Clean It Up

UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: P @ F on November 24, 2006, 11:22:33 am

Title: Quick price help wanted ...now with pics
Post by: P @ F on November 24, 2006, 11:22:33 am
Just been asked to do an internal gutter job , done the outsides already last month , that i underquoted big time !

100m of gutter full of leaves , what price ?

 All help appreciated

 Rich  P @ F
Title: Re: Quick price help wanted ...
Post by: aztec on November 24, 2006, 11:40:40 am
what about £5 per metre and include the disposal of the debris in the price mate

it always sounds better if you say you will take the rubbish with you
Title: Re: Quick price help wanted ...
Post by: P @ F on November 24, 2006, 11:49:11 am
£500  :o

 I that case i should have been shot with what i charged for the outs !

 Isnt that a little steep ?

 Rich P @ F   
Title: Re: Quick price help wanted ...
Post by: Moderator David@stives on November 24, 2006, 11:55:33 am
It will take you about 2 hours , I would quote £60 - £100 depends what you think you can get out of the customer.

Start high you can always come down, just get them sucking through there teeth
Title: Re: Quick price help wanted ...
Post by: P @ F on November 24, 2006, 12:04:06 pm
Hi Dave , how goes it ?
You got the nail on the head with £100 , i didnt like to type my thoughts at the risk of looking foolish and cheap , you just did it for me  ;D

As you say , its still £50 an hour .
Iwas having the day off , but i cant sit here knowing there is £100 up the road , after all , that is the weeks shop paid for and some for lager beer !

 Rich   P @ F
Title: Re: Quick price help wanted ...
Post by: ronaldo on November 24, 2006, 12:05:08 pm
£1.00 a foot = £100.00 happy days  ;)
Title: Re: Quick price help wanted ...
Post by: P @ F on November 24, 2006, 12:07:28 pm
Ronaldo my old fruit bat !

Did you misread or mistype , its a 100 M
Does that mean your saying £300 ?

 Rich P @ F
Title: Re: Quick price help wanted ...
Post by: Richy L on November 24, 2006, 12:25:39 pm
yea, i would say £300.
£1 a foot is a pretty fair price. If the gutters are higher than your usual house, add a bit more, if there are a lot of low gutters(about 7-8ft from the ground), then drop the price a bit
Title: Re: Quick price help wanted ...
Post by: ronaldo on November 24, 2006, 12:27:48 pm
Sorry Rich yes mate i did misread it, i always charge a pound a foot and this always seems acceptable where i live, but this job isnt like a normal house gutter though is it! so i would put in your hourly rate for this one as i cant see you getting away with £300. Average price for a normal house round here is between 40 and 70 quid.
Title: Re: Quick price help wanted ...
Post by: Moderator David@stives on November 24, 2006, 01:04:35 pm
I know how long 100 metres takes , its about 2 hours , I have done quite a few that length and over
 how do you hold your hand out and ask for £300 for 2 hours work, they might pay you once but they certainly wont ask you again
Title: Re: Quick price help wanted ...
Post by: craig jwc on November 24, 2006, 02:23:29 pm
I'd go with £60 - £100 mate.

You want them to ask you back for another time.

How did you get on with that conservatory yesterday?

Craig
Title: Re: Quick price help wanted ...
Post by: windows_chepstow on November 24, 2006, 02:33:27 pm
I know how long 100 metres takes , its about 2 hours , I have done quite a few that length and over
 

Are you sure it would only take 2 hours from ladders?

I reckon, based on a calculation of my arm span being 1.75 meters (my height) that 100 meters of guttering would take 56 ladder climbs, but probably more; call it 60 climbs.  (I do realise that a pole with an applicator attachment is usefull for greatly extending your reach, for scraping out gutters, but I tend to use just my hands and rubber gloves).

So, say each climb up and down of the ladder plus a ladder move would be at least one minute (maybe more if you've got to move stuff or position a Rojak ladder stopper); so that's at least an hour taken with the ladder work.

That's not counting the cleaning of the debris and filling bags, setting up or clearing away and time spent with the customer and quoting.

I reckon 150 to 200 quid.  It's a dirty job, so I'd err towards the 200 mark.

Not only that, I suspect that figure would be around half the price of a 'professional gutter cleaner' from the Yellow Pages.  An aquaintance of mine worked for a 'pro gutter cleaner' and I know they don't come cheap.

