How long to clean a 3 bed semi?

« **on:** February 17, 2006, 03:54:29 pm »

PJ This one is for you and the traditional gangs ;-)
3 bed semi,
awkward access to the back as in over the flat roof garage.

three normal double size windows at the front
toilet on the side
patio doors 3 double windows on the back
And front door of course
Propper job sills all wiped down so no drips.

takes me 15 - 20 mins does this seem OK as getting trying to get back to speed.

Can not remember how long it used to take me B4

How long does it take you guys these days?.

Ps Charge between 6-10

« **Reply #1 on:** February 17, 2006, 04:08:21 pm »

Sounds like some house I've got a big bunch of.

I'd take 15mins or just under.

With moving around I expect to do 3 and a bit of them an hour, sometimes 4.

Rog.

« **Reply #2 on:** February 17, 2006, 10:23:18 pm »

sounds that you need to speed up should take 12 mins for a average 3 bed house .just takes time stick at it.

« **Reply #3 on:** February 18, 2006, 10:19:13 am »

So with that in mind the potential earning could be £50 more as you are doing one house more per hour say spread over a 6 hour day.

Like you say sticking with it just need to build up my work
I will get there in the end.
Nice to have a goal

How many houses do you guys do in a day on average?

« **Reply #4 on:** February 18, 2006, 12:14:53 pm »

hi, you blokes sure are quick, i've been w/c 2yrs it takes me 25 mins 3 bed semi, up+down 6 pane bay 5 pane window above door, do door, 3 windows at side, back has 3pane & 2 pane up windows, kitchen window 2 pane and patio doors.
where am i going wrong.
I have ordered a wooden double pointer getting monday, hope this speeds me up.
will be able to split ladder to get over gates as well.
can anyone get me into shape i live waltham abbey j25 m25.
back on net at library next saturday(oh yeh going windex as well)

« **Reply #5 on:** February 18, 2006, 12:38:26 pm »

It's all about trusting your technique and cutting corners.

I spend far less time edging(or detailing if you like) these days.
I know that with one or two quick swipes it'll dry without smearing.

I'm quick with a squeegee yes, but I do miss the edges at times, and it's quicker to pick up runs after than squeegee really slowly and deliberately.

I only wash up to half-inch from the edges too.
You'll do the edges with the squeegee and shine up with your scrim after.
Washing to the edges will give you far more excess water down the sides to mop up.

If it's really greasy then wash right over the edges and run round with your wet scrim first.
Then it's just a case of a normal squeegee job, and hardly any edging to do.

If small opening lights are pretty clean, then a quick mist with window spray and squeegee off, again hardly any excess water.

It's all about learning to keep mopping up to a minimum for me.
I'm still getting faster now after 8 years!

Hope this helps in some way.

Cheers, Rog.

« **Reply #6 on:** February 18, 2006, 04:28:00 pm »

Try one of these:

You have to use a longer squeegee blade than the washer part so as the washer doesn't go right to the edge of the window.

And "Dog ear" the end of your squeegee

« **Reply #7 on:** February 18, 2006, 05:02:12 pm »

Some of it depends on how old you are too.
I do a pretty good job, pretty quick, never need to look back at what I've done, after 19 years, it has to be right. But I am slower at getting over garage roof type obstacles, and I used to jump over gates and off walls, now I struggle.
I reckon 15 - 20 mins though. Unless I had one right next door, or a few nearby - I would want at least £10

« **Reply #8 on:** February 18, 2006, 06:38:44 pm »

thanks for the tips guys

« **Reply #9 on:** February 19, 2006, 12:02:53 pm »

I think i need to get my skates on. I take about 40 mins for a 5 window bay( top and bottom ) 3 bed semi. Although i do clean over all upvc, get rid of cobwebs, wipe all water streaks from edges of windows and clean sills. All for 13 quid.

Am i far too slow or doing too much for the money??

Sunshine

« **Reply #10 on:** February 19, 2006, 12:09:56 pm »

Quote from: sunshine windows on February 19, 2006, 12:02:53 pm

I think i need to get my skates on. I take about 40 mins for a 5 window bay( top and bottom ) 3 bed semi. Although i do clean over all upvc, get rid of cobwebs, wipe all water streaks from edges of windows and clean sills. All for 13 quid.

Am i far too slow or doing too much for the money??

Sunshine

No, you're just a good window cleaner. Tweak your speed and prices a touch, if you haven't done already, April is a good time.
If I haven't had the courage to do so in January, and I think I'm too cheap, up they go in April. And now if they object? Bye bye.

« **Reply #11 on:** February 19, 2006, 12:21:13 pm »

Quote

I do a pretty good job, pretty quick, never need to look back at what I've done,

This is one of my main problems. Once i've cleaned the window. I give it a good check over. The slightest speck of spider s**t or cobweb ends and i'm scrubbing like a nutter cleaning the whole lot again. I just feel that if i was paying someone money to clean my windows then i'd want them spotless too.

