re: Price check big school
Post by: Xtremely Clean on March 29, 2012, 10:50:01 pm
^^I'd be^^
Title: Re: Price check big school
Post by: ben M on March 29, 2012, 10:59:40 pm
7 Hours £120 every 6 months is be charging minimum £200 probably nearer £300
yes minimum £200, i will say £250
Title: Re: Price check big school
Post by: britishwill on March 29, 2012, 11:05:56 pm
£300 for me
Title: Re: Price check big school
Post by: windowcleaninginessex.co.uk on March 30, 2012, 06:37:56 pm
100 windows sounds a lot,  even trad you will be surprised how quick you will clean them, when they are banked together like schools.
Most windows on a school are usually low level , just get stuck in, 4 hours max.
I would say your were a little bit on the cheap side, don't listen to the £250 - £300 prices  for this size school, you would be lucky to get that. If you are happy with your price, just go and clean.
Title: Re: Price check big school
Post by: Richard iSparkle on March 30, 2012, 07:15:42 pm
Hi, just got a job of a local school every 6 months. I'm going to be doin the lot trad.
There's around 100 1m x 1m windows and about 30 odd little hoppers.
There's also 2 sides of the gym which are basically pure glass about 5m x 8m with various size windows all joined into one.
Just wondering what to charge as never done anything like this before. I guessed a price while I was there based on how long it will take me; I guessed somewhere around 4-7 hours which I priced at 80-120.
Is this about right?


7 hrs work is a full day.  so what is your takings for a full days work?  that should be your minimun price.
Title: Re: Price check big school
Post by: jim bean on March 30, 2012, 07:48:41 pm


[/quote]


7 hrs work is a full day.  so what is your takings for a full days work?  that should be your minimun price.
[/quote]

Yeah about 80-120 for a full day
Title: Re: Price check big school
Post by: Richard iSparkle on March 30, 2012, 08:16:35 pm




7 hrs work is a full day.  so what is your takings for a full days work?  that should be your minimun price.
[/quote]

Yeah about 80-120 for a full day
[/quote]

that sounds pretty low but you're not loosing out if you do it for £120.  that's your lowest price then.  always worth asking what they were paying before.  they'll often tell you, and if they do you know what they're willing to pay. then ask questions about why they're not using them any more.  if they were unhappy they'll probably be willing to pay more...  and then choose you re price.  for me a minimum for a days work is £300, so that's be in my head when quoting...  but different areas etc ...
Title: Re: Price check big school
Post by: David Lingard on March 30, 2012, 08:22:24 pm
£300!  ;D
Title: Re: Price check big school
Post by: AJ on March 30, 2012, 09:11:48 pm
What are the payment terms, you will find yourself waiting for it whatever they are.
£120? Double it and add £60+.
Title: Re: Price check big school
Post by: dazmond on March 30, 2012, 09:31:43 pm
if i thought the job would take 6-7 hours then £200 min.probably go in at £220 WFP.
Title: Re: Price check big school
Post by: stuart mc on March 30, 2012, 10:17:02 pm
it will never take 7 hours in a million years, it is a hundred windows and a extra bit round the gym, even trad it will not take 7 hours
Title: Re: Price check big school
Post by: ben M on March 30, 2012, 10:23:39 pm
take 4 hours so £150
Title: Re: Price check big school
Post by: Jackal on March 30, 2012, 10:34:43 pm
£400 minimum take 2.5 hours
Title: Re: Price check big school
Post by: ben M on March 30, 2012, 10:49:50 pm
£400 minimum take 2.5 hours
lol  ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: Price check big school
Post by: Tomboler on March 31, 2012, 07:35:27 am

[/quote]

Yeah about 80-120 for a full day
[/quote]

only thing worries me is by the time you take off tax n NI @28% (they won't be paying notes) you might find the day could have been better doing domestic maintainence cleans.
Not suggesting that domestic work is not subject to tax/ni but if it takes you longer than you thought is what I mean.
 :-\

