Am I that overpriced?

[Kory 14]

I put a bid in today on a 7720sq ft house & garage, 2 story, plants everywhere. The lady called me asking for a quote for a roof cleaning in one of the more expensive neighborhoods in the area. She said she did not think it was that bad but someone told her to get it done. I get there and it is a large 2 story with a decent pitch and Flat tiles. I could not get an accurate measurement do to all the plants and crap in the way. She was not home at the time so I called here this afternoon and tell her it is going to be around 1300 and I will also clean the rust stains around the house and PW the front entrance of the house the phone got silent quick .... then she said we are getting a couple of quotes and we will call back. This is easily a million dollar+ home. It seems like I am not able to seal the deal on some of my quotes because of being to high in price. I tell them I am licensed & insured and have some excellent references.

[PressurePros 248]

I don't do roofs so I don't know of that is high or not. Your problem in this situation was doing the sale over the phone. If you want to sell high priced jobs you have to be in front of the customer selling yourself. All she had was a voice on the phone and she based her decision on price.

Also remember, she didn't think it really neded to be done. She just may have been shocked and will find that is what everyone charges. Be sure to follow up with her (in both written and with a call next week)

[Proclean 14]

Ditto to Ken

Never give a price over the phone (unless last result). Salesmanship is all about customer relationship. Anyone who calls me and ask how much do you charge for a deck so & so. I explain to them that there are too many variables involved and that I would love to meet with them and discuss there needs.

People who shop by price alone are not or should not be your customer base. Why, because there is always a cheaper price out there. I love it when they call me back and say I was the most expensive quote. But note, they are calling me. You are providing professionalism, knowledge, and experience to the job.

Key point. Build the relationship.

This was passed on to me, but everyone should have the paperback book, “Customer Loyalty – How to earn it, how to keep it.” by Jill Griffin. This book is the Bible as far as customers.

Paul Dinos

Pro Clean Specialists, Inc

[PWkid 79]

Kory, I get that response all the time. I will tell you that this time a year I always have to adjust my prices. It has been very slow over here. The chemical supplier in town told me today that it seems that I am the only cleaner in town with work,my response was wow I am very slow right now. I say hang in there, a lot of my customers are waiting the hurricane season out.

[Tom DeFrancesco 23]

Hey Kory, up by me that job would be about $1800 - $2000 atleast. Especially if there is alot of greenery t

[Tom DeFrancesco 23]

that needs to be covered. And you are throwing in the front walkway.

[Barry M 73]

I think your price is too low, and you should of drove back there and delivered the estimate.

[Beth n Rod 1,279]

First rule of thumb is: before giving your price, tell them what they are getting, the precautions you need to take, the amount of time you expect it to take and the possible dangers that are faced with working up on the roof.

People tend to only think of the price and none of the other things that go into it. It's not ignorance on their part but mostly lack of knowledge and understanding of what the job encompasses including the care you will take in avoiding doing damage which can be very possible by those who are lesser experienced. Giving them the scope of what is involved gives them a better appreciation of what you will be doing for them up there and the particular danger that is a part of the work you do which means you must take extra time to be secure up there.

Without this information, it boils down to; the roof needs to be washed and I am going to pay for it...but how much do I think it is worth to me to have it done?

Rod!~

[Chappy 138]

Lots of seamingly wealthy people are cheap as hell. Many are just plain overextended. There are also a lot of very cheap PWers out there. Im willing to bet she gets a quote for less than $800.

I probably would have gone 12-1500 depending if there are any gutters. (cant see them in the pics.)

I love the customers that when you give them the price they say, "when can you start?" Makes you wish you had gone up 10%

[Mike Sullivan 15]

I would charge at least $1500 for that job

Mike Sullivan

Pressure Washing Pro, Inc.

www.pressurewashingpro.com

Mobile (336) 362-7659

[HotShot 34]

It's not ignorance on their part but mostly lack of knowledge and understanding of what the job encompasses including the care you will take in avoiding doing damage which can be very possible by those who are lesser experienced.

Rod!~

That is the dictionary meaning of the word ignorance.."lack of knowledge, or education"....:)

[CCPC 26]

I love the customers that when you give them the price they say, "when can you start?" Makes you wish you had gone up 10%

LOL! I think we've all experienced that, give a price, and they jump on it like its 1/2 of what they expected to pay, and then you think to yourself, damn could have charged a little more.

