Clean It Up

UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: jeff1 on August 12, 2009, 06:45:25 pm

Title: pricing for large private schools with limited budgets
Post by: jeff1 on August 12, 2009, 06:45:25 pm
Has anyone on here got any tips or experience for pricing for large private schools? the whole school to be done twice a year and at the beginning of each term a selected few windows only.

I've been asked to quote for one this week and apart from all the paperwork I'll be producing ie Risk assessment, Method Statement & Insurance documents if successful? I'm looking for any tips to help secure the contract.
Title: Re: pricing for large private schools with limited budgets
Post by: stephen s on August 12, 2009, 08:03:45 pm
be prepared to produce a CRB check as some schools require one, even when the work is to be carried out during none term times
Title: Re: pricing for large private schools with limited budgets
Post by: jeff1 on August 12, 2009, 08:17:19 pm
Thanks guy's Sounds like I'll have to switch on my charm  ;D ;D and Just be competitive I'll list the other schools that we do plus we also already have a CRB check  ;) we had to have it as we do pre-schools and a home for disabled children plus a few other council run homes.

We have to price it this week so I'll get a few piccy's and put them up  ;)
Title: Re: pricing for large private schools with limited budgets
Post by: Mr Formby on August 12, 2009, 09:36:30 pm
With schools I give them a price  for 2 years. Then you have a foot in the door and they know you and your standards of work .Then again when its time to put in another quote if its not gone up too much they should stay with you
Title: Re: pricing for large private schools with limited budgets
Post by: jeff1 on August 12, 2009, 09:54:11 pm
That's a good tip George and one I think I'll use so thumbs up for the tip  ;) ;)
Title: Re: pricing for large private schools with limited budgets
Post by: jeff1 on August 12, 2009, 10:16:32 pm
I just googled the school and could find one picture of the school and this is it, I know there is also a girls school as well on the same grounds.
This is the boys school
(http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k23/jeffo_01/SchoolGroundsSmall.jpg)
Title: Re: pricing for large private schools with limited budgets
Post by: tony talbot on August 12, 2009, 10:41:58 pm
err wot's a picture of my house doing on here. :D
Title: Re: pricing for large private schools with limited budgets
Post by: Mr Formby on August 12, 2009, 11:00:35 pm
When quoting one thing to remember is you will not be the only one . No matter what you are told they will be getting other quotes.
Title: Re: pricing for large private schools with limited budgets
Post by: jeff1 on August 12, 2009, 11:55:53 pm
She did say they were getting 2/3 quotes so I am aware of this  ;)
Title: Re: pricing for large private schools with limited budgets
Post by: jeff1 on August 17, 2009, 06:47:25 pm
OMG!  well I can see why they have a limited budget? Michelle and I went around at lunch time to price this school and it took the 3 of us including the head cleaner 2.5 hours to walk around the place??

Why did it take us so long to do the walk?? well because there are so many other buildings included and some of them dotted around the town, I took down 7 A4 sheets of notes of names of buildings and details and Michelle took over 200 photo's, I'm glad we did because there was just no way you could price it on the spot and there was no way we were going to do the walk again on the same day but having a very quick glance through the photo's at Michelle's house there is over 2000 windows  and we estimate the whole job will take 3 of us a week to complete.

I have never in all my years had to tender for such a huge job, it has to be done twice a year and the main building 3 times a year.

Are only worry is water production working all day every day for 1 week solid my little 200gpd RO system wont be able to produce enough water, I do have a couple of friends I may be able to get water from for a few days but each day its going to be a 14 mile around trip to top up each time and we recon on 2 tanks fulls a day and maybe more, if we win the contract then we will have to look into producing water at a much faster rate, so keep your fingers crossed for us.
Title: Re: pricing for large private schools with limited budgets
Post by: tony talbot on August 17, 2009, 06:51:20 pm
OMG!  well I can see why they have a limited budget? Michelle and I went around at lunch time to price this school and it took the 3 of us including the head cleaner 2.5 hours to walk around the place??

Why did it take us so long to do the walk?? well because there are so many other buildings included and some of them dotted around the town, I took down 7 A4 sheets of notes of names of buildings and details and Michelle took over 200 photo's, I'm glad we did because there was just no way you could price it on the spot and there was no way we were going to do the walk again on the same day but having a very quick glance through the photo's at Michelle's house there is over 2000 windows  and we estimate the whole job will take 3 of us a week to complete.


good luck hellof a job, will look brill on your cv :)
I have never in all my years had to tender for such a huge job, it has to be done twice a year and the main building 3 times a year.

