I have a commercial and residential cleaning company in the D.C. MD, VA, area. I wanted to know the best way to get meetings with property managers. I want to concentrate on office buildings. So far, I've contacted about two dozen property management companies and all I've been told is to send our portfolio and I've asked them to add us to their vendor list. Is there anything else I can do? Am I doing this correctly, is there anything else I should be doing?
WHAT CAN I DO TO JUST GET THE CHANCE TO BID ON A CLEANING CONTRACT FOR AN OFFICE BUILDING?
I also wanted to know what if any one knew of any head hunting companies that work based on commission rather than a fee.

THANK YOU IN ADVANCE FOR ANY ONE THAT RESPONDS

Getting in with Property Management Companies is a very difficult process and it takes a lot of perseverance and time. I would initially concentrate on mid and small sized PMC's TimetoClean.

Most managers at the building levels are usually given a list of 3 to 4 companies to use when they go out for bid. This list is sent down and approved by their upper management. Occasionally a manager will take a chance on another company but his/her neck could be on the line IF that company does not work out. It is a better practice for them to use the 'given' list even though it is only 'suggested' by them. Then if one of those companies fail... it wasn't them who decided on their own to use that company.

In most larger cities there is a lot of wining, dining and expense involved in garnering the 'right' to bid. A lot of the larger companies that receive these contracts are in some cases politically connected or well know in the area. If you are talking about getting a building that is 200,000 to 300,000 square feet or more to clean... that is a large contract that attracts a lot of attention.

These types of contracts with property managers are very competitive and brings a lot of bidders out of the woodwork, thus forcing down the price. However, volume dictates price; you can bid a lot less per sq ft and make a good profit if the volume sq ft is there.

The buildings managed by property management companies that are around 25,000 to 40,000 sq ft may offer you a better opportunity at this point.

Good luck, plan on spending considerable time in finding ways to better get to know the managers. Possibly lunches, finding out what charities or organizations they belong to and join also...

Please keep me posted,

Stringer