I was invited to a “bid party” for a large property management company where they wanted a bid for the exterior window cleaning and also for gutter cleaning and installation of rain flow on about 5000 lineal feet of rain gutter. I bid it at 7.88 cents per foot…for everything. It comes out to 39,400 bucks!
There are 31 buildings on the property with over 400 units.
This by FAR is the largest estimate I have ever sent- and it seems really flippin high, but even if they just wanted the gutter cleaning only it would still be about 30 grand. Anybody have large ones like this?
Did you ask for money up front, a percentage to buy the materials? Or did you just eat the cost and wait to get paid?
I have never had one quite that extensive, but when we get larger jobs like this, especially from apartment complexes, get money up front. We ask for 15% upon signing the contract. Then, we might do a middle of the job draw for 35% or so. And finally ask for the remaining 50% when done. Be sure to make very clear what your Terms and Conditions are regarding payment. They need to know and acknowledge that you require payment within 15 days of completion or whatever your terms are. These type of customers have been known to stiff companies and contractors sometimes. I haven’t had it happen to me, but ask around here on WCR. Slow pays and No Pays will bankrupt you!!
Oh yeah, I almost forgot…Congrats on the invite to bid this monster Tory!
Thanks man, this company is pretty big, from Sacramento all the way to San Diego! I was the only window cleaner there, and asked how they found me and they said it is some kind of monitoring service that knows who is insured and what kind of insurance.
I was aliitle uneasy when I thought of asking for a % up front, but I think I will have to because just the materials alone is over 8,000 dollars.
I have heard of people getting burned of jobs before, in other industries too. I agree though, this has to be in incriments- keep em honest right?
When I did contracting work we usually did 30/30/30/10 (those are percentages) the first was up front then the next when the job was one third done then the next was at two thirds done and the final 10% was paid w/in 14 days.
They may not go for that but whatever amounts you go w/ make sure you aren’t owed more than 20% at the end of the job.
Tory,
I would go with Mr. Squeegees advice on this one. Especially since there is material involved. Good friend of mine is in the process of sueing a company of that size for work that was done and not paid for. The owner is some slimeball that has different names for all of his investment properties. He also lives out of state which makes it somewhat difficult. Read their contracts (or have an attorney do it) carefully and make sure that you are covered all the way around.
My friend is having to prove in court that the work was done by showing daily time sheets and material that was installed. Its a ****ing contest to say the least.
I dont mean to take the excitement out of you getting a shot at making some sweet cash. Just wanted to let you know that dealing with large companies do have risks. Good luck to you. Congrats! Steve
Trust me, I’m no virgin…had my heart broken before.
This is some serious cash here, and I always thought that asking for $ up front makes you look small potatoes. I have worked with the saying “fake it till ya make it” and it has really worked. I have gotton really large commercial stuff mainly because if someone else can do it, I can do it. Bottom line.
But shelling out 8 thousand and waiting untill 30 days or more after the job is done…not to mention paying a helper (another 2 grand) I would end up being 10 grand out of pocket- and my pocket AINT that deep!
Tory, when I was doing construction every company I knew (big and small) got money up front and took draws during the job. None of them wanted to be left holding the bag in the event someone didn’t want to pay at the end of the job.
Absolutely Tony. Just tell them that until they have established a good payment record/history with your company,your policy has always been that 25% must be paid up front on all jobs greater than $2,500.00. Offer to give them a receipt as well.
Tory,
can you keep us updated. I am interested In how you came up with your bid…if you dont mind. I nail about 90% of my residential bids…but any big job bids( I have had 3 so far) I am 0 for 3.
Well, when they seen the quote, they choked on their gum!:eek:
It was like 54,000. They emailed me back for the gutter cleaning only, and that was 24,000 dollars. Thats 5000 lineal feet man, I wont do it for free.
I still havent heard anything back yet, but I did get some kid call me yesterday saying he has a house and wants a bid for 10 lineal feet of gutter cleaning and rain flow. I think that he sure couldve done a better job, so I kinda knew right away what he was doing… so I asked him why dont you give me your address and I will give you a free estimate with a 50 dollar gas card! Of course he then said, well its not my house, its a customers’ house, and then finally admitted that no, he was not a contractor but a window cleaner. So I told him, look man, all you have to do is ask. Not everyone are jerks bro. I can help you out, and if you need tools, I can even let you borrow some. He said he had to go, and got off the phone with me.
Dont know if this was related, but I will tell you, I have never had a call for a customer asking me for rainflow.
