New Rate Survey??? (long post)

[CleanImage]

Had to push past the forty mark.....
Just thought it might be interesting for some to know that we perform fire and water damage restoration for insurance companies. I lease a software program that contains a data base of over 3,900 different unit prices. It covers everything from the replacement cost of a square foot of drywall, to framing, concrete, painting, roofing, etc. all phases of construction and restoration are covered, (even pressure washing). We order the data, based on the region we work in, and send them a report of jobs sold every three months, so that they can update the database. We have the flexibility to lower or raise our unit prices, (some of the unit prices I can't make money on) and use this mainly as a tool for quickly bidding a job. This program is used as a guideline for the contractors in the field, and for the adjusters back in the office.
Been using this program for years, cost almost $4,800.00 to purchase and $800/year to maintain, but I wouldn't want to bid work without it. I can do in two hours what might normally take two days.
No opinion here, just thought it sounded like what your discussing here has already been done in other fields of work.
Hope every one is healthy and enjoying their summer!!

Duane - CleanImage

 

[Dan Flynn]

Craig,

If we can hit 51 posts, the topic will start a new page. Then I will be impressed.

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Dan Flynn
Flynn Service Pro
www.powerwash.net
708/715-4206

 

[Ken]

Craig,

1st- want to contribute getting this post to 51..Lol.

2nd- We have been following this post since it began and have to say being newbies, the idea of a price list (for guideline purposes only) sounds great to us,as well as a time line for how long a job should take would be great also. Hope you change your mind about backing out of this as the majority seem to be with you on this, and we for sure would benifit from this guideline and timeline.






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Northern Lights Pressurewashing and Windows. Ken/Kathy Erb

 

[Expert]

I was rather amused by some of these posts.
"Kill the messenger"? huh?
From the posts I read the writers took issue with what you said, not aiming at you personally. After all these years I am leary of warnings without specific sources given. At seminars and trade shows, there are all sorts of pricing discussions.
What is wrong is any type of agreement to set prices, to fix them so as to run others out of business. Trade journals routinely offer wage and pricing indexes for various segments of the industry.
Many attorneys, at first blush, warn people to stay away from just about everything except breathing. That is their function.

Why doesn't this poster contact the FTC for a ruling on this idea?
Anyway, these are just some random thoughts.
Thanks.

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Dave Simpson
"90% of Customer Problems Can be Preempted by Excellent Communication and Organization."

 

[David l Saulque]

It is not the price list, it is the effort of a national group to control price. It could and very well would have the appearance of price fixing. As Dave Simpson stated what is wrong with trying to put them out of the buz.

I think if a price standard is developed out of a GROUP for the purpose of price control, I think that is illegal. In todays climate the customer, the employee, any disinfranchised person has the power to bring the full power of the Federal Goverment into the issue. Granted this is a long short at the very best, but stranger things have happen.

I would request that the one used by D---- of Texas be updated, & use this.

The way this is going we should make 60+, & yes "Kill the messenger" is a old saying-as is "Shows not over till the fat lady sings."

 

[Mike@Everclear]

I'm all for the price list, although I would probably never use it.

I just wanted to point out that this thing is not going to be as easy as you think! Two hours?? I think not. Good luck if you decide to do it......but I think it will take a very long time.

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Mike Hughes
Everclear
Souderton, PA

 

[Craig/PowerWashUnlimited]

Thanks Mike,

I had over 2 hrs just in spreadsheeting done, and not even close to having all aspects of our industry split into categories, and hadn't even thought about putting the time part of the questionaire on it yet, the it has to be revised, several times, and finally putting it up on the web for all to fill out. Using the website would allow everyone to enter information annonomously. Heck, as slow as i type, it took me dang near two hours to write this post..lol Got to run clean some trucks.


Craig

 

[spraymasters]

OK OK OK.......i will contribute to getting to the next page.....Yes I agree with doing the list of pricing. The "other" price list did help me get started but then arranged my own pricing for the area. I think it is a good idea and don't think it would be illegal if done the way you say you are going to do it and I would contribute.

Den

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Living Life On the Edge Makes Us Dizzy...WE LOVE DIZZY!

Dennis A. Cormier and Gloria A. Wagner
North Georgia Spray Masters, Inc.
spraymasters@hotmail.com

 

[Dan Flynn]

Craig if you need any help setting anything up let me know.

P.S. Thanks for all your help so far with investigating the Houston area for Lisa and I.


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Dan Flynn
Flynn Service Pro
www.powerwash.net
708/715-4206

 

[Glenn]

Hhmmmmmmm,
I just hope they have internet access in the "Big house". Just think guys, this will go on our permenant records. What will mamma say when she finds out I'm doing time for "price fixing" because I got involved with the international "King pin" Craig. This could make World news tonight with Peter Jennings.
Glenn

 

[Scott Stone]

HMMM? I wonder if this means that some of these national outfits are price fixing with their standardized pricing? I do know that they do not follow them any more than we would have to follow any pricing guide that Craig might develop. I would find any pricing guide to be moot anyway. If you are established you know wjat you hve to charge and if you aren't you will soon figure it out.
Hey Dan, Are you impressed now??
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Any statement that I make about equipment, processes or your hair color is my own personal opinion. I usually base it on personal experience. If you disagree with me you are free to reply on both the BBS and by e-mail. If I am totally off base please explain why on the BBS so that we may all know why

Bus. Phone 480-834-3434
Cell Phone 602-509-9741

<FONT COLOR="#000080" SIZE="1" FACE="Verdana, Arial">[This message has been edited by Scott Stone on June 08, 2000 ]</font>

 

[Craig/PowerWashUnlimited]

Congrats Scott,

I was just trying to help the new guys and make a starting point for everyone when giving proposal on something they have never cleaned before. Oh well, some things weren't meant to be. David has a good arguement and with the mixed posts, i guess it's not worth the risk.


