Ongoing resort cleaning project -thoughts?

[Mikey P]

I am looking at options for carpet cleaning for a large number of hotel rooms and cabins for *** *** *** Center. We have nearly 200 hotel rooms and 25 cabins. At the moment I am considering establishing a weekly or biweekly carpet cleaning that would enable us to get the carpets deep cleaned twice a year. So looking at getting a cabin and 8 rooms cleaned each week. Connoisseur Carpet was highly recommended locally and I was hoping to get a price quote from you.

My son looked at the facility yesterday, most units and common can be easily reached with a TM, no portables or VLM needed, nothing filthy. Their slow season matches ours so it's very appealing, yet foreign to us.

Most units are 100 feet of open space so if we stuck to our sf rate=$60 each If they gave us 8 units ($480) per visit which with driving and set up is going to take at least two hours that would be about our average.

Pre payment discounts?
No refunds if they cancel at the last minute?

I'll assume they'll be getting other bids so unless they're totally sold on us (we've cleaned their main conference room a few times in the past under a different manager but they stopped calling when he messed up on a date and we couldn't help them) I'll assume we'll be under bid at $20 a room..

 

[Zee]

Only thing I would be worried about is, if they don't have the rooms grouped in a bundle and you end up setting up and breaking down 3-4 times for eight rooms.


Ask me how I know.


I would make it clear: that can not happen for the normal quoted price.

 

[Jimmy L]

I say stick with your price and never count on them long term. As they will always be trying to get a better deal.
If they call okay but if they don't................don't sweat it.

 

[TConway]

Back when I first started I thought hotels would be awesome ( no clue how cheap ) just because I could bang out room after room. Now I was hungry remember that and new to the biz, I got 15.00 per room, and I had about 5 or 6 places in Red Bluff that I ended up taking care of for about 3 months.
At first it was great (for what it was), but then they did not have rooms lined up room here room there....one trip and I canceled all of them, they were all buddies all the hotel owner knew one another.
If multi set ups come into play even if you made great money per room as soon as set up takes more than one time it isn't worth it.

The problem is they need to rent rooms, and the hotel workers may not be organized enough to remember you are coming and put a guest right in the middle of your work, then you are waiting on checkout time.....it can make your hourly pay jump real quick if that happens....and the hotel isn't gonna pay bet money on that.

 

[ruff]

How much do you want the job?
Are you willing to make less (or substantially less) than your usual?

Write a bid for your normal $.

• Specify (very clearly preferably highligthed ) that they will get a discount only if they do 8 units and if all units are attached (or close together) whatever makes it more profitable for you. If some are not attached, the additional price will be.....
• Specify again that if they do, say 16 units at a time, only then will the price be reduced to.....

That way you can make your hourly (or if a bread & butter situation, whatever makes financial sense to you) by less driving, volume and less set up time, or happily walk away, humming your favorite song. (Bob Dylan, no doubt.)

 

[Mikey P]

Bob Dylan?...lol


Mostly Tom Petty this month.

 

[Mikey P]

very helpful responses so far.


Im waiting on Merty to blow the curve.

 

[KSL]

I don"t know your area, but I would just bid your rate and see what happens. Absolutely no discounts and expect issues every time you go.The only way this works is if you send one employee and they haul ass. My guess is that this will go for less than $20.00 per room.

 

[hogjowl]

No discounts. Sets a bad karma.

Go into it talking about monthly payments as if it’s normal practice.

All my maintenance accounts are set up for monthly payments.

 

[Papa John]

ill just repeat what Zee and Thomas said--- that's been my experience

 

[Cleanworks]

I think you have to figure out what you want to make hourly and price accordingly. How long will it take to do 8 rooms? Are you doing just a spray and suck or full service? Stain removal?

 

[Sierra Clean Care]

My son looked at the facility yesterday, most units and common can be easily reached with a TM, no portables or VLM needed, nothing filthy. Their slow season matches ours so it's very appealing, yet foreign to us.

Most units are 100 feet of open space so if we stuck to our sf rate=$60 each If they gave us 8 units ($480) per visit which with driving and set up is going to take at least two hours that would be about our average.

Pre payment discounts?
No refunds if they cancel at the last minute?

I'll assume they'll be getting other bids so unless they're totally sold on us (we've cleaned their main conference room a few times in the past under a different manager but they stopped calling when he messed up on a date and we couldn't help them) I'll assume we'll be under bid at $20 a room..

There’s a local resort that phoned me looking for a quote. They are individual ‘cabins’, and are one and 2 bedroom units. Some allow pets, some do not. Anywho, I was fishing for the price from the last cleaning company. The guy told me that he was doing the 1 bedroom unit for 35$, and the 2 bedroom for 45$. He asked if I could match his pricing! I told him I need to come out and look at the units for logistical purposes, and soil level. He said, ‘everyone else gave me a price over the phone’. My reply was ‘well, I’m not everyone else, we don’t qoute sight unseen’. I then explained to him that we are a premium level company, and we are not a one size fits all type of cleaner. This intrigued him enough, he set up an appointment with his supervisor aswell. Oh, the last guy used a porty.....

