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Contract pricing help please

We have been approached to quote for maintenance on communal areas of a housing estate but are struggling to price it. We have checked Spons and it just doesn't seem to come out right. There are 500 square m. of grass to cut, 180 square m. of planting to weed and prune and 550 square m. of block paving to weed treat twice a year. 21 visits per year. Everything to be removed from site, the site is 25 miles round trip from home. Any suggestions? Thanks

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PRO MemberPermalink Reply by Brian www.mibservices.co.uk on May 24, 2012 at 22:41
How many man hours are you thinking it will take and what grass machinery are you looking to use ? Doesnt sound like a big job, grass area is small as is the shrubs and mono blocking. How many houses on the estate ?

PRO MemberPermalink Reply by Pembroke Gardening Services on May 24, 2012 at 23:16

We think it'll vary a bit depending on whether spraying is needed, the amount of weeding etc but probably an average of 3 hours excluding travel to. We've just bought a 21 inch mower with a mulching facility. There are 23 houses.


PRO MemberPermalink Reply by Brian www.mibservices.co.uk on May 24, 2012 at 23:49
On average for estate work to be competitive, and an estate with so few houses then I would quote around £180 - £200 per summer visit and £75 per winter visit. You wont get residents wanting to pay much more than £6- £8 per month for estate maintenance. I have 18 residential sites on my books and thats the average, for my neck of the woods anyways. Good luck with the quote.


Pembroke Gardening Services said:

We think it'll vary a bit depending on whether spraying is needed, the amount of weeding etc but probably an average of 3 hours excluding travel to. We've just bought a 21 inch mower with a mulching facility. There are 23 houses.

Permalink Reply by Colin Hunt on May 25, 2012 at 10:32

I wouldn't dream of giving you a price indication as each job is different and we all have differing running costs. 

The advice I would give is to make sure you know what the client wants and expects - sometimes (frustratingly!) it's just 'minimum maintenance' and that's all they will pay for, so you can save yourself a lot of work by getting this straight right away.

Sell yourself and your service, within your price look for a year on year improvement on the gardens - get that point over and if you get the job make sure you carry it out.  A lot of commercial contracts are very poorly serviced - you need to stand out.

From what you say, it's not a massive undertaking, so I would just break the work down and price it up as you would your domestic gardens, remembering that you need to be competitive but will have more flexibility should you gain the contract.


PRO MemberPermalink Reply by Dan Frazer Gardening on May 25, 2012 at 17:37

Brian I assume you mean £180-200 per month and not per visit, I think he would struggle to win a quote based on £180 for 3 man-hours of work!
 
www.mibservices.co.uk said:

On average for estate work to be competitive, and an estate with so few houses then I would quote around £180 - £200 per summer visit and £75 per winter visit. You wont get residents wanting to pay much more than £6- £8 per month for estate maintenance. I have 18 residential sites on my books and thats the average, for my neck of the woods anyways. Good luck with the quote.


Pembroke Gardening Services said:

We think it'll vary a bit depending on whether spraying is needed, the amount of weeding etc but probably an average of 3 hours excluding travel to. We've just bought a 21 inch mower with a mulching facility. There are 23 houses.


PRO MemberPermalink Reply by Brian www.mibservices.co.uk on May 25, 2012 at 19:52
Hi Dan, OP just says 3 hours, not 3 man hours, just assumed he was running a 2-3 man squad, and yes per month. Not worth doing it for less me thinks

PRO MemberPermalink Reply by Pembroke Gardening Services on May 25, 2012 at 21:08

Hi, I'm actually a sole trader



www.mibservices.co.uk said:

Hi Dan, OP just says 3 hours, not 3 man hours, just assumed he was running a 2-3 man squad, and yes per month. Not worth doing it for less me thinks

PRO MemberPermalink Reply by Brian www.mibservices.co.uk on May 25, 2012 at 21:10
Which means what in terms of staff. Im a sole trader but employ 4 people. Do you mean you just work yourself ?

PRO MemberPermalink Reply by Pembroke Gardening Services on May 25, 2012 at 21:12

Yes, just me at the moment 


PRO MemberPermalink Reply by Brian www.mibservices.co.uk on May 25, 2012 at 21:19
Ah right then. I would still say around the £6 per household per month

PRO MemberPermalink Reply by Pembroke Gardening Services on May 25, 2012 at 21:34

Thanks for taking the time to reply.


PRO MemberPermalink Reply by Brian www.mibservices.co.uk on May 25, 2012 at 22:03
Your welcome

Pembroke Gardening Services said:

Thanks for taking the time to reply.

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