Are only worry is water production working all day every day for 1 week solid my little 200gpd RO system wont be able to produce enough water, I do have a couple of friends I may be able to get water from for a few days but each day its going to be a 14 mile around trip to top up each time and we recon on 2 tanks fulls a day and maybe more, if we win the contract then we will have to look into producing water at a much faster rate, so keep your fingers crossed for us.

Title: Re: pricing for large private schools with limited budgets
Post by: elite mike on August 17, 2009, 06:52:21 pm
well done jeff

looks like it would take a while, keep your girl busy

hope they dont want her to blade them dry as well ;) ;D
Title: Re: pricing for large private schools with limited budgets
Post by: jeff1 on August 17, 2009, 06:58:51 pm
Thanks Mike but we haven't got the Job yet  :'( and there will be no hand work on any windows  ;D
Title: Re: pricing for large private schools with limited budgets
Post by: matt on August 17, 2009, 07:00:21 pm
jeff, you sure thats not hogwarts ? ? ? ?
Title: Re: pricing for large private schools with limited budgets
Post by: jeff1 on August 17, 2009, 07:07:01 pm
Haha I did pass a coment today to the head cleaner? a few of the buildings we had to walk around we had to gain access through the buildings or gates all locked and I did say you needed to be Harry Potter to gain access to some of them.

If we get the job then there is alo a chance of getting the girls school as well, now thats bound to take me twice as long to do  :o ;D ;D
Title: Re: pricing for large private schools with limited budgets
Post by: wire1078 on August 18, 2009, 03:52:25 pm
1,000000000000000000000000000000 pounds for that school lol
Title: Re: pricing for large private schools with limited budgets
Post by: Mr Formby on August 18, 2009, 04:14:28 pm
There must be a few taps on site, what about something like this in your van

http://www.windowcleaningwarehouse.co.uk/shop/index.php/RO-Systems/INDUSTRIAL-RO-2000GPD/Detailed-product-flyer.html
Title: Re: pricing for large private schools with limited budgets
Post by: martinsadie on August 18, 2009, 07:41:28 pm
If we get the job then there is alo a chance of getting the girls school as well, now thats bound to take me twice as long to do  :o ;D ;D
careful Jeff thats how Gary Glitter started  ;D
Title: Re: pricing for large private schools with limited budgets
Post by: jeff1 on August 18, 2009, 08:33:39 pm
There must be a few taps on site, what about something like this in your van

http://www.windowcleaningwarehouse.co.uk/shop/index.php/RO-Systems/INDUSTRIAL-RO-2000GPD/Detailed-product-flyer.html
Thanks Mr Formby  ;) I think the problem of water production on site is sorted if we get the Job I have another appointment on Tuesday and I'll be taking my TDS meter with me to get a reading on site.

If we get the job then there is alo a chance of getting the girls school as well, now thats bound to take me twice as long to do  :o ;D ;D
careful Jeff thats how Gary Glitter started ;D

Do you thing they would suspect anything if I offered to do the girls school for free Stan  ;D  ;D  ;D
Title: Re: pricing for large private schools with limited budgets
Post by: AuRavelling79 on August 19, 2009, 10:22:22 am
Jeff - Ask what their "previous arrangements" were and what improvements they would like to see over their "previous arrangements"?

It's a polite way of asking how the job has been done up until now and finding out what their attitude is to the present cleaners. Is the reason they're looking for quotes down to price alone or are they unhappy with the quality of work.
Title: Re: pricing for large private schools with limited budgets
Post by: jeff1 on August 19, 2009, 11:25:57 am
Thanks Malc I'm one step ahead for a change  ;D she was quite happy to tell me that they in no way like their exsisting w/c he turns up unannounced does half the Job and the half he does their not happy with and then he slaps them with astronomical bill (her words)

I plan to make it clear that I will make an appointment for each day I turn up, report to security so there are no security issues and at the end of each day get that days work signed off and report to security to let them know were are leaving the premises and I plan to give them a 2 year price guarantee, at least next time they will already know our price and know how we operate and that will save us having to re-tender next year.

Oh and I had a count up yesterday and there is over 2,000 windows  :o