Clean It Up

UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: jo5hm4n on March 29, 2015, 01:09:12 pm

Title: Charging for Gutter Cleaning?
Post by: jo5hm4n on March 29, 2015, 01:09:12 pm
Got a very loyal customer who wants her gutters cleaned out for a semi detached bungalow, i clean the windows for £8 a month i dont want to overcharge her i just want to give her a good price not to cheap/expensive, which is the best way to calculate how much to charge?  Do you charge per metre of guttering?  Also can someone explain the best way to actually clean them.  Never done gutters before, i dont want to use a gutter vac or anything i will do by hand with gloves and a ladder but i didnt know whether you clean the gutters or just take the muck out and dispose of it.

Can someone tell me how you would do it as standard.

Thanks
Title: Re: Charging for Gutter Cleaning?
Post by: stan stansfield on March 29, 2015, 03:46:10 pm
shouldnt take you less than a hour to do that with a ldder and using your hand,charge her for a hours work and put the dirt in her bin
Title: Re: Charging for Gutter Cleaning?
Post by: jo5hm4n on March 29, 2015, 07:30:48 pm
anyone else?
Title: Re: Charging for Gutter Cleaning?
Post by: Danny F on March 29, 2015, 11:43:27 pm
anyone else?

Just charge for how long you think it would take you + fuel etc and see what you come up with.
Title: Re: Charging for Gutter Cleaning?
Post by: SeanK on March 30, 2015, 12:06:20 pm
anyone else?

Just charge for how long you think it would take you + fuel etc and see what you come up with.

This is really all you can do, and if it takes longer than expected which it usually does then you will know better for the next time.
Personally when it comes to add on jobs you want to be earning a bit more than your hourly window cleaning rate as they
take a bit more effort and aren't repeat work.
Price the gutter cleaning and gutter clearing separately with a little bit of discount if they want both.
Title: Re: Charging for Gutter Cleaning?
Post by: jo5hm4n on March 30, 2015, 03:49:27 pm
Thanks Sean.

I usually earn around £25 per hour doing domestic window cleaning.  So i will price for about £30-£35 per hour then.

Just one quick question if you dont mind. whats the difference between gutting clearing and cleaning?  I gather the clearing is just getting the muck out by hand and putting into a bucket then disposing of it, but what is entailed in the cleaning?  do you actually clean the inside of the gutters and if so what with?  Or do you just mean clean the face of the gutters i.e if you were to clean the gutter plastics with wfp and the fascias etc.....

Thanks
Title: Re: Charging for Gutter Cleaning?
Post by: SeanK on March 30, 2015, 05:07:12 pm
That's about it, you just clean out the contents inside the gutters no need to wash inside these unless they can be seen
from a window above.
I would use a wfp brush or similar connected to the customers tap if they want then washed on the inside.
Usually customers with conservatories that can be seen from the bedroom window above want this done when getting the conservatory roof cleaned, make sure it all priced for as it adds more time to the job.
Title: Re: Charging for Gutter Cleaning?
Post by: jo5hm4n on April 01, 2015, 06:56:28 pm
Cleared the gutters out today and wiped the face of gutters with cloths.  took me 30 mins and i charged £30.

I was pretty happy with that!  Wasn't rushing either.
Title: Re: Charging for Gutter Cleaning?
Post by: PoleKing on April 01, 2015, 09:31:14 pm
I don't carry my ladders normally.
Its £50 just to make it worthwhile getting them out of the garage.
Most gutter clears I upsell for FSG clean too.
I won't post prices but I like to earn double my hourly rate as opposed to the glass.
 End up getting 8/10 quotes. (ish)
Title: Re: Charging for Gutter Cleaning?
Post by: Richard iSparkle on April 02, 2015, 09:41:17 am
we charge min £80 for gutter clearing, although we sometimes have offers on for regular customers and give them 10-20% off (when its the season and we're doing a lot of them)

pretty much everyone is happy to pay that much.

we're based in the North West...
Title: Re: Charging for Gutter Cleaning?
Post by: Kevin Miller on April 03, 2015, 01:03:06 pm
I don't do many gutters (clearing) but when I have always quoted £60 and got everyone.
Title: Re: Charging for Gutter Cleaning?
Post by: sunshine windows on April 03, 2015, 09:52:31 pm
As a general rule, I tend to price them at £5 for every length between the gutter brackets (approx 1 metre)
With a minimum price of £60
Title: Re: Charging for Gutter Cleaning?
Post by: jwplasterers on April 03, 2015, 10:01:15 pm
I would charge £80.00 min, use gutter vac and maybe get the ladders out if needed because if you fall off the ladder and end up in a wheel chair you will will always look back,  all for 20 or 30 £ would they go up on the ladder I don't think so.
Title: Re: Charging for Gutter Cleaning?
Post by: PoleKing on April 03, 2015, 11:39:43 pm
I don't do many gutters (clearing) but when I have always quoted £60 and got everyone.

Not to tell you how to run your business, bud, but I'd say that if you're getting every job you quote for you're quoting too low.
I (after taking advice from the CIU fraternity) aim for 2/3 conversions.
It's always a disappointment to not convert a quote. but if you're making more money for less work, that makes sense.
Title: Re: Charging for Gutter Cleaning?
Post by: mufcglen on April 04, 2015, 09:36:01 pm
i usually charge £20-30 a side front and rear and if its a semi etc with an extra side then i'll do it for free as clearing gutters usually takes me an hour most normal sized semi's so £60 an hour isnt bad money although i do class it as danger money being that high up on ladders, im trying to get away from it myself but you just cant turn that sort of money away ;)
Title: Re: Charging for Gutter Cleaning?
Post by: Mike55 on April 10, 2015, 04:55:52 pm
As a general rule, I tend to price them at £5 for every length between the gutter brackets (approx 1 metre)
With a minimum price of £60

Does the £5 a meter price include cleaning the external guttering or just a clear out?  If clear out only what sort of price do you charge for cleaning the G/F/S?   I think I might need to put my prices up!
Title: Re: Charging for Gutter Cleaning?
Post by: sunshine windows on April 12, 2015, 05:59:18 pm
Hi Mike,

That would be to clear and wash gutters and wash over any soffits and fascias too.

I charge a bit more if they are vented underneath, as these take forever to clean, with the dirty water pouring out of the vents.
Title: Re: Charging for Gutter Cleaning?
Post by: Tom-01 on April 14, 2015, 12:30:05 am
Hi Mike,

That would be to clear and wash gutters and wash over any soffits and fascias too.

I charge a bit more if they are vented underneath, as these take forever to clean, with the dirty water pouring out of the vents.

Once you've washed the vents leave them, then come back to them later with a cloth over the brush of your pole and wipe the dirty water drops off from the vents, much easier than keeping on trying to clean with the water.