[*Derek*]

As in from windows to bathrooms to floor to kitchens....

Who has tips to make the job a bit easier....

[Phild]

You don't say what you want to clean but if it's anything of size give two quotes. Quote one for the first main clean then a second quote for a Sparkle clean. That way at least the builder realises that you aren't just going to clean up again and again and again and again after each trade has done a bit snagging in an area you have completed. If it's a really big site get each room signed off as completed. That way if anyone messes it up, the main contractor can pin-the-tail-on-the-donkey. i.e. make sure they don't make a donkey out of you ;-) Deadly serious advice this as it's the main reason construction clean ups don't turn out as profitable as they should. Phil D

[martin19842]

hi there

most developers take three cleans,
build clean
re clean
sparkle clean

any additional visit charged as another reclean

they are a nightmare, as you wll clean and then trades will come back in and make a mess, even the site managers will walk through and make a mess.

prices are very tight, the notice for the cleans can be very short, and can change, ie buildcleans ordered on a tuesday to be done on a friday, and then when your guys get there, they arent ready for you, and no cancellation charges.

the developers will deduct cis and apply a retention in the contract.

good luck

regards

martin

[Steve. Taylor]

Wise words from phil 100% agree learnt the hard way many years ago on this one.

GET THEM SIGNED OFF WHEN YOU FINISH or could you just pop in here and pop in there your poping everywhere without being paid

[Daria Taylor]

hi there

most developers take three cleans,
build clean
re clean
sparkle clean

any additional visit charged as another reclean

they are a nightmare, as you wll clean and then trades will come back in and make a mess, even the site managers will walk through and make a mess.

prices are very tight, the notice for the cleans can be very short, and can change, ie buildcleans ordered on a tuesday to be done on a friday, and then when your guys get there, they arent ready for you, and no cancellation charges.

the developers will deduct cis and apply a retention in the contract.

good luck

regards

martin

martin,

I didnt release that your contractor would still keep your retention, i dnt understand why they would do that as all you are offering is a service, i thought they only keep retention when its for something like kitchens staircases plumbing etc.Could you plese explain as you are abviously more familiar with this then us

regards
dash t

[martin19842]

hi there

all trades on developments end up signing the developer contract, on there they will stipulate the retention that they set out.

i agree with you, we used to argue that the retention on the clean was pointless, as the propoerty is only clean for about a day after it as been completed.

However, when you are cleaning sites worth of properties for your clients then you agree or they go elsewhere.

the construction industry, and especially housebuilding has always been like this, when it all went into melt down a few years ago, developers immediately cut costs, asking trades to retender for the balance of the sites, at a prescribed lower level, others were asked to accept a discount on all outstanding accounts.

make sure that you are fully belt and braced for the work and if you can make profit from it then great.

regards


Martin

[Griffus]

Retention tends to be for trades where there is a possibility of issues after completion.

Our main business is build cleans and we have only ever been deducted this once and that was an error and paid the following month.

CIS will always apply (unless you are exempt). This is at a flat rate of 20% of your bill (excluding VAT). You may find the odd exception if you carry out a clean for a small unregistered builder.

Larger firm's won't touch you if you aren't CIS and in some cases even VAT registered.

[martin19842]

hi there

if you speak to your vat office you may find that you can invoice build cleans and recleans VAT zero rated, as David Wilsons had this brought up with HMRC a long time ago, the reason because its construction.

regards

Martin