Title: Re: Quick price help wanted ...
Post by: P @ F on November 24, 2006, 03:20:17 pm
Just been to have a proper look at the job , oh im so glad i did not call them right back , all the downpipes are blocked solid , and there is 12 of them !
So thats 100M of manky full gutter and the 12 pipes all to be unblocked

Give me 2 minutes to upload the pics before you re quote  !

 Rich P @ F
Title: Re: Quick price help wanted ...
Post by: P @ F on November 24, 2006, 03:26:53 pm
Here they are ..

Title: Re: Quick price help wanted ...
Post by: P @ F on November 24, 2006, 03:27:39 pm
.
Title: Re: Quick price help wanted ...
Post by: P @ F on November 24, 2006, 03:28:23 pm
.
Title: Re: Quick price help wanted ...now with pics
Post by: craig jwc on November 24, 2006, 04:01:43 pm
Rich mate

I'd go with the £150 - £200 mark like Tosh said.

After getting that lot out you'll probably end up cleaning the outside of the guttering again aswell as the windows below it.

Did they not want the insides cleaned out when you cleaned them before.

Craig
Title: Re: Quick price help wanted ...now with pics
Post by: P @ F on November 24, 2006, 04:19:12 pm
Craig , i thought the same thing , im gonna have to go over the outs again aint i ,
And its gotta be a £200 job , im gonna be wet , im gonna stink , and before you say it no i dont stink already  ;D

 Rich P @ F
Title: Re: Quick price help wanted ...now with pics
Post by: craig jwc on November 24, 2006, 04:21:37 pm
No but you've always been a bit wet  ;D ;D
Title: Re: Quick price help wanted ...now with pics
Post by: P @ F on November 24, 2006, 04:26:29 pm
Is there no stopping this man today !

Anybody else want a stab at a price , now you have seen the job ?

 Rich P @ F
Title: Re: Quick price help wanted ...now with pics
Post by: 007 or what on November 24, 2006, 04:50:12 pm
Definatly £150 - £200 when you cleaned out the gutters you might find that the dirt was holding the dirt in abd it might leak after so charge a little extra just in case. you ARE going to get dirty.
Title: Re: Quick price help wanted ...now with pics
Post by: P @ F on November 24, 2006, 04:55:24 pm
Im looking at the £200 mark now , i think it is a justified price as said the pros would charge a lot more .
Im glad i took the pics now , i can mail them to her so she can be more alert to what the job actually entails .

 Rich P @ F
Title: Re: Quick price help wanted ...now with pics
Post by: ok cleaning on November 24, 2006, 05:08:02 pm
£1 FOR EVERY METER IS REASONABLE PRICE DONT FORGET TO PUT YOUR GLOVES ON
Title: Re: Quick price help wanted ...now with pics
Post by: s.hughes on November 24, 2006, 05:24:11 pm
Give them an hourly rate so they know that you're not ripping em off. As mentioned if it was a gutter cleaning company then they would charge the earth. If its done by the hour then the customer cant moan about the price coz they know how long you've been there.
Title: Re: Quick price help wanted ...now with pics
Post by: Moderator David@stives on November 24, 2006, 05:35:17 pm
I could still do that in 2 hours, well 3 hours at the most

Heres how disconnect the s bends this in itself will start a water fall on most sections , hose what you can without getting your hands dirty. you will find that when it starts to slide it wont stop, remove remaining leaves by placing a scrim in the gutter and slide it allong pushing all the leaves towards the downpipe openings.
The mess you make on the outsides could just be hosed off, hose pipes are your best friend on blocked gutters

If you just grub it out with your hands it will take ages,
Title: Re: Quick price help wanted ...now with pics
Post by: S.A.J on November 24, 2006, 05:46:29 pm
Alright Rich

I would say £200-£250 depending what mood i'm in.

Stuart
Title: Re: Quick price help wanted ...now with pics
Post by: sair on November 24, 2006, 06:09:28 pm
first time i ve viewed such dirty FILTHY pics on the internet






Title: Re: Quick price help wanted ...now with pics
Post by: P @ F on November 24, 2006, 06:12:10 pm
Hi Stuart , cheers mate , i reckon im going to call it £200 , i will give her the good news tomorrow , i will take the pics to show her .
If i dont get it i wont be bothered like that cos i hate doing those jobs anyway.
Saying that , its an easy £200 isnt it , hope i get it now !

