Clean It Up

UK General Cleaning Forum => General Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: Richy L on January 07, 2008, 04:28:47 pm

Title: price guide
Post by: Richy L on January 07, 2008, 04:28:47 pm
i was just wondering how much people charge for the same job.

I have a price in mind for a job like this(below).
It would be interesting to see what you guys would charge. Just to know if I charge too much or not.
I know its clean in the picture, but imagine its just a normal clean, annual clean.

Id appriciate your input
cheers

Richy
Title: Re: price guide
Post by: JJdomestics on January 07, 2008, 04:33:25 pm
Is it a domestic cleaning price you are after?
Title: Re: price guide
Post by: Richy L on January 07, 2008, 04:36:17 pm
im sorry, i left out the most important part didnt I. :-[ ::)

I meant for jet-washing the driveway.
Title: Re: price guide
Post by: JJdomestics on January 07, 2008, 04:37:44 pm
Sorry can't  help you there then :-)
Title: Re: price guide
Post by: Richy L on January 07, 2008, 04:38:22 pm
JJdomestics,
Do you do EOT cleans?
Title: Re: price guide
Post by: JJdomestics on January 07, 2008, 04:42:51 pm
If I have to. lol . I don't like doing them but I have done quite a few.
Title: Re: price guide
Post by: Richy L on January 07, 2008, 04:43:42 pm
i just figured there's more money im them isnt there?
Title: Re: price guide
Post by: JJdomestics on January 07, 2008, 04:48:04 pm
There certainly is but alot of extra jobs too like carpet cleaning, oven cleaning etc. Worth while if you have a gap in the diary to fill. I don't do many of them, i would say one every 3 months.
Title: Re: price guide
Post by: Richy L on January 07, 2008, 04:50:18 pm
right ok. I am a window cleaner / jet washer usually, but because of the weather and the time of year its a bit dead at the mo, so if i could get more work for my wife, i could do some when its raining/windy.


How do you advertise?
Title: Re: price guide
Post by: JJdomestics on January 07, 2008, 04:56:22 pm
I am really fortunate in the fact that I don't have to advertise very much. I am on the internet searches but thats it.  When I first started up I placed ads in the local paper which were quite expensive but I had a good responce from that. I didn't have as much responce back from leaflet drops so my best advertising is the free listings on the net. It might be worth while writing an introductory letter stating that you are expanding you business and address them to estate agents, property letting agents  etc.
Title: Re: price guide
Post by: Richy L on January 07, 2008, 05:01:43 pm
yeah ill get onto that now. i phoned a few estate agents and most of them said they have someone already, but a few wanted some details. any tips?
Title: Re: price guide
Post by: JJdomestics on January 07, 2008, 05:06:09 pm
Even though they have someone else at the moment it wouldn' t hurt to send them a letter too so they have your details incase the other company is busy or fails to meet the standard then they always have your details on file ready to go.
Title: Re: price guide
Post by: Richy L on January 07, 2008, 05:12:21 pm
good idea. is it good to say your rate of pay, or shall i keep that a surprise until they need me?
Title: Re: price guide
Post by: JJdomestics on January 07, 2008, 05:16:36 pm
hehe! I like your way of thinking but I charge by the job as quite often there are other tasks involved like the carpet cleaning which you could sub contract out if you don't do it yourself. Always view the property first before giving a quote because you can bet you life and soul it is worse than they say. You could also have a read back through this site using the search engine. I'm sure there is alot of useful information allready been posted.

Hope this helps

JJ
Title: Re: price guide
Post by: Richy L on January 07, 2008, 05:32:56 pm
yeah cheers JJ. Ill let you know how i get on!
Title: Re: price guide
Post by: Ian Rochester on January 07, 2008, 05:41:06 pm
To clean using rotary cleaner (4000psi) sand and seal - £3.50/m2

Clean only £2.25m2
Title: Re: price guide
Post by: Richy L on January 07, 2008, 05:55:33 pm
so that works out at about £140. for just a clean.
I was thinking about £150. im thinking of dropping my prices though. to get more work
Title: Re: price guide
Post by: mark.laycock1@ntlw on January 07, 2008, 05:57:37 pm
hi is it imprinted concrete?
Title: Re: price guide
Post by: Richy L on January 07, 2008, 06:06:52 pm
blockwork.
I just got this picture from the internet. its not a potential job. It was just for example. so i can compare my price with everyone elses.


I was thinking of reducing my price to about £100 for this type of job to hopefully get more. what do you guys think?
Title: Re: price guide
Post by: steve doyle on January 07, 2008, 06:18:26 pm
Hi,

I would aim for 120 depending on how receptive they were when i got there, i would be prepared to do the job inc re sanding for 90-100 if it was close, i was quiet, and they booked it with me there and then.

Also factor in the cost of gettting work from your ads, if i can quote a job a little cheaper and secure it i will often get more full price work from it off the neighbours.

i am in northwest and prices vary throughout the country, might help people if we start to indicate what part of the country we are in when giving our estimates?

steve

P.s i wouldnt expect to spend more than 2.5 hours in total inc re-sand on this
Title: Re: price guide
Post by: Richy L on January 07, 2008, 06:21:22 pm
well im from Cardiff. how much would you say is an acceptable amount to earn a day as a jet washer?

