Clean It Up
UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: dazmond on February 14, 2012, 06:46:39 am
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anyone got any grudge cleans left? ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
i have a few here and there and their all on cheaper estate work.as ive been a window cleaner for many years and ive been guilty of not putting prices up for years.esp customers who ive been cleaning 10 years +.over the last few years new work pricing is much better and higher and ive put some of this older work up but its still not enough.
im just about making £150 a day on most estate work which is very compact.9am-4pm.virtually all WFP.I feel it should be more like £180-£200.
im a lot more professional than i used to be and clean frames,sill, doors etc.reliable,honest and very trustworthy.
im having a price review of around 120 accounts and price rises of £1-£2 per job.some went up by a fiver 2 years ago.
the problem im having is some are going 2 monthly,others penny pinching a little.i know i will lose some of these accounts but i dont want any of these people who are struggling to stop me from raising prices or else ill still be cleaning these jobs in 5 years time for the same price and theyll be worth even less!!
im starting to realise that WFP costs thousands of pounds a year to run.with van costs,repairs,hoses,poles,resin,insurances etc.
one thing im lazy with is canvassing better priced work.i tend to let work come to me.dont get me wrong im doing ok i just feel i need to constantly improve year on year.im too busy cleaning these cheaper accounts to go canvassing thus not really improving my round a great deal!
im having a thorough review this month of all my work and telling customers of price rises next month to be implemented in april.
what are your thoughts and experiences lads? ;D ;D ;D
regards
dazmond
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we had cancellations with 50 p increase :'(
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i work mainly in affluent areas but this "squeezed middle" are losing jobs,builders,electricians,plumbers finding it hard to get good work,shops going to the wall etc,etc.
im not going to let this stop me from putting my prices up though as having clean windows IS VERY IMPORTANT!!! ;D ;D ;D ;D
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Just sell the stuff that you think is underpriced,or you know the customer will object to a price rise.
If you sell it a 3-4 times the value...which you shouldn't have any problem in doing then just get a canvasser in and pay them 2 times to get you stuff that is properly priced,this way you get to control how much new stuff you want to clean and your'e getting paid to get rid of the "grudge cleans"....
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sounds like an idea DW.thing is ive been cleaning some of this very compact work for 15+ years and they are all good payers plus i get lots of conny roof/fascia cleans in spring/summer,good xmas tips etc.
im sure i will only lose a handful and get some of them back within a few months when they realise other window cleaners wont clean one house too cheaply sandwiched in the middle of a mountain of my work!! ;) ;D ;D
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have you got some still at original price of 15 yrs ago Daz? how many
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no bobby all prices have risen over the last 15 years but some only 2 or 3 times!!! :o :o :o
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I'm a bit like you, Daz. And it's easy to avoid putting your prices up. Last year we went all WFP, new (2nd hand) van etc; and I didn't want to put my prices up in tandem with that.
This year I'll dither 'cos of my perception of some of my customer's finances.
I need more work also.
In fact the bottom line is that I need to get my lazy ass out and rustle up some more work. More work means less fear when it comes to putting up prices; I can afford to lose them. But even then, that's irrational because in the past when I've put prices up, I've rarely lost any - never more than three.
Another thing I've always done is, if I've worked hard and got upto date, rather than keep working to get to a point where I've no work - and then get out canvassing - I'll just get lazy and spread the work I have left out. I need to keep my nose to the grind stone, run out of work, and then get canvassing.
So, I think this is the plan:
1. Work hard till I've ran out of jobs to clean.
2. Canvass.
3. Put prices up.
Oh, and another thing I've ended up with is that I clean accounts in an illogical order. I have my favourites, which tend to get done bang on time, and I have my usual stuff, which is in and amongst my favourites; and these get done 'as and when'. I need to get them all in order so I'm not wasting time and fuel travelling about.
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Im in exactly the same situation - classic mistake of underpricing some work from the start, now i hate doing it every month
the worst thing is I know the customers are only having it done coz its cheap, Im always waiting for them to mess me about so i can justify to myself sticking a couple of quid on the price or dumping them but they never do
this last 8 months ive steadily built more better priced work into the rounds - dont get me wrong its slow going tho, but until im full up ill keep going - a few of these houses are due in the next week or so - Ive made a descision to start with just a couple and introduce a small increase and see how it goes :)
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it's funny, i;m canvassing an area where a local window cleaner has just retired from. he was cleaning for 25+ yrs and his prices are just insane. you can tell his newer clients who are only £4 or so away from our prices, but some of the others were paying pea nuts (£8 for a house we'd charge £18 to clean) and are horrified when i quote them modern prices.
