what to charge a nieghbor
Printed From: Carpet Cleaning Forum
Category: Carpet Cleaners Discussion
Forum Name: Water Damage and Fire Damage Restoration Discussion
Forum Description: Discuss anything relating to fire and water damage restoration
URL: https://www.kleenkuip.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=6473
Printed Date: 29/April/2024 at 3:15am
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Topic: what to charge a nieghbor
Posted By: onestilllearnin
Subject: what to charge a nieghbor
Date Posted: 03/March/2010 at 5:24pm
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Hi Guys/Gals
We recently had a storm that knoked out power and caused local water damage to homes. I am not a water damage expert so please help me here. The customers basement carpet was wet from incoming rain water. The area is about 20' by 18' and less than half the carpet was wet to the touch. I did the following.....
1. used a portable extracter to pull out as much water as possible. This took about an hour.
2. I left an air mover for the customer who also had fans and a dehumidifier going.
3. I allowed about 3 days for the carpet to dry .
4. I returned and cleaned the carpet using a rotary op bonnet machine and treated an area that had mild browning and then treated the whole area with Microban to preventing any mold/mildew.
I want to be fair in pricing as this is a very nice couple who live in the same town and were refered to me by another customer.
I quoted $325.00 and the couple thought this was way too much.
Please give your thoughts and opinions.
Thank you
Rick Davies
Green Earth Commercial Carpet Cleaning
------------- Rick Davies Country Rose Carpet Cleaning |
Replies:
Posted By: CarpetproKC
Date Posted: 03/March/2010 at 10:38pm
| I don't do flood restoration yet but I know for sure that they got one heck of a deal. |
Posted By: RIP IT
Date Posted: 04/March/2010 at 2:56am
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provided you checked the moisture levels in the slab to ensure it was dry then your price is VERY fair. ------------- Dont treat people like customers. Treat them like friends. |
Posted By: onestilllearnin
Date Posted: 04/March/2010 at 11:34am
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I printed this post and showed it to the customer and asked them to pay what they feel is fair. They paid me $200.00. ------------- Rick Davies Country Rose Carpet Cleaning |
Posted By: RIP IT
Date Posted: 04/March/2010 at 4:18pm
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its a good thing you dont have to charge that price all the time or you would go broke.
most customers have no idea about how much it costs to run a business. they think that what you charge is what you end up with in your pocket after you take ALL expenses out.
at $200 they have ripped you off.
how much was the carpet worth that you have restored????? ------------- Dont treat people like customers. Treat them like friends. |
Posted By: onestilllearnin
Date Posted: 04/March/2010 at 5:08pm
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Funny thing is they were exceptionally nice people but even when I told them I was losing money they were fine with that. I was thinking about sending them a copy of any future posts on this subject. Maybe they really think $200.00 was a fair price. I did let them know that my materials alone were about $100.00, add in my cost of insurance , certification , use of vehicle and equipment and I lost money. Not to mention the oppourtunity cost of my time. Doesn't make me angry as much it hurts my feelings. I shared with them the fact that my 17 year old daughter had just drove into a tree in an attempt to commit suicide. She is unhurt but spent a couple of days in a psych ward.
People have no compassion.
------------- Rick Davies Country Rose Carpet Cleaning |
Posted By: Hammy
Date Posted: 06/March/2010 at 6:22am
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How do you know the pad is dry. did you prope it for moisture? I would of pulled the pad and replaced it. Did you check the baseboard and drywall,bottom plate, insulation for moisture. I would bet that this is a seepage issue and it has leaked before.MOLD? What were the humidity and GPP levels before and after? Why did you not apply microban right after extracting the water? Sounds to me that they got what they paid for. It's nice to help people out but this may come back to bite you. ------------- Could somebody just clean my carpets! |
Posted By: onestilllearnin
Date Posted: 06/March/2010 at 10:24am
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Before begining any work I informed the customer that I was not a water restoration company and referred them to Service master and advised them to contact their insurance company. With this verbal disclaimer they asked me to just do what I could since this whole area was without power and roads were blocked. I was the only game in town becouse I in the same nieghborhood.
I did none of the things you suggested as this was not my area of expertise. I even told them to think of me as a MD GP and they needed a specialist.
Bottom line is I provided an emergency service and charged a fair price $325.00 and got paid $200.00. My experience in life is that nice guys really do finish last.
