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UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: GB Window Cleaning on October 12, 2012, 11:51:38 pm

Title: £1 per window - inflation rates = tesco
Post by: GB Window Cleaning on October 12, 2012, 11:51:38 pm
Everyone on here always say's £1 per window is average pricing. ive heard this now for at least 3 years what about inflation?   :)

i charge £1 per average ground floor window. £1.50 for average 1st floor window, for example.

i suppse its relative considering some trad cleaners charge £0.75 per ladder move?!

If you never increase your prices you may as well work for tesco + there are girls working at tesco too  :P
Title: Re: £1 per window - inflation rates = tesco
Post by: GB Window Cleaning on October 13, 2012, 12:07:48 am
Also, next time a domestic custard phones for a quote request, im going to tell then i'll give THEM £10 to let me clean there effing windows!

...Im sure they will still say... "ohhhh your expensive! the last window cleaner used to give us £10 AND cut our grass and deep clean the oven!!"

can you sense a career in stand up comedy yet?
Title: Re: £1 per window - inflation rates = tesco
Post by: steve123 on October 13, 2012, 07:47:37 am
I cant see the how £1 per window pricing structure can work effectively.

I have so many houses on my rounds with varying types of windows, if I priced that way the result would be all over the place.
One part of my round is a large estate of 30 year old houses. the windows are huge, another area are all fairly new, within 5 years, Due to new reg's the windows are half the size if not less.
How can £1 per window be accurate?

It would be like a vehicle wash charging £5 any vehicle. I turn up in a smart car and you in a Lorry!
 
Title: Re: £1 per window - inflation rates = tesco
Post by: mgba_78 on October 13, 2012, 07:54:44 am
Thats too scientific for me!

We just look at the house and decide on a price  ;D We dont as such have a pricing structure ???
In fact we have neighbours with the same types of house at slightly different rates a few quid more/less.

Its more about time for us, if its a big property we work to 2 men £50- £60 per hour as a rough guide.
As said above i think if i counted windows on a quote and charged a £1 for each one pretty much every house we do would need to double in price!

You know where the area threshold is, this has more bearing than a cost per window i feel
Title: Re: £1 per window - inflation rates = tesco
Post by: DG Cleaning on October 13, 2012, 07:57:47 am
I quoted a house the other day 7 windows including a patio door and one a bit awkward behind a grill.£7 needless to say I didn't get the job so I suppose the £1 a window theory doesn't work up here. I don't quote per window but by time.
Title: Re: £1 per window - inflation rates = tesco
Post by: Ian101 on October 13, 2012, 07:58:51 am
£xx per window is probably a throw back to when we all lived in council houses that were all the same or 2up 2downs terraces.

Its a useful guide when 1st starting out but after a few years you can normally tell just by looking at a house how long its going to take you to do ......... so at say £30 an hour or 50p a minute a "standard" new build estate home prob take at most 20 minutes with no conny so £10 plus £2 on top for setting up etc.

I tend to price as following

Normal 3 bed £12 / £14  which is my minimum nowadays so even 2 bedders get quoted this £12 that is

4 bed £14 to £18 depending on size / access

Big House = experiance will tell me the price

Connies = 50p a panel / door but tend to be approx £6 to £8 most times.
Title: Re: £1 per window - inflation rates = tesco
Post by: Mike #1 on October 13, 2012, 08:05:30 am
I would have no chance of charging £1 per window were i live not a hope in hell , People just would not have me cleaning the windows .

For me small to average sized windows £0.50 , slightly larger £1.00 , Bay windows range from £1.50-£2.00 , But i will add an extra £1.00 -£2.00 . once i have got a price in my head when quoting .

As i know my pricing structure is out dated but thats just the way it is and i am sure its the case up and down the country . MIKE

Title: Re: £1 per window - inflation rates = tesco
Post by: dazmond on October 13, 2012, 08:10:42 am
so ian your average 3 bed semi is £12-£14 on a monthly maintenance clean?on my compact smallish 3 bed semi work its around £7-£10 but i have like 90+ on one estate and 70+ on another.

are these mostly stand alone accounts so lots of driving in between?

good on ya if your getting those prices but they seem rather expensive!!! ;D ;D ;D ;D


best wishes



dazmond
Title: Re: £1 per window - inflation rates = tesco
Post by: Ian101 on October 13, 2012, 08:43:06 am


so ian your average 3 bed semi is £12-£14 on a monthly maintenance clean

any new customers within the last year or so then yes ... got older customers on lower rates when 1st starting out but will be getting increased in April next year.

are these mostly stand alone accounts so lots of driving in between?

tend to have most streets with 3 and 4 houses on nowadays but yup still got odd houses here and there but all within a 3 miles radius.


