Pricing on new construction - Power Wash Network "The Power Wash Contractors Forum"

Mike Hughes · #1 (**permalink**) 06-06-01

I need some help with pricing new construction (residential) cleanup.

Asked to bid on cleaning garage and basements, and sidewalks......possibly even exterior cleaning after settlement............FOR A DEVELOPMENT OF 183 SINGLE HOMES

Each house would consist of 2 car garage, basement, sidewalks, some will have decks. I will need to break it down by item. Also, might have to do one or two houses at a time......won't be like all at once.....

I have never done this type of work. I do know that they don't always pay that well. If anyone could email me some pricing suggestions to put me in the ballpark, I'd appreciate it.

rvagnoni · #2 (**permalink**) 06-08-01

Mike,
My experience with this type of work is that the builder usually doesn't want to pay a normal professional contractors prices. They end up just getting one of there laborers to do it. Very slow pay also.

spraymasters · #3 (**permalink**) 06-08-01

Yep, very very low pay for the amount of time it requires. And, if you are like us as
I am sure you are Mike you would leave the place spic and span. If you are hurting
for work you might consider it, or if it would bring you some other work more in line of
pressure washing then a "maybe". We bid on several clean ups like this and we just
estimated an hourly rate and gave them a price that way. We were to pricey for them.

Den

Don F · #4 (**permalink**) 06-09-01

Hi Mike,

Rick and Denny are right. The Builders/Developers don't want to pay much... and want total perfection. They will say "just rinse the dust off", then yell about something. They also will want a quantity discount, then probably never call to complete the rest of the homes. I have experienced this first hand. My In-Laws are Major Builders in Central Pa. Atleast 10 developments with 100's of new homes yearly. We do a few jobs a year for them. Mostly Driveways with red clay on them, and some new deck seals. They just don't want to pay the price for a quality job.

Good Luck. Don F.

Beth · #5 (**permalink**) 06-10-01

Hi Mike,
Rod does alot of this work, but not for the builders, for the contractors who do remodeling or put additions on the homes. He has also finished stores and restaurants for shopping centers. You actually can make very good money IF the construction comapny has allowed for it in the budget for the project. You can make $30 per hour, per man on the job, plus windows. It's also easiest to get it and keep it if you get your foot in the door behind someone who did a poor job at a low wage. We used to bid them out really low - until we learned we didn't have to! It's not like ajnitorial work at all....it's much more intense. If you want to give it a try, you might find better margins thru construction companies than thru the builders....call Rod if you want more details.

He has done walkways, washing, sealing, etc....interior, exterior, cleaning basements, etc....whole nine yards.

Beth

Richard R. · #6 (**permalink**) 06-10-01

Hey Mike,

New Construstion work is one thing, that is if it's on an industrial level. However, as you said, these are residential projects and this was one of my first disappointments.
I was contacted by a major HomeBuilder here in Texas about 4 months ago and got all excited.
I finally offered to clean their new construction sites for .06 sq ft.. I all but begged for the job and never got a call back, so I guess I was to high.
After following up the reason, I too found very quickly that they do not want to pay anyone anymore than what they would pay one of their on laborers, which as you know is not very much. I'm not even sure we have a good reputation with those folks but I'm just speculating.
Anyway, if I were you, I would call Rod since he does this and maybe get an edge on how to approach this type of work.
Wish I knew his method would work here.

Have a Great Day.
Richard

Beth · #7 (**permalink**) 06-10-01

Sounds to me like the difference is contractor (construction company) vs. home building company. The construction companies seem to bid leaving room for cleaning, since their own constructions guys can't stand the work and they know it's not easy. (if it were easy, they would do it) But from what everyone else has said the major home builders don't seem to budget it in the cost of the project. Or, don't want to cut into the margins.

I would hold your ground. Bid fairly, and explain it will sparkle. When they are not happy with the minimum wage labor, they may give you a shot.

Last Fall we racked our brains trying to get in the doors of the construction companies. One day Rod handed a guy a flyer where there was construction going on. The day after thanksgiving we got a frantic call. The guy he handed a flyer to was in a panic because the health inspector was due and the comapny he had contracted to do the work wouldn't call him back and had done a poor job. This contract was for a whole slew of new restaurants in maryland and virginia. Well, Rod saved the guys neck, and got the rest of the contract. The other company got bumped off the project.

We're in the midst of trying to price out condo buildings......could use help on that.

Mike, try starting the labor in the $15.00 per hour range (plus fees for windows and such) and see if it gets you in the door. It helped Rod....

Beth

Beth · #8 (**permalink**) 06-10-01

p.s. Rod says try in the range of .32 to .35 cents per square foot........

Mike Hughes · #9 (**permalink**) 06-10-01

Quote:

Originally posted by Beth
p.s. Rod says try in the range of .32 to .35 cents per square foot........

I presume you meant .03 or .035 cents per square foot......

Beth · #10 (**permalink**) 06-11-01

Nope..... it was .32 to .35, but it is based on doing business with construction companies not the home builders directly. There may very well be a huge difference.

Rod had an idea.... do one home free as a showcase, with the understanding that you do a walk through between that one and one done by the "labor" they would normally use. Then let them see the difference in the results.