Got asked to bid on my first commercial building.

Trev1981

New member
Got a call from my aunt that does interior cleaning for a property management company. She said the guy that she does work for was asking about my services and told her he wanted a quote on the social security building in town. It's just a little over 10,000 sqft. No mold or anything, just lots of dirty on the building. I'm not sure how much to charge. Usually for houses I charge around $.20-25 a sqft. So should I charge $2,000? But Mt aunt said they need a guy to do a lot of work for them in the future, so should I go a little lower? I'd like to land their business for future work.
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And the corners are a strange material I haven't seen before. It looks like metal. But when you touch it you can feel that it's not metal. Has anyone seen this before?
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My two cents is to always give them the full price then give them a reason for the discount right on the bid and invoice. I usually use "if we can do it xxx date" as the discount reason.
Then knock I out of the park with performance and they wont question the next bid. Or they will ask you how to get the discount again, which puts you in control.
 
I believe what your referring to,(looking like metal edges) is EFIS, exterior finish insulation system. Its styrofoam panels 2" thick(that's the thickness they used on the building I worked on), glued onto the cement walls, shaved and groomed to what is called for, then sprayed with a liquid substance that hardens forming a tough shell. The substance sprayed has been tinted the desired color.
 
I believe what your referring to,(looking like metal edges) is EFIS, exterior finish insulation system. Its styrofoam panels 2" thick(that's the thickness they used on the building I worked on), glued onto the cement walls, shaved and groomed to what is called for, then sprayed with a liquid substance that hardens forming a tough shell. The substance sprayed has been tinted the desired color. It's common on buildings buildings all over, one knock on them, and you'll know.
 
Same here with the pricing. Do the full bid and then give a reason for the discount. I would include the sidewalks in the $1500 as a first time discount only. Be sure to itemize what the sidewalks will normally cost. Provide an outstanding job and they will most likely continue with your company.

The raised panels do appear to be the Styrofoam. You can clean it with a standard house wash mix just don't strike them with anything hard or sharp.

All the best with your new venture!!!

Mike
 
Since the thread is from last year, it may be a little while before we know.

Mike
 
Trevor,

I do alot of CA State and State owned building cleaning in the SF BAy area. I would ask more questions before spending time bidding this SS building. The reason is the State is paying for this service and it would go through a bid process if awarded.(Normally). If this is a one off project or the Site manager is allowed to solicit bids I have never heard of it and there is a time consuming/vetting process to work on any State/Federal buildings. If the company you Aunt works for has the cleaning contract, they already have the building washing as a predetermined line item price in their total bid package, so the guy already has a price he must work with.

I would try and figure out a few things- #1 Are you bidding directly to Social Security or are you bidding to a guy who is bidding to Social Security. If your bidding to a guy who knows a guy etc... You're probably best off talking pricing straight up and find out where you have to be on price so everyone gets their cut.

This isn't and "here is my price to some homeowner", You are a third or fourth party being asked for pricing on a project that may never happen.

Not raining on any parade or being negative, just being the other side of the spectrum. I've wasted good time on bidding projects that just don't go anywhere and I'm passing on knowledge about certain Fed/Gov/State processes.

Jeremy
Clark Services
510-970-7910
 
My two cents is to always give them the full price then give them a reason for the discount right on the bid and invoice. I usually use "if we can do it xxx date" as the discount reason.
Then knock I out of the park with performance and they wont question the next bid. Or they will ask you how to get the discount again, which puts you in control.
Nice.

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Trevor,

I do alot of CA State and State owned building cleaning in the SF BAy area. I would ask more questions before spending time bidding this SS building. The reason is the State is paying for this service and it would go through a bid process if awarded.(Normally). If this is a one off project or the Site manager is allowed to solicit bids I have never heard of it and there is a time consuming/vetting process to work on any State/Federal buildings. If the company you Aunt works for has the cleaning contract, they already have the building washing as a predetermined line item price in their total bid package, so the guy already has a price he must work with.

I would try and figure out a few things- #1 Are you bidding directly to Social Security or are you bidding to a guy who is bidding to Social Security. If your bidding to a guy who knows a guy etc... You're probably best off talking pricing straight up and find out where you have to be on price so everyone gets their cut.

This isn't and "here is my price to some homeowner", You are a third or fourth party being asked for pricing on a project that may never happen.

Not raining on any parade or being negative, just being the other side of the spectrum. I've wasted good time on bidding projects that just don't go anywhere and I'm passing on knowledge about certain Fed/Gov/State processes.

Jeremy
Clark Services
510-970-7910

I was under the impression that if it is under a certain amount ( 5k i think ) then it does not need to be bid out.
 
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