pricing in middle and upper class neighborhoods... - Power Wash Network "The Power Wash Contractors Forum"

svp07 · #1 (**permalink**) 03-09-04

I am new here so please don't rip me up if this does not come out right.

I am a little curious about pricing in neighborhoods that are of higher income levels. I am going to start a small part time power washing venture in the residential market combined with gutter and window cleaning. I am a teacher/workaholic and need some thing for the summers and after school. I have the 2 popular books on PW...the PW guidebook and profit in PW which goes over estimating but does not seem applicable to my area. i live in northeastern NJ 10 min from the NYC. Home prices range from 400k to 3+ mill on the high end; taxes start at about 6k+ for these homes and skyrocket uppwards to over 80k. I have been looking into pricing by linear foot for house washing and sq. ft. for just about everything else. Given that I am extremely thorough in everything I do and charge as I have been reading, $1/lin. ft. for 1 story and $2/lin. ft. for 2 stories, I am going to be making about $250 for a 4 bdrm house (2 story) that costs 400k. In my opinion I should be making more, $350-400 at least ($3.13-3.25/linear ft.), given the area and with my experiences in doing labor...construction primarily. I have to factor in all the ladder work because most are 2 story; I will not use ext. wands because I don' t think it will clean as well and like the up close inspection of work.

Am I off my rocker pricing like this? I will be fully insured...plenty of lawsuits here in the northeast.

I am also in thinking about asphalt roof cleaning. There is plenty of mold, mildew, and fungus from all the tree cover up here and I do not see anyone doing it....roof pitches are steep and I would need to set up a roping system for safety.

Anybody want to throw a $/sq. ft. at me or am I nuts for trying to attempt this?

Thanks for your help and not ripping me up?

Don.EMS · #2 (**permalink**) 03-10-04

I think your pricing might be a little off. $3.13-$3.25 sq ft?
You might want to redo your math, say this million doller house is 5000 sq ft at $3.25 per sq ft that comes out to over $16000,
JUST A BIT OUT SIDE. ( can you tell me what movie thats from?) It all depends on what type of materal your cleaning. I would start more in the $.10 to $.20 range and go from there depending on the type of sideing. Saying 4 bedrooms does not mean much, I've seen 1200 sq ft 4 BRs and 8000 sq ft 4 BRS. Good luck dude.

svp07 · #3 (**permalink**) 03-10-04

I was going by linear footage for around the house...yes that did come out a little ridiculous. My house has a linear footage of 120, and there is no way I would clean it for $250. Sorry for the confusion I was tired when I made the post.

Please respond again if possible.

Don.EMS · #4 (**permalink**) 03-10-04

I charge by the sq ft. less if its vinyl more if its brick, stucco, wood.
Also it depends how bad and what is on the sideing. 120 linear ft does not sound like tht big of a house. 2880 sq ft?????

B.E YOUNG Sr, · #5 (**permalink**) 03-10-04

What pricing do your books suggest?

Myself I see your cost per hour as fixed regardless of what neighbor hood you are in.

You must get X per hour for every job you do!

Hey your griping about price and you aint sprayed a drop yet!

LOL!

john orr · #6 (**permalink**) 03-10-04

Bob Uker (sp?) in Major League

Don.EMS · #7 (**permalink**) 03-11-04

Nice one hahahaha.

Funny movie.

safeclean · #8 (**permalink**) 03-13-04

Hi
Bergen county NJ is an affluent area(well, a majority of it),but remember one thing, alot of those affluent people got that way by being fiscally frugal (CHEAP!).I have done business in that area in a different industry and trust me ,I have had people in very expensive homes haggle like you could not believe,and many are internet savvy and do their research to what the going rate is ,and do not want to pay more just because they can.This is not true of them all but many.That area is also heavily marketed to by many service business's,just go down the street in the springtime and see how many landscapers are on one street at the sametime in a nice area.I am not trying to discourage you,I also rather market my services in an area where the people have the ability to pay,and are usually too busy to do it themselves.Just letting you know that if you are starting a small part time business looking to get top dollar or above,that is a market with stiff competition.I think $1 per linear ft for one floor,and $2 per linear ft for two floors is a good price.Just a thought,the big pwing money in that area(residential wise) is in decks,and wood restoration just a thought........
Jim

kleenkreet · #9 (**permalink**) 08-04-07

I don't charge on a sliding scale. Sure the rich can afford more, but they didn't get rich by wasting money. They are also the most likely to be return customers. Treat all your customers the same, charge the same and do the best work you can every time regardless if it takes longer. I even offer the rich a FREE auto wash with any service I provide. People really like free things, no matter how much money they have. I believe if you follow these principals it will lead to a bright future for your buis. Unless you wanna be a hack and are just in it for a quick buck, and if thats the case you will soon be less competition for the rest of us. Good luck, wish you the best.

5 Star Johnny · #10 (**permalink**) 08-05-07

I agree with safeclean! So called "affluent" areas do NOT mean more profitable business or higher pricing! My experience is just the opposite. Our primary market is based in one of the most affluent counties, per capita, in the state. We are also one of the higher priced (and highest quality) contractors in our immediate market. While we have a number of "upper end" clientele, our biggest base is the working and upper middle class income client. Seniors also make up a good portion of our base, although some of them get "sticker shock".

I always get a kick when I see these posts about the "affluent" neighborhoods, and how the contractors think they'll be taking home bags of money. My guess is, these contractors are too low priced to begin with, and that's how they garner all the contracts from that area. There are certain things the "richies" will spend money on. Boats, houses, clothes, cars, etc. Services do not usually rank high on their list as "value added" expenses. They get the lowest prices from cleaning services, lawn care, window cleaners, etc. Normally by telling the prospective contractor (counting his bag o' cash) that "he knows EVERYONE in the neighborhood, is an important business owner, and will get you tons o' business" if you give him a good price. NEVER HAPPENS!!!! Yes, there are exceptions, but few & far between. In five years of business I can count on less than one hand how many referrals I've received from these bungholes.

Establish your price, offer the highest in quality and service, and the rest will take care of itself. Don't stop marketing to the "affluent" areas, just don't expect to fill your bank account with them. By the way, we charge $1.50 - $1.75 lin ft., per story on siding and get it all day long. It all depends on what your market will bear.

Good Luck!