Hey guys! So have an opportunity to do my first big job. I’m a bit nervous and not even sure I have the ability to do it. This apartment complex wants me to clean all 12 buildings. At the height, I doubt I can even effectively clean them since I only have a 4gpm machine. I agreed to do the estimate anyway. Im not even sure where this should be priced at.
My question is, can I even clean this at 4gpm and roughly where would I price this at per building?
Do you have a crew? Is it belt driven? Your looking at maybe 2 buildings in a 12 hour period with a 4 gpm… if it’s a direct drive, then straight from the water source to the washer. If your belt driven then a buffer tank will do. A J rod will get close to the tops, maybe throw an extension on there with the JRod at the tip. Also, by the time you add all the hoses to get around it and or through the stairs, you will loose some pressure. Better have insurance! If it was me and I was in your shoes, I would quote that job high and if it gets accepted then go by yourself a 5.5 or 8 gpm. If not, then you have other opportunities in the future with smaller jobs until you build confidence in yourself.
Price in a rental unit
You can cut grass with nail clippers but I wouldn’t want to.
You can clean that building all day with a 4gpm. (Literally all day lol ) You will be fine, After this job upgrade to a bigger unit if you feel the need.
Hard to tell from pictures but I’d be in the 1200-1500 dollar range per building.
I am gonna go out on a limb here and make a prediction.
If you did, somehow, manage to get that job…you will quit and walkaway before you finish it with a 4gal machine.
You can listen to these folks tell you that it CAN be done with that machine…but they will not the one that will be out there trying to rinse that mess with a machine pissing 4gals a minute.
My first apartment complex ever was 25 - 2 story buildings. I did it all in a week by myself with a 4 gpm machine. But think 9-10 hour days. I didn’t quit and walk away, but damn if I didn’t want to… I really wanted too. I didn’t have a great process either. Shortly after that I think I even said something on here about never doing apartments again.
That’s when I started pitching apartments on one day a month every month because tenants like to see the place maintained and it will be perpetually clean for perspective tenants. Still do those two complexes, one day/month. Sometimes they want easy stuff done like concrete, no buildings.
2-3 people minimum on every apartment job after that with at least 2 machines. 5.5 and the 7. Life was much better. For a fact, I remember getting home at 4:00 being ahead of schedule and telling Emma how much easier it was. My process was better, but still not perfect.
Your first apartment complex is gonna suck. Just the way it is. When you’re packing up at the end of the longest day of your life and a tenant says you didn’t wash their balcony because they didn’t have their stuff off prepare to smile, say “Sorry, but your patio wasn’t emptied.”, and cuss the whole way home. lol.
@JimLuke We wash apartments all day lon with 4gpm machines. 4 of them going with 4 guys just finished a 3 day job at 8k… it can be done
Good for you.
What I said, stands.
Thanks for the feedback guys. I think I’m going to give the estimate. I’ll probably go in at 1500 per building. I’d be foolish to pass the opportunity because while this is likely going to make me hate myself for a week, I’d end up with around $18,000. That is well worth the work. Then after I’ll absolutely be able to upgrade to an 8gpm.
I’m in your same boat. Waiting to hear back from a couple PM’s on some quotes I put in. Go get it buddy & good luck!
It would be me alone with a direct drive 4gpm. I’m definitely going to bid high because I’m iffy about even getting it. If they tell me no, then oh well lol.
Thanks man, same to you. This kind of job would change the game for me.
After your first large large check you will realize apartments and condos are where the $$& is at.
Think about gow much money you would make running proper equipment. Just something to think about.
Proper? By whose standards lol I run 4 gpm because I run multiple machines off of the same tank…
I would love to upgrade, but I don’t have 3 thousand dollars to drop on another pressure washer right now. That’s why I want to upgrade after this job if I get it.
I guess my standards and those of the guys i know that wash apartments for a living. I don’t care what you do. It was meant as an incentive to make more money working easier and quicker. I would honestly quit doing this tomorrow if I had to use machines 50% less effecient than I’m using now.
BINGO!
.They are welcome to use that equipment until their heart is content…not me…and they are only deluding themselves when they claim it is as efficient as 8gpm equipment.
I never claimed it’s just as efficient. I’m well aware I’m using the bare minimum for acceptable equipment. But I can’t just not work until i have the best equipment. I’m trying to work my way up.
