How to Get Post Construction Cleaning Jobs

Offering post-construction cleaning is a common add-on service for your commercial cleaning company and one that can be very profitable - if you know what you're doing. Too many companies enter this niche market without understanding how it works. When you don't fully understand this type of cleaning, you can easily lose all your profit on jobs you manage. 

Also, keep in mind, you will be at the mercy of the construction industry, which can be feast or famine. We suggest you offer post-construction cleaning as an add-on service or division of your business. Don't rely on it as your primary source of income.

Many cleaning companies add post-construction cleaning to their service offerings once they have developed a good reputation in their market. It is a logical transition since you're already providing recurring cleaning services for professional offices. 

Many offices do construction projects in their buildings as tenants move out. You will likely get that construction cleaning business, which gives you an opportunity to build a relationship with the contractor.

The Importance of Research for Finding Post Construction Cleaning Jobs

A great way to find potential construction cleaning projects in your area is to do some research. Start by paying attention as you drive around town. Watch for signs on vacant lots announcing new building projects. Stop and take down information about the contractor and contact them to let them know you're available for construction cleaning throughout the various phases of the job. This can also help you start building relationships with various contractors, which can lead to recurring cleaning services for the tenants of those buildings.

Building permits and plans for building projects are considered public information. They are available at the city hall or county office that has jurisdiction over each project. This information is used for census data and for forecasting economic activity involving buildings. It is also used by building contractors, building suppliers, and cleaning contractors who want to find potential customers.

Another tip for doing research is to learn the lingo. You will primarily be dealing with building contractors when performing construction cleaning services so you need to understand the different phases of cleaning. Typically there are three phases: Rough Clean, Light Clean, and Final Clean. Get familiar with these terms and learn what equipment you need for each as well as the services performed for each phase.

Another term to get familiar with is Blueprint Takeoffs. Many contractors use blueprints to gather information about the building being built so you want to make sure you fully understand how to read them. 

Know Your Way Around a Construction Site and How to Clean

Hazards on a construction site can be deadly. You need to be aware of the many safety hazards, physical hazards, and chemical hazards. So if you get an appointment with the decision-maker, you need to understand the rules. Otherwise, you will look like a rookie with no experience and will likely not be hired for the job. 

Construction Cleaning is different from any other type of cleaning. You will need to make sure you have heavy-duty equipment that can handle large debris and construction dust. You will also need different specifications lists for each phase of cleaning. 

You will likely need different waivers to protect your company. For example, window cleaning waivers are common because new windows covered in construction dust and mud are vulnerable to scratching, and the cleaners may be blamed for damage that was done before the windows were even cleaned.

It's a good idea to have signs that can be posted after an area has been cleaned, letting contractors know that it was cleaned so they must clean up after themselves or risk paying for additional cleaning.

Correct Pricing Can Help You Win the Job

Pricing for post-construction cleaning jobs can vary widely. 

One of the first things you want to get a handle on is your company's production rates. A production rate is the number of square feet that can be cleaned in one hour. You need to track every post-construction cleaning job you perform, and then calculate your average production rate for each phase being performed.  For example, a one-time final clean production rate might be 150 square feet per hour. 

Knowing your average production rates for each phase of cleaning and the cleanable square footage will help you to know the average time per clean for each phase. This will make calculating a price for the job much easier and will tell you how many cleaners you need on the job to complete within your time frame.

There are two ways to price post-construction cleaning jobs:

1. Pricing by the hour is a simple process if you know the time to it takes to clean and your per-hour price. Your price per hour will depend on your market. It might range from $25 to $55 per hour.
2. Square Foot Pricing.  There is no set square foot price for post-construction cleaning. Every job and every location is different. That being said, here are some price ranges you can work with if you're just getting started:
   Rough Clean - .10 - .15 cents per square foot
   Final Clean - .15 - .30 cents per square foot

The Janitorial Store's Post Construction Cleaning Calculator makes the pricing process simple and easy and allows you to calculate your expenses and profit for each job. This calculator is free for members of The Janitorial Store.

Additional Services You'll Need to Provide

There will be times when additional services will be requested by the general contractor. They may ask you to spot clean the carpeting or strip and finish a vinyl floor or power wash walkways. Whatever the case, always be ready to provide those services. If they are requested after the contract/agreement has been signed, make sure you complete a work order/change order document. 

Here are the services you should be prepared to offer:

• Carpet Spotting
• Carpet Cleaning
• Hard Floor Care
• Pressure Washing
• Window Washing
• Construction Debris Removal

Submit a Professional Proposal

One of the most important things you can do to get more post-construction cleaning jobs is to submit a professional proposal. Creating a professional proposal can make the difference between getting the contract and not. When prospects make comments on how professional and well-organized your proposal is, you know you stand out from the competition. 

Whenever possible always present your proposal in person. Don't be too quick to offer to email the proposal because presenting in person gives you another opportunity to continue to build a relationship with the decision-maker.  

Conclusion

Every day, commercial office buildings, retail stores, schools, manufacturing plants, residential apartment buildings, and homes are being built in cities throughout the United States. Because of this, it opens opportunities for cleaning companies to expand their service offering and increase profits. 

You will find that pricing varies throughout the U.S. and every job is different. The first thing to do is to establish your production rates. Once you have those numbers for each phase of cleaning it makes arriving at a price point for the job much easier. Once you have your numbers use them on the Post Construction Bidding Calculator to determine what your profit will be for the job. 

When implementing the suggestions in this article, you can build a successful Post Construction Cleaning division of your business.