help with apartment complex estimate

[Thomas C]

I coulp really use some help on an estimate for an apartment complex I am bidding on. Thank you in advance for any guidance you can share.
The buildings are all 2 story with vinyl siding. The buildings are less than 5 yrs old and the manager wants just a basic spray down(she seems to be thinking of the guy with the little cold washer from last time it was done).
I think a soft wash of the exterior with some proper chemicals would look much better..
It is 6 buildings, 2 story. Sizes range from 5500 sq. ft. to 7800 sq. ft. Total is about 39,000 sq, ft.

[FLORIN]

Hello Thomas.Here is my pricing advice.... You have to figure it on your own.Sorry, don't mean to sound like a ***** but each company here is different. For starters demographics plays a lot into the bid. Even though we service the same state, region by region is different. Also every company is different on what they need to make on a job to survive. A company that has very little expenses or has the experience and machinery to do it a lot faster is able to price it lower and then if you base your price on their suggestion you will be in trouble.My suggestion is this... Figure out how much chems and gas you will need. Then figure out how much time realistically you think it will take you to do the job. Then price it to where it comes out profitable for YOUR business. I have gotten in trouble myself by going on another persons price range.Another piece of advice. I have found apartment complexes to be really cheap. I'm guessing the reason they wanted you to just spray it is because they don't want to pay. I have bid on quite a few apartment complexes and got very few that was willing to pay what I needed.Sorry I can't be much more help. Give me a buzz if you have any questions. GOOD LUCK.

[Doug Dahlke]

If you have a formula for residential bids use that and then take off about 30% to 40%. You make your money off jobs like this by the fact that there are multiple buildings and it is a larger job. If you bid these jobs like residential you will be lucky to land any.

[Paul Kassander]

Time+materials and a little extra for unforseen and like Doug said a little lower hourly rate for larger jobs.

[Thomas C]

Thanks for the advice, I know you guys are right. I have a couple friends in my region that basically say the same thing. I'll let ya know how it turns out...
Thomas

[weaselcossey]

In my opinion, the first thing you have to do is get the owner to understand that a spray down simply won't be good enough. You gotta at least soap it up and rinse. Imagine how many people will see you working there, and the buildings not actually being clean when you're done. Bad for business. I once had a guy in a nice gated neighborhood ask me to wash only the first story of his home. The second story was just as filthy as the first. I gave him a bid for the whole house, and didn't get the job. I just couldn't see washing half his house with all his neighbors driving by seeing my company name and a half clean house. No one else is gonna know that he only paid for the first story.