So yesterday I went and gave a quote to a woman who has a large house about 4500 sqft (sorry no pictures). I totaled 23 windows needing a ladder, 46 windows that can be accessed from the ground or flat roof. Also there are 30 screens, 2 French doors, 10 large sliding glass doors and 2 sky lights. All the windows are double hung and not that bad off, but they do need to be cleaned. I quoted 1$ a sill due to the fact that none of the sills were real bad but they needed a wipe down.
So the quote I came to was 799.
Not that the woman’s husbands profesión is important but he is a radiologist. So I keep having a battle in my mind, thinking I quoted too much VS they can afford it and it’s really a full days work.
What do you guys think?
The woman said she will talk it over with her husband and will get back to me and asked how soon she could get on the schedule, and I told her the second week of June and she said that would be fine for her. So I didn’t schedule it but it did sound promising, I’m just worried they will say no for being to high. Granted the whole reason she called me out was because she cleaned the windows herself and it was way too time intensive and the windows still weren’t real clean.
So I’m not sure what to expect. I just want to make sure I’m not too high. I’ve given out 2 quotes recently and when I called back the person said they would just do it themselves. So I’m worried I’m quoting too high.
Generate a price structure and stick to it. Don’t worry about how much money you think they make, how rich they are or if they can afford your price. stick to your formula.
I bid the job in my head while I was reading your post, without looking at the price you gave. I always like doing that in these threads to see where I am at. I was at $830 and I would have probably offered something like $789 because I like the way that sounds better. If you needed the work I would even go to $749 and tell her that is 10% off if she has a problem with the price. But that is as low as I would go unless you are hurting for work and it doesn’t sound like you are.
Jobs like this can be deceiving because you see that big number and think to yourself. I can do it in a day, but these houses are looooong days. You will earn all that money, plus as you know by the time you pay overhead, taxes, etc you will probably take home 60%. So 450 for a really long day is what you are really talking about.
I just did a bid today for two houses by the same owner in a gated community. One house is going to be a “Center” of some sort. I kind of wondered if it was some Scientologist church…
Anyway, both houses were at 2500, both easy-ish construction cleans. I am CONFIDENT in my price. If I get it, great. If I don’t, that’s fine too.
You will soon realize that not everyone is your type of customer. You price by YOUR formula and don’t worry if they can afford it or if you’ll get the bid. Cutting your prices to get the same kind of payday you get in a fast food restaurant makes no sense.
You are going to do a lot of bids. You just are not going to get all of them. Be confident in your pricing and move on from the cheap skates.
Tight bid. I think you’re right in the ball park: here’s my math (what I’d charge/ ignoring your figures)
Ladder/ 10 ea./ 230
46/ 5 ea./2.50 a side 230
30 screens/ 3 bucks ea. 90
48 french at a buck/ 2 sides 48
Sliders/ 10 at 5 ea. 2.50 pane 50
Skylights/ 30 min ea./ 50 hr. 50
Wipe sills 23+46 @ a buck 69
Total 767
Gas/lunch/ materials 32 (not an outrageous figure)
Total/ what you said : 799 Right in the ball park. Take it or leave it. You may be dealing with cheapskates. You gave them a great price and at 10 ladder moves you’ll earn every nickel. Keep prospecting. I think your prices are great. I wouldn’t do it that cheap.
Thank you everyone for your feedback and encouragement. I thought more about it and am glad that I stuck to my formula.
I called the woman back yesterday to see what she was thinking as far as scheduling. She told me that my price was way higher than what they have paid in the past so they are calling a company that they used before to have them come out and give a quote. So I am curious about how that other company will turn out. She talked about them before but if she liked them why didn’t she just call them in the first place.
At least I don’t feel bad about not getting the job. I know my quote was right on point.
It’s some people’s nature to want something premium, for little to nothing in expense.
The only way they are going to get it, is if someone is dumb/foolish enough to give it to them for the pittance they are willing to pay. If they can’t find a fool, they will either go without, or cough up the cash.
If the other company was good at all, they never would have looked around for another window guy. Truth be told, the other guy doesn’t exist.
Remember that bid I told you about earlier? They didn’t bat an eye when I followed up Monday. There are people out there that will pay your prices. You just have to get your marketing in front of them and learn to not worry about the people who just can’t afford you. The longer you do this, the less its going to bother you.
So true, I bid a large two-story home a couple of months ago. All cutups, lot of work. $1,038 was my price. They called two weeks ago, while I was still sick with bronchitis and wanted to book. Explained my situation and they agreed to have it done last week.
I finished after the rain and they called later to pay with a charge card. I do PayPal instead so big job, done at my price, paid, next.
Stay positive man, and don’t let those few get to you. Jobs are out, go get 'em.
