pricing conflict

M

mattia

Member
I am a rookie to exhaust cleaning, But have done some with a old contractor, the pricing conflict that i am having is do i still give them a price for a first time cleaning, even when they take care of the system...

Went to a fish and burger joint, told her it would be 525.00 for first time cleaning, but at 3 month service i could do it at 300.00 on a one year contract... Was right on money with large vent-a-hood contractor for regular cleaning...Please help rookie out who is trying to build business...

For those who care, Went to Delco School for codes and standard practice, So i am not going to be fly by night contractor and hurt the vent-a-hood trade... Hope to bring standard back up in my area...
Thank you
Rookie out of Iowa
Matt
 
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Welcome to the business. Are you full time now or part time?
Those prices seem reasonable, prices tend to vary from place to place, you will have to feel it out to see if you compare to others in you area. Offer a quality service, be dependable, and build a reputation for such and you can sometime write your own price, " within reason of course". You sometimes will run across a customer who has had one bad experience after another with cleaners, and are just looking for someone who will do a good job consistently. Also look out for those customers who figure $300 X 4 equals $1200 I'll just do it once a year for the $525. They are out there.

Good luck
 
Sorry I guess I didn't answer you question did I.

Should you charge an initial service charge or not?
I tend to always charge more because you never know what you are getting into until you get it all opened up, which you sometime are not able to do when you bid it and they are cooking.
It is really up to you. Assuming you are looking at them before you bid them you should be able to make that decision on the spot. Be aware of places in the systems that may have been missed or just simply neglected by the other cleaning company. I have seen places that look good until you get into them and find places that have never been cleaned for whatever reasons
.
 
I agree with Bryan, when I look at jobs during the working hours it is hard to see everything. I have started to give them a high low price with a cap. I explain that the job is based on best estimate. It is working fine the job I don't get I just don't care-I am not in this to loose money.

I had a guy the other day say that "I can clean it for that price". I handed him a brush and walked out of the kitchen. The job was a low volume burger joint-gave him my basic price of $225. I will not get out of the truck for less.

David
 
Job looked fairly simply,first was a fish joint or fryer work they were cleaning for 150.00, no filters, galley type hood, Then they added charbroiler, which went straight up but on roof went 90 degrees to fan...No access at this point, Looked like it could be taken apart at roof...3 baffle filters, looked aluminum thru out...

Will work into full-time, Working cold water residential work currently...Pressure washing is the only thing i do currently, Decks houses,small paint...

Matt
 
You will need to, in my opinion, go to a hot water machine, a cold water machine with a hot water seal kit may get you buy, but it has been my experience that you can't count the customers hot water all the time. Nothing sucks more than trying to clean grease with cold or warm water.
If there is no access at the roof at the turn I am sure that it has not been cleaned in the past. You mentioned taking it apart. Are you talking about the duct, if so this should not be possible? That elbow needs an access panel and the duct should be welded although I have seen much worse. I would insist on an access panel at that elbow, and I don't think I would dismantle the duct if that were possible.
You will have to determine weather insisting on these changes may cost you the job, and how badly you need the work. Many people will just go to the next guy until they find someone willing to put up a sticker.
You may feel it necessary to do some things starting out to keep the cash flow that a more establish company may not be willing to do. I know I was there. Familiarize yourself with the NFPA codes pertaining to Grease Exhaust, and be sure to document anything that is substandard.
 
Thank you kmjt and David, All info surely helps..I agree needs Panel at top at elbow....Duct work was only about 6inches wide do they make panels that small...

Matt
 
Six inches is small-that cant be right. They do make doors that small call Flame Gard @ 1800-334-3072. Make sure that with this door you will be able to access the vertical and or the fan blades. Check the size and location that you wish to place the door. Take a pic. and post it-so we can be a better help.

David
 
do not have digital camera yet, yes 6 inches is small,maybe 8 inches at the most, dont remember it being much larger than that..to get both the vertical and hoz. it would have to be right at the elbow, gosh really need to get digital camera...Wait i have digital camcorder, brain dont fail me now...See what i can do for pictures
 
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