A new call... bid for 50 VARIOUS sized decks. We've done condos in the past, but all the deck sizes were the same size.

How would you bid these decks out? Individually, groups, small / med / large?

The decks were done 2 years ago with Cuprinol. Last guy seemed have used a paint sprayer, some decks have very minimal product on it, but we're planning on stripping each deck.

Remember, there's FIFTY decks and not many are the same size / shape. We figured the smallest of the decks would take about 3 1/2 hours (to wash / strip / seal) and the largest would take about 6 hours total.

They need bid ASAP, thanks. We hope to have the job completed in 3-4 weeks.

We did a complex last year and charged per size...........>>

It had 65 different decks >> small med & Large!!

Seemed to work for them as well as us!

Hired 7 guys Took 7 weeks to complete ...............Great pay day Though !

**Hot-Rod **
Restoring A 1949 Studebaker!!
Complete Major Overhaul.

We're figuring 1/3 profit margin, sound right?

Last year, we figured a little over 1/3 profit margin for a condo job and we lost the job because they went with a less expensive competitor. They didn't want to pay for the decks to be stripped either.

It's hard to read these management companies. Sometimes they want the cheapest possible price to get it done (rinse and seal), other times, they want the best available (wash, strip, brighten, seal). I think we often lose to the cheap guy with the $199. pressure washer working out of the family van.

We explain why our costs are a bit higher than the family-van-man, but often it doesn't seem to matter to them.

Things that make ya go 'hmmmmm'.

I would group the decks in sizes like you identified.....small-med. lg. Price them accordingly & make sure your proposal identifies the specific size decks in relation to the buildings/addresses. That way, if they for some reason don't do them all, you get paid properly. Also, don't compromise your method just to reach a lower price point. If all they want is the lowest price, you're gonna' end up losing either A) the job; or B) your profit.

Although we've managed to land a few condo/apt. complex jobs, we've lost more than we bid. Wondering if I could get some input as to how others approach the multi-family proposals. We have very specific methods when it comes to siding cleaning & deck restoration. We WILL NOT compromise our quality or level of service, and typically get more $$ for our work. Additionally, we offer annual deck maintenance which ends up being more economical in the long run, as opposed to having the decks completely redone every 3 yrs. or so. Although our overall presentations and approach seems to appeal to the initial contact, we seldom get the work. We encourage, and have participated in Q & A meetings with association members, have a great reputation in our market, yet still don't land many of these jobs.

Although we discount for the volume of work, we know we will not be the lowest bidder. We take into account the numerous trips we will make, and the headaches inherent in dealing with numerous condo owners at the same location. My opinion is that there are some that would never be happy, even if you paid THEM to do the work.

How many of you run into this same situation, and could you suggest an approach that will still allow us to make a profit without compromising our quality & service? Thanks.

Mary & John Montag - Owners
Five Star Commercial Services, LLC
1555 Lakeview Rd.
West Bend, WI 53090

info@my-5star.com
http://www.my-5star.com
262-305-5575 office
262-305-4890 cell
262-692-6829 fax

John, I have the same experience. I have gotten to the point that I don't even want these jobs. Your efficiency is based upon too many variables and because you are doing "bulk work" they expect a lower price. All it takes are a few open windows, people forgetting to remove their furniture off the deck, or a couple of decks without working electricity and there goes your profit margin. We may be busier than you, but I would be very hesitant to offer cheap rates. Another bad thing about condos is the neccessary prep and shadow box dividers inherent to many of them.

I am the high guy in my market and quality, craftsmanship guarantee and maintenance are also what we offer. We did a job last week for a single condo owner and four neighbors approached me. I bid them like I would any single family home. Two were impressed and paid the rate, two complained the last guys charged half as much. The usual balks followed by the same question from me.. "where is that company now?" I also get these pseudo enticements from condo owners/associations. "The last guys that did decks here ended up doing fifty of them" Great. And with the aggravation, bidding, time wheeling and aditional labor I would make more doing 50 single homes and I wouldn't be pissing off my real client base.

My question is Deckrock, is this an all or nothing proposal? If you get one job do you get them all or is it left to the individual owners to decide? Fifty decks times an average of $450 is a nice payout. Twenty decks times an even lower average would be a waste of time for me.

Ken Fenner
PressurePros, Inc
Havertown, PA
www.pressure-pros.com
pressure washers in PA

Its an all or nothing job.... I think. Nothing is in writing though, and we've had another condo screw us over by changing the amount of decks they wanted done. So, thanks for reminding me, we will need to write that all the decks need to be done for that price.

And, since we've been living here for 4 years, we've come across a few associations that have more less told us that it's the same guy doing all the condos in our area (the condos are NOT affiliated with each other).

Last year, we noticed a young guy doing a condo complex out here, in late October. It was almost freezing at night. The sealant looks terrible. But, guess what? The property management is HAPPY WITH IT.

Ends up, this guy doing the work is employed full time, elsewhere, and it's a weekend-side business. He does it after his regular job and weekends. He doesn't strip any of his jobs either.... the kicker... HE GETS THE JOBS! The one association that we're bidding on has used this guy, but they said it took him too long and a lot of homeowners complained about it. However, he is getting a lot of condo's that appear to be happy with him.

It seems, to land a condo job, you have to lower your standards. Almost want to come out and say "Do you want the job done right.... or do you just want the job done???" Then, price accordingly.

ABSOLUTELY NO DISRESPECT TO KEN & JOHN (must say this off the bat ) but, there are other factors to consider when "pricing lower" for the quantity jobs. We did a 32 deck townhome community last year... it was priced substantially lower than what a single homeowner would have paid but take this into consideration:

1) Gas increases (you know the daily one we're experiencing recently) - when you're working in ONE location, you're not driving to a half dozen different addresses throughout the week.

2) Set up & tear down time.....if you park well, you can generally knock out quite a few decks before you have to move your equipment (if you're trailer mounted like we are)

3) Word of mouth & exposure - hitting this many residences, being present on site for days and days - I'm betting that these people know far more others than live in the complex. You've indicated that the yellow pages are full of ads - word of mouth referrals are what you are going to need to rise above the other advertisers.

4) Experience, experience, experience......the vast majority of deck companies cannot boast of 50 decks in a month or two, most average fewer than that many in a year. You'll be so comfortable with your product by the end of this job, you'll be flying through the higher end jobs, increasing your profits.

The final question would be, if you don't get this job, are you still booked up? What else would you be doing? You HAVE to be honest and realistic in evaluating this question. Don't bid it and LOSE money, but think about 1-4 when deciding if doing it for less than a single family home is going to make it worth your time and energy.

Celeste

Carolina ProWash

DeckRocks - Where you located in Illinois?

My suggestion is price them seperately if they are that big of a difference.

BTW, Lots of guys including me run deck maintenance part time. I've had my business since 98. Does not mean if your part time you do a crappy job. I have over 20 repeat jobs booked alone just this year. Also I spray Sherwin Williams as well. I didnt' do your 50 condo building job though...that is too big for my operation.

Later

Northern Illinois Deck Works
-Deck and Fence Maintenance-

Powerwashing, Staining, Sealing, Repairs, Restoration

847-225-0258
www.northernillinoisdeckworks.com
Chicago, IL

We're in Rockford. We're part time also. We only know of a couple guys out here who are full time, but they also paint when the season is slow.

Good Deal...

Here's to a good season for you!

Feel free to give me a call if I can be of any help to your operation.

John

Northern Illinois Deck Works
-Deck and Fence Maintenance-

Powerwashing, Staining, Sealing, Repairs, Restoration

847-225-0258
www.northernillinoisdeckworks.com
Chicago, IL