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im on a mission now!i told around 10 customers their price is going up from april today.all of them moaned even though it was only a £1 on each account.when i explained to them why they were all fine about it!only another 110 to go!!! ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
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How does WFP cost thousands? You need a van regardless of what method you clean windows! As for repairs poles ect, this doesn't cost much. Is 18 months of WFP I've had to replace 1 pump, 3 sets of pre filters, and a bag of resin, hardly a fortune!
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Most trad guys use the family car.
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Go for it daz its only a pound as u say and if u loose a few so what,dont work for peanuts mate look at the bigger picture
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Daz my old son I wouldnt put all up at once do it in stages just incase you lose quite abit which Im sure you wont as the customers get to know youas you you say things are getting expensive good luck son !!!!!
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DAZ
I am putting mine up my similar work to yours up by 25% in april
sounds alot
but actually its £6 goes to £7.50 and £8 becomes £10 , £10 becomes £12.50 etc
Anything over ten quid on my rounds is 99% new work i have canvassed and is thus priced ok
I have a load of 3 bed semi type stuff that probably should be ten - 12 minimum nowadays but as i bought it a few years ago it has been £6-10 , so all need a couple of quid on them , so 1st april there is 25 % going on
Also i am changing over to wfp on this work this month and last, i dont see why change over should mean you don't put prices up for a year
But if your working hard like you say 9-4 with wfp on compact work and doing 150 they definitely want a rise.. or you need to move quicker :)
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PS i was doing the lowest priced of these this morning and they are also the most difficult ie lead , loads of glass etc , and after 2 hours decided sod it im coming back tomorrow with the wfp for em :)
went and done some better paying stuff,ive got 2 days left on ladders this week and then its bye bye forever :) (apart from 2 days a month )
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I'm a bit like you, Daz. And it's easy to avoid putting your prices up. Last year we went all WFP, new (2nd hand) van etc; and I didn't want to put my prices up in tandem with that.
This year I'll dither 'cos of my perception of some of my customer's finances.
I need more work also.
In fact the bottom line is that I need to get my lazy ass out and rustle up some more work. More work means less fear when it comes to putting up prices; I can afford to lose them. But even then, that's irrational because in the past when I've put prices up, I've rarely lost any - never more than three.
Another thing I've always done is, if I've worked hard and got upto date, rather than keep working to get to a point where I've no work - and then get out canvassing - I'll just get lazy and spread the work I have left out. I need to keep my nose to the grind stone, run out of work, and then get canvassing.
So, I think this is the plan:
1. Work hard till I've ran out of jobs to clean.
2. Canvass.
3. Put prices up.
Oh, and another thing I've ended up with is that I clean accounts in an illogical order. I have my favourites, which tend to get done bang on time, and I have my usual stuff, which is in and amongst my favourites; and these get done 'as and when'. I need to get them all in order so I'm not wasting time and fuel travelling about.
spot on glad im not the only one!
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RS CLEANING im putting 120 of my lowest jobs up mate.i still have another 200 accounts that i wont be putting up!so plenty of work.
ill let you know how i go on with them!i reckon ill only lose 3-4 jobs!!thats usually the case anyway!!! ;D ;D ;D ;D
fingers crossed!! ;) :) :)
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Dazo im sure you wont lose any you sound like you do a good job & you sound like a nice fella so I reckon you get on well with your custys & they should be fine dont get greedy thou will ya with ya increase pmsl !!!!! gd luck !!!
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It always amazes me all this prices cannot got. For got sake you are all business men even if yiur mind is not there yet.Have you ever heard of inflation.That is always on the news its currently running at 3.9% that is the increase we all have in our lives.That is what should be the amount we all should go up at least.IT IS NOT OUR JOB TO SAVE OUR CUSTOMER BUDGET. Daz is responding like a true business man and more should them.The reality of things is if prices never go up you will go down the drain sooner or later.We only have so many hour to work if we fill up this time we will not cover our expenses. I even read of a chap who promised his customers he will never up.This is just the dumbness thing I have heard off.Come on guys stop been so naive this is a business we are in.Do you see the utility companies freezing prices does the super market keep prices static. NO.So them why should we be the hero`s that keep our prices low.All I need to know is were will they build the monument to all us loosers.If you have no understanding of business then please get some education on the subject.