 

[PrimaDonna]

I know you said no portables or VLM needed, but could you be more efficient and give them the results they are looking for by employing those methods? Why not alternate HWE first time through (initially will take longer) then encap for 2nd, 3rd cleanings? You may be able to be more price competitive if that is a factor in their decision....

That being said, I have found it highly effective to say something along the lines of...."We certainly would love the opportunity to provide you a bid. However, it's been our experience coming in to these accounts that our pricing structure is different than what most facilities such as yours are used to. So as not to waste your time or ours, would you be comfortable sharing your budget so we can see if we are in the same ball park and it makes sense for us to proceed with a formal written quote?". They are a business too, they get that you don't want to waste time, and respect that you don't want to waste theirs. This would have been a good conversation to have had before going out to survey the property.

See what they say. If they don't answer, then you can say "Typically we charge XX in this type of situation, does that fit in with your projected budget?" If you get the silence OMG, then you can respectfully decline and let them know you aren't the right fit. Or, if you really want it, offer to demo one unit for free to show them the difference between what they have experienced and then maybe they will see why it's in their best interest to use you and pay more.

 

[Bob Pruitt]

Write into the bid a move the van cost. Usually the price of one room.

 

[Jimmy L]

Don't over complicate this like the woman........shoot them a price NO explanation.....get it or move on.

 

[Rick J]

a one time demo clean , not free but at a much reduced price. Noting what your charge really would be.
Give you and opportunity, and not completely waste your time.. They will get a great product, no doubt, at a great intoductory price.
It will give them an opportunity to not only see your work ----but interact with YOU...(maybe not a good thing )

 

[ruff]

Though most likely (96.84%) they will not be willing to pay decent money, there's no need to eliminate them before you gave it a chance.
I've been surprised in the past where I thought I would not get the job and they turned out to be great clients.

You may want to pre-qualify as Meg suggested, or if you're half the sales person Marty led us to believe, rely on it and that killer charm.

And Yes, damn it. Bob Dylan, junior. That alone may make them reconsider.

 

[bob vawter]

Bob Dylan?...lol


Mostly Tom Petty this month.

Puddles....

 

[Desk Jockey]

What is the name of that Portable Zee has that is made for Condo's. Dolly that baby down there, cut your operating costs to allow for an adjusted price.

 

[Dolly Llama]

($480) per visit which with driving and set up is going to take at least two hours that would be about our average.

this ain't rocket science, Sally
is $240 pr hour/gross enough to be profitable...during your slow time?


since you're a hi-roller CCer with little experience "slummin" like this , I'll echo about chit not being ready or "as promised"
make it clear if all eight ain't there, minimum charge will apply

..L.T.A.

 

[Old Coastie]

A monthly fee based on the total square footage of the facility (and anticipated hassles).
A demo room with the decision maker present.
Allow for 7 rooms or 9 rooms, but the payment stays constant. This is the hard point to make stick; you will do all rooms each year, but it is their job to be prepared. On the bright side, you’ll have been paid for those undone rooms if they lag.

Use a porty where you must, like the outlying rooms. There’s no reason not to suffer graciously...

 

[Mikey P]

What is the name of that Portable Zee has that is made for Condo's. Dolly that baby down there, cut your operating costs to allow for an adjusted price.

Did you hit your head out there in the desert?

 

[Mikey P]

I much prefer these types of requests..


Hi, my name is Sean and I am looking to get the carpets cleaned in our office in Watsonville. Can you please let me know what information is needed to get this started. I'd like to schedule the cleaning for next week.

Thanks,

 

[Desk Jockey]

Did you hit your head out there in the desert?

I did fall twice. LOL

Brent braked on those loose rocks coming down to the creek and I stopped, lost my footing on the rocks and layer it down.

Brent said he looked in his rear view mirror and watched me go over in slow motion.

 

[Nate The Great]

What is the name of that Portable Zee has that is made for Condo's. Dolly that baby down there, cut your operating costs to allow for an adjusted price.

The DwellPro.. @Zee sold it to Jimmy Olas..

 

[Desk Jockey]

Yes, thanks Nate. The Dwell Pro mounted in the back of Mike's UTV. Drive it from building to building using their electricity, water and heater.

 

[Nate The Great]

I'm still wanting to do that for our town home community's.... But something along the lines of a Judson nitro or SS rage... Over driven #3 blower with 100' or less should be more than adequate..

Being able to drive on the sidewalks would be awesome..

 

[Papa John]

don't be shocked if you are asked to pay a bribe.
ill be surprised/impressed if you get the gig at $60 a room

 

[Mikey P]

Its a christian confrence center...

 

[Nomad74]

The DwellPro.. @Zee sold it to Jimmy Olas..

That rig is cool