 Rich P @ F  
Title: Re: Quick price help wanted ...now with pics
Post by: Moderator David@stives on November 24, 2006, 06:13:20 pm
P&F

let us know the outcome
Title: Re: Quick price help wanted ...now with pics
Post by: P @ F on November 24, 2006, 06:13:50 pm
Hey Sair , i could show you a few more , but i would get banned  ;D

 Rich
Title: Re: Quick price help wanted ...now with pics
Post by: P @ F on November 24, 2006, 06:27:14 pm
Well just done the deed , phoned them up and bottled it straight away !
Had £200 in my mouth and said £150 , DOH  :P

Still all is not lost , if i use a hose like Dave said i should whizz through it .

And besides that , i do get £300 a year from them for doing the windows .

Husband said yes , just gotta wait for the wife to get home to give me the go ahead , heres hoping .

 Rich P @ F 
Title: Re: Quick price help wanted ...now with pics
Post by: s.hughes on November 24, 2006, 08:01:04 pm
You bottled it, how amny of us do that. I do it all the time, just cant get it out my system
Title: Re: Quick price help wanted ...now with pics
Post by: Moderator David@stives on November 24, 2006, 08:05:26 pm
I seriously think they would of refused at £200, i even think you wont get it at £150 ,I know the husband say , but i reckon the wife says "no", just think about it ,how much would you pay.

The trouble is , its one of them jobs which can be done by anyone, gardener , handy man, neighbour , sun or daughter,
Title: Re: Quick price help wanted ...now with pics
Post by: jeff1 on November 24, 2006, 08:22:30 pm
Tell them it should have been £200 but as they have there windows cleaned you have given them a reduction of £50.

Tell them This price can only be kept, if they have there guttering done at least once a year.
Title: Re: Quick price help wanted ...now with pics
Post by: P @ F on November 24, 2006, 08:50:16 pm
Dave , what you have to look at is the fact that every time it rains the gutters overflow , not a single downpipe works , they are totally minted , so the money aint a prob in my eyes , i will be very suprised if i dont get it .

Saying that though , not had a callback yet !

 Rich P @ F
Title: Re: Quick price help wanted ...now with pics
Post by: seanmcshane on November 24, 2006, 08:59:28 pm
in my experience, when a man says..." ok, but I`ll have to get the go ahead from the wife.." the job is a bad un as he doesn`t want your price but doesn`t have the bottle to tell you face to face, so it`s the old..."I`ll let you know..!!" scenario.

I love doing gutters ...particularly when you poke around the downpipe with a hose pipe and you hear a great "SPLOOSH" and the whole thing clears in a couple of seconds.
I`m watching the leaf fall from the trees outside my house and I reckon about mid january, I will batter the guttering canvassing as gutters will be overflowing with the wonderful autumn leaf fall!!...really good money I find. ;D ;D
Title: Re: Quick price help wanted ...now with pics
Post by: Moderator David@stives on November 24, 2006, 09:07:48 pm
Sean

Spot on
Title: Re: Quick price help wanted ...now with pics
Post by: P @ F on November 24, 2006, 09:17:49 pm
But if that is the case with the wife bit then what is the alternative , they asked me to do them , they are horrendously overflowing by their own admision .
I cant honestly see any body doing them for less than £150 .
If i dont get the job i will eat Craig JWC 's underpants !

God i hope i get this job now i have said that !

 Rich P @ F
Title: Re: Quick price help wanted ...now with pics
Post by: Moderator David@stives on November 24, 2006, 09:47:40 pm
Is that while he is wearing them
Title: Re: Quick price help wanted ...now with pics
Post by: P @ F on November 24, 2006, 11:37:17 pm
Not a chance Dave , the man is a skank !  ;D

 Rich P @ F
Title: Re: Quick price help wanted ...now with pics
Post by: niceandclean on November 25, 2006, 12:00:17 am
150, got to be worth at least 250 quid judging by the pics!
Title: Re: Quick price help wanted ...now with pics
Post by: Moderator David@stives on November 25, 2006, 12:01:52 am
2 words Cuckoo and land
Title: Re: Quick price help wanted ...now with pics
Post by: craig jwc on November 25, 2006, 01:15:50 am
Rich

Tell me where they live and i'll come put a higher price in ;D ;D

As for my pants mate, i've put aside a pair for you which i've had on all week for when they say "NO" ;D ;D

