Condo Hallways

Thought I might tell you about a bid I'm going to submit next month. It's 24,000 square feet. First I'm going to meet with the board to give them some education on they're situation. Here it is in a nut shell. They have long (and I do mean long) hallways with very little ventilation. The carpet is a low loop pile medium tan (even color). It has obvious wand marks (caused by wicking) from previous cleaning attempts, and a heavy dirt build up. It's a perfect storm of problems. They have three bids for what the resident manager described as (up there). In reality they are less than 25 cents psf. I'm planning a carpet cleaning 101 session including a walk through of the worst areas with the board in tow. My plan of attack is 1. Thorough vacuum. 2. Application of pre-treatment using a Cimex. 3. Hot water extraction with a truck mount and a wand with glide. 4. Encapsulation after the carpet is dry to smooth out the expected wicking.
I usually do a demo for free, but this time I plan on cleaning one long hallway as described. Cleaning a small area as a demo won't be a true example because it will dry quickly and won't give a true picture of what happens when a long hallway takes a lot longer to dry. To make matters worse they have very limited electrical outlets which preclude the use of air movers and dehumidifiers (which they would likely be opposed to paying for anyway). I'm going to push hard for a regular maintenance program. Sound like a job you'd like to have?

unless you notice residue in carpet I would just start them out with an encap.

but if you feel there is heavier soil load or soapy cleanings in the past then HWE first, encap next 4-5 visits then HWE again.

Ive been working on writing up these proposals for landing commercial accounts. Theres a guy on TMF forum that has lots of golden info

In my opinion, at least for my area, if their eyeball already almost jumps out of socket hearing $ 0.25 / sq ft, nothing will make them want to pick you if your price is higher, nothing else matter to them but price, I would spend an hour and not a minute longer to try to convince them, especially when you're dealing with board of directors, one or two might be convinced but when they take a vote, they will be outnumbered.
I also would do what AC suggested, that's probably your best shot in keeping your numbers not too far higher than $ 0.25 / sq ft. Remember contract can be breached, I would charge initial cleaning rate and then a more competitive rate if they honor the contract.
Good luck

Well, let me take a swing at it.

1. I would actually hwe using a good quality encap and combine the two steps by using a rotary extractor. Pick any of them, they will all get the job done. You will get the cleaning that is needed AND the anti-wicking benefits.

2. Find some portable power of some kind. You only need 1-2 air movers of the right kind to do this and that is just one outlet. I have a bunch of Bulldog 2k negative air machines that can blow the drywall off the walls. Forget the carpet cleaning air movers, look to the hazmat guys doing mold or lead abatements for a negative air machine for rent. It will push a ton of air a very long ways.

3. I am concerned about the 25 cents rate, but that might just be a bluff as well. Give them your rate, if they pass, you saved yourself some misery and they will likely call you again after the other guy fails.....sounds like someone already has in the recent past.

I like the size and 25 cents works well on volume jobs. I do a lot of commercial that size for less and it comes out pretty good as long as you can be efficient.

HWE with a good encap beneath a rotary, some air movement, and cash the check.

These are what I like to use......have 4 of them.

https://www.activeforever.com/abatement-technologies-bulldog-bd2kl-negative-air-machine?utm_source=google&utm_medium=paid_search&utm_campaign=paid_search_google_pla&scid=scplp11820639&gclid=CLys7qTGiswCFQIcaQod6QEKYQ