Did a first clean today: Nice tidy house, brown upvc, leaded.
I ALWAYS charge extra for first cleans. I just say to the custie "my normal price is x but your windows haven't been cleaned for a while and are particularly dirty. They are going to take me longer to do, so do you mind if I charge y to cover the extra time".
I've never had a custie say 'no' but if they did, I would just walk away.
I NEVER mention spotting...EVER. You're trying to win new business, don't invent problems!
Clean the frames, clean the glass, if you're not sure, do the whole house 1st floor only. When you've finished go back over the GLASS again gently 1 inch from the top. Clean the bottoms, same again, go round twice. I rarely do this but it can help and is quicker than you think.
Wipe the front door and back door dry (if you've soaked it). Wipe the sills dry. Wipe the underside of the top openers dry (ground floor only). This gives the impression that it is much dryer than it is. Wiping dry will take 3 mins on an average 3 bed semi so price it in. It gives a good impression.
Most importantly, when you've finished show the custie round the whole house to look at all the windows. Show them what a top job you've done.
I always find a window that is drying (or is dry) and get them to look at it. My usual banter is "you can see this window is nearly dry and still has drips on it. But where it HAS dried it's lovely and clean. They agree. "When all your windows are completely dry they should look like that, all lovely and clean, any problems, just let me know."
You've shown them the job, they have agreed that INITIALLY you've done a good job, hopefully they won't look too much deeper, in case you have left any spots.
In this particular instance, the female neighbour came out and started moaning that HER window cleaner had done a crap job with the pole and she was looking for a guy with ladders. Now i've learnt never to argue with people in this situation, or try to convert them.
I just said 'I guess you've never met the best window cleaner in Bournemouth?"
She said 'that's you is it?"
I said "No it's not me, i'm very average...but YOU've never met him!"
She laughed, I offered to do a window for free (she was next door) and job done, new custie.
Good job I can 'touch type'.