[M.Acorn]

For the bog standard new build thats what i charge av £120 to £140 for a 2 bed house , most of them have laminate in the hall ,people on here do more than that for less ! i am making a decent living mate ,better than when i was in full time employment ,and i like my time off to potter,in my studio ,fixing my track car , and growing my own veg ,it`s all about quality of life

[Bennie25]

set your self a min order. vast majourity of people will pay easy double that for HSL, just try asking.

[Straker Cleaning]

Mike .......... all high end households i deal with, do not even read leaflets 

I get work in nice areas by sticking a business card through doors of houses i am quoting at ........... they are prompted when i arrive a week or so later and start cleaning the neighbours 

[Aquakleen Restoration Services]

Chris I also hit on your idea to target neighbors with flyers/biz cards. I tried it yesterday in 10 houses in a street where I was working at. I attach a small card to my flyer explaining I am in the street and offer 10% off if you get me in for a free quote. No joy as of yet. Do you get much from that system? John

[elliott cleaning]

In recessionary times (although governmental wise that is now rephrased as "global credit crunch" & nothing to do with them) , the rich get richer & the poor get poorer. That's not to say that the wealthy don't also live on credit as well.  It's just at times like these they have the assets to hold the credit where the others don't.
 It is wise to ensure that at least half your clientele belong to the wealthy brigade. That should see you through times as we are likely to have for at least the next 2 years.
Our government tells us our economy is sound to weather the global problems!  So why are most of our clients feeling the pinch?
Yes sterling is holding up against the $, but they are in full recession.  What about our main trade partner, where we do the bulk of our business with? Yes the European Union!  And how has sterling held up to the Euro?  It's dropped like a stone.  That's why alot of our daily items have increased dramatically.
Is that meant to mean our economy is outdoing the reast of the EU?  Who are they kidding.
We are in for an extended rough time.  Cotton on to the top end of the market.  They have the money - and even if they run tighter they may downgrade to having the carpets cleaned as opposed to replaced

[mark_roberts]

Your too cheap Mark.  By the time you drive and pay for diesel your making a lot less than you think.

Agencys try it on esp if their getting a cut.  Just up your price but make sure your worth it.  Maybe they dont think what you do is worth the extra money.  Thats up to you to sell.

A lowballer quoted £60 for a job I did for £350.  Customer only knew too well it would be a rubbish job at that price.  (it was a large LR, HSL, B/R and 3 rugs) so they are out there.

However you wont win them all.  I lost a suite 3x3 today where I quoted £130 for an accountant I know.  I think Im too cheap for suites BTW.

MArk

[Shaun_Ashmore]

As far as I know I'm in 2nd place with the suite prices in my area CD being no1, even established firms like WE Franklin charge slightly less infact their carpet cleaning equates to 25p per sq ft.

I went to do a quote for a commercial account and they had Franklins in to quote 1000 sq ft of office and they quoted £190.00, and it was quite bad aswell, I was gobsmacked as I went in at a quite reasonable £285 (for its condition) as it was only 15 mins drive from me, I didn't get it don't know if they did or not.

Shaun

[Kev Loomes]

Got to say we havent been affected as of yet. Our repeat clients and referrals have been extremely good for us the last few months though. So far we are doing better than last year (including June).

Kev

[Steve Barnett (Carpet Care Plus)]

Did a stairs and landing today - 28 stairs, 2 x landings - I charged £ 100. Would have charged more but that was all I had today, filthy cream carpet.

Sorry Mark, but I wouldn't get in the van for £ 25, but hey, we live in different areas and our personal circumstances are probably different too.

Steve

[Doug Holloway]

Hi Guys

There seems to be more differential on HSL than anything else.

I charge 70- 80 for a bog standard and more if I have to travel.

Cheers

Doug

[Shaun_Ashmore]

You're right there Doug, I charge from £65-100, did the £100 last week have done bigger but this was in a more standard house.

3pc suites are around the £135 mark.

Shaun

[Len Gribble]

Last call received 11.10-today confirming job in August cant they read the small print quote valid for three months.


Got my gas bill yesterday £191 told wife she would have to wait for the upholstery to be cleaned, waiting for the electricity bill expect it tomorrow got three other bills this month road tax/mot and van insurance.

Len

[Ian Gourlay]

i did a qoute on 8 rooms yesterday.
 about 1300 square feet

I was gobsmacked when i was told they told me the Lanlord was getting the job done for £110 and they wanted to get the job for less.

[Neil Williams]

1300 sq ft
By my rates I calculate that would take me about 6 hours. No way would I do 6 hours for £110.
Yes it is very quiet on the carpet front but I believe we're going to have to wait for a recession to reach 12 months before people get sick of dirty carpets, can't afford ne so bite the bullet and get them cleaned instead. At present even getting them cleaned is not a neccessity, just got to play the long game.
Have tried the letters/cards etc through neighbours doors etc at quote or clean stage and that wasn't exactly a success either.

[Aquakleen Restoration Services]

I would charge around the £400 mark for 1300 square foot. £110 is just ludicrous!

[The Great One]

Hi

Crazy it may be, but at least he got paid instead of staying at home.

Although I like others don't want to work for peanuts, if I had too I would do it, pride doesn't pay the bills.

As much as I despise my former career, if I HAD to, I would go back to work.

Regards

Martin

[liahona]

Neil Williams, I have to ask, why would it take 6 hours to clean 1300 sq feet of carpet?

If it took an hour to set up and an hour to set down, which I know it wouldnt,  thats still 4 hours to clean at around 325 feet an hour.

If its less time to set up and down as it should be then the hourly figures are even worse.

Best, Dave.

[Wayne Dean]

Just cleaned 2443.4 sq ft of carpet in a nursing home and charged £977.36, this took me a total of 5 hours to clean (7pm-12am)

They now want me to clean 75 wing chairs which I have priced at £12.50 per chair (£937.50)

35 dining chairs at £5.00 each. (£175)

13 resident bedrooms at £20 each. (£260)

Yesterday morning I delivered leaflets with a business card attached offering 25% discount. In the afternoon I was with Len working on a rug when i received a call from a potential custy who said she had received a leaflet and would like me to quote her on her 3 piece suite consisting of a 3 seater, 2 seater and an armchair. I told her that it would be £145.00 (Still cheap) and with the discount it would work out at £108.75 (very cheap) Her phone manner dropped by 10 levels and she then replied with that old nutshell "I will speak to my husband and get back to you" that confirmed that i would not be hearing from her again!

Len

Amazing job on that rug, the method of cleaning scared the living "Eartha Kitt" out of me but your custy will be over the moon with what you done, the end product looked spot on!

Wayne 

[Mike Osbourne]

Wayne

How do you approach nursing homes? (apart from having a dab of Vic under your nose)

[davep]

Was the rug saturated Wayne?