[drive surgeon]

hi guys, when you go to quote a gutter vac job do you take the camera on pole and view whats needed before giving the customers a price for cleaning, or do you just quote for how many lenghts og gutter regardless of how little or much crap there is inside them?  do you charge more for gutters with visible plants and grass in?   i bet most custys dont even know if there gutters are full or empty???

just after some advice on how to go about the quoting and cleaning process.

[Chris Galloway]

I dont have a camera, but as im only doing 2 story resi with it, then i would look with a ladder - (i'll get a camera at a later date)

I only charge what needs doing and then its per metre whatever is in there.. But i have a minimum charge - im not lugging the vac/poles and cables around with me just for £10 of work..

You have to decide how you price it..

[richywilts]

iv just had a go at me nans bungalow for first time with my guttervac and they were quite soiled but nothing to bad bout 1-2 cm soil and leaves on top all way round roughly chris wat would u charge approx per metre for gutters like this

cheers richy

[drive surgeon]

what machine you got richy?

i would have a minimum charge of £50 to do any work, or your wasting your time turning up, using diesel etc minus your overheads.

[drive surgeon]

does anyone else have a minimum for gutters?

[Blue Sky 2]

Min Charge £80.00 for residential

[ftp]

If it's only sucking out then i've been as low as £25 each for two council type semi's £50 for half an hours work. Got another four bed for £120 due tomorrow should be no more than two hours including soffit/gutter wash.

[drive surgeon]

ftp do you use a cam?

[ftp]

yep

[drive surgeon]

do you use it all the time or only if custy asks?

[ftp]

To be honest i use it mostly for bull**** because you can feel if the gutter has any debris. If your sucking up water then the tube gets so cold you can hardly hold it, if your sucking leaves and moss you feel and hear it gulping up the nozzle. I usually view it at the end by which time the customer is interested enough to have a look and is well impressed. I usually vacuum the whole gutter even if nothing is sucking up - only
takes a few seconds. Camera is handy for looking into the hopper though.
Remember i haven't been doing this long so these are only my way of doing it. I'll readily admit i'm no expert before people decide to start another slanging match.

[billyc]

My Minimum charge is 80:00, to justify my prices i inspect the gutters first,  takes next to know time to view and record
From my point of view  it is nice to know what you are dealing with- tennis balls etc. I have even had a dart in some gutters.

If there are any difficult areas i use the spike to break up or lift.

I then clean all the gutters not just part of the gutter- taking my time in the built up areas.

You can feel the muck being lifted and as ftp states the pole goes really cold when sucking up water.
 
Finally when i am satisfied i view once more to satisfy that the job is complete.

9 Times out of 10 the customer never asks to view but for the time taken to record- its worth doing.

If there is problems with access i raise my prices eg over a conservatory-etc


Got two jobs next door to each other tommorrow afternoon.

Regards

Billy

[Nathanael Jones]

I think a minimum charge of £80 is a good idea. I'd charge than much off ladders,.. so why do it cheaper with a vac?! I try to be flexible with minimum charges though,.. if it genuinely is a quick & easy job, i'd bend the rules a little.

[drive surgeon]

yes i suppose thats fair on some jobs nat, i would too.