Think i need to start trusting in my work a little more and stop being so picky.

Sunshine

« **Reply #12 on:** February 19, 2006, 12:41:18 pm »

If you have to negociate a garage roof to get to the back of the property then 15-20 minutes is fine.
It may not seem like it, but farting around climbing over the roof and then reversing it when you have done can easily add a few minutes to the overall time taken to clean the house.
A good set of tips from Squeaks, ditto the good Mr Salkeld

For any newcomers who haven't come across the tip of 'dog earing', it's a damn good tip, makes a big difference to detailing.

If you are a window cleaner that also wipes down and cleans all of the frames too, then it will take a little longer again, just be sure to add about £3.00 to your price for doing so!!

A standard semi, without having to clamber over garage roofs or fences should take you between 10 and 15 minutes.
If you can whip through in 10 minutes and do a top job then you are really quick, but the faster you go, the more chances there are of doing a poor job.
Sometimes you are better off taking a little longer to be sure your work is 'A-ok'

And of course if you have got a good price for the work you are doing, you don't mind taking a couple of minutes longer per account.

Ian

« **Reply #13 on:** February 23, 2006, 08:34:58 pm »

This sounds similar to my first w/c job this week. Took me 90 mins and I charged £8.

While I was cleaning the windows at the front a proper window cleaner arrived at the house across the road, cleaned all the windows and went on to his next job - took him about 15 mins.

I'm getting quicker with each job, but I think most my customers haven't had their windows cleaned for a couple of years and I obviously want to make a good impression.

« **Reply #14 on:** February 23, 2006, 08:48:33 pm »

Quote

This sounds similar to my first w/c job this week. Took me 90 mins and I charged £8.

While I was cleaning the windows at the front a proper window cleaner arrived at the house across the road, cleaned all the windows and went on to his next job - took him about 15 mins.

I'm getting quicker with each job, but I think most my customers haven't had their windows cleaned for a couple of years and I obviously want to make a good impression.

You're doing the right thing in wanting to do a good job. Some of my first cleans took me in excess of 90 mins too. On my 4th month now and much quicker. Haven't had a single complaint since starting out though.

Keep persevering and you'll be up to a decent speed in no time.

Sunshine

« **Reply #15 on:** February 24, 2006, 10:51:14 pm »

Quote from: Mike George on February 23, 2006, 08:34:58 pm

This sounds similar to my first w/c job this week. Took me 90 mins and I charged £8.

While I was cleaning the windows at the front a proper window cleaner arrived at the house across the road, cleaned all the windows and went on to his next job - took him about 15 mins.

After a year or two you'll be doing the same.

Have you asked around to spend a day with a local window cleaner?

It may help you up the learning-curve!

« **Reply #16 on:** February 24, 2006, 11:02:46 pm »

And don't under estimate bay windows - especially upstairs if you're working trad.

I reckon 20 mins for me and £9/10 if no bays

25 mins - £12/13 if 3-facet bays.

« **Reply #17 on:** February 25, 2006, 07:08:31 am »

Quote from: Tosh on February 24, 2006, 10:51:14 pm

Quote from: Mike George on February 23, 2006, 08:34:58 pm
This sounds similar to my first w/c job this week. Took me 90 mins and I charged £8.

While I was cleaning the windows at the front a proper window cleaner arrived at the house across the road, cleaned all the windows and went on to his next job - took him about 15 mins.

After a year or two you'll be doing the same.

Have you asked around to spend a day with a local window cleaner?

It may help you up the learning-curve!

No, before I found this forum I assumed the business would be too cut-throat for anybody to want to help me out.

I think I will ask in a week or two, when I've got a better idea of what I don't know but before I've developed too many bad habits.

« **Reply #18 on:** February 25, 2006, 07:59:51 am »

Quote

No, before I found this forum I assumed the business would be too cut-throat for anybody to want to help me out.

I think I will ask in a week or two, when I've got a better idea of what I don't know but before I've developed too many bad habits.

It's the "bad" habits that will get you up to speed.

« **Reply #19 on:** February 28, 2006, 04:13:09 pm »

wfp - 10mins max. sorry couldn't help myself!!

« **Reply #20 on:** February 28, 2006, 06:12:56 pm »

scrimming 7 mins

« **Reply #21 on:** February 28, 2006, 08:14:13 pm »

no way...

« **Reply #22 on:** February 28, 2006, 08:45:24 pm »

Quote from: geoffreyspecht on February 28, 2006, 06:12:56 pm

scrimming 7 mins

okey dokey.

If it's in the sun 7 hours....

« **Reply #23 on:** February 28, 2006, 10:40:08 pm »

7 mins a semi..even being good with the moving between houses, you must be doing 6 an hour at that rate and according to one of your older posts you charge £10 a semi...£60 an hour...

http://www.cleanitup.co.uk/smf/index.php?topic=7979.20#msg62004