Agree with your pricing on the ultra compact stuff though as easy to do 30 / 40 small houses if all compact together but these days very tricky to acheive however getting there as Im picking up more stuff next to current customers so another 20years will have whole streets  ;D




best wishes



dazmond
Title: Re: £1 per window - inflation rates = tesco
Post by: Dean Taberner on October 13, 2012, 08:47:54 am

I have so many houses on my rounds with varying types of windows
 

What is your favourite type of window though Steve?
Title: Re: £1 per window - inflation rates = tesco
Post by: Ian101 on October 13, 2012, 08:52:28 am
If you think I charge well you wanna see what Richard iSparkle gets away with charges  :o



I tell them Im not the cheapest but I am the best in the area you cant have cheapest and best in life we all be driving new Rollers for £7000.

Tell them Im insured for £2million, tax paid, will take online payment / cheque / standing order / cash ... makes no difference as all of it goes thru the bank.

Any windows not happy with then to please call me as only too happy to redo (only 1 call back in 2 years)

 yup certain areas near me that would not accept my charges but not being a snob these people are still happy for the beer money brigade to clean their windows .... not the type of customers I want.
Title: Re: £1 per window - inflation rates = tesco
Post by: Ian101 on October 13, 2012, 09:06:15 am
I would have no chance of charging £1 per window were i live not a hope in hell , People just would not have me cleaning the windows .

For me small to average sized windows £0.50 , slightly larger £1.00 , Bay windows range from £1.50-£2.00 , But i will add an extra £1.00 -£2.00 . once i have got a price in my head when quoting .

As i know my pricing structure is out dated but thats just the way it is and i am sure its the case up and down the country . MIKE



yup defo Mike certain parts of the uk do have low prices ... just the way it is ... what part u from and is it worth you travelling a little further for better prices ?
Title: Re: £1 per window - inflation rates = tesco
Post by: Griffus on October 13, 2012, 09:12:32 am
I was cleaning at a customers last week and one of their neighbours came over and asked how much to clean his. It is a four bed with larger conny.

I have worked for him before (drive clean and seal a few years back) and he's a nice bloke but very fussy.

I told him my price and he said "the guy who does this at the minute only charges £8".

I can only guess he was hoping for cheaper as he said he was happy with the current cleaner.

No real loyalty, even when doing a good job and charging peanuts then  :o

Happy to say the job has stayed with the current WC  :)
Title: Re: £1 per window - inflation rates = tesco
Post by: Mike #1 on October 13, 2012, 09:19:59 am
I live a few miles outside the city of Durham , not worth travelling really as it is pretty much the same further afield .

I have had a minimum pricing structure for a little while now so a 2 bed house is £6:00 , 3 bed £7:00 and 4 bed £8:00 , although some of my longterm custys are still underpriced I am increasing some of my prices by £1:00- £2:00 in january . Mike
Title: Re: £1 per window - inflation rates = tesco
Post by: jimiwindows on October 13, 2012, 10:10:35 am
in london its £5 a window
Title: Re: £1 per window - inflation rates = tesco
Post by: GB Window Cleaning on October 13, 2012, 10:17:10 am
in london its £5 a window

I'm not sure if your joking or not, but ive honestly heard a windie from london say his prices 'START' at £3 per window! That was on this forum and he got slated for it  ;D!

Also when i had my van fitted out wfp, the guy said, another van he's fitting later that day is from london and the going rate was £35 per everage semi!

