[lisa123]

Hi
I am almost set up, and i have had a potential client email me saying urgently require end of tenancy clean on an almost empty house, and a complete 1 off clean of some offices. The offices need to be cleaned before 30th Aug, and the house later the same week.

Here comes the panic, I am waiting for insurance to come through and I have no idea what to charge.......

It maybe that the only time we can go is bank holiday monday, would i charge extra for that? it isn't the customers problem that we cant make it on another day for the offices. In in shropshire by the way. do you think he will want to see my health and safety reports and risk assess and all that for an urgent 1 off clean?

I'm very excited cos this is potentially our 1st job:)

Please Advice. Thank you everyone who has spared me a few minutes of their time

[24-7 S C Services]

HI Lisa,

Firstly, you should charge extra for a working on a bank holiday, even if the client has not requested this date. Due to this being an emergency clean or one of clean, you just explain, that the bank holiday is the only day available and therefore will cost an additional £XXX.

Concerning your health & safety + Risk assessments etc. This will depend on how professional your client is. The only thing I would say is if any of your employees have an accident on this contract or they damage anything, if you have not prepared the assessment etc, you will be thrown into the frying pan. There will be every chance your insurance will not pay out.

Hope this is a little help to you

Many Thanks

Andrew

[lisa123]

hi Andrew
Thanks for replying.
I have just phoned the client, his wife usually does the cleaning of the offices and so the cleaning materials are all already there. we just need to turn up and do 2 hrs work between 2 of us.

The house just needs a through vacuum dust and polish, wash down kitchens and bathrooms, but i'm not sure of the size of house. the offices are in a barn conversion type building of over 200 years old.

They basically want us to turn up, use their mterials and go again.

What should i charge, I was thinking based on 3 bed house, £60 for deep clean taking 3 hrs between 2. this is to done on a normal day. this includes travel expenses.

The offices to do on bank hol £25 bank hol call out charge and £25 for 2 hours work between 2, and this includes travel expenses.

am i on the right lines?

i need to call him back with the quote asap, please advise.

[lisa123]

more info has emerged!
I phoned the guy back and quoted £110, (me being completely stupid and inexperienced said for the lot) He thought i meant just the offices and was happy with that!!! I assumed WRONG that he had a 3 bed quick clean house by the way he spoke originally.
We had a little chat and decided the best thing to do was we meet on Monday, to do the office clean, and he will show us around the the house, which infact is a 3 room and kitchen downstairs, 2 bathrooms i think, 5 bedrooms and 1 attic floor space.

What i quoted would have been a total bargain!!
He also wants us to bring anything we think would identify us, and show us as a bone fide business.
I am thinking of taking a company ID card which i will make up with our pasport piccies and clip from partners stationers, possibly our passports. Our insurance hasn't been sent to us yet, our business banking hasn't been completed to be set up yet, i have a website, but not VAT registered. I am registered with the IR as self employed, and have a letter to that affect. We could offer names and addresses from previous employers as references.
Is there anything else we could do?

Is it worth it to write a terms of service for these one offs for the client? I might draw up an agreement, that he must sign before and after completion of work to say he knows wot we r doing, and that he is satisfied with our work.

He lives and owns a very large area of offices and houses in a countryside location and he says if we get on well and he is happy with our service, it could become more regular work.

any advise???

[24-7 S C Services]

HI Lisa,

Send me an email and i will advise u as best as i can

Andrew

[lisa123]

Hi Andrew
I have emailed you, are you free to offer advice?? sorry if your busy.

[24-7 S C Services]

Hi Lisa,

Sorry I could not mail you lastnight. However, sent you the mail this morning, so i hope it helps you.

Many Thanks

Andrew

[lisa123]

Hi Andrew, got your mail, thank you so much for your time.
The only thing i have that proves i'm self employed is my IR NI letter from contributions office, telling me what to pay. I have never had anything else from them.
Do you think this should be alright?
I'm still waiting on other paper work from every where else. I'm begining to think I should have turned him away because we are not set up completely yet, but he was urgently needing the help.

Thanks, Lisa

[24-7 S C Services]

Hi Lisa,

no problems,

Explain to your client that you are still awaiting the final setup aspects to fall in place and you are really doing this at the moment to help him out and the next time he uses your services, everything will be in place. Hopefully he will understand. The plus side is, he needs you!!!

Andrew

[Jan K]

Hi Lisa!

I agree with Andrew, at the end of the day you are both doing each other a favour........you in helping your Client out at short notice, and him giving you a chance to get some work under your belt!

Good luck!

Jan