First commercial cleaning bid too high? - Cleaning Talk - Professional Cleaning and Restoration Forum

chell · 02-23-2008, 12:31 PM

HI ya'll,

I've missed being on the forum for awhile- been kinda busy...

I put in a bid for my first 'commercial' construction cleanup job. Its for a final clean only and indoors.

The facility is a single story office building. Its about 8,000 sf
and has 37 windows and 5 glass doors.

I faxed a bid yesterday for $1702 This is at my .20 cents sf rate and $5 each for windows/glass doors (inside & out). Others specs of the job include:

The usual removal of debris/trash, walls, baseboards, vents & light fixtures, doors/frames/ hardware, etc.

Sanitizing - (when its safe on the material, I sanitize all 'highly touched' surfaces): bathrooms, of course (including stall walls/doors), kitchen plumbing fixtures, etc.. but also cabinetry, countertops, plug & light switch covers, doorknobs.

Vacuuming/ sweep & mop carpet/floors.

Sweeping the outdoor walkways (along the front & one whole side of this building)

They also want the carpets steam cleaned (5309 sf) = one day rental for shampooer (about $30 cost)

The builders have left the place pretty clean - mainly just removing labels and microdust for the most part. There is a file 'room' (about 16 x 12') with those tall rolling file dividers that will have to be dusted ( about 5 with appx. 100 + file slots per side), but
the whole place shouldn't take over a few days to clean and I'd make a
really nice profit.

Does this bid sound appropriate for this job or does commercial usually go for less than residential?

My cleaning business is 'green' cleaning only (from day one)and it is stated in the bid. The the building is just down the road from me. I'm hoping this may help me get the job ....

Thanks,

Chell

=JT= · 02-23-2008, 11:57 PM

I dont know alot about doing estimates but if you get that job thats a nice profit! I dont think there are lot of people here in commercial cleaning.

splbrad · 02-24-2008, 03:30 PM

Did you get the job? If so then no. If not then you should have asked why not?

For every bid you get ask them why they picked you and for every one you lose ask how come.

That is the best home work you can do for your growth and it is free.

chell · 02-24-2008, 07:17 PM

I just faxed the proposal Friday afternoon - I don't expect to hear from them till at least Monday.
You have a good point about calling & asking 'why not' if I don't get the job, at least then I'd know if it was about the price or not.

It just seems to good to be true if I land a $1700 profit for a 3-day job,
not that I'd complain (totally the opposite, my friend !). But that's what the total came to at my usual rate, and commercial or residential- it all cleans the same the way I figured it.
Thanks for the reply.

Chell

PressurePros · 02-24-2008, 10:48 PM

Commercial is usally far less than residential but who knows.. you may be underpriced on residential to begin with. I think $1700 is more like a one day gross for commercial work but I don't do interior stuff so I guess that is considered good for a three day job.