Build Clean Advice

[Alex Hamilton]

hi all
Just have some questions as I’ve been approached by a private building company to do a clean for a house that’s just been built it’s a 4 bed 4 bathroom large detached house that’s been built to spec for a customer. Lots of large areas.
All work has been completed so it just needs a final clean before the customer moves in.
It is to include the insides of the windows plus the clean down of all other rooms
I have never done a clean like this before on first inspection I’d say it doesn’t look to bad however I’m aware there will be ALOT of dust
I’m just wondering how people normally tackle these jobs what process do you tend to use.... do you go back in a day or so later to go over it again to account for dust settling back down? Do you dust the walls down and if so how? Also pricing I have no idea what company’s expect for this type of clean I appreciate that price is a personal thing but is there a rough idea anyone can give me. At the moment I’m think of charging it out on a day rate and I’ll probably need a helper
Any advice would be welcomed thanks

Picture of the exterior so you get idea of what kind of place it is

 

[Eamonn OConnor]

@Alex Hamilton does it have carpets in place yet? We have had a lot of inquiries where builders have protected carpets with a plastic ( clingfilm type) covering while working. Once removed this has left a residue behind which can be difficult and time consuming to remove.

 

[Kevin Kirk]

Top to bottom per room. Usually involves labels on windows and appliances/inside of cupboards.
Depends on the builders as some utilise there labourers towards end of the build to do some cleaning.
Whatever you decide to quote - i'd add a good few hours on as there will always be a call back for something missed.

 

[Abdul Al Hagin]

Pray there isn’t any carpets as the dust is a nightmare. As others mentioned you need to dust from the top of the room I.e. shelves, above the door frames etc and work your way downwards.. I usually just use a dry cloth for gently wiping the walls as anything wet may cause paint issues.. when you’re done dusting down the room, there will need to be a major vaccumming to remove the fine dust, skirting boards being one of the main culprits.. the labels on the windows often have to be removed by using a razor to cut away from where they can’t be pulled out though a word of caution, any scratches will likely see the builders blame you so just really take your time. Removing labels from new appliances, again careful with what you use as almost everything will be new and shows up.. work from top to bottom and ulimately to the front door. Glass in the doors and windows etc will need to be fully polished. When that’s all done and you’re happy with the finish, nice clean mop of the hard floors and a final inspection of every single room will help anticipate any reason they may call you back.. after builder cleans are so damn time consuming so I personally wouldn’t book anything else in for the day as they just mentally test you and will take up more time than you originally plan for the majority of the time..

Pricing wise, if I was to quote for a full EOT of a property of that size, I’d be looking around £450 though being after builders clean, id slap on another £250/300 depending on the level of dust and if there are carpets. Others may charge more or less, I ask that and be get it 9/10 time so so wouldn’t undercut what you estimate is a fair return for your effort. Any damage albeit scratches etc report immediately to the person in charge and even photograph it before continuing as you really dont want them trying to say you caused it etc..

Sorry for the long reply

 

[Alex Hamilton]

Thanks that’s a really helpful reply and the pricing was what I had in mind I’m thinking around the 650 mark
There is no carpets yet they are not being laid until everything is completed so in theory they won’t be in until just before I go in
I didn’t see any labels on the windows
Appliance wise I didn’t check
What do you use to remove them I know you said a razor but is there a product that will help with the adhesive? @abdul al hagin @Eamonn O'Connor

 

[Alex Hamilton]

Also what vac would people recommend as best for this type of job

 

[Eamonn OConnor]

@Alex Hamilton , Gum of it, Resolve it Gel or Nitro. Not all three at the same time but are three that will work. Depends on the extent of the damage.

 

[Terry Miles]

Can you charge more though seeing as you are not doing a deep clean of the over / bathrooms, it might be different round your area but in Kent builders cleans are basically called sparkle cleans (regardless of what state the builders may have left it in) and therefore around here builders and estate agents expect it to be cheaper than a EOT clean.

 

[Gary Richard Coles]

I do a good few new build cleans and the way I price is a minimum of 150 for a 1 bed and then an additional 100 for each subsequent room. I find the best method is to use tack clothes as the dust sticks, alternatively damp clothes do a good job. You will need to remove all dust, stickers, labels, glue, grout haze etc. In your pricing also allow for an additional half day as regardless of how thorough your clean is dust will resettle and you will get call backs for this. Attention to detail is key as they do become tedious.

 

[Daniel Darlow]

So has it had a Builders Clean? or has just the builders cleaned it.... big difference.
Looking at those high aspect windows are they reachable on all levels?, or like many now they go from ground floor to roof..you may need a tower to be safe.
Regarding vaccs, a good old boy Henry or George picks up bricks and wont damage your pocket if goes wrong, be aware that constant 'dust' i.e. plaster mostly, cement bits, sawdust can overload vacuums and overheat quickly, take plenty of spare bags if that bad, and always totally unwind cables! If it shuts off its working to hard! Maybe wise to take back ups.
Vac everything to death before wiping down as plaster, cement dust will cause scratches on surfaces, soft hard floor fluffy mop is good for walls and wont damage paintwork.
Marble worktops? inspect for damage before touching and do not use anything apart from recommended by Site foreman or just water.
As said before any type of damage, i.e. paint chips, scratches, etc. report straight away as Trades will very quickly say it wasnt them ....and they have gone! Look for paint on switches and hinges, I would say if there was no Site management left you need a contact number for any hiccups and problem reports, it can be a pain for the Trades but the Sellers will love you.
Pricing I cannot offer, but I would say you and one other for definitely 2 days according to nitty gritty bits, good luck.

 

[Pete Plumb]

Hi Alex, before cleaning - check all glass for scratches etc - we’ve come across some for private builders in the past - if they think you’ve caused them they may try to have the glass changed - at your cost !! Pete

 

[Simon christian]

Hi, Alex for that job you want at least £745. For the label removal get yourself adhesive remover spray to the label and leave for 10 minutes then use a plastic scrapper and the label will fall off. When ever you use metal scrappers always make sure the area has been sprayed wet to avoid scratches! Always make sure after ever builders clean you replace the blades for each new job. Good luck

 

[Garry Neilson]

It would depend on it being a post build clean or a final clean, post build they will send guys in before the painters as you can't paint or varnish until it's clean that is literally dusting everything for heavy dust, a final clean after its been painted won't be as bad, every builder does thing differently. For your Henry or tub vac get a soft large hard floor specific brush without wheels that way you can hoover walls the Henry one is not that great and can mark them. Gum-off-it or any of your carpet stuff of that nature would be fine along with either a fresh or plastic blades scraper for windows. It's just a case of vac then damp cloth for building dust and not that much difference from a minging Wot in term of work, if you are lucky they will have left the kitchen/bathrooms ect with protectors on so after dusting the room all that needs done is remove the film.

 

[hayley fereday]

Hi
I’m struggling with pricing these jobs too

I have 7 plots to price all 4 Bed high end houses

All need 3 cleans plus widows x 2 times

What would people price for these please

 

[hayley fereday]

I would work out how many hours it will take you and how many staff
I now charge £21 ph for each staff member
Plus you products
petrol
parking if needed
you need to ask if they are wanting 1 main build clean, or if they are wanting a re clean and a sparkle clean
also if they are wanting you to arrange windows to be cleaned

they may just want you to clean it for the mastic to be done

 

[Abdul Al Hagin]

4 bedroom after builders clean I'd honestly say £750. 4 bedroom clean around £400, and £300 extra due to the nature of it all.