2nd Opinion (Pricing)

[Richard R.]

I just gave a bid of $1500 on a residential project hoping I was giving the customer a price break. I would like to hear some of your opinions on my bid.
She has two 15 year old decks in her back yard (large and small) that will need cleaned stripped and sealed, not to mention some probable sanding. My figures includes 8 gallons of Ready Seal and a good stripper.
A total of about 856 sq ft. This includes deck floors two box planters, both rail sides an about 100 spindles total not including the 4x4 rail support beams. It's all low to the ground and about 10 to 15 yards away from the swimming pool.
Flat work consists of about 2500 sq ft of concrete around pool, driveway, sidewalks and curbs. The home has an enormous amount of efloresence on about 800 sq ft of dark red brick which will require another acid bath and scrubbing like I just did recently.

If possible, could you give me your bid.

Your help would be appreciated.
I would like to show the customer your comments.
Please be honest, if I'm to high or if I'm not really giving her a break, she needs to know.
She's a real sweet lady who recently lost her husband. I need the job, but I want to be fair and not take advantage of her.

Thank You
Richard R

 

[ron]

ron p

I think thats a good deal. I also think you sealer est[in gallons is low]
i have not tried ready seal YET but i think you should plan on 10 gal min.
and thats with doing the rails by brush [less waste].
What acid are you doing the brick with and some say it must be sealed to keep the white stuff from returning.
when its all said and done i figure $400 in materials,fuel,sealer,stripper,brightner,soap, acid, sanding stuff,ect...
so at $50 per hour that gives you about 2 1/2 days to do a good job.
my bet is that your going to be there for 3 full days.

 

[Richard R.]

Ron,

I believe you hit the nail on the head.
I was estimating 3 1/2 days if not 4, since I don't have a helper.
There is a lot of work to be done, especially with the acid wash and scrubing. I use almost a 50/50 Hydrochloric and water mix that I have found works better than anything else I've used.
Your probably right about the Ready Seal too, because the deck is about 15 years old and was told it hasn't been sealed about that long. Ready Seal is about 1 gallon to cover 100 to 125 sq ft if the wood is real old.
Thanks a million Ron.

Richard R

 

[Richard R.]

Bigboy,
Did I forget to say I was going to show this to the costumer???
A very sweet Christian lady? I don't think she will be in any hurry to party.
Can you help me out here?
Thanks

Richard R

 

[Don Yates]

Richard,
My bid as follows, Deck strip/clean/seal @$1.65 sq. ft.=$1412.40,30% discount over 800 sq. ft.=$988.40.
flatwork @$.25 sq. ft.=$625.00,20% discount over 2000 sq. ft.=$500.00., brick acid/clean @$.25 sq.ft.=$200.00.
Total bid before discount $2237.40,Bid after discount for multple projects and size $1688.68 also if she is a senior citizen I would give 10% off final bid for a grand total of $1519.81.
So I would have to say you have given a very honest bid.I hope I have been some help,good luck with the project.

 

[BryanL]

Richard,
I can't help you with the bid, that's not my area. I will say this. in the pressure washing industry prices tend to vary greatly from region to region, so asking someone from the other side of the country may not be the best way to give her the best price and not lose money yourself. I would think you need to estimate your time and materials and decide for your self how much profit you need to make, if it turns out to not be as hard as you think you can always lower the price after the fact, but raising the price after the fact usually doesn't work.
Maybe with a detailed description of the job, asking for simply a time estimate will work, if your not sure.

 

[Larry L.]

I was using it as far back as 1975 when many of the other contractors were using it and it seemed to work fine then.


I didn't realize you have been in business for 27 years I see now what you mean when you say "she needs to know"

 

[Dan S]

Richard you can tell you are doing your homework on this one .

You are offering a fair price
but I would go one step farther and add for sealer .That 15 year old wood is really going to drink in that sealer .... You might want to not pay attention to the coverage on the can .............. Trust me it is going to really drink it.

I did A deck last year or so with it and the deck was really old I went through twice as much as I thought I would >>>>

Ready seal is a great product and looks great when applied right .
I would figure 3 coats
that deck I did I put two coats on and with in a year I had to apply another coat .

It will drink 'er up !!!!!!!!!!

 

[Richard R.]

My main goal is to show my customer that I am not trying to scam her or take advantage of her. There's a lot of that going around.
When you start telling someone that it's going to cost them over a $1000.00 dollars to restore their deck when they are told you can build a new one for a few hundred dollars more, they tend to get suspicious. Most people, especially woman born with different agendas normally don't take the time to educate themselves in exterior wood restoration.
I just hope she will be able to read the professionals posts like I have and be able to understand.
There was a lot I didn't understand about this profession until I found this bbs. Thing about it, how hard can it be to spray a little water. Now I know the skill and extent of it and it makes more since. I just hope she will too.

If I haven't learned anything else about this type of business,
I am definitely learning that not everyone is as excited about this profession as I am.

Thanks to everyone that will help.

Richard

 

[Larry L.]

Yel I know my post was deleted Richard b/c I deleted them like I said I would.

But you know what why not give her this web page address so she can come here and see if any scam'ing is going on and while she's at it she can check all your post out to see for herself or is your goal is just to show what you print out.

"I just hope she will be able to read the professionals posts like I have and be able to understand."

Will like I said bring her here and see if she's able to read the professionals post,I'm sure she'll be able to understand,she may even find out more than your telling her especially woman born with different agendas.

I wonder if she'll wonder why I deleted my post and you saying Bigboy this response was deleted too,bet she can read between the lines as good as I can,besides I get call Daddy all time you didn't have to delete your post,I don't care for my customers seeing what is posted no'matter who chews on my legs.

Be a professional give her the web address too b/c you know there is alot of scam'ing and people taking advantage of others going around.