[Simon Moat]

Hi Guys

Got a call this morning from the biggest letting agency in my city asking if I could do an ''emergency clean'' this afternoon.

I did the job, lounge, large entrance hall and large bedroom.

My question, this is the first time this company has called me, do I invoice on the low side and attempt to build a relationship with this firm, or invoice my regular costing, I think my pricing is already pretty competitive.

Any views very welcome, the agency didn't ask for a quote.
 
Thanks in advance.

Simon.

[JandS]

 
No relation then??
Your lucky they let you do it without a price.
Depends on what your regular costing is.

John

[garry22]

I'm assuming they are pleased with the result.

Go in high (emergency call out) but offer a better price for regular jobs (and fair warning}

Taking the invoice in personally would be a good opportunity to make contact with the right person. You are no longer just a CC. You are the guy that did them a huge favour this morning.

Garry

[Joe H]

and how quick they going to pay you.

I wouldnt do any special price on the basis of what may happen next.
If you get chance to talk to them you may say you could price further jobs at a special price if the work is regular - but let them prove it first.
If you done a good job today, and they recognise that then they will want you back.

I did a job in the local Toyota dealer early last week - just a carpet in the showroom where custys sit and slop (sorry - drink) coffee.
They rang today and said it was really good (better then the previous clean and that was good they said) and now its a regular 3 monthly. Cheque at end of the job - and I never asked for that!
Also doing one of their office carpets 7:30 this Friday morning.
Let your work speak for itself.

[clinton]

Go in at your normal price mate..

[Neil Williams]

I've done emergency jobs for letting agents before who only call when they can't get hold of their 'regular' guy. Along with that comes the promise of possible future work.
The reality is that (and unless the agent is a top notch one) they will stick with the cheap and cheerful guy, because all they want to do is maximise their income, and paying out on quality carpet cleaners is not an option.
So in short, invoice at your full amount.

[Steve. Taylor]

One of the letting agents i do work for always tell me they have lots comming up still waiting :

Just charge your normal rate.

ive had agents promise the earth but the only soil i get is in the recovery tank

[Mark_Jubb]

Invoice them at your normal rate, and aim to get paid straight away as per any other one-off customer.
Watch out for promises of lots of work and excuses as to why they can't pay you straight away. Like all things there's good and there's not so good agents, so try and build a relationship with them, but that will take trust on both parts and time. Doing a good job, at a fair price is the best way forward, but there will always be those who don't want to pay your rate, or stall on payments. I do work for several agents and sometimes have to chase them a bit for payment, but they've mostly stopped asking for a price first and just tell me to get it done.
Like Neil says, there's always the one that uses a really cheap guy and will ring you for an emergency job, when he can't get hold of him, or as I've found, one particular agent that occasionally rings, and it's usually because they've got a really fussy landlord or a problem carpet, suprisingly, I find I'm usually fully booked now when I get that call 

[MH Cleaning Solutions Ltd]

Hi, my advise is charge your normal rate. The quality of your work should in the ideal world! secure repeat work. But lets not forget we are in the real world!
From my experience with letting agencies, they usually want the work at very low rates and on numerous occassions I had to chase for payments. Especially if they are charging tennants. Usual excuse is they pay you when they get payed! Ask their paymernt terms before carrying out any work, and get this in writting!

Mark 

[Sam Davies]

The secret with letting agents is to just send the bill, don’t moan or say it was full of dog hair or covered in crap or whatever. Go in 40 a room 30 every other if you want extra work from them. Letting agents are funny animals you get them or you don’t.

[clinton]

They are always the worst carpets to be cleaned too and as neil said above dont let them get away with the future of lots of work to come..

I only work for them if its money on completion otherwise its passed on ....

[MAX Carpets]

Well the thing is Mr Moat, no one is holding a gun to your head, charge top price.

Ok, I'll stop with the puns now.