Now dont get me wrong i take this with a pinch of salt but .... you never know!
Title: Re: £1 per window - inflation rates = tesco
Post by: jimiwindows on October 13, 2012, 10:25:14 am
im not joking £5 a window
Title: Re: £1 per window - inflation rates = tesco
Post by: GB Window Cleaning on October 13, 2012, 10:39:37 am
im not joking £5 a window


I suppose its relative to the demographics hey! some wont beleive you, but i do! im sure in abu dhabi cleaning high rise sky scarppers, you could earn 2 grand a week!?

cheers
Title: Re: £1 per window - inflation rates = tesco
Post by: geoffreyspecht on October 13, 2012, 10:32:46 pm
im not joking £5 a window
is that including vat
Title: Re: £1 per window - inflation rates = tesco
Post by: G Griffin on October 13, 2012, 11:33:46 pm
Everyone on here always say's £1 per window is average pricing. ive heard this now for at least 3 years what about inflation?   :)

i charge £1 per average ground floor window. £1.50 for average 1st floor window, for example.

i suppse its relative considering some trad cleaners charge £0.75 per ladder move?!

If you never increase your prices you may as well work for tesco + there are girls working at tesco too  :P

Good point.
But they can afford to be fussy at Tesco, these days, and they wouldn't have me.
So, the windows it is, much to the chagrin of all those unlucky ladies at Tesco.
Title: Re: £1 per window - inflation rates = tesco
Post by: GB Window Cleaning on October 14, 2012, 07:55:13 am
Everyone on here always say's £1 per window is average pricing. ive heard this now for at least 3 years what about inflation?   :)

i charge £1 per average ground floor window. £1.50 for average 1st floor window, for example.

i suppse its relative considering some trad cleaners charge £0.75 per ladder move?!

If you never increase your prices you may as well work for tesco + there are girls working at tesco too  :P

Good point.
But they can afford to be fussy at Tesco, these days, and they wouldn't have me.
So, the windows it is, much to the chagrin of all those unlucky ladies at Tesco.
  ;D hahaa
Title: Re: £1 per window - inflation rates = tesco
Post by: rg1 on October 14, 2012, 12:10:46 pm
Pricing is relative to where you live and work  ;)
Title: Re: £1 per window - inflation rates = tesco
Post by: Klean07 on October 14, 2012, 04:01:19 pm
My £1 per window is just for an average window plus a rough guide if someone phones up! If it turns out they have 50 plus windows then common sense and time it would take comes into it.
Title: Re: £1 per window - inflation rates = tesco
Post by: Steve H on October 14, 2012, 04:36:02 pm
Im not as expeienced as some of you guys on pricing and i agree that the prces depend where you live in the country.
However, i like Ian101 pricing as it is very similar to how i do it - you then look at the price and depending on how it comes out and how easy the windows are to reach etc. you can add or take away £2 or £3 to get the business.

I also would rather come out slightly expensive as you may be undercutting yourself, even  a pound or two with each client either way can add up to a lot at the end of the month.

Also if the client doesnt seem too keen on the price you can always say "so how much did you expect to pay ?" jut ask the question and if its a bit less than you quoted you can always drop slightly/come to some middle ground. If they say a silly price then you probably dont want the job, unless you need the work or want to keep the opposition out... the choice is then yours.

Finally, Ian101, are you trad on those prices or wfp ?
Title: Re: £1 per window - inflation rates = tesco
Post by: Ian101 on October 14, 2012, 10:25:28 pm
WFP
Title: Re: £1 per window - inflation rates = tesco
Post by: CLEANCARE WC on October 14, 2012, 11:13:13 pm
Im not as expeienced as some of you guys on pricing and i agree that the prces depend where you live in the country.
However, i like Ian101 pricing as it is very similar to how i do it - you then look at the price and depending on how it comes out and how easy the windows are to reach etc. you can add or take away £2 or £3 to get the business.

I also would rather come out slightly expensive as you may be undercutting yourself, even  a pound or two with each client either way can add up to a lot at the end of the month.Also if the client doesnt seem too keen on the price you can always say "so how much did you expect to pay ?" jut ask the question and if its a bit less than you quoted you can always drop slightly/come to some middle ground. If they say a silly price then you probably dont want the job, unless you need the work or want to keep the opposition out... the choice is then yours.

Finally, Ian101, are you trad on those prices or wfp ?


you might not be that experienced but you will do well to follow your own advice there
Title: Re: £1 per window - inflation rates = tesco
Post by: richard jagger on October 15, 2012, 04:38:20 pm
Inflation is dat da stuff you put into da vans tires. Dur.man ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: £1 per window - inflation rates = tesco
Post by: GB Window Cleaning on October 15, 2012, 05:25:07 pm
Inflation is dat da stuff you put into da vans tires. Dur.man ;D ;D ;D

Yes... Yes it is!  :)