Clean It Up

UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: Londoner on April 29, 2010, 07:21:30 am

Title: Look at this price!
Post by: Londoner on April 29, 2010, 07:21:30 am
One of my customers, a widow, quite elderly and not in the best of health had somebody knock on her door offering to pressure wash her drive.
Its an average 3 bed semi with only a small drive, parking for 2 small cars at a pinch. The quote was £450
Rogue Traders you might think or maybe pikies but no. This was an apparantly respectable company with a glossy brochure (which I now have) and their name and address all over it.

Still it seems very steep to me. However, if thats what they are charging these days maybe I should look into it. 
Title: Re: Look at this price!
Post by: Window Washers on April 29, 2010, 07:35:21 am
some people charge many hudreds of pounds to clean a conservatory roof, where we charge alot less, still customers think it is expensive.

Had one the other day, old couple, said I would clean it for £30 it was not small either just at end of a good day of work, (me trying to be nice) she looked at me like I had sworn at her. she pays £20 a month for her windows  ::) I did explain this to her whilst her sprinker was watering the thwe paths

Title: Re: Look at this price!
Post by: daz1977 on April 29, 2010, 07:38:26 am
yea,  becasue they charge by the square meter, its meant to be a good business to get in to,  am looking at a pressure washer my self,  but the ones they say u need are stupidly expensive
Title: Re: Look at this price!
Post by: Steve CM on April 29, 2010, 07:38:47 am
if you can get it then go for it...Its called business
Title: Re: Look at this price!
Post by: paul rulton on April 29, 2010, 09:24:40 am
then some companys put another price in 2 regrout the drive ways  :-\ loads a money £££££££££
Title: Re: Look at this price!
Post by: richywilts on April 29, 2010, 09:24:53 am
yea,  becasue they charge by the square meter, its meant to be a good business to get in to,  am looking at a pressure washer my self,  but the ones they say u need are stupidly expensive

the ones people tell you to get are worth there weight in gold a good honda engine thats regularly service will last you 5-8 years ya get people like me wasting money on stupid fancy poles for £400 upwards for the latest lightest pole and they break after 6 months however you invest in a good quality second hand machine and look after it that machine will earn you plenty back
Title: Re: Look at this price!
Post by: richard jagger on April 29, 2010, 09:35:33 am
I have found you dont need a very powerfull machine I use a 100 bar machine but I have added a good lance with a few knozzels and it does the job.Again its just a pump.
Title: Re: Look at this price!
Post by: Darranvps on April 29, 2010, 06:52:08 pm
It's not just the BAR it's in the water flow!

A man on a bike travelling at 50 mph hits a brick wall, what happens - poor man on bike :P

A man in a 40 ton truck travelling at 50 mph hits the same brick wall - poor brick wall ;D

So you need a decent BAR say 120 - 200, at more than 11 litres per min flow rate, 15 litres would be better, 25 litres a min better still.
No good buying 150 BAR with only 7 litres a min flow rate. It's like taking a p**s
Try a Kranzle they will last you a lifetime.
Title: Re: Look at this price!
Post by: alanwilson on May 02, 2010, 12:37:21 am
To do this kind of work continually you need to be looking at something like what I have, its a diesel washer with an inter pump.

5500psi (374bar)
30lpm

it will literally cut through concrete if you want to.  great fun with the surface cleaner though.
Title: Re: Look at this price!
Post by: Rogue Trader on May 02, 2010, 07:14:22 am
the problem with this type of work is it is very very easy to underprice and still be there at 7.30pm to make sure it is finished so your day rate is still acceptable .. so when pricing up these jobs you have to work out how much you think it will be then double it , if you do it in good time tell the custy it will be cheaper. ;D