[Kory 14]

For the record no gutters except by the pool cage

[aloha pc 14]

Kory, I have seen you around from time to time. I may have even seen you this past Saturday morning at Tampa Road and Lake St. George by the 7-11

Our area is flooded with pressure cleaners. I lost two jobs this week that I had already discounted but because people pick up a flyer found in the front yard, get a bid much cheaper and go with company X. All these people seem to get four or five bids and dont seem to want quality or experience, just the lowest possible price. Frustrates the hell out of me. Plain and simple, our area is flooded.

[Thomas 14]

No not too high. For roof only.

[Thomas 14]

welp, I posted to fast and noticed it was tile not shingle. I would have been higher. For shingle its a good price but on the low side for tile.

[Russ Spence 76]

i think you did her a favor ,thats a lot of risk and liability + the time and effort ......1300.00 is a good deal i wouldnt touch it uless times were hard for less than 1500.00

[Kory 14]

I put an ad in there HOA and said 10% off so my original price was 1500

[Washaway 64]

Kory, the pool cage is sceen enclosure. Your picture is incredibly small.....send me one that's not reduced in size:

info@washaway.us

I have to admint (and the picture is very small so I may be mistaken) that for our area your prices are about $300-$400 overpriced.

[Thomas 14]

300 to 400 overpriced???

back that number out and throw it into an 1500 square. an average house ..that means if it is 300 or 400 over you are doing 1500 square for like 100 dollars. his price is good....as he said it has a 10% discount. I would have been just over 1600.

[CCPC 26]

I have to admint (and the picture is very small so I may be mistaken) that for our area your prices are about $300-$400 overpriced.

That price would be a bit high for my area as well, and in all honesty, I could make a killing on that per hour even if I charged $800-$900.

[Thomas 14]

Not trying to cause and argument with you ccpc. But the only thing you would be killing in that scenerio is the roof cleaning market qnd your pocket.

The last 800 roof I did was 3200 square. It was very steep (we did walk some of it) it was shingle.

just my opinion...

[CCPC 26]

I did forget about the tile roof part, which would drive the price up a bit. As for killing the roof market, says who? If I can turn, what I consider an acceptable profit, then its of no concern to me what others are charging. In business the strategy for bringing in the most profit is to balance yourself in between higher profit margins per job and yet still achieving a high closing rate. If I tried to charge $800 for a 3,200 sqft asphalt shingle roof in my area I'd get most doors slammed in my face and find myself out of business in a couple of months. My typical price for standard, walkable, one story with bonus room, 3,200 sq ft would be around 350-400. I work by myself, and I can clean it, keep landscaping wet, and rinse it, in a few hours.

[Chappy 138]

Agree with lance. 7700sf Tile roof 12-1500, shingle roof 6-800. the variables include gutters/no gutters, type of landscaping, etc. Even if it were tile I could do it in less than 8 hours by myself, including tarping and rinsing. Shingle roofs are much quicker and use less chem. In my area I am a little high priced and regularly get the door slammed, but I still close about 40-50%. and make money. As slow as I have been, I still will not come down in my price per sf. nor do I raise it when Im busy. Its fiercly competitive in pinellas county. I dont sweat it because the guys that will do it for too cheap wont be around next year or the year after. Im pretty sure you guys in Hillsborough are in a similar situation.

My price is fair to the customer who wants quality work. its fair to me, I make a nice profit. You have to strike a balance. Apple may be able to charge a premium but he's been around since dirt. He said himself most of his business is repeat customers, and referrals. I dont know about you, Thomas or Kory, but Im still trying to build a customer base. Too high a price and they dont hire you- lost business now and future along with lost referrals. too low a price and you go out of business because your not profitable, not to mention this work is too hard to do long unless the money is good. Gotta figure where that balance is and land that customer.

[Thomas 14]

I guess after reading your post I see you points and agree somewhat. I dunno..I have a flat rate that I measure to get also..I just see a million+ home as a good qualifier for "premium" price as along as you give "premium" service.

It is the same down here in Hillsborough...lean times for sure and that impacts the price. With all do respects...how big does it have to be to make a nice check? This is a monster roof.

[Thomas 14]

If I can turn, what I consider an acceptable profit, then it is of no concern to me what others are charging

So Lance, If you could earna bigger profit would you? OF course you would , you would be foolish to cap your profitability by not educating yourself about what prices the market COULD bear.

Thats like a gas station owner selling his gas at .99 when the market can bear 2.00. Shooting yourself in the foot IMO. And capping the market!