[soapscentz]

Hi Team,

Wonder if anybody can help me, I have a commercial cleaning business with houses included, I have been sent a quote to do for builders cleans for some appartments, I am new to builders cleans never done them before and was just wondering what the going rate was to charge for them and also if there is anything I need to know for example on the health and safety side, My staff know how to do them, so I am just wanting some guidance on where I go from here, Any help and advice anybody can give me would be very very much appreciated, :

[martin19842]

hi there,

this is a huge topic, we are build clean company.

please feel free to email me, with specific questions

martin.sales@btinternet.com


where in the country are you?


regards

martin

[soapscentz]

hi martin,
thanks for your reply, not sure if we have spoke before,we're in nottingham.

[martin19842]

hi there,

have you reregistered on here, your name isnt familiar to me

regards

martin

[soapscentz]

Hi martin,

will you be online in the morning so that i can email you ?, its a bit of a nitemare as i've got to put the quote in for friday.
Regards
Sharon

[martin19842]

hi sharon

on site all day, please ring me 07771 526246,

and we can have a chat

regards

martin

[soapscentz]

Hi martin,
just to say a big thank you for your help today cant believe how much i have learnt in the space of a afternoon,this forum is brill, have a good weekend.
Regards
Sharon
 

[REGINA]

Hello there I am pretty much in the same boat as Sharon and would like some advice in the area. I was enjoying reading on this topic until it became what seems a private convo. That's okay just wondering where you are based Martin and if I can ask you some questions regarding new builds as well.

Ciao! GINA

[martin19842]

hi there

Gina

i am based in cambridgeshire and we work at 80 mile radius for build clean work, where in the country are you.

As i have said on here before some things i ma prepared to discuss in open forum, whilst other details i will discuss on a one to one basis with individuals.  I have been in the cleaning industry for over 6 years in different formats, and that is the way i prefer to do things.

People that i have spoken to on the forum including Sharon, seem to appreciate that.

sharon, how did that tender go??

regards

martin

[REGINA]

I am servicing the Southwest (certain parts)

[soapscentz]

Hi Martin,
how you doing? I sent the tender in. A couple of days later the lady called me to ask how long the price was fixed for, told her it was negoitable after 6 months she told me that she was putting together her analyis,havent heard anything yet not sure if by her calling me was a good sign, what do you think? how long do they usually take to make a decision?
Regards
Sharon

[Jan K]

Hi Regina!

Couldn't help but notice you are South West based. Whereabouts are you as I am in Plymouth? May be able to help you out!
Jan

[REGINA]

Hello there sorry for the delay ... so much too consume online and so much work to tend to so far!!!

Not too far from you  Aroundish Taunton not excluding !Anyhow...
how long have you been in business?I think I have decided I am not ready ... well not NOT ready but I don't think I want to delve into the area of builder cleans although my hubby and my brother-in-law (in the building business) say I should as I do a great job and they believe I would more than succeed in this area.

I have personally - in this forum- read so many horror stories.

You must be large firm as I understand most builders will not consider you if your fleet are small and they are not impressed upon meeting personel that work for you.

Thanks for your reply! Look forward to many more!

Live and learn I say!

[Tim Downer]

Hi Regina

You have to start somewhere......when we started our builders cleans, we started with Linden Homes with just the 3 of us as cleaners. Obviously have grown bigger since then - have 24 flats to hand over this week....plus the communal areas to do as Sparkle cleans monday to wednesday this week!! Well, we will see.....

Most of the smaller developers would rather deal with smaller companies to clean their new builds....usually find a husband and wife team. They will usually do a better and more detailed work than most of the larger firms.....because it is their livelyhood. However, when these developers get larger, the husband and wife team have to grow too, and they have cleaners working for them.....but are not interested in cleaning to the standard the original couple worked to....then the standard as a company goes to pot.
A larger company will have the resources to do the larger volumes of cleaning needed by the developers. Butr they must have all started from small beginnings.
What you need to do, is start small but with the attitude and proceedures of a larger company - get the cleaning standard right and the training, and continue this for all new cleaners, then you can't go far wrong.

As regards the developers not wanting or interested in meeting your staff.....if they arrive on site, all wear a uniform and you have nice clean vehicles - and the cleaning is done properly.....the client will be very impressed!! You will get more work off them anyway.

So do not give up in the early stages. Plan it properly and you should be Ok.

