It’s pretty much a fact if you’re not telling the truth you’re lying and being dishonest. there’s NEVER a good reason to misrepresent your self. if you can’t estimate jobs you don’t need to be doing this. it’s simple math how much you need to make equals how much you charge.
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Lol I’m not taking the bait.
Thanks for the positive encouragement!
It’s not bait. I expected as much from you but was surprised by Bear. He seemed to be a straight up guy. Never can tell I guess.
Nope…
You’re welcome. everyone loses jobs due to over bidding and everyone has won jobs due to under bidding. it’s called learning and paying dues. You’ll figure it out but no one not even a competitor can tell you what you need to make. the problem with today’s society is that everyone wants to side step the learning process and go straight to knowing what they’re doing. some things can only be learned with time, experience, and headaches
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We all make money by spraying bleach on houses and rinsing them off. Some people charge more some people charge less.
I have an idea. Try washing for 6 more months. Keep up with your close rate. If it’s below 80% lower your prices. Price whatever it takes to keep yourself profitable and competitive. Asking dudes on here isn’t the way to get the answers to the questions you’re asking. The city I live in has pressure washers everywhere. In general my prices are higher than theirs. I stay about as busy as I want to be.
On a side note when I first started I followed some guys around with nice rigs and asked them questions. One guy now subs me out to help with large projects. And he pays me very well. If you do want to talk with someone who is in direct competition with you, do it and be honest. You may be surprised how nice some people are.
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I’ll try dropping my rates now that my setup is more efficient. The last house only took me 1.5 hours for $250, I could probably drop that a bit. Heck WC with two people only makes $100/hr on average and I’m on a ladder most of that time.
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I think I remember @Diamond_Soft_Wash saying that you want to land about 80% of your estimates. If you’re not getting rejected about 20% of the time it means your prices are too low. I could be wrong on that number but he’ll verify. I’m sure there are other variables involved depending on business model but seems like a good starting point. You’ll eventually know what kind of prices to expect in your market without having to know what competitors are charging.
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7-800 still sounds really high for such little work…Maybe I should consider moving back to London 
Close. I would say between 68-75% closing ratio. Anything higher and you might be too low on your bids. Anything lower than that then you might be too high. This is just my own personal thoughts. Im not saying im right or wrong just my own observation.
If your getting 250 then do not lower your price. Your not going to win every bid but bump your credentials up get your reviews up and sell yourself not your service. People buy from whom they like and trust. Build the trust and the work will be right behind it.
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We do windows as well at that price. But yeah man when I worked in Toronto we charged BC prices. Same thing with Barrie etc. When someone has a small shack worth a million they pay more I guess I don’t know.
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Oh yeah, if you’re including the windows it makes more sense. WC is often much more difficult than spraying down a house.
I think there’s truth to that statement. I was talking to a customer/neighbor the other day about marketing. He’s retired but does water painting. I mean pro type artist work. Anyways, he use to own a bar years ago in Indianapolis. It was in a high end area where all the rich businessman would get together after work. One day the owner decided to put out a bunch of free hot dogs and brats as a way to say thank you to the customers. After about an hour not one single brat or dog was taken. Kind of joking the bartender told him to put a sign up saying $5 for a dog and $10 for a brat. They sold out within a half hour. I think people with a lot of money just think the more it costs the better it has to be. They thought something was wrong with the dogs and brats because nobody just gives stuff away for free or at a low price. I’m sure it’s a small percent of people who think like that though. I guess in a way we all think that way with some things we purchase.
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Ya i get competitor calls too and its annoying. Lucky i can usaully pick up that it is someone just starting out or someone thinking about starting out. They will always usually use broad terms or ask what i will be cleaning thier house with.
One guy was someone i went to high school with and he was pretending to be a big time real estate agent. It made my day calling him out
Just call a few local guys and ask them what rates they are charging. Im sure 1 out of 5 guys will be honest. I woukd be honest. Mainly because i dont want my market polluted by some guy charging cheap because he doesn’t know. Im sure the other 4 guys will tell you a higher number. It seems like it is a “who’s is bigger” thing for some reason lol.
Keep giving your rates you are giving now and run coupons. Customers love to save money. Alot of people believe the more they pay the better they get. If your price is $350 and the other guys is $300 and you are running a $50 off bundle discount for house and driveway why would they choose him over you in thier mind.
When your starting to slow down call the ones that turned you down and offer a discount. Tell them the truth. “This time of year is when business slows down for you and you would like to offer them a discount to fill in your schedule”
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I have yet to receive a honest competition call yet. Heck if someone called me up and was honest and answered my questions honestly. I would be more than happy to help them out. I feel like being honest when most wouldn’t should be rewarded. Sell him some old stuff for a good price. Probably even refer some jobs i would normally turn down( only north side house wash etc.) Doesn’t hurt to make freinds in the same line of work. Atleast you woukd know he is a honest friend.
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Ditto! And X10 on the headaches!
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What’s going on with the unloader
Surging bad when I get off the trigger and my bypass hose and pressure hose jumps. I am sure its a simple fix or at least I’m hoping it is! Seems like it surges every few seconds.
