about to bid an aprtment complex. need going rate for Alabama.

Lee_Henderson

Lee_Henderson

New member
Guys i've been told the going rate for most flat work in my area is like .10...but im looking @ bidding 15 on this puppy. Fuel prices are about to go to the moon. Total is around 8950to sq ft. For the entire complex. I shot my self in the foot on the first drive way I bid @....and don't laugh to hard....wait for it.....lol .65. I looked at the calulator and said OMG....and droped 2 zeros off the end. Needless to say that went over real well with the customer who said "lemme go and ask my wife" and anyone who listens to George Thorgood knows that ain't good at all. So advice ideas ect. (Ps my pc is shot, so to add missery to insult I am reduced to doing averything with my droid...grrrr) like I said...I spent EVERTHING on equipment.!
 
Lee_Henderson said:
Guys i've been told the going rate for most flat work in my area is like .10...but im looking @ bidding 15 on this puppy. Fuel prices are about to go to the moon. Total is around 8950to sq ft. For the entire complex. I shot my self in the foot on the first drive way I bid @....and don't laugh to hard....wait for it.....lol .65. I looked at the calulator and said OMG....and droped 2 zeros off the end. Needless to say that went over real well with the customer who said "lemme go and ask my wife" and anyone who listens to George Thorgood knows that ain't good at all. So advice ideas ect. (Ps my pc is shot, so to add missery to insult I am reduced to doing averything with my droid...grrrr) like I said...I spent EVERTHING on equipment.!
Click to expand...
You spent everything on equipment? How are you going to run your business without capital? Have you ever run a business before? You are in the right place here on this board. Start asking lots of questions and hopefully you can get some capital.
 
Oh, For the pricing you need to find out what your companies break even number is per day, how much profit you need to make, then you can start pricing. Throwing numbers at jobs doesnt work. If you need help figuring this out just ask.
 
I only had 8k to work with. After Christmas and paying up the household bills that left about 6k. I bought the guy out for 4500.00, not bad considering he was asking $10,000.00. Equipment was still brand new with less than 30hrs on it. He had a better job offer with the state and wasn't using it. Was just sitting in his carport collecting dust. Put a grand down on a very used truck. Now I realize that some ppl are made of money but im not. I own my place out right and my living expenses are less than 800.00 a month. I don't need to make a killing doing this just a decent living. If I can clear 60k a year doing this then im happy. Means I miss no pagents, miss no football games, and I m not making some other guy wealthy in the process. I didnt wanna get into all that but I felt like I was being cornerd right off the bat. Yeah, I have ran a business before, but estimating for this work is all brand new to me. So before you attack me, understand...im not a wealthy man and im just trying to make an honest damn living and find some freedom & happiness. But thanks for taking the time to respond jamse. I feel welcomed now. (Note my post count)
 
Last edited:
Lee, James is just starting at the basic fundamentals so nothing gets missed. He is very thorough from what I have seen. It is just as important to know where the numbers come from as it is to know the numbers. People from all walks of life end up in the pressure washing business. Some need to make $30k per year and others need to earn $130k+ per year. So you can see why "going rate" is such a moving target. To compete with some who's living expenses are $800 per month is a lot different from competing with one who need to earn $60k per year. Same as for a guy who does his own maintenance and repair work for free and passes the saving on to his customers. Also, you have to figure how quick and efficient you will be able to do the job. Some concrete cleaning is priced at .03 per sq ft. while some is as high as .30.

Post some pictures and more info maybe someone can give you an idea what kind of time is involved based on your equipment and skill level. 9000 square feet is not very much some could do it in 2 hours and some maybe 4-6 hours.
 
Sorry if I misunderstood his intentions, I just don't respond well to negativity. Yeah its a pretty strait forward job. Being a one man outfit...I guessed it @ the around four hrs. But allowed nine just incase. I'll post some pics sometime today of the job.(I uploaded a pic of the rig im using...just can't quite get it work right with the board from my droid.)
 
Lee_Henderson said:
Sorry if I misunderstood his intentions, I just don't respond well to negativity. Yeah its a pretty strait forward job. Being a one man outfit...I guessed it @ the around four hrs. But allowed nine just incase. I'll post some pics sometime today of the job.(I uploaded a pic of the rig im using...just can't quite get it work right with the board from my droid.)
Click to expand...
I was not trying to be negative and forgive me if I was. We are all here to help each other and I have never seen so many contractors trying to help like here. You can make a very comfortable living at power washing if you market your services correctly you will get to that $60k your first year. Keep marketing and hang on its like a snowball. Most of our commercial flat work in NJ is around 10-12cents a square ft. Now these are what we need to make. You can do it much cheaper with the overhead you have. Test! See how many square ft you can clean in an hour. Then go from there. Good luck God bless.
 
I second what James just said about testing. You can ask your customer if you can do a test patch in an inconspicuous place. Do 100 sq ft. Let them know some surfaces clean up easier than others and testing it will determine the amount of time needed to complete the job. I will say no more.

James, it humbles me to see you ask such simple questions that put everything into the right perspective.

Lee post some pictures of your work here as you progress in your new venture. Good luck
 
Lee_Henderson said:
Guys i've been told the going rate for most flat work in my area is like .10...but im looking @ bidding 15 on this puppy. Fuel prices are about to go to the moon. Total is around 8950to sq ft. For the entire complex. I shot my self in the foot on the first drive way I bid @....and don't laugh to hard....wait for it.....lol .65. I looked at the calulator and said OMG....and droped 2 zeros off the end. Needless to say that went over real well with the customer who said "lemme go and ask my wife" and anyone who listens to George Thorgood knows that ain't good at all. So advice ideas ect. (Ps my pc is shot, so to add missery to insult I am reduced to doing averything with my droid...grrrr) like I said...I spent EVERTHING on equipment.!
Click to expand...

lol....thats funny...now your funny too.
 
in Alabama we get .30 to .40 cents per ft. at least LOL.............What did you say the name of the apartments was...hahaha

Just kidding good luck
 
Well i bid it at 0.15 if they pass on it i'll rebid at 10. But I sure as hell ain't going to do it for free. Ten cents sq foot is as low as ill go for flatwork. Lowball my big fat Crimson & white butt.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top