Hey everyone! I'm currently putting together my first maintenance proposal for a condo development, and I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed—especially when it comes to estimating snow removal. My dad, who passed away last year, used to handle this part effortlessly after decades in the business. I've been digging through his notes for guidance, but a lot of the information seems outdated, making it tough for me to come up with a solid estimate.
I have the landscaping aspect under control, but snow removal is a whole other beast. My plan is to look at the average number of snow events and how long it usually takes to clear everything. What are some factors I should consider that I might be overlooking? I want to give a reasonable estimate without risking being underbid or overestimating and losing the contract altogether. Any general advice would be greatly appreciated!
1 Answer
When it comes to estimating, aim for what you think the customer will pay—just make sure to set a base rate. I’d suggest a minimum of $90 an hour, especially if you’re doing things like shoveling or clearing roofs. If you're doing plowing, then think about charging around $120-150 per hour. Also, instead of quoting per season, consider charging per plow to stay flexible with your pricing.
For a small condo, you might want to consider doing a time and materials (T&M) approach if you can afford that. Just make sure to put a cap on it—like total snow events or a maximum amount of snow. It gives both you and the client some peace of mind.