Glenn,

I think this group would make Mad TV or Saturday Night Live before any respectable news shows...

Ok, lets concentrate on something everyone agree's would be beneficial, maybe a chemical list for specific cleaning processes or procedure methods we each use for certain projects.

Craig

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Craig Knight
Power Wash Unlimited
www.powerwashunlimited.com

 

[Expert]

"As Dave Simpson stated what is wrong with trying to put them out of the buz."

I think I see the problem. Reading is a skill, and what I said was that what is wrong is trying to put someone out of business through unfair trade practices. My friends, I support the concept of candid communication, as is done with all trade associations. None of those associations advocate any actions that are illegal or unethical. Any no one here is advocating that either. This has been some spirited discussion, and that is good.

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Dave Simpson
"90% of Customer Problems Can be Preempted by Excellent Communication and Organization."

 

[Mike@Everclear]

Hey Craig.....If you want to change the topic to chemicals now......PLEASE, PLEASE start a new thread!!

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Mike Hughes
Everclear
Souderton, PA

 

[Jon]

Mike,

I can just picture it now, a chemical guide, only problem is all the companies excluded will sue us for attempting to put them out of business.

They will claim this chemical guide favors one company over another, like price fixing, company fixing. LOL

But really a current price guide is nothing more then a low/med/high across the country and also covering Canada/Mexico/Europe/Astralia and other countries. There is nothing wrong with it, besides Craig already has the basics ready to go.

I myself would take a middle road here, I understand David and agree with him, I also understand Craig and the rest of you too.

Oh what do I do, show me a deep lake in your neck of the woods and I will jump in, after I don my scuba gear!!

Jon

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Beep beep, the OPC Roadrunner coming through.

Jon Fleischer
Oasis Pressure Cleaning
(909) 792-2247
Fax (909) 792-5633

 

[Harold Brantley]

I thought I'd never get to the bottom of the list. Just a few thoughts. Prices to me would mean very little, but TIME would be fantastic. Threr is only one more step from time to price and every one has their on needs, desires, location, overhead, etc. to fix the final price. But time is universal, It will take the same time to do a job in all parts of the country and is therefore the cruical element. The auto mechanics guide is a time guide, not a price guide. The the mechanic multiples the time by his on cost / hour to get a final price. Craig, the details are very important and will be very extensive, but too extensive will be difficult to fill out and use. It's a very fine line to walk, but good luck. I know you can do it. Ask for input from many others that are in different parts of the business.

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Baldwin Power Wash, Inc. serving the Gulf Coast between Mobile, AL and Pensacola, FL.

 

[Scott Stone]

Sorry, Time won't work either. We don't all use the same methods, some of us have employees that want to work and some don't, and different soaps have varying degrees of effectiveness.
For example I can wash about 3000 square feet of concrete an hour. Others are hard pressed to get a thousand. There goes the time thing. Of course then again, if it was a standardized time thing it would make me a lot more money. We can also hand wash a car in 3 minutes man minutes, including a DI rinse and cleaning the windows.

Now that I think about it in this way, maybe it would be good to do a time chart. That way all of the time could be standardized and make it easier to charge. This could get real interesting.

------------------
Any statement that I make about equipment, processes or your hair color is my own personal opinion. I usually base it on personal experience. If you disagree with me you are free to reply on both the BBS and by e-mail. If I am totally off base please explain why on the BBS so that we may all know why
Bus. Phone 480-834-3434
Cell Phone 602-509-9741

 

[David l Saulque]

I hope that we have no hard feeling regarding this topic. I enjoyed the long dialogue, along with side the issues. Thanks to all for hearing me out. Will be at the next Chat.

Thanks

David

 

[Craig/PowerWashUnlimited]

David,

Why would there be hard feelings, you were just voicing your opinion like everyone else. Don't sweat the little stuff, i have always been the type to go against the grain every once in a while too. You know, ruffle some feathers. You had a good arguement, don't worry about it.


Craig

 

[Ken]

Scott,

I agree that a time line would not work for people who are well advanced, and also have x amount of employees. But if I understood correctly the time line would be most benificial to newbies and other pressurewashers looking to expand in an area they are not familiar with.
Generally new people to this business start out by themselves, unless they have a partner. So a time line based on ruffly how long it would take for one person should work fine. If more than one person then just cut time in half etc.( and not based on the guy who doesn't want to work very hard) Just the average Joe trying to make a living.

My 2 cents Kathy

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Northern Lights Pressurewashing and Windows. Ken/Kathy Erb