Am I charging too high or are some people just Idiots???

smittie1984

smittie1984

New member
Today I get a call at 8:30. Someone wants me to go to Vinings, Georgia to give an Estimate. Vinings is actually Atlanta but is in the NorthWest corner and it and is where a lot of the Big Money in Atlanta is. Multimillion dollar homes are easy to find. Well I drove out there because they are from vinings and the jobs there pay really well. And most people there have never complained about my prices. So I drive out there and calulate how much it would cost.

They wanted all of the drives done and also large Brick areas which I would have had to of done by hand. I couldn't use the driveway cleaner becuase it would have messed up too much. They also wanted me to do the top of a porch on the back side patio. I wasn't going to charge them anything to do the Steps or the top of the Patio. There driveways was also one of the dirtiest I have ever seen.

Now this home easily had to of cost over $500,000 dollars. In other parts of the country it would probably go for Millions. Well I told them the price would be $520 and I'd do it that day. They freaked. They said "I can't believe it is that high". Then I told them I'd do it for $400 right then and there. So she quoted that "In newpapers I've seen adds that do Houses and Driveways for $160." Right then and there I knew what she was talking about. I have an Add in the newspaper and right next to mine someone put they'd do Houses up to 3000sqft and driveways for $160. So I've had people calling me wanting me to beat that price. They just looked at me as if I was a criminal.

But maybe I am. So I want to make sure I'm not ripping people off. Because I'm in this business for money but I'm not in it to rip people off. Here is an attachment of how the place basically laid out. Now remember that all the brick stuff I would have had to have done by wand and not the driveway cleaner.

Oh yeah my prices for Driveways...
0-8' wide $1.00
8'-12' wide $1.25
every 4 feet I add $0.25 then I measure the length to come up with my price.

I just want to see if I'm being High or maybe even too low. I also got these prices from a man who has done this for over 10 years and he told me that is what he charges. He was teaching me the business.

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Rich folks are rich because they're CHEAP! That was a hard lesson learned for you - I feel your pain since Roger drove 45+ miles (each way) to quote a house drive & deck and the woman hasn't had the decency to call and say "No thank you" I'm going to put a big sign on our truck that states "We are NOT the cheapest - if you're looking for the lowest price - don't bother to call!"

Sympathetically,

Celeste
 
"We are NOT the cheapest - if you're looking for the lowest price - don't bother to call!"



Mathew Johnson said:
I think your prices are fine.... tell them you can't do it cheaper than the other guy, you just do it better!!!
Thata about what I charge up here
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AMEN BROTHER and SISTER!!!!!!!

We have found that people who live in $500k homes are not rich......just broke and trying to keep up with someone else.There isn't anything wrong with your price they were just looking for a cheap price.The next time this happens use Mathew's quote.
I also like the people that think cash will make me drop the price down to nothing.I don't mind giving a small discount for cash (10% maybe) but not the 75% they always shoot for.I told a fella a while back we normally work for magic beans but just this once we would take cash,however, the price was the same.
 
Personally

I would carry around a copy of the ad next to yours and next time, once they start haggling, just hand them a copy and say "call them". You get what you pay for if ya know what i mean.

Your prices were fine in any market area.
 
Smittie,

Sad to say, but most of the moneyed types view us as itinerant ne'er-do-wells who will work for anything they cast at us: old clothes, a warm meal and a few cents. It's a matter of their perception. We fought this in the beginning and dealt with it by always appearing professionally uniformed with matching pants and shirts with logo and names. Towing a trailer to give an estimate hurt us - so we used a clean vehicle with logo on doors to drive to estimates wearing clean uniform. We never ever agree to do a job today (no matter how hungry, we are). We will have to "call when we get back to the office" with an available time this week that might fit their busy schedule and the price. When we broke our policy we get our butts kicked. Wealthy types want to buy what your selling but you have to control the situation. They don't want us to be bedraggled and downtrodden. Chin up and kick some butt!
 
I kind of figured. This was more of a Vent.

I was tired and had to drive my dad's truck because my truck is in the shop for a $1,300 transmission repair. And I have a $175 speeding ticket. And have to pay some taxes and have little money. Oh Yeah I owe $200 more on my equipment. Luckily it is a very good friend and he wants to see me suceed much more than getting $200 which he knows I'll pay back eventually.

I remember when I told them that price the woman had a tear in her eye. I see how she got to where she is. Now if they were a younger couple I would have smarted off to them because it almost insults me. Not because of the drive or they didn't want the job but because I feel they are looking down on me. Maybe since I'm so young they feel I'm trying to scam an old person. Or I'm a young punk kid.

I think they might have let me do it for $300. Which I would of been fine with because I am very desperate for money and work right now. And I don't have jobs flying to my door. It would have sucked but it would be $300 I wouldn't have had before. But I didn't want to screw other people over. Because people like that talk and I didn't want to screw another more qualified pressure washer out of a job like I was screwed out of jobs from that Add. And I have been screwed out of many jobs because of that. The problem is it is the only advertisement I can afford.

I guess that was one of the hard lessons but maybe one day I'll get to do their neighbors and I'll look over to see a dirty driveway. And when they ask me I'm going to tell them double the price. That way they can call someone else and get the feeling they are getting a deal. And then everyone is happy.

If anyone wants to do that stuff for less than $400 let me know and I'll let you call them to make a bid. Or better yet if you want to make a higher bid than $520 :D

Appreciate it guys.
 
smittie,

As time goes on, you will have these problems less and less. Once you have more experience under your belt, your reputation will preceed you. You will still deal these people, but you will have more confidence and credibility. You'll hold your ground, and prevail.

Also, I really like the diagram you made above, that was pretty cool. :)
 
Thanks about the Diagram. It shows you what 13 years of Public School can allow you to do.
 
Here in Fla, everyone is a pressure washer. You have to get used to rejection. My prices are not high, but certainly not low. I have professional looking forms that have my insurance carrier and policy on it which I point out to all of my customers. I also have hats and shirts with company logo for myself and every one on the job. I thoroughly explain my policies and the cleaning procedures to all of my customers. Many times I have done a job where the customer had a bid for $100.00 or more less than mine in their hand. Just remember if they are that much less than you are, they will probably be a good source for used equipment at the end of the season.
 
al9226 said:
Here in Fla, everyone is a pressure washer. You have to get used to rejection. My prices are not high, but certainly not low. I have professional looking forms that have my insurance carrier and policy on it which I point out to all of my customers. I also have hats and shirts with company logo for myself and every one on the job. I thoroughly explain my policies and the cleaning procedures to all of my customers. Many times I have done a job where the customer had a bid for $100.00 or more less than mine in their hand. Just remember if they are that much less than you are, they will probably be a good source for used equipment at the end of the season.
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Salesmanship


Text me for info on Milwaukee event. 480-522-5227
 
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