What would you charge for this house???

[Todd]

Hello all,

I have gotten my first large home bid and having a difficult time pricing it. Heres a picture of a similar house in the neighborhood(400K Homes). The back of the house has a screen porch(15x10) with moderate to heavy mildew build up. The front of the home has 2 high peaks as shown. The front porch has moderate buildup on the white paint and alot of spindles that will need some TLC. Besides the porches and 1 side of the house it already looks pretty good. I'll probably get by with using just the white tip on the brick. I know from reading almost every post on this site that this isn't alot of info to recieve a detailed estimate....just looking to see if Im in the right ballpark.
OK heres what I figure up......$275.00 for the house and $45.00(1/2 price)for his driveway and walk up to the front door. I have a 18inch surface cleaner that makes it a breeze to do and I figure helps seal the deal.Total of $320.00. Since hes also my barber I figure I could get a few free cuts as well($36.00 value) LOL!!! I think this is a fair price...could probably make a bit more but he's a friend and he also said he would throw some business my way. Thanks for the help and great advice on my last post.

Todd
B&B Pressure Washing
Charleston,SC

 

[Doug T]

Your barber must make good money, I would be ware of any of that "he'll throw some business my way". Charge your normal pricing. For me the house would be around $400.00 depending on th PITA factors.

 

[ericw]

How long do u think it will take?

 

[R. E. Crouse]

Wow

In our market we would get at least $500 for this house but maybe MUCH more. We don't do "deals" for anybody with the anticipation of more business. Rarely does that pay off. Also, that is about a $800,000 home here. Your barber is doing more than cutting hair!

 

[PressurePros]

Everybody promises you business, it never pans out. You are doing this professionally, not as a favor. You can discount your rate a little bit but are you willing to discount jobs for everyone you know or come in contact with (store managers, video clerks, your dental hygienist)? R.E Crouse and I are in similar markets so I would be over $700 for driveway rinsing, gutters, and detailed work on spindles. Maybe more depending on true size.

 

[Todd]

Thanks for the help everyone. I'll take all this into consideration...esp the promise of customers sending more business my way. I wish I could charge $600-700 for this size of a house in Charleston. This area is severly behind in the payscale.A nurse only starts out @ $18 an Hr here. I think thats why the houses are such a good deal around here. In my home town a house that size would also run around $6-7K were I could probably charge that much. I will bump my estimate up a bit more and see his reaction. I will do my dental hygiensts house for free though....hell she already owns 1/2 of everything anyway (my wife).

Todd

 

[CaroliProWash]

House would be $400 minimum - driveway deal would be $75 and that's considered half price. You CAN get that in Charleston, trust me.

Now, doing work for friends at reduced prices - BAD IDEA. Do yourself a favor and work a deal this way: Regular pricing for ANYONE, then offer referral discounts. For every paying customer they send to me, we will reduce their next service by $25. You don't go out of pocket, they have an incentive to find you work - if you get 10 $500 jobs and it means you have to go wash their driveway for free next spring......now it's worth the effort.

Celeste

 

[R L S]

$400 -$450 for the house wash. I wouldnt touch it for $275.

 

[CCPC]

$325-$350, maybe more if I could see it first hand.

 

[taselton2]

House Wash

Your Barber Saying He Will Throw You Some Business Is Nice, But He Probably Would Anyway. In My Area That House Would Be $400-$500. Shoot Him A Fair Price And He Will Talk About The Quality Of Your Work, Not Your Good Deal. Most People Will Over Look A Stiff Price If They Hear You Do A Great Job. Make Sure To Take Your Time AND He Will Sing Like A Bird When He Has The Chance. http://softwashing.com

 

[Todd]

Thanks for all the great advice! I called him today at his shop and said I would come by his house tommorrow and give him his estimate. I like to walk around the customers house with them while I do my estimate. If anything I figure they will appreciate my quality of work more when they really see the before and after results. I tried to sell him on the drive and walk cleaning but he said maybe some other time. maybe I'll accidently clean a small spot so he will see the difference...LOL. I'll let everyone know the results of my bid and hopefully take a few shots of the job and my truck set up.

Todd
B&B Pressure Washing
Charleston,SC

 

[Todd]

UPDATE.....

I priced this bid at $300.00. He said my prices were "a bit trendy". What the hell!!!!! I asked him what he was expecting to pay and he said a few years ago he had it done for "like $50 or $100 buck". Long story short...he said before he paid those prices he would go rent the equipment and do it himself. Yea right like hes in anykindda shape to clean his house in his medical condition. I explained that this was a good price and to call me when he changes his mind. Oh well cant get them all!!!!! Should I tell him his haircut prices are "a bit trendy"? Just a thought. LOL !!!

 

[PressurePros]

"Trendy" what a dork. To rent a machine would cost him $65. He'd have to lug it back and forth. There is an hour right there. It would be a 2 gpm machine with no X-Jet and he'd use high pressure, so make that two days rental because there is no way he will finish it in one day.He is going to be suspending himself from ladders He removed the surface mold but sorry old chap, you left some spores on the substrate. Back to home Depot next June to do it all over again. No loss here, man. There are plenty of customers that understand the value of a competant professional. Buy a flowbee or a set of scissors and tell him his service is "antiquated"