[The Seven Bays Window Cleaning Company]

Over the Crimbo period I decided to put together a letter to target commercial work in my area.

Sooo.. after getting the wording as I wanted, printed on nice quality paper, sent 1st class yesterday.

TODAY... I get an email from one of the bigger hotels near me asking my to come and have a chat.


Really pleased with such a quick response. But haven't had any experience pricing hotel/ commercial work, it will be ( if I get it) the biggest job I have, and a order will be going to Alex for a longer pole .

So, what methods/ formula's do folks use to price hotel work?

What frequency do hotels normally expect?

What doe's the hotel expect from me?  I mean I have my insurance, I'm as regular as clockwork, do a good job ect

I'd really appreciate your help on this one - as I don't want to lose it, or get it by underpricing myself and finding it takes more time than expected.

Thanks

 

[bluez]

GOFISH
You will need to find out the following information from them when you meet. What do they want done, how often do they want it done, has someone else been doing it for them up to now and if so why are they considering changing, Then you will be able to price it in the knowledge of what they want from you.

Present well, be confident, take your time looking around and working out how you are going to clean each part of it, don't give a quotation on the spot but tell them you will drop one in or e mail it later that day and then take your time and estimate the time it is going to take you and multiply it by what you normally earn per hour and either add a bit or subtract a bit depending on how badly you want it.

Always remember that they are not the expert YOU ARE, if in doubt just nod and say things like I 'll look into it and get it to you on paper.

With regards to yoor question on frequency, hotels are the same as any other customer, depending on location ie near the sea or on a main road frequency will vary wildly from job to job. The first hotel that I got gets all exterior windows cleaned every month and all interior windows every second visit they spend a lot of money each year, so naturally I went mad chasing hotels, but now I do a lot of them and none do it that often unfortunately.

Good luck with it.

Good luck

[The Seven Bays Window Cleaning Company]

Thanks Bluez.

I've taken note of your points.

The one thing I would like to able to do is give there price with confidence - rather than feel guilty, as it's more than I have ever asked from someone before.

I've attatched some pics.

If you could give me a rough idea as to what you think I should be charging it would be most appreciated.

I can some of the windows are not accesable with WFP, and some are not accesable at all.

I've not had my meeting with them yet, so I'm not sure exactly what windows they will want cleaning.

But any ideas on price would be of help.

Thanks

[xxmattyxx]

Yea, GULP !!   

Sometimes you wanna be careful what you pray for, you might just get it 


Well, looks like a biggie, I in all honesty have no idea of what that would come to, aId say though, go and have a walk round with the client, take the advice already given, ask questions etc about frequency/insides/special requirements etc and then come back and ask here again with more details. Good luck.

Matt

[The Seven Bays Window Cleaning Company]

Thanks Matty..

I'll do that. Going to see them next week.

[Jon-scwindows]

Great,  looks like most of the windows can be done by pole about 45-50 ft pole i would say - i would get a carbon fibre superlight if i could!

could you email me the letter you send them please as im looking to post to some commercial buildings around me, and i have the long poles just no work for them. Would be much appreciated thanks so i could addapt it. scwcs@aol.com

Im sure they would want all the main windows done, and would be pleased that you can access them all and do a good job on all the main ones, im sure they wont expect the very top ones, like the skylight and set back ones, but they can be done from the inside probably.

see if they are interested in the insides done too?

[chrismroberts]

Well done Gofish  Good luck!

Could I be cheeky and ask for a copy of that letter too? My address is cmroberts3310@hotmail.com. Thanks Seems like youve had success with it!

[The Seven Bays Window Cleaning Company]

Hay Jon, & Sheep

You should have mail.

Let me know what you think

[Tosh]

Gofish,

I'd be carefull with your pricing; as in don't price too low.  I've learnt from bitter experience that a 'prestige job' isn't 'prestige' when you've underpriced to get it.  

We had a Hilton Hotel job not long after we started window cleaning; we weren't the cheapest quote either; but we were cheap.  We didn't mind (we thought) since there was plenty of inside work to do during the rainy Winter; but it was far to big for us (before we went WFP) and the insides needed doing too; once every three months.

We had free lunch, tea and coffee on demand, but the job was a total git and in the end I sent a letter to the manager saying why (too cheap, too inexperienced, too stoopid (me)).

I felt a proper idiot!

PS.  The manager wanted 'high impact - low cost', so I thought I was clever with a '1-2-3' idea.

I suggested he gets his public areas (entrance, bar, restaraunt, gym, swimming pool) cleaned every month, has all the exterior room windows cleaned every-other-month, and has the inside room windows cleaned every three months.

