[Robert Parry]

I read an awful lot of requests for help regarding pricing work on this forum and others, just wondering how many use the different methods above, what I am most interested in is not actual prices, but how you actually arrive at the number of hours a certain building will take to clean, regards.

Rob

[Fox]

Hi

I did vote the top answer in your poll although I wouldn't necessarily describe it as guessing! 

To me it is knowing your trade, listening to your clients needs and expectations and knowing employees limits.  I will ask a client how long they have their current cleaners on site for too, although I will quote outside of this information (and usually do) I will have explained to the client why, otherwise you can find yourself miles away from their budget and lets face it every company has to work to one!  But they will be more willing to give more of their budget to cleaning and maintenance if they know what they are going to get.

I suppose the best advice to any one who is going to quote in this way is don't think 'how long will it take me to clean this building' think 'how long will it take an employee pd by the hr to clean this building'.  Remember employees don't always have the same motivations as a director/owner.

Fox

[Robert Parry]

Good points Fox, thanks for taking part, we actually use standard times, but these are adjusted according to the quality of cleaning/budget of our clients, it never ceases to amaze me how few contractors actually talk to their prospects, regarding guessing, only put it down that way for speed and universal understanding

Regards,
Rob

[Roger Oakley]

For what I clean, paving, decking etc, quoting by the sq. mt is really the only way to go.

[dustdees]

Hi,

I think this all depends on whether you service the domestic or commerical market, personally, I have voted for the top answer, and I do agree on the comments that have been made concerning know our market etc.

Each one of my girls has their own strengths and weakness and will consider that as well when making a quote, and obviuosly taking into consideration availbility.

I have never dealt with the commerical side of cleaning and to be honest I wouldn't know how to go about it to begin with, but that's the research side.

Having said that , it is wise to remember that we are all human and we all make mistakes, which I have done, but experiance has taught me to consider all client requirements and would definatley advise client if we couldn't servce the contract in the time required to complete the job properly. Normally if you are truthful with the client to begin with they will compromise with you and cut down on their requirements. (My experiance!!)

 

[Jan K]

I am the same as dustdees in respect that i am dom market only. but i usually rough guess a clean at 1 hr per regularly used bedroom in the house, pus a bit extra if there are irregularly used (if you see what I mean). But having said that if they have had a cleaner in the past I always ask how long they cleaned for then work it out using that info too

Jan K

[Robert Parry]

Thanks for the replies, just trying to gain an idea on what other people do, not at all surprised by the result so far.

Regards,

Rob

[ColinD]

I walk around the site/location with my eyes closed. Think of a number, double it and add 10% for my trouble. Then I ask the client what his budget is and laugh in his face when he tells me. "You want how much cleaning for that amount of money. Sorry mate my cats overworked as it is!"

It's called experience - we all have our own ways. I sometimes use Standard times, sometimes I will ask the questions of the client. To a certain degree it's what you think the contract will carry.

For bigger office cleaning jobs, I always use Standard Times but play around with margins that I require if I think I have to shave a little to get the contract.

Hey Foxy, long time no hear! Is everything alright in the wilderness?

Best wishes.

ColinD

[Fox]

Hello You

Ahhhh - missing me are you?  You know how things are out here in the boonies - bit like a dance - slow slow, QUICK QUICK, slow!    See you are on form anyway!

You made me laugh with think of a number, double it and add 10%!  I have definately quoted for those.  Like you said it's experience, reading the client counts for alot.  You know the pushy ones - the ones who won't wait for a quote and keep saying just give me a ball park figure?  It's always them that pay more, probably because after they have got over the shock of me saying oh ok then around £25 to £30 an hour, they get the actual quote a few £'s lower and are relived!  lol

Fox