[corinvid]

Hi all,

I've got to quote for a pub tomorrow, it's the first one?
All of my domestic work I base on £1 a window. should i stick to the same principle of should it be more for commercial work? (based in S.E London)
Thanks.

[steveaqua]

Is it a lrgae chain pub or a local boozer? i've always found that i can charge a little more for large chains. Local boozers normally have a local that do it for beer tokens i found so not normally up for paying a lot of cash Not from London so i don't know the prices you charge but i try to price all mine on time really 2/3 guys in and out in an hour £80 - £100.

[rosskesava]

If you're also quoting for the insides, triple it for the cost of the outsides.

The inside windows of a pub get heavily stained from nicotene as do the frames. You will need plenty of cloths that will end up stinking and vile smelling as will your hands for the rest of the day.

The cost depends on how busy or large the place is. I tend to go by what I feel about the place and I always ask what standard the landlord expects.

As I wrote above, I price the outsides as if it was a house, and then triple it for the insides. Most landlords don't seem to worry about the insides being done other than every so often but there are exceptions to the rule.

Also as a rule, I tend to now avoid doing the insides of pubs because of the smoking problem if I can.

[Shine, glasgow!]

Also as a rule, I tend to now avoid doing the (going) inside of pubs because of the smoking problem if I can.

[rosskesava]

I smoke myself and everytime we do the insides of a pub, I wonder why I do?

[corinvid]

Thanks for the replys. I've only done domestic up until now (6 months), and I think I may stick with that for the moment.
Thanks again...

[ronniemc]

If you're also quoting for the insides, triple it for the cost of the outsides.

The inside windows of a pub get heavily stained from nicotene as do the frames. You will need plenty of cloths that will end up stinking and vile smelling as will your hands for the rest of the day.

The cost depends on how busy or large the place is. I tend to go by what I feel about the place and I always ask what standard the landlord expects.

As I wrote above, I price the outsides as if it was a house, and then triple it for the insides. Most landlords don't seem to worry about the insides being done other than every so often but there are exceptions to the rule.

Also as a rule, I tend to now avoid doing the insides of pubs because of the smoking problem if I can.

Don`t have that problem now here in Ayr (thankfully) since the smoking ban was implemented.

[matt]

If you're also quoting for the insides, triple it for the cost of the outsides.

The inside windows of a pub get heavily stained from nicotene as do the frames. You will need plenty of cloths that will end up stinking and vile smelling as will your hands for the rest of the day.

The cost depends on how busy or large the place is. I tend to go by what I feel about the place and I always ask what standard the landlord expects.

As I wrote above, I price the outsides as if it was a house, and then triple it for the insides. Most landlords don't seem to worry about the insides being done other than every so often but there are exceptions to the rule.

Also as a rule, I tend to now avoid doing the insides of pubs because of the smoking problem if I can.

Don`t have that problem now here in Ayr (thankfully) since the smoking ban was implemented.

the rest of the UK are due to follow aswell

pubs will become good earners soon

[marc al]

  Ross

    Just to be picky - nicotine is colourless and odourless - it is the tar that stains and stinks

  Marc

[mlscontractcleaner]

Corinvid, don't be daft. Don't turn down work just cause you've never done it before. Look at the place, try to work out how long it'll take and times that by the hourly rate you're happy to work for, bearing in mind that commercial work is more competetive than private and some one will try to undercut you if they can.

Also, the insides are only dirty on the first clean, assuming they have them done each time the pub's cleaned. Most of the pubs I clean are done each fortnight, inside and out downstairs and outside upstairs, ie, their living quarters.

Get all the commercial work you can. It's harder to get than private, but it gets cleaned in all weathers.

Take the leap mate, or you'll never know what to price them at

[rosskesava]

Get all the commercial work you can. It's harder to get than private, but it gets cleaned in all weathers.

I'd forgotten about that.

When all else fails because of the weather, commercial work keeps you going.

I still hate doing the insides of pubs though.

[corinvid]

mlscontractcleaner, it's a fair call about all weather work but having looked around the pub it has 15 Georgian doors in/out = 30 and call me lazy but I hate doing these types of windows (all scrim work).
They've also told me they have a W/C at present and want to see if my quote is cheaper?
I'm not in the habit of nicking other people's work so I'm defo going to pass on this one.
Thanks for all the advice though.

[rosskesava]

If someone says to me that they want to see if my quote is cheaper - I say sorry, but goodbye and that's it. I quote according to work required not according to a view of being 'cheaper' to get the job. That says something about the person asking for the quote. They've loaded the dice before throwing them.

It has nothing to do with taking another w/c's work as that is how the market works. The other window cleaner may be useless afterall. He may not be but that is the customers choice but those words 'if your quote is cheaper' in my experience always means problems.

One way or another 'to see if you're cheaper' means stay well clear.

Often, in those cases when the person has pushed for a price, I've given a high price it the hope in helps who ever is doing the windows already. Also, usually in those cases, the windows look like they are being done ok already.

[mlscontractcleaner]

Be careful in this case. I have known a potential client to ask for a price and then show it to the present window cleaner to see if he can beat it. They simply play the two of you off against each other!!

If it were just a case of them being unhappy with his work and wanting to get rid of him then I'd take the work; after all, if he were any good they wouldn't be looking to replace him. But just to get someone a bit cheaper, unless he's very expensive anyway, then give it a miss. You'd end up doing it for peanuts and hating the job.

[corinvid]

Yeah my thoughts exactly.... I'll put this one down to experience.