House wash bid

See now here's the thing, I got a call from a home owner on Monday to give her a price on a house wash. Since the crew was working in the same town today I ran over and checked it out. Two story on three sides one story back. Nice little place, about 2160 sq. ft. total vinyl siding. Told her husband $245. She calls me back this afternoon and asks me "How much if you don't clean the gutters and windows? Cause I got a price from a guy of $100." I explained the insurance, water behind siding, and experience issues to her. I gave her education in stead of information. Then gave her the name of another guy in the area who does good work and encouraged her to look around some more and that it doesn't matter if she hires us or not but get a REPUTABLE & INSURED contractor. The short end of this is.... this is the third time this season I've bid against this guy, I've never met him but I am ready to get his number and give him a call and talk this over. It's tough enough these days let alone some hack that cuts a low rate that much lower. Sorry just venting and rambling.

He has got a right to price is stuff as he wants just like you do.He might not be around very long or he might just work on volume.

I agree we all have the right to price where we want, and I realize that my bid is REAL close to hack rates. I understand volume prices but for the most part that only works when you can get 2 or more jobs in the same general area. To run all over 3 counties to make a hundred a house, after fuel and wages, there is no money left. I'm not really pissed at this guy, I just wonder if he realizes how much money he's leaving on the table?????

Just relax many come many go just a matter of time.I know how you feel belive me.We wash trucks all year round,l love washing but washing trucks is a pain in the winter time.Then when spring comes evrybody and there brother has a washer and does the same thing you are talking about.I had one guy stop me at a gas station when he saw my truck,he bowed up chest out and said Iam into washing i bought the biggest washer lowes had.I just smiled an told him good luck.

yep your exactly right. They come and go. I put a bid in for an apt complex and lost the job to some hack that was friends with the apartment manager. I drove by and seen them out side with 2 hd machines and a yellow noddle with a turbo nozzle on it. Just nailing the vinyl siding. They done 2 of the buildings then quit. Took them 3 days.....Then they called me and asked if id still do it! Theres always going to be someone out there whos willing to do it for beer money. They come and go.

Get use to it guy's, this is a buisness that is too easy to get in. And all the info they need is a click away for free !! What other buisness can you start for less than $2000.00 and make money right away? And if you do it right you can move up quickly to bigger jobs just by adding the right equipment and knowlege.

Price shopper .... Can't win em all man.

I wish I had only heard no 3 times this year lol

How do you clean a house without getting the windows???

That custom will get what they are looking for for $100...a low price and half a job.

Randy, don't even let it bother you. Meet the guy, he won't change and he'll probably get some good valuable info from you and you will get nothing from him.

Very good advice here. Now that my pity party is over..... The home owner called and told me that after talking to her husband about everything I explained to her they have decided to go with us because I took the time to explain the work that would be done, what we won't do, and why there was such a big difference in price. So I get to beat myself up with the EDUCATE DON'T JUST SELL STICK. Thanks for letting me get it all off chest though.

OK this e-mail came today from the home owners that I posted this about.

My husband and I needed to get our house ready to rent and one of the things that needed to be done was to powerwash the siding and I called Panther Outdoor Maintenance to get an estimate for it. I talked with Randy, the owner and he was incredibly helpful with getting the estimate and also advised to have the windows and gutters done to complete the job. His men came out to our house and completely went above and beyond my expectations!! They did a terrific job cleaning the siding, windows and gutters -- they even cleaned the cement driveway and deck and it looks like BRAND NEW!! I'm SO HAPPY that I chose to go with Panther Outdoor Maintenance because it really was money well spent!


Thanks
Kelly Wilson

Way to go. It's funny. Most customers don't realize the value of what we do until we are finished. It would be so much easier if they knew before hand.

All around the Upstate of South Carolina, I see fliers around that say all homes cleaned for $99.00....even come home and found one thumb tacked to my mail box one day. I have customers question me why I am so high when I tell them my cost will be 295.00 to clean their home when they have another quote for 99.00. I tell them everyone knows the value of their work. I know my work is worth 295.00 and he knows his in not worth but 99.00.

I often wonder if they were looking for someone cheaper than 99.00.......

I tell customers, you can't get a $30,000 car detailed for $99.00, how in the world can you get a 2, 3, $400,000 home washed for $99.00??? Doesn't sound right to me, does it you?

Guy Blackmon said:

I tell customers, you can't get a $30,000 car detailed for $99.00, how in the world can you get a 2, 3, $400,000 home washed for $99.00??? Doesn't sound right to me, does it you?

Click to expand...

Guy, I like that example and will be using it on this type situation. Thanks!!

The thing is customers don't want to cheap- out, they really don't. You've got to connect on a common sense level with the customer without sounding like you're begging for their work. No you won't win them all, but you'll win more.

Guy Blackmon said:

The thing is customers don't want to cheap- out, they really don't. You've got to connect on a common sense level with the customer without sounding like you're begging for their work. No you won't win them all, but you'll win more.

Click to expand...

Great advice Guy

Thanks Guy, those are easy terms to understand, even for a HO. I will use them, too.