I mean, i know a guy that says keep i mind £350 a day, but another guy i know is happy with £100.
Title: Re: price guide
Post by: allyoops on January 07, 2008, 07:19:45 pm
Hi richy,I am from Swansea looks to me like a couple of hours work plus resanding,would look to charge £120 minimum including weedkiller people wont argue over the price as you are making three visits if anything they will be surprised how little you are quoting,cheers Neil
Title: Re: price guide
Post by: Richy L on January 07, 2008, 07:32:02 pm
Hi richy,I am from Swansea looks to me like a couple of hours work plus resanding,would look to charge £120 minimum including weedkiller people wont argue over the price as you are making three visits if anything they will be surprised how little you are quoting,cheers Neil


Thats a nice website you have there. love the videos!
What psi pressure washer do you use?
Title: Re: price guide
Post by: allyoops on January 07, 2008, 07:36:28 pm
Thanks mate,3500psi 4 galls per minute,things a bit quiet at the moment,having to sell cars to make some money,roll on march
Title: Re: price guide
Post by: Richy L on January 07, 2008, 07:38:27 pm
tell me about it!
I took a job on for tomorrow for £150 that i wanted £300 for. Still, £150 is better than nothing! :-\


I have a 3500 psi too. I was thinking of getting a whirlaway. Does is really speed you up more than using a spinner(turbo)?
Title: Re: price guide
Post by: allyoops on January 07, 2008, 08:07:17 pm
A lot faster and a lot less messy especially on block paving looks a lot more professional as well ,bought mine off Merrill Fox in the USA the dollar is so low now you will save yourself a lot of money,check out his website  If you need any info just email me at drivewaydevil@googlemail.com cheers Neil
Title: Re: price guide
Post by: Ian Rochester on January 07, 2008, 10:55:21 pm
Honda GX390 13hp 4000psi with a whirlaway,literally quarters the time it used to take with the 5.5hp machine we used last year
Title: Re: price guide
Post by: Roger Oakley on January 08, 2008, 11:58:18 am
Richy,
Prices as Steve said will vary in different parts of the country, but what I would say is, don't sell your services to cheap. By all means have a bit of movement in your pricing, but I would set a minimum (say per sq. mt) that you won't go below and stick by it. Just my view.
Title: Re: price guide
Post by: Richy L on January 08, 2008, 02:37:48 pm
Richy,
Prices as Steve said will vary in different parts of the country, but what I would say is, don't sell your services to cheap. By all means have a bit of movement in your pricing, but I would set a minimum (say per sq. mt) that you won't go below and stick by it. Just my view.


i know what your saying, but im just not getting much jet washing work. People always seem to say "its a lot more than i thought it would be..." I give them the banter and the sales pitch, but i just feel if i do 3 jobs for a lower price in a day its better than doing one every 2 weeks.
Title: Re: price guide
Post by: Richy L on January 08, 2008, 02:40:10 pm
i have just been offered to upgrade my pressure washer.

it is currently pumping 12trs/p/m but i can upgrade it to 15ltrs/p/m for £1,200 + VAT.
This seems dear to me, what do you guys think?
Title: Re: price guide
Post by: trevor perry on January 08, 2008, 03:57:34 pm
that is very expebsive the only thing they would be changing is the pump and changing from 12 to 15 litres isnt going to make a lot of differance apart from on swilling of you will have a bit more flow.
Title: Re: price guide
Post by: Richy L on January 08, 2008, 03:59:29 pm
thats what thought.
The machine is quite old now mind. A few years 4 or 5 years old. But i dont see the sence in paying £1600(inc. VAT) for hardly anything.
Title: Re: price guide
Post by: Ged on January 08, 2008, 07:25:03 pm
 i set myself an hourly rate and with experience you can estimate very accurately the time needed. on the picture shown it's a small area with good drainage and access assuming the water pressure is good you are looking at about two hours  plus travel. the trouble with charging per metre is that each site is different. say the job you show was say a rear patio of the same size but was of heavily stained oily block with lichen and mortar snots and you had to pump out the water cos there wasn't a drain and the water pressure was rubbish and you had all the garden furniture and numerous palnters to shift and windows to mask off and it needed chemical treatment and two lots of weed killer you could end up taking eight hours to get a professional result.

ged
Title: Re: price guide
Post by: Roger Oakley on January 08, 2008, 08:46:11 pm
i set myself an hourly rate and with experience you can estimate very accurately the time needed. on the picture shown it's a small area with good drainage and access assuming the water pressure is good you are looking at about two hours  plus travel. the trouble with charging per metre is that each site is different. say the job you show was say a rear patio of the same size but was of heavily stained oily block with lichen and mortar snots and you had to pump out the water cos there wasn't a drain and the water pressure was rubbish and you had all the garden furniture and numerous palnters to shift and windows to mask off and it needed chemical treatment and two lots of weed killer you could end up taking eight hours to get a professional result.

ged

If it's more then just say a "maintenance clean" then you charge accordingly surely?
Title: Re: price guide
Post by: Richy L on January 08, 2008, 09:53:42 pm
i set myself an hourly rate and with experience you can estimate very accurately the time needed. on the picture shown it's a small area with good drainage and access assuming the water pressure is good you are looking at about two hours  plus travel. the trouble with charging per metre is that each site is different. say the job you show was say a rear patio of the same size but was of heavily stained oily block with lichen and mortar snots and you had to pump out the water cos there wasn't a drain and the water pressure was rubbish and you had all the garden furniture and numerous palnters to shift and windows to mask off and it needed chemical treatment and two lots of weed killer you could end up taking eight hours to get a professional result.

ged

yeah you would have to charge a lot more for a clean like that. But i was talking about an anual clean, so the dirt wouldnt have a chance to build up to much.




I started that job today for £150 and half way through, my seals on my gun had worn down without me noticing, then when i connected it and added pressure *POP* the lanse came off and i lost the seals!! so i had to go 30 miles out of my way to get replacement ones, but by the time i got them i couldnt finish the job today, so i have to go back for the second half tomorrow!!! nightmare!!!