[Jan K]

Hi Guys!

I have just had a phone call from a local Housing Association, asking if I would be prepared to clean a 2 bed flat that has been occupied by one of their 'special needs' tenants. I have been told it is not a pleasant sight and a lot of cleaning companies would not be prepared to even consider it. It is almost as tho someone has been squatting there, mattresses and cushions on the floor, bags full of stuff they have no idea what is in there. However there are no needles, and no poo or wee (thankfully, tho' I woul still be unltra careful) etc etc. Due to their circumstances and needs, the person living there does not put cleaning anywhere near the top of their agenda!! I am not afraid of hard work, but I do not want to underquote and find myself working for nothing.

Could you guys give me some pointers on how to quote for something like this, as I am due to meet the Housing rep at the property tomorrow after lunch!!

cheers guys!

[The Great One]

Hi

Depends on if you need to do the carpets as well?

Something like this i would not do for under £250.00 (if it is as bad as you are saying) you could be in there for 12-15 hours. Depending on the size of the kitchen you could be in there from 5-7 hours alone. do they want you to wipe down the walls also, as you will need sugarsoap for this and then the price goes up as then you could be looking at 30 hours.

Sounds like you will need to sanitise the entire place with professional chemicals. 

Some more detailed info wouldn't go amiss???

Regards

Martin

[martin19842]

hi there,

i think a visit to the site to seehow bad it really is.

if the housing association admits that 'OTHER CLEANING COMPANIES ARENT INTERESTED' then that would be an instant price hike from my point of view.

i personally would be looking for a maximum of three people on site for a day.  therefore operator costss so call that £180 labour, plius materials and waste disposal.  therefore you could be looking at costs of £300.00  waste disposal being a big chunk.

therefore you may even be looking at a client charge of £450 - £470

it really does need a site visit before a quote

regards

martin

[Tim Downer]

Hi,
I have done something similar for a letting agent. It was a two bedroomed flat, not been cleaned for several years by the state of it. And the carpets needed cleaning aswell....
At the time it took two van loads to take the rubbish, old clothes etc away and i didn't have a small van at the time, it was a large Toyota Van....
I think I charged around the £350-£400 to do all the above. This was around 2 years ago!!

So with that in mind, you need to do as the two Martins above have suggested, and that is to go and visit the property in question with the housing rep and decide if you feel it would be worth the hassle and time compared to the money you would want to charge.

As Martin has suggested, the walls may well need washing down, everything needs to be sanitised, it sounds like too that the Carpets will need cleaning and sanitising too. The time to bag up the rubbish and take them away for disposal will need to be considered too.
It will take longer than you think, so add on a couple of hours to your estimate. And if you can, try and have two or three cleaners with you, not only to help get it done quicker, but gives you moral support over the long hours compared to being on your own.....

Worst case senario:
Carpets cleaned and sanitised throughout  £150
Staffing if you can around £180 per day
Disposal of rubbish - Many sites wont take Commercial rubbish £
Materials, chemicals  £
Plus you are in it to make money for yourself - Profit £

Looking to charge around £450 - £500

Hope this is of help as a guide etc....

All the best, and you will have to update us on how you get on or if you don't take on the job.

Regards

Tim

[Jan K]

Hi Guys!

visited site today, was not even a quarter as bad as I was expecting from their description. Probably not even as bad as some students lets I've seen after they've been in for a couple of months!! lol.I have estimated it will take me about 4 - 6 hours to do, no carpet cleaning, no appliance cleaning, just a rather large tidying session and general clean afterwards. They HA don't want it to be sparkling, just better than it was. Anyway I am supplying cleaning materials, vac and bin bags which can be disposed of in bins with property. I have quoted £100 and have been offered the job, that price works out to be a bit more than double my normal hourly rate, which I think is fair, and it may well lead to more work from them in the future. Even if it doesn't it is a good pointer for any future similar work. I am quite looking forward to it........it will be good to see what end result can come of something pretty nasty.

[martin19842]

hi there,,

well good luck, personally wouldnt have gone at that price

regards

martin

[Ian Gourlay]

Jan,

Ok you have given your estimated time.

Have you got to dispose of rubbish.

You may be lucky and get away with taking it to a domestic tip.

But the correct way is through Commercial Waste.



Would be interested in final outcome

Not trying to dent your enthusisim as you now have a contact a foot in the door.

[Tim Downer]

Hi,

If you can do it in 4 or even 5 hours and they have given you permission to dispose of the rubbish down their rubbish shoots and you are on your own.....well that isn't a bad wage!!!
As you say, whatever happens you will see it as a learning curve.
Also, the housing association have got you to clean the property at a good price because in all honesty, you could have probably pushed for a bit more.....keep that in mind especially if you want to place other cleaners in there to clean.

Have fun!!

Tim

[Jan K]

hi again guys!

the waste is simply household rubbish, will only fill a few brown bins. After all it is only a small 2 bed flat, not enough room to swing a cat...........it is mostly just tidying up and a very basic clean afterwards, quick vac, quick wipe over with a cloth of bathroom and kitchen and that is about it. You have to bear in mind that down here in the South West we can't charge the same prices as you all further up, our Clients just wouldn't pay it. There was no human waste, and none of the walls, woodwork or windows were being cleaned. As it is the guy is moving back in on Monday so its a no go at the moment anyway, ya win some ya lose some. I still think £100 was a good price for us all.