------------- Rick Davies Country Rose Carpet Cleaning |
Posted By: Hammy
Date Posted: 06/March/2010 at 10:41am
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My guestion to you is what is a fair price for performing work improperly?
I understand you were trying to help out a neighbour, unfortunately the only thing you did right was extract the water. So $100/hr for extraction and $30/day for an air mover is $190. I guess they overpaid! ------------- Could somebody just clean my carpets! |
Posted By: onestilllearnin
Date Posted: 06/March/2010 at 1:29pm
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My guestion to you is what is a fair price for performing work improperly?
I guess they overpaid! 1. They asked me to extract as much water as I could , I did $100.00 - 2.They asked to keep the air mover for a few days , I let them - $90.00 3.
The asked me to clean the carpets , I did - $125.00 4. They asked me to address a brown waterstain , I did - $20.00 5. They asked me to apply something to help prevent mold. I explained that I could use Microban but with no guaranties , I did - $55.00.
Total $410.00 --I only asked for $325.00.
Hammy everything I did, I did right and at their request. I did not misrepresent my area of expertise. I councelled them to go with an experienced water damage company and they declined. So my question to you is why are you being such an all knowing , arrogant jerk to a new poster that was only looking for some validation that I was fair? Do you have a hair across your butt?
------------- Rick Davies Country Rose Carpet Cleaning |
Posted By: Hammy
Date Posted: 06/March/2010 at 1:48pm
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If they asked you to lick the carpet and underpad would you $$
Just because a home owner requests something you obviously have no business morals or knowledge and deliver upon their request.
Let me ask you this, would you let your baby crawl on that carpet?
I take back the comment about extracting the water because you don't know what is under the carpet, type of pad, vct, vinyl, a sub floor etc.
Property owners have little or no education when it comes to water damage, and by you doing what you did gave them a false sense of what could really be going on. You seem to be more concerned about the money in your pocket than the potential problems your neighbours may have.
If you feel that I am a know it all than that is your problem. You will not go far in this industry if you are not prepared to take advice from people that have years of experience and knowledge in this industry. Keep on doing what your doing and good luck to you!
------------- Could somebody just clean my carpets! |
Posted By: duckcountry
Date Posted: 06/March/2010 at 5:21pm
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When someone says the price is too much it generally means at least one of four things: 1. They ain't got no money 2. They already decided how much they wanted to spend 3. The value perceived based on your presentation of what is involved and keeping in line with the going rate in your area (ask the competition) is interpreted by your customer as something much lower. 4. They don't make as much as you do per hour so it must be highway robbery. Ask plumbers, they get price resistance all the time. Stand your ground and next time, get an agreement on price in writing signed by a customer before you take on the job. You need something that will stand up in court even if you don't have the proper licenses. No professional ever lets someone talk him down from a previously agreed upon price. ------------- Are you in a high paying business or are you just a self employed low paid grunt who thinks this business provides dignity? |
Posted By: onestilllearnin
Date Posted: 06/March/2010 at 6:44pm
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My phone # is 603.362.9555 - feel free to call me. You are a f**king a**hole. Did you not read my post. I told them they needed a water damage expert. The couple are selling the home and the sale is under contract. I adviseed them to disclose to the buyer that there has been water damage in the basement and it should be checked by a professional. You do not know me and yet you judge my morals and ethics. I would never try to give a customer a false sense of what is going on . I extracted the water as best I could, loaned them an air mover, cleaned thier carpet , sprayed a anti mold product and did all this for a price that lost me money. This was a situation where we all had no electricity, heat or toilet facilities and I was trying to help. Did I mention I brought them and others fresh water so they could flush thier toilets. Did I mention my 17 year old daughter was in a car wreck while this was going on. If I thought for a minute that this couple were not in a position to pay or make thier own decisions I would have offered my services for free.Why would you attack me in this manner? I did nothing wrong here . I am not in your business and this couple did not want to pay for things like pad removal and I as I told them I do not have the expeirience needed to do the job correctly but I did help , it was better than nothing and who am I to judge or question thier decisions?
I am sure you are an expert in your field and frustrated by untrained people who present them selves as experts and do more harm than good. That is not me. You sir owe me an apology.
