Hey guys. I’ve got a call to do a menards here in town. They want exterior cleaned monthly/ Interior cleaned bi monthly. I’ve my price put together but I’d like to see where others sit on it. Especially from different areas than mine. They request that no wfp is to be used on this job.
Bummer!, Though I don’t mind a ladder on flat concrete. Beats the hills and rocks I’m used to.
Well where I live you would have to be very competitive if you want to keep it . We see them getting bid for about 1.50 per pane sometimes even 1.00 . I’m not trying to be discouraging that’s just what I have seen here
Why do they request no WFP? If their experience is that a previous WCer did a poor job with one, you might be able to convince them to let you use all of the tools in your arsenal because you know how to use them. Or do they have another reason?
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How good are you at poling?
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Are you sure they want the roll up doors done? Or do they just want the front/customer facing doors?
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What’s the total window count? I’m feeling lazy this morning and don’t really want to count.
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How’s the access on the inside? Usually Menards has stock up against those inside windows.
I just had the same call from menards, i turned it down, big job, and they want you on call. Also its a lock in job, work inside till they open in morning
My experience locally with Menards was poor.
They offered in and out cleanings on 3 locations, 3 times a year, asking for a group discount.
Ended up awarding it to 3 different companies for on-call basis not three times a year.
Seems they take low bid only and are smart and get companies to compete against each other in a way to drive the price down.
Have to watch some companies sometimes try to do group discount rates and then award only a portion of the jobs.we’ve had to include in our proposals the pricing is for group rates due to this.
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Are you from Branson too? Anyways, that’s where I’m at and it’s not you that’s discouraging. Lol. It’s the so called “professionals” here that way undervalue their value. Sets my entire market caddywompus.
Didn’t get the details But his tone sounded like a horrible experience happened and said they were only interested in a traditional window cleaner.
No I’m out of Minneapolis mn …I’ve done a few Menards up here there definitely a pain in the butt. Money is money so
Poling, I’m getting better. Just started using one maybe a month or two ago. I’ve been able to get away with ladders and wfp so far until recently.
The email pretty much states it wants all the glass cleaned
There’s something like 330 335 windows
The glass that has the things in front are the 28 windows in the pic. The interior has light fixtures and product in front of the window. The 15 large windows to the right of the entrance have potted flowers and things. Entrance has carts and other carted type objects.
This contract says 5am-12pm. It’d be about perfect I’d just need to find a sitter till bus time.
forget the ladder, use a pole with the excellerator
This job would give me the practice I need.
So, where you at on this one?
i couldn’t tell you based on pictures, id have to see it in person, but if i can avoid using a ladder by using a pole i can both give them a better price while making more per hour
I helped a friend do a Menards a couple hours away last winter because he was sick.
Those lighting department windows have a lot of fixtures, lamps, etc. in the way, so that will slow you down.
The entrances are non-stop busy, and you can pole the high middles, but the arched on the side will probably need a ladder, right in the flow of people and carts. So that’s tricky.
Two of us, but I’d never done the job before and he was sick, took us about 5-6 hours. He’s been cleaning windows for 12 years and I’ve done it for 10. So, on a good day we could probably knock it out in 3-4?
If you’re inexperienced, I don’t think there’s much chance you’re getting it done from 5 AM- Noon, so take into account that it’ll probably be a two trip job.
I’d say maybe $450 for Interior and Exterior would be my price. Possibly higher, depending on how accessible the windows are.
I’m betting the price the manager wants it at won’t be worth it. If I was starting out though I might feel different. It would give you good experience and practice, and some reliable income. And we all have those early jobs that we love and then have long enough that we grow to hate them 
TL;DR
If you’re inexperienced it’ll probably take you 8-10 hours or more to do inside and out at first (this is merely an estimate, not a hard and fast rule). What do you need to make for that to be worth your time?
The request for special timing considerations and special equipment considerations is what troubles me more, because it sounds like he’s going to be asking for preferential treatment, which becomes challenging as you get more business.
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There is approximately 380 panes of glass. Would that make a difference in your price? Do you go by hours on the job or pane price when you have the info/? Its still a little challenging judging how long a job will take me so I usually try and do a pane price till I can get a harness on time frames. that would come out to about $37.50 - 45 per hr for the both of you though. That not too bad.
I would say 37.50-45 an hour is a low hourly.
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Yeah, I’m coming in quite a bit higher then that. I couldn’t do it for 1.18 a window.
What do you think jhans. Where ya at on this one?
380 windows with the restrictions, merchandise and times given to work with in and out would be $1500
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What’s your price?