Dont worry about the horroe stories you have read about either. Read them and learn from them. You will hear of these stories whatever aspect of cleaning you concentrate on....

Kind Regards

Tim

[REGINA]

I cannot thank you enough. You encouragement , your enthusiasim. Yes, I am really begining to realize how special this forum is.

I will be honest we are a mom and pop shop. The reason I do not want to grow beyond our abilities is simply that.

Yes, making the money is all great but honestly I am in it not for money simpy for the work and as we say - having me own days an' hours.  FLEXABILITY.

So you mean to tell me if you go with a small new builds without a seriously pressuring deadline a mom and pop with let's just say two cleaners is possible - if you want to make it happen?

Your advice is being very helpful - thankyou

[Jan K]

Hey Gina!

Nice to see you are plenty busy.......I have been trading for nearly 2 years......9 months of that on my own, the rest with staff. I too have avoided builders cleans on the whole as I can't afford, financially, to have to wait months for payment. Granted I do have a number of dom Clients who are slow to pay, but my payment terms are within 14 days before I start slapping late payment charges on invoices and so far I have only implemented the fee of 1 customer (whom I no longer have on the books).

Dom cleaning will no way make me a lot of money, but it brings in a half decent wage which I am satisfied with so far, and the stressy days are few and far between (probably shouldn't have said that, have now jinxed myself lol!!)

Jan

[Chris Bailey]

Time to play little devil, Respect to Martin & Co who have taken the bull by the horns re builders clean, obviously invested a lot of time and effort in this what with sparkel clean etc, but these are fairly standard specs.

I DON'T DO BUILDERS CLEANS.

Thing I wanted to play little devel with, and slightly changing the subject of the thread is with a comment made by Jan K and I quote "I too have avoided builders cleans on the whole as I can't afford, financially, to have to wait months for payment."

I note that Jan has a procedure in place for late payers, my little devil bit is about credit control, why do MOST contract cleaners not have a credit control policy, if a custard doesn't pay on time put them on stop!!  You will soon gain their respect and get paid early.  We may be cleaners but we also need to be business men/women.  I have come across so many contractors in Leicester that are strapped for cash because custards won't pay up!!

30 days credit for commercials, after 45 days send them an accounts reminder, after 60 days put them on stop.

They will soon pay up, we just need a good standard conditions of business to work to.

Time to get off me soap box and get me tea.

nite nite

Chris

P.S.  Good look with the builders cleans

[Tim Downer]

Hi all....

You do find that a lot of the "big boys" in the commercial cleaning sector - and i'm talking Office cleaning here - are on a 90 day payment on payment of Invoices. Thus the smaller cleaning company comes in with a 30 payment, because it needs the money to keep running.....and the big boys say NO and squash the little guys!! What chance is there for the little guy?

However, i do think as Chris does, that we need to educate the customer, by talking to them about our deadlines etc and that we are on 30 days, (if that is our policy) if late payment interest will be added etc etc. I think on most occasions that the Big Boys may well waver their terms in return for them to get a fantastic cleaning service from us.....and they do not have to worry about the cleaning and get on with their business!!

However, I must point out that with my clients the Developers, we clean the property, have the paperwork signed off, then send the Invoice off......normally, and a i do say normally lightly, we are paid within our 30 day policy.

As regards putting a stop on their cleaning because an invoice is overdue, i would say be careful......will you gain their respect?? - Or will you risk loosing a good customer??

Who knows

Have it all agreed and in writing before the contract commences with all sides happy and working together.

Regards

Tim

[Chris Bailey]

Timbob, and others,

Like I said, when you are working to YOUR standard terms of business and NOT your customers then this should not be a problem, quick word in the earhole of the decision maker about being on stop on Monday and you watch their accounts department pull their finger out.

I have only ever had to put two customers on stop, both paid very quickly when the cleaner didn't turn up!!  Of course you do have to give them due notice, can't do it willy nilly, but them if your following YOUR standard conditions of business........

Another thing to think about, what do you think your custard does when their custards don't pay???

On stop because of an overdue invoice.... Loose a customer or go under! (worst case of course).  I was in my local jan suppliers recently picking up some capret cleaner stuff when and was waiting behind one of my competitors.... who was on stop because he hadn't paid up.... later found out from another contractor that he was owed a lot of money from from one of his custards! live or die people.

Like you said Timbob, agree in writing first!

Chris

[Bernard Parkin]

Martin,

We are not too far from you, which building companies do you work for??

Kind regards

Bernard