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It always amazes me all this prices cannot got. For got sake you are all business men even if yiur mind is not there yet.Have you ever heard of inflation.That is always on the news its currently running at 3.9% that is the increase we all have in our lives.That is what should be the amount we all should go up at least.IT IS NOT OUR JOB TO SAVE OUR CUSTOMER BUDGET. Daz is responding like a true business man and more should them.The reality of things is if prices never go up you will go down the drain sooner or later.We only have so many hour to work if we fill up this time we will not cover our expenses. I even read of a chap who promised his customers he will never up.This is just the dumbness thing I have heard off.Come on guys stop been so naive this is a business we are in.Do you see the utility companies freezing prices does the super market keep prices static. NO.So them why should we be the hero`s that keep our prices low.All I need to know is were will they build the monument to all us loosers.If you have no understanding of business then please get some education on the subject.
Quite right! :D
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I am tired of reading such bull as all some want is some to sink with them then it become right. To agree with a dumb statement does not make it correct.
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WFP does cost thousands to keep running!!when you factor in van,tax,repairs,insurances,equipment,fuel,poles,brushes,pumps,batteries,resin,hoses,etc.the list is endless!!!
the fact of the matter is i need a van for my business with all the cost it entails.i also need a seperate car which ill be buying soon for leisure/pleasure and ferrying loved ones around.
years ago i just needed an old car,ladders and scrims.times have changed and i need to reflect the higher overheads in my prices charged for the job.simple!
regards
dazmond
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Daz you are a true example to all of use. well done. YOU ARE WELL ON THE WAY TO BECOMING A TRUE PROFESSIONAL.WE NEED MORE TO WALK IN YOUR FOOT AND THIS INDUSTRY MIGHT STAND A CHANCE IN THE FUTURE. ;) ;)
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No grudge cleans, all our prices going up in april, all at the same time.
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iv got a few grudges aswell which are going up in april but wont be going up to wot i really want them to be as it would be to big a rise,really need to put alot of my compact stuff up aswell not sorted out which ones yet or by how much,dont want to go crazy really as want to keep them for now ideally, until i convert to wfp later this year or by next jan/feb latest, then il shave 10 mins of a normal semi i hope and hourly rate would rise,im at the point where im pretty full round,but want another 50 custy so can bump prices up and incase i lose some on change over
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I'm on approx 45p a minute or £27 an hour traditional window cleaning on a bought round. I want to move to 60p a minute or £36 an hour. This is a 33% increase. Average house is about £9 and I want it increased to £12. Do you think I'll get away with it? Getting away is the wrong phrase but you know what I mean. Has anyone experienced this sort of increase and what was the reaction?
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its FEAR that stops most of us from price rises.thinking we ll lose shedloads of work!!does it happen though?ive only ever lost 3-4 jobs every time ive put prices up on a large scale.
i am without a doubt the best window cleaner in my area.i work hard and im efficient and well organized.i find once you explain why they are going up most are fine with it.
some customers will just let you clean their windows for a cheap price forever if you let them.funnily enough the very slight price increases(eg 50p) ones have cancelled on me before now!!! ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
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I am the dump one who says to his customers that their prices will NEVER be increased.
Now you might think I'm mad, but it does work.
I look at my monthly turnover figure and profit margin and convert this down to my hourly turnover rate, to judge whether it works.
When I first started I had a hourly rate of £33 it's now £41.
Now the secret to it, have a look at your round, does it stay the same all year around, you will find that it doesn't.
You will lose some customers, and you will gain some.
At first you need to make sure that all your customers price are achieving your monthly and hourly rate, if any need to be increased then do so, if its by more than £1 per clean, then raise them in stages, the 1st of Janruary is a good date.
You now need to set the rate for new customers, this is always higher than what your current customers are paying, I normally charge £2 per clean more.
The next part is easier, re-orginise your round and what equipment you use, for instance mix some higher priced work with your lower priced jobs.
Also you will find that a backpack is faster on some jobs than the trolley or van mount is, and vise versa.
If you don;t have these systems then get them because they will make you money.
It really is not rocket science, for the last 4 years, my turnover has increased each year and I have a very healthy profit margin.
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Forgot to mention, for those who are about to slate me, you need to be charging the correct amount in the first place, for this to work.
6 years ago, my minimum charge was £10 and if I followed the trend by increasing by £1 per year, I would now be charging £16 for a house with an average of 7 windows.
How long do you think I will keep these customers.?
So before you all start calling this idea dumb, look at your work and prices first, you will then find that a lot of your jobs are not increased, so why not market this to make you stand out from the competition.
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Also you will find that a backpack is faster on some jobs than the trolley or van mount is, and vise versa.
