Hi. I need help bidding on this post construction job. They want rough and final cleaning for residential (balconies) common areas, inacessable windows and pressure clean the garage. It's a huge job. Please help. Triple s :(

Hello Trip:

I don't know anything about your business. But, I know how to estimate. Go look at the job. Guess, project, try to envision (use any of those terms you like - but they're all the same), how many total hours it will take to do the job. Be generous with yourself. Multiply that by how much you want to be paid per hour. Then add 10% more.

It you're absolutely unable to make that determination, then you're better off passing on the job. Cause if you estimate too low, you're out of business and you might get sued.

I assume you have the equipment, you're a one man operation, and you have whatever licenses you need and proper insurance coverage.

excon

Agreed excon, I would add that you should tour the job with the person you are bidding to.

Ask all types of questions to be sure you know EXACTLY what is to be done. Ask about everything... "is this to be cleaned, what about that, are the floors to be cleaned (stripped and refinished?), what about he carpets, if any, (only vacuum or extracted?), what do you want done with the other floor finishes? (concrete power cleaned?), etc.This will give you more information about what you need, build a rapport with your client ("I want to be sure that I give you exactly what you want... ") AND protect your a~s.
Stringer