Clean It Up
UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: mark mann on September 15, 2010, 08:14:00 am
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Hi all
What is the sliding scale of extra % you charge for 1st cleans and do customers really pay for it quite pleasingly and readily? (id price my house at 15quid to do regular but confess if id ever had a quote for a 1st clean at 30quid im sure id have thought windy was having a laugh - its only that i know diff and whats involved as a wcer myself now that i appreciate the value.)
To get the job i usually add 2-4 quid - but the time it takes is double or 3 times the time. Sometimes the windows look okay from the ground and when you get into it you find there caked in dirt.
As a rule i use the guide of one pound a window - but yesturday i had 2 upstairs windows above a large extension (so windows WELL BACK over the top of it) used the 30ft pole id got to clean them (stood well back in the garden to get the angle) the window frames were minging it was hard work with the flex on pole at that angle and that much pole out (carbon fibre as well) and i hadnt added a premium for those 2 windows ..
....do you charge a premium for those kind of windows?
i feel im having to charge what i think will be acceptable rather than the real value of the job and the job i do (im confident im doing good job now) so a pound a window plus a pound to me often falls short of what the price should be on houses that take a bit of work to get around and have some awkward windows.
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my views are very similar to yours mark mann, i always say to my new customers that alot of w.cer's charge more for 1st cleans but i say if you get a loyal customer then it pays off in the end! and i'd like to think they take that on board!
if the day comes where i feel im gettting taken advantage of or im too busy then i'll implament 1st clean prices!
i too feel i charge what i think is acceptible for first cleans not the true value of the job, its a tough one mate...
what does everyone else think?
ragards, G.B
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i dont charge first clean prices, i just charge the same as a normal clean, the prices down where i am are a bit low anyway so going in with high prices then the people will just say no
i found out a house opp me has 16 double/triple pain windows, is only getting charge £8
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my views are very similar to yours mark mann, i always say to my new customers that alot of w.cer's charge more for 1st cleans but i say if you get a loyal customer then it pays off in the end! and i'd like to think they take that on board!
if the day comes where i feel im gettting taken advantage of or im too busy then i'll implament 1st clean prices!
i too feel i charge what i think is acceptible for first cleans not the true value of the job, its a tough one mate...
what does everyone else think?
ragards, G.B
likewise when im busier ill prob be more confident of charging more and then take it or leave it. ive had some 3 bed semis that are that minging have taken me an hour n half - admit im extra fussy scrubbing and rinsing but even so they took a good while to do the job even if your well experienced i think. ;)
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i dont charge first clean prices, i just charge the same as a normal clean, the prices down where i am are a bit low anyway so going in with high prices then the people will just say no
i found out a house opp me has 16 double/triple pain windows, is only getting charge £8
on the upside here - i tend to think that time for an underpriced job could be better spent canvassing looking for better priced work.
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me too, its not uncommon for a 1st clean to take about 3 or maybe even 4 times longer to get it upto scratch!
also i now do not do extensive paint or hard water removal as part of the standard service! i tell the customer after the first clean any axtra work i think the job needs and price accordingly, i use to stay on 1st clean for ever sometimes blading paint off and scrubbing frames and using chemicals to get rid of hard water stains (stage 1 corrosion)
no more, sod that! half the time they didnt apreiciate it! in fact most the time they didnt even know the extent of the damage to be removed (cleaned)
im constantly refining and inproving my service & business im very much the perfectionist type and being a "2 bob window cleaner" is never going to be who i am! if thats what a customer wants "flash and dash" then there talking to the wrong shiner! ;D
also at the minute im trying to understand upvd and wood a little more to be able to offer a restoration service for those materials! any tips on this at all anyone?
G.B
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on the upside here - i tend to think that time for an underpriced job could be better spent canvassing looking for better priced work.
my thoughts laterly too mate!!!
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taking an hour and a half to clean a 3 bed semi is ridiculous!10-15 mins wfp normally.30 mins for a first clean.
GB you need to get rid of the perfectionist window cleaner mindset and change it to good,reliable acceptable window cleaner!as itll cost you money in the long run! ;) ;D ;D
once their windows are up to scratch first clean then splash and dash if their out and go as quick as you can!! ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
dazmond
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thanks for the tips dazmond!
dazmond... also do you really always do frames with w.f.p? i do!
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i always do frames GB!after the first cleans are out of the way they only need a quick going over IMO.
AFTER 3 MONTHS WFP I CAN CLEAN 20-40% MORE A DAY THAN ON THE LADDERS!! ;) ;D ;D
weather awful again today though! ::) ::)
dazmond
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dazmond is right after a few months the windows dont take very long, and this is when u start making the money and can get around the work quicker
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thanks guys
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im the same 10 2 15 mins wfp cleaning ive only just started wfp much better than ladder work
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A lot of people will accept paying extra for the first clean as they know the windows are dirtier if they've not been done for a while.