I won't take on a new job that requires a backpack and I've dropped the stuff that does, so I kinda disagree here (though I realise there is no hard 'n' fast rules; and if a job is priced right, then that makes all the difference).
So as a general rule, faffing about with a back pack/trolley will slow you down and you should avoid these jobs. If it can't be done with a van mount, price high, or don't take the job on.
Good post, though, Hydro.
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I can understand what you are saying with a backpack, normally this is used because I have to go though the house, or down alleyways, if thats the case then the price of the job is increased.
What I meann't with the use of the backpack on other jobs, is sometimes its quicker than using the van mount.
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i dont have anything under 12.50 on my books lol
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Daz, as i have said before, and indeed, the term I've always used is grudge cleans, you need to just put these up,and they will either accept or leave.
Don't worry about the custys job prospects.
Forget the word recession.
Think about yourself and your family.
Increase prices at worst every two years.
I posted before, two old neighbours from my old estate, 4 bedroom detached houses....still paying 8 and 10 each for 4 wkly cleans........the windy has charged the same for in excess of 7 years for one , and 10 years for other....
Mr B
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I am tired of reading such bull as all some want is some to sink with them then it become right. To agree with a dumb statement does not make it correct.
I agree!
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sounds like an idea DW.thing is ive been cleaning some of this very compact work for 15+ years and they are all good payers plus i get lots of conny roof/fascia cleans in spring/summer,good xmas tips etc.
Say you get better priced houses. You probably won't get all these extra little jobs, and or tips. So you ll break even anyway! And say you lose a 10 house but gain a 15, the extra 5 is soon lost if you have to keep chasing payment. And 150 a day is good going IMO. I go home happy at that if working alone!
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i think it would be madness to sell this compact work then use the money to pay a canvasser to pay for better priced work.im not doing it!!
instead im systematically putting virtually all the prices up on both estates by £1 -£2 with a few "ultimatum" cleans going up£4-£5 with a "take it or leave it" attitude.
its working for me up to now!!
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I am tired of reading such bull as all some want is some to sink with them then it become right. To agree with a dumb statement does not make it correct.
I agree!
;D
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I'm a bit like you, Daz. And it's easy to avoid putting your prices up. Last year we went all WFP, new (2nd hand) van etc; and I didn't want to put my prices up in tandem with that.
This year I'll dither 'cos of my perception of some of my customer's finances.
I need more work also.
In fact the bottom line is that I need to get my lazy ass out and rustle up some more work. More work means less fear when it comes to putting up prices; I can afford to lose them. But even then, that's irrational because in the past when I've put prices up, I've rarely lost any - never more than three.
Another thing I've always done is, if I've worked hard and got upto date, rather than keep working to get to a point where I've no work - and then get out canvassing - I'll just get lazy and spread the work I have left out. I need to keep my nose to the grind stone, run out of work, and then get canvassing.
So, I think this is the plan:
1. Work hard till I've ran out of jobs to clean.
2. Canvass.
3. Put prices up.
Oh, and another thing I've ended up with is that I clean accounts in an illogical order. I have my favourites, which tend to get done bang on time, and I have my usual stuff, which is in and amongst my favourites; and these get done 'as and when'. I need to get them all in order so I'm not wasting time and fuel travelling about.
im with this also getting george in canvassing :)
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sounds like an idea DW.thing is ive been cleaning some of this very compact work for 15+ years and they are all good payers plus i get lots of conny roof/fascia cleans in spring/summer,good xmas tips etc.
Say you get better priced houses. You probably won't get all these extra little jobs, and or tips. So you ll break even anyway! And say you lose a 10 house but gain a 15, the extra 5 is soon lost if you have to keep chasing payment. And 150 a day is good going IMO. I go home happy at that if working alone!
Very good advise that , lower paid good payers ,are worth more than higher paid bad payers
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WFP does cost thousands to keep running!!when you factor in van,tax,repairs,insurances,equipment,fuel,poles,brushes,pumps,batteries,resin,hoses,etc.the list is endless!!!
the fact of the matter is i need a van for my business with all the cost it entails.i also need a seperate car which ill be buying soon for leisure/pleasure and ferrying loved ones around.
years ago i just needed an old car,ladders and scrims.times have changed and i need to reflect the higher overheads in my prices charged for the job.simple!
regards
dazmond
i agree with this but there is one thing to consider how much are windies making now from poles compared to years ago i do about £30 to £40 an hour i know some of the guys on hear manage £50 an hour thats a hell of a wage in my opinion. so we also have to take that into concideration and not get greedy there will always be someone who will be happy to work for £25 an hour for example maybe even less