It was a good plan, if we'd priced it right.

[s.hughes]

Hi Gofish can you send me that letter, I 'm in Herts so nowhere near you.
Would be appreciated.
 steven.hughes267@ntlworld.com

[The Seven Bays Window Cleaning Company]

Hi Steven.. sent

[The Seven Bays Window Cleaning Company]

Gofish,

I'd be carefull with your pricing; as in don't price too low.  I've learnt from bitter experience that a 'prestige job' isn't 'prestige' when you've underpriced to get it. 

We had a Hilton Hotel job not long after we started window cleaning; we weren't the cheapest quote either; but we were cheap.  We didn't mind (we thought) since there was plenty of inside work to do during the rainy Winter; but it was far to big for us (before we went WFP) and the insides needed doing too; once every three months.

We had free lunch, tea and coffee on demand, but the job was a total git and in the end I sent a letter to the manager saying why (too cheap, too inexperienced, too stoopid (me)).

I felt a proper idiot!

PS.  The manager wanted 'high impact - low cost', so I thought I was clever with a '1-2-3' idea.

I suggested he gets his public areas (entrance, bar, restaraunt, gym, swimming pool) cleaned every month, has all the exterior room windows cleaned every-other-month, and has the inside room windows cleaned every three months.

It was a good plan, if we'd priced it right.

Thanks Tosh.

That's the one thing I'm concerned about.

It's a big job, maybe even to big for just me to do - But if I can price it right then I'll happily get on with it, and get it done.

I'd like it though as it's in a highy visiable spot, so I'll certainly get noticed - hopefully for the right reasons.

I like the idea of the ( 1-2-3) idea, I was thinking something along those lines when I checked it out today.

[chrismroberts]

Thanks mate I really like it.... professional but friendly! I like the way youve emphasised good customer service! Thats the key I think! Will customise it and use it myself if thats OK? Thanks

[[GQC] Tim]

Gofish, can I please have one of them aswell? Many thanks, much appreciated.

gqc-cleaning@hotmail.com

[chrismroberts]

Over the Crimbo period I decided to put together a letter to target commercial work in my area.

Sooo.. after getting the wording as I wanted, printed on nice quality paper, sent 1st class yesterday.

TODAY... I get an email from one of the bigger hotels near me asking my to come and have a chat.


Really pleased with such a quick response. But haven't had any experience pricing hotel/ commercial work, it will be ( if I get it) the biggest job I have, and a order will be going to Alex for a longer pole .

So, what methods/ formula's do folks use to price hotel work?

What frequency do hotels normally expect?

What doe's the hotel expect from me?  I mean I have my insurance, I'm as regular as clockwork, do a good job ect

I'd really appreciate your help on this one - as I don't want to lose it, or get it by underpricing myself and finding it takes more time than expected.

Thanks

 

Did you address it to anyone in particular, like "The Facilities Manager", or just direct to the hotel(s)?

[xxmattyxx]

Gofish, dont mean to be a pain, could I have a copy too, so theres a chance of me starting a thread called 'GULP' too 

matt@fridayhomegroup.freeserve.co.uk

[bluez]

Hi Gofish
Nice job, I would expect to do the exterior of that in about 1 day with 2 men assuming that skylights could be done from inside. Maybe a couple of extra hours on day two for a tidy up. If this is your first biggish job allow for about double the time just to be on the safe side especially if you are doing it on your own. I always underestimate the time involved for the first visit but can generally bring it down sharply on subsequent visits as I get to know the lie of the land.



  

[Tosh]

It's a big job, maybe even to big for just me to do - But if I can price it right then I'll happily get on with it, and get it done.

You can still price competitively though if you're prepared to 'lower standards'.

For example, the first clean will have to be to a high standard, but subsequent cleans you can cut corners, miss areas that you've checked and look okay 'n' stuff; you've got to use a bit of common sense.  

Most of the big window cleaning companies work like this (so I believe) so that they can stay competitive, yet still make a profit.

I'll probably get a 'slagging' for telling you how to be a cowboy, but if the manager has asked other window cleaners to price the hotel, which I'm sure he has, they may probably work the above practice.

[Mike_G]

Well done you Colud you send me a copy of the letter as well please gamble1969@hotmail.com    Thanks

[bluez]

I have a check that I do on my pricing that may be useful to someone...

Say I want to achieve €1500.00 per full one man round based on 6days a week.

Estimate the time involved ie. say 2.2 man days then devide €1500.00 by 6 and multiply by 2.2 and that will give you your on target price.

example....job 20 hours=2.5 man days(8hour days) €1500/6*2.5 = 625 on target price