Todays estimate, arghhhhh !

A

a.k.a. Patrick

New member
So I get this call from this guy who was doing some concrete work.................Need I explain more...?

DSCF00041.jpg


DSCF00071.jpg


DSCF00061.jpg


DSCF00051.jpg


Anyway, i debated even offering my services as concrete splatter can be time consuming, laborous, and kind of tricky......So I went ahead and met the client, told her to give me a 1/2 an hr, "I'll see what I can do for ya." Its an 02 Civic, Metalflake Blue, filthy even under the concrete. Thank goodness its only an exterior. I dont even want to see the inside. I didnt have access to any electricty to use a PC, so I just gave 1/2 the roof a quick QD, some vinegar bath time, razor, Blue Moose Cutting Creme, SSR 2, VM......and,



DSCF0003.jpg




So what will it be Autopians, how much would you charge ?? I'll let ya know what I told the responsible party (Guy flippin for the bill) who was a little surprised at my rate. i even went thru the explanation rationale of telling him everything I use will probably have to be tossed because it will have rock granuels in it. Chances are I will slightly scratch the paint trying to remove it, so an additional step will be needed, not to mention the acid bath, rewash, etc.....oh, sealant, and clay bar(s).......
 
id say 500 but you are offering a specail discount for dec so $75 off plus a free wash......
 
At one half hour for half the roof.... time would be the one element that one would judge this detail. My judgement , given your information would be a little over six hours. Not knowing your hourly rate my guess would be...6 hours times your hourly rate.
 
$279.00. We'll see what happens this week. I have them tentatively scheduled for Friday. I told them to please get an estimate at one of the hack shops, but dont be surprised if 2 months later you have a problem of different sorts..........

I think I can knock this out in 4 hrs.....
 
a.k.a. Patrick said:
$279.00. I think I can knock this out in 4 hrs.....
Click to expand...



Well, I think that this is a very equitable price. Considering that this is a job to be done all by hand. Will be interested in the results. KEEP US INFORMED!!
 
I think you should order some of that Concrete remover they sell at TOL. Hopefully, that stuff makes then concrete slide right off. Then, I would still charge $400.
 
Aloha Patrick...



I have a buddy of mine who works for a local airline and just recently they had contractors on the roof of their building doing some type work. Needless to say, the contractors had sprayed some kind of black liquid cement or something and the wind carried this stuff in the air and it landed on an estimated 100+ cars. One of them being my buddy's immaculate Lexus RX300. Well, the contractor's insurance company got involved and had worked it out with a few local detailers in the area to take of the overspray problems on these vehicles.



My buddy and his fellow co-workers got estimates in the upper $400 to $500.00 range for a 8 to 9 hour job. Mostly to take out the overspray. I would take another look at the amount of time you think you will need to spend on this detail. Because it might take you just 4 hours to take the stuff off and that doesn't include SMR/Compound, polishing, dressing tires, vinyl, and other rubber trim, etc.



Based on the going rate for overspray removal, I would say $279.00 is a steal. Realistically, you should charge in the $400's range. Time is money and good quality work does not come cheap.



With Aloha,

Ranney :)
 
Yea, I think $279 is a STEAL! Alot cheaper that a new paint job! I would ask for between $350=$450. It would seem very hard to estimate the time and supplies involved. Always add 10-20% to cover your butt incase you underestimate. You can always charge alittle less at the end being a nice guy.
 
279 is a deal...not really a steal...I would Charge about 300-350 for that job in my area... But in the end I usually start feeling nice...so it would be the lower of that... Good Luck! make sure you post up the finished products...



-Justin
 
Well I started at $299.00, but didnt want to lose the customer. The party responsible just opened up a new Surf Shop, and I kind of feel for the guy, being as he just opened the shop. So I knocked it down a tad. There both young kids, (the car owner and shop owner) so Im trying to do whats best for the 3 of us.

1. I want the $279.00, relatively affordable considering the problem, and I dont have anything booked for Friday anyway.

2. I want to get her car cleaned up for her.

3. Its Christmas, and I have 3 kids!! (Who also want Xbox 360) ((Chuh ching))

Ranney....Concrete splatter has got to be the worst thing to try to clean! All the granuels and debris. I wish I could spray some Asphalt/Sealant remover on it and call it done! I fig'd about 1.5 hrs for removal, then a couple hrs for polishing steps and sealing. As for a complete exterior involving wheels, tires, dressings etc. If I have time, I'll do it, but its not part of the bid. Just surface repairs. I seriously doubt I would get any additional business from either party here. Obviously the owner doesnt care about the car, as it has 1/2" of dirt on it, and has never seen wax before, let alone a hose and bucket. As for the surf shop owner, well....I use to surf, and look what happened to me !! :lol

Zippy...The problem with cushioning your estimate is sometimes, with the wrong type of client, you end up scaring them away. You have to go in, knowing whats involved, and estimate carefully, or you'll just lose the job all together. Some clients you can get away with additional pricing, because you know they'll pay it.....I mean if it was one of the 977's I have done recently, I probably wouldnt have hesitated charging another 20%. Thats just business, fair or unfair, like it or not.

4830 I'll have a complete finale' if all goes well and they call back.....
 
Clearly, you know your business! I feel that "doing the right thing" as opposed to taking advantage of their situation ( $$$$$$$$$) will pay off in the long run. Your client will be thrilled with the results & tell plenty of people how happy he/she is. Word of mouth is good for business!!
 
Seth, I wish i had know that about a week ago.............!I guess Ill have to do it the ol' fashioned way........

Well, today has arrived and passed without any tribulations! All went well with the Honda. It even revealed some ugly scars, very typical of a unprotected and un-cared for Honda car. More on that later. First off I have to apologize for no digital pics. I forgot the Cam about 2 miles from home an didnt feel like turning around to get it, but I did snap some pics with my SLR, so when the film is taken up, Ill process and share.

So routine was as follows....

1. QEW

2. Spot clean with vinegar and paper towel blots.

I sprayed each concrete splatter individually, with vinegar full strength, then applied a small section of paper towel so I could keep the area wet. I started with the roof and worked my way down to the lower panels. I kept each area wet for 30 minutes. Which seemed sufficient. (Seth, i wish I had that stuff you were talking about though). After 30 minutes, each area was adressed individually. I would take the small piece of PT, and roll it up on the surface trying to gather the debris, what didnt come up was removed with a plastic razor blade. (Which I find to be quite a handy item) This was the tricky part. The vinegar really softened and broke the portlands contact, but some of the thicker splatters, needed some assistance. I used the razor the same way you would remove something off the glass, but with much more assurance I wasnt furthering the damage.

3. This car had been so neglected. You could tell where soda cans or beer bottles etc, had been placed and dragged off, or cat scratches. I ended up going over the entire vehicle with SSR 2.5, then Optimum to clean up with. A few spots where there were severe scratching, I used 3.0 or Blue Moose Cutting Creme. By the way, this was all performed in the sun. I found 3.0 to be the better product, Blue Mooose wanted to bog the pad and PC down.

Some areas I even used SSR 2 after Optimum. After all was said and done, I applied EX-P, lets sit for 10-15 minutes, wiped away, then hit all rubber/vinyl with Megs Spray detailer, and "No touch" to the tires,

Total time spent 3.25 hrs. Wish I had pics now !!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top