Clean It Up
UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: SonOfFormby on March 25, 2008, 05:54:37 pm
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I know some w/c's on here clean schools, can anyone tell me if there is anything in particular I need to present when quoting, as I have one to quote for next Monday. As I have never quoted for a job this big before, what do you guys think about me taking some pictures, posting them on here to get some idea of price, before giving the quote. I imagine these sort of large jobs would expect a written quote as opposed to an on the spot quote while there.
Also, does anyone know who pays for these cleans.I will be dealing directly with the head mistress as far as I know.
Thanks
Lee
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Lee,
Don't get your hopes up. In my limited experience, schools only want their windows cleaned once-a-term (4 times a year) and will get at least three quotes in; they then go for the cheapest window cleaner.
Many schools round here NEVER have their windows cleaned; not our local comp or the two junior schools Wor Little Un has attended; nor the secondry school she'll be going to later this year. I know because I've looked; force of habit.
Wor Lasses brother (my plasterer) is a facilities manager of a school; which also never have their windows cleaned; not in the three years he's been in the job; not even for the Ofsted inspection.
Maybe some guys on here have some good 'school jobs', but I've been asked to quote for two; gave honest quotes - professionaly presented with a risk and method statement - and never got either job.
I can only think there was a cheaper window cleaner.
Sorry, mate!
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Tosh,
I don't mind quarterly cleans if the price is right, but I know what you mean regarding cleaning them in the 1st place. The 2 schools (2 mins and 5 mins from my house), that my 2 of my 3 children go to, both their windows are filthy, and this one has taken months to get back to me, after the wife spoke to the head mistress and I sent a follow up letter offering a quote, so I'm not getting my hopes, and like you will just offer an honest quote and see what happens.
Lee
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The only school clean I have done I put my quote in writing with risk assesment and method statement. I found it helpfull to meet up with the caretaker too. This school only wants 2 cleans a year. Other schools that I have quoted for have not got back to me. The payment came from the council. The caretaker told me to put my terms as 14 days for payment and the cheque was on my doorster within 1 week of the clean. ( not bad for the council.)
Good luck with it. Dont price too low just to get it tho.
Ant
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I do a large secondary school once every summer - the building manager ( fancy name for caretaker) calls me up and says - "can you do the windows this summer? We have £xxx in the budget."
No paperwork etc, I just go in and do as much work as the budget stretches to, they pay me when they go back at the start of the new term.
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I clean for two schools, one does'nt want any info the High school wants everything from prof of being sole trader from Tax man, high level insurance, copy of my contract with them and risk assement no ladders for access onto flat roofs (windows missed or done from inside) and bank details as they pay by BACS
Hope this helps
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Thanks for the replies guys.
Does anyone have a risk assessment/ method statement template.
Also how do you price up for this sort of work? per window + access issues?
Thanks
Lee
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i clean a school in the chepstow area, i used to clean two. one very near tosh's new house actually.
But the one near tosh cancelled me to let their maintainance team do it instead. I guess they only get about £7 an hour, but i want a little more than that!
I like cleaning schools, good money, but think of them as a bit of a bonus now and again rather than regular money, if you see what i mean.
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Yes, definately bonus work, very straightforward if you are left alone to get on with it.
I will try and post some pics Monday for help with a pricing structure.
Lee
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http://www.cleanitup.co.uk/smf/index.php?topic=5067.0
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i clean a school in the chepstow area, i used to clean two. one very near tosh's new house actually.
But the one near tosh cancelled me to let their maintainance team do it instead. I guess they only get about £7 an hour, but i want a little more than that!
I like cleaning schools, good money, but think of them as a bit of a bonus now and again rather than regular money, if you see what i mean.
One of those schools Richy did was a public school (public in italics, since they're only public if your rich; so not that public!).
I would hazzard a guess that public school windows are generally kept cleaner than state schools; I mean when Mrs Bottomly-Ramsgate goes to collect her little Principia at the end of term, she'll want to know what her 5K per term fees are being spent on.
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http://www.cleanitup.co.uk/smf/index.php?topic=5067.0
Thank you Gazza.
Is the a WFP one, otherwise I'll just amend this one.
Lee
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The problem with schools is they have a tight budget so don't always have much to spend.
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well it was the public school that dropped me.
There was nothing wrong with the way they were cleaned, they just wanted to save money. It wasnt excactly overpriced either. I guess the more money someone has, the cheaper they are! ::)
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I know some w/c's on here clean schools, can anyone tell me if there is anything in particular I need to present when quoting, as I have one to quote for next Monday. As I have never quoted for a job this big before, what do you guys think about me taking some pictures, posting them on here to get some idea of price, before giving the quote. I imagine these sort of large jobs would expect a written quote as opposed to an on the spot quote while there.
Also, does anyone know who pays for these cleans.I will be dealing directly with the head mistress as far as I know.
Thanks
Lee
Hi Lee ,
I clean about 30 schools in and around Essex. I have no problem with payment, i get paid in the midddle of the month after the clean( e.g clean in March means paid in April ).
Have been cleaning them for about 12 years now, i know most of the care takers / site managers well now and they leave you to it.
Most of the schools pay direct but some are paid by local council if they are grant maintained.
I put up prices by 15% every 3 years.
Do a risk assessment and method statement.
Some schools are even once a year but then again some are every half term.
Also they know they will not be as clean as house windows etc. as they get so much people passing through the building.
Make sure you do a risk assessment and method statement
Anything else please ask
Darren
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well it was the public school that dropped me.
There was nothing wrong with the way they were cleaned, they just wanted to save money. It wasnt excactly overpriced either. I guess the more money someone has, the cheaper they are! ::)
Are these the Monmouth schools?
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yes i think it is classed as monmouthshire, its right on the border, why?
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I used to do a lot of canoeing between Monmouth and S.Y. and I couldn't think of any rich kid schools in Chepstow.
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st. johns on the hill.
In tutshill, it is classed as chepstow though
They take kids from 2 months - 12 years (i think)