Craig
Title: Re: Quick price help wanted ...now with pics
Post by: Ian Lancaster on November 27, 2006, 02:55:52 pm
This business of "bottling" when you quote prices, it's nothing to do with what you want for the job, it's the fear of rejection ;D.  Nobody likes to be turned down, so if you sense a "no" or a "I'll let you know" coming, you instinctively backtrack and drop your price.  Afterwards you wonder why you did it, and you feel disappointed and somehow cheated.  I've always known this, and still I do it :-[

One trick to defend yourself is to say to yourself before you quote "How much do I really need this job?"  The answer is simple: you don't, so ask what you want for it, not what you think the customer might pay.  That way you get the job at the price you wanted, and the customer's happy, or you don't, but neither of you have lowered your sights to the  point where you wonder if it's worth it.

Cheers,

Ian
Title: Re: Quick price help wanted ...now with pics
Post by: Moderator David@stives on November 27, 2006, 03:14:26 pm
Ian

you are correct as usual you wise old bird

Rich

any update yet

Dave
Title: Re: Quick price help wanted ...now with pics
Post by: P @ F on November 27, 2006, 06:13:09 pm
Well lets just say it looks at the moment like im going to be chewing on the gusset of Craigs Y~fronts   ;D

 Have faith and it will come !

 Rich P @ F 
Title: Re: Quick price help wanted ...now with pics
Post by: Moderator David@stives on November 27, 2006, 06:32:00 pm
Should of listened to the expert !!!!!
Title: Re: Quick price help wanted ...now with pics
Post by: P @ F on November 27, 2006, 07:53:44 pm
SOMTHING TELLS ME dAVE , By this time tomorrow i will have the job , its hammering down here in Plymouth at the mo , and guess whos gutters are going to be overflowing like crazy again !

 Im a winner !  ;D

 Rich P @ F
Title: Re: Quick price help wanted ...now with pics
Post by: Moderator David@stives on November 29, 2006, 05:11:24 pm
Did you get it
Title: Re: Quick price help wanted ...now with pics
Post by: macleod on November 29, 2006, 05:24:26 pm
just a quick story...
asked to quote a building to clean windows - they say they are desperate
anyway they say do you clean gutters as well
i say yes
they say how much
i say i will get a quote to include cleaning windows
anyway i email the quote and the window cleaning (£55) a 'fair' price (i do building next door for £75) but the sting is this... i charge nearly £1500 to clean their gutters, but sub contract the work for £650

so the moral is as Ian Lancaster said: this business is about "bottling" whether you do or dont.

Title: Re: Quick price help wanted ...now with pics
Post by: Fast 1 * on November 29, 2006, 06:05:36 pm
The soak away might be blocked,meaning clearing the gutters will be pointless.Does the down pipe possess a shoe at the bottom,or does the pipe go into the ground?
Title: Re: Quick price help wanted ...now with pics
Post by: P @ F on November 29, 2006, 10:49:28 pm
Still no word on the job  :(

 Rich P @ F 
Title: Re: Quick price help wanted ...now with pics
Post by: craig jwc on November 29, 2006, 10:53:14 pm
Don't worry about it mate - PANT'S are in the post  ;D

I can't see them getting it done cheaper

Craig
Title: Re: Quick price help wanted ...now with pics
Post by: Pat Purcell on November 29, 2006, 11:46:47 pm
sometimes people ask for a price hoping you will be very cheap when you"re not they just decide to do it themselves dont let it bother you when they do it they will realise how much of a pain it actually is and next time your price wont seem so bad
Title: Re: Quick price help wanted ...now with pics
Post by: S.A.J on December 04, 2006, 05:50:17 pm
But if that is the case with the wife bit then what is the alternative , they asked me to do them , they are horrendously overflowing by their own admision .
I cant honestly see any body doing them for less than £150 .
If i dont get the job i will eat Craig JWC 's underpants !

God i hope i get this job now i have said that !

 Rich P @ F

Alright Craig JWC, Hope you where in Plymouth today delivering your pants for Rich to eat. ;D
Title: Re: Quick price help wanted ...now with pics
Post by: craig jwc on December 04, 2006, 06:05:51 pm
Hi SAJ

I was trying to get a coffee out of the tight git ;D

Only went down to get some resin, noticed the tds had started to rise. >:(

I've wrapped my pants up to give him for xmas ;D

Craig