------------- Rick Davies Country Rose Carpet Cleaning |
Posted By: CarpetproKC
Date Posted: 08/March/2010 at 11:25am
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Hi onestilllearnin, Look at how many posts Hammy has. Obviously the guys lets loose with his words which really takes the power away from them. Who cares what he says- go take some water damage classes and network with other professionals in your area that don't mind helping somebody new out. I correspond with a business owner on this board who owns a cleaning company 15 minutes away. His advice has been priceless and he never gives me a hard time. There are a few good resources on this site but for the most part...just a bunch of jaw jabbin.
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Posted By: onestilllearnin
Date Posted: 08/March/2010 at 12:21pm
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Thanks KC . Whatever Hammy's motives are he is better off posting online becouse those comments in person whould have gotten him his ass kicked! ------------- Rick Davies Country Rose Carpet Cleaning |
Posted By: Hammy
Date Posted: 08/March/2010 at 4:31pm
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Onestillearin.................................your name says it all!
My work is done here. ------------- Could somebody just clean my carpets! |
Posted By: onestilllearnin
Date Posted: 08/March/2010 at 4:44pm
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You suck my *ock you f**king loser. My Daughter just passed away in the hospital. I would kill you if I COULD YOU SCUM I HOPE YOU DIE AND ROT IN HELL ------------- Rick Davies Country Rose Carpet Cleaning |
Posted By: doug
Date Posted: 08/March/2010 at 6:28pm
What the hell does this have to do with you with you lack of knowledge in this area of work?????  ------------- Just My opinion |
onestilllearnin wrote:Posted By: onestilllearnin
Date Posted: 08/March/2010 at 8:04pm
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I have very limited knowledge in this area of work as I stated just tried to do the right thing. My daughter was tormented by bullies who said things that hurt her more than they realized and I see you as a grown up version of them. For Gods sake my pain is the result of their actions, are you not aware of the grief you may be causing others? You have nothing to do with the death of my daughter it is just unfortunate that I ever posted on this site. You have hurt another human for no reason. Please pray for my daughters soul and understand that things you say may cause more pain than you can imagine. I only wish to know why? Why did children drive another child to take her life. Why does an adult care so little about other people that he will rather than councel or advise he needs to belittle and hurtfull. None of this will bring back my little girl so I am an idiot for even replying. ------------- Rick Davies Country Rose Carpet Cleaning |
Posted By: MR. STEAMER
Date Posted: 17/March/2010 at 4:58pm
 why would you take what Hammy said personal? All the stuff he said is true... All the stuff you said is true...
There is no standard to what should be charged so they should have paid you what you asked.. There are a lot of experts running around charging big money for bullsh*t work..
you charged them $325 let me tell you the job that need to get done would have been a $3000 to $5000 dollar job.
you did them a favor not letting an actual water damage company go in there.
most would have drop 3 fans min 3day rental 35 dollars a day per fan
$105
2 dehu's for 400 sq ft 50 bucks a day 3 day min rental
$300
bull back the carpet and rip the pad out 400 sq ft
$500
get a bin on the driveway for demo 1/2 yrad bin
$125
cut the dry wall 4 ft up
re and re and re
man hours
etc
plus now new pad..
maybe a weeks work
they are doing it all even if it doesn't need it
3-5k easy
pay the man...
LOL
but one you killed the thread because you lost your cool...delete that post and print this off ask for the rest of your money
who cares if they are nice...you want your money ------------- www.mr-steamer.com |
Posted By: duckcountry
Date Posted: 18/March/2010 at 3:54am
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Mr. Davies, seek out a professional for your personal issues. A local minister would be a good place to start. This is not a support board for those dealing with the loss of a family member. The tone here is not something we can adjust for each person. A daughter passing would be tough for anyone and attempting to discuss business related matters is not where you want to be going at this time. Take care of your own needs, not your business needs. ------------- Are you in a high paying business or are you just a self employed low paid grunt who thinks this business provides dignity? |
Posted By: sherllin
Date Posted: 25/June/2010 at 6:42am
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I can also recommend you a reputed water damage restoration company. May you get help through this. Good Luck! Sherllin  http://www.allkarepropertydryingout.co.uk/ - Flood Damage Repair |
Posted By: Soil Lint Green
Date Posted: 26/June/2010 at 12:53am
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English as a SECOND language?
------------- It's ORY GUN, not OR A GONE. Learn to talk. |