Will you just do glass or glass n frames?
Title: Re: Price check big school
Post by: jim bean on March 31, 2012, 07:40:14 am
It's made an extra day work for me so I'm not too fussed, I'll make the price higher to compensate for that 28% should that happen. And yes I will do all frames they are aluminium and didn't look in too bad condition anyhow. I won't be taking any paperwork with me otherthan an invoice. I clean the headmasters windows and he knows my situation and he gave me the job!
Title: Re: Price check big school
Post by: Tomboler on March 31, 2012, 07:51:34 am
It's made an extra day work for me so I'm not too fussed, I'll make the price higher to compensate for that 28% should that happen. And yes I will do all frames they are aluminium and didn't look in too bad condition anyhow. I won't be taking any paperwork with me otherthan an invoice. I clean the headmasters windows and he knows my situation and he gave me the job!
If you clean the heads windows then u r sorted. The great thing is that school bursars (her who will sort the cheque) chat with each another so you could end up getting other schools in area.
Best of luck Jim.
Title: Re: Price check big school
Post by: jim bean on March 31, 2012, 08:17:03 am
Yep my dad was cleaning his windows for 15 years before I started so I think he can trust me and he has already complemented me on my quality of work.
Apparently the windy before said he couldn't do the sides of the gym as there was nowhere to put the ladder  ???
I reckon once started if I proper got going and didn't mess up those big panels with drips etc it could be done in 4 hours.
Oh and went to clean my mates house and his dad owns a building firm, gave him a bit of paper with 12 addresses on in my town various sizes £5-£15 said crack on with them if satisfied will get me doing the rest monthly!
Things are going great lose a awkward house gain 2 what pay double!
Title: Re: Price check big school
Post by: Mike #1 on March 31, 2012, 08:31:08 am
If you have got this school how the hell did u get it with a price of £80-120, totally baffeled.  Mike
Title: Re: Price check big school
Post by: Tomboler on March 31, 2012, 08:32:32 am
Be interested to know how you get on Jim  :)
Title: Re: Price check big school
Post by: jim bean on March 31, 2012, 08:39:18 am
Will keep you updated, may even post some pics. And I told him I could only work it out based on how long it was going to take me, if it only takes 5 hours 80 quids lovely money to me.
FYI he was very happy with price he knows I'll do a good job, look at some of the replies here sayin £200-£300 I couldnt possibly charge that on my own for a days work with my bucket and ladder in a little corsa, Fred perry t, trackies. Hardly the professional tbh but hey my customers are happy!
Title: Re: Price check big school
Post by: Tomboler on March 31, 2012, 09:01:08 am
Will keep you updated, may even post some pics. And I told him I could only work it out based on how long it was going to take me, if it only takes 5 hours 80 quids lovely money to me.
FYI he was very happy with price he knows I'll do a good job, look at some of the replies here sayin £200-£300 I couldnt possibly charge that on my own for a days work with my bucket and ladder in a little corsa, Fred perry t, trackies. Hardly the professional tbh but hey my customers are happy!
You should see their faces when I rock up in stetson n spurs mate  8) 8)
Title: Re: Price check big school
Post by: jim bean on April 25, 2012, 07:47:07 am
Just to update, I completed the work, sides of gym were a little tricky as had to do top window and one below.come down ladder and put it more vertical so cudreach middle windows and do lower ones off steppy. I tell ya what it's a pain in the arse when there's so much glass and little aliminium frames any drips or splashes and ya gotta do it again!!
Anyway it took me 6 hours, had just over 100 windows. Charged them £100, already bin paid headmaster was very pleased said can I do em 3 or 4 times a year and the insides aswell once or twice ! :)
Title: Re: Price check big school
Post by: Mike #1 on April 25, 2012, 08:01:30 am
Think you underpriced it mate 6 hrs on commercial for a £100.  but if you are thats all that counts . Hopefully your business will grow rapidly and you can invest in wfp which will allow you to get it done far quicker .

As for insides make sure you ask how often insides are to be done i clean insides of a school every 3 years and i charge 3 times more than outsides .  Mike
Title: Re: Price check big school
Post by: jim bean on April 25, 2012, 08:10:23 am
I'm going to Wfp when I can. Currently workin out of a corsa. Need to get my 1st years no claims intact as my insurance doesn't cover work atm. I've got the cash ready for it and will be offering both methods to my custies. I'm hoping with Wfp I can secure more commercial work and still plan on tradding as I enjoy the work.

Yes I've been told my price wAs a little low, he told me after I was done the last windy did it for £150 and didn't touch the 2 sides of gym as said he couldn't do it!! It took me 3 hours to do the gym and 3 hours for the other 100 odd windows.
And that's interesting about the insides, this is a primary school and when I did the windows you could tell insides needs doing with fingerprints etc. I was planning on saying I'll do them twice a year for the same price as outsides so £180 all in all.

Also didn't ask for any method statements, I gave them a hand written invoice Aswell check came 2 days later :p
Title: Re: Price check big school
Post by: Tomboler on April 25, 2012, 09:45:28 am
I'm going to Wfp when I can. Currently workin out of a corsa. Need to get my 1st years no claims intact as my insurance doesn't cover work atm. I've got the cash ready for it and will be offering both methods to my custies. I'm hoping with Wfp I can secure more commercial work and still plan on tradding as I enjoy the work.

Yes I've been told my price wAs a little low, he told me after I was done the last windy did it for £150 and didn't touch the 2 sides of gym as said he couldn't do it!! It took me 3 hours to do the gym and 3 hours for the other 100 odd windows.
And that's interesting about the insides, this is a primary school and when I did the windows you could tell insides needs doing with fingerprints etc. I was planning on saying I'll do them twice a year for the same price as outsides so £180 all in all.

Also didn't ask for any method statements, I gave them a hand written invoice Aswell check came 2 days later :p
good of the head to tell you that afterwards  :P it's all a learning curve
Title: Re: Price check big school
Post by: Mike #1 on April 25, 2012, 10:13:25 am
I would price higher than that it is a lot more tricky getting a ladder sround the inside of a building you will have to get through various doorways and possibly move stuff it all adds up.  i would be asking £250- 300 for insides . Dont under estimate. Work involved and dont underprice yourself . .Mike
Title: Re: Price check big school
Post by: jim bean on April 25, 2012, 12:09:45 pm
Won't need to take a ladder in there all first floor windows, and yes it was a bit cheeky of him to drop that in when I'd done lol! Ah well I'm happy with it can always put price up  ;D