Clean It Up

UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: Cookie on September 18, 2015, 08:49:55 pm

Title: Price per clean vs. Frequency
Post by: Cookie on September 18, 2015, 08:49:55 pm
I'm looking looking for some advice on the above. So let's say for example I have a standard 3 bed semi which I clean on a 4 weekly basis for £12. How much do you suggest I price this at for the following frequencies?


The reason I'm asking is that I'm getting quite a lot of, 'Leave it till the next time', (this is for some of the 8 weeklies as well!). I'm considering giving them the option of extending the frequency but of of course charging more per clean. 
Title: Re: Price per clean vs. Frequency
Post by: ben M on September 18, 2015, 08:56:11 pm
i don't give the choice to the customer,  6 weekly or nothing
Title: Re: Price per clean vs. Frequency
Post by: Walter Mitty on September 18, 2015, 09:04:58 pm
I give 6 weekly.  12 weekly costs a third more - rounded up to the next pound.  I have been a bit soft with this sometimes though and might just add a nominal amount.
Title: Re: Price per clean vs. Frequency
Post by: SB Cleaning on September 18, 2015, 09:14:39 pm
I give 6 weekly.  12 weekly costs a third more - rounded up to the next pound.  I have been a bit soft with this sometimes though and might just add a nominal amount.
I do pretty much the same
Title: Re: Price per clean vs. Frequency
Post by: chris turner on September 18, 2015, 09:28:17 pm
My round use to be 90% 6 weekly, 10% 8 weekly.
Iv recently converted it to 90% 8 weekly, 10% 6 weekly mainly because after 8 weeks, no matter where you live your windows need cleaning. The only time I ever get a 'leave it is this time' now is if the customer is having building work etc.
8 weekly customers are much happier to see you IMO.
I also put the price up by an average of £2 for every house, some a bit more, to cover for the extra dirt.
A good way of explaining this to the customer was showing them that even though the price per clean was going up, the yearly price was considerably less due to the fact there was a bigger gap between each clean.
It was a big gamble on my part implementing so many changes in one go and I was prepared to lose a fair few customers. I lost one!
What these changes meant for me overall was that I had to do considerably less work each week to earn the same amount of money, and I freed up an entire day a week to either pick up better priced work or to leave free for extra jobs, con roofs, gutters etc.
Title: Re: Price per clean vs. Frequency
Post by: Smudger on September 18, 2015, 09:32:51 pm
Firstly, you need to talk with these customers, leave till next time esp. On the day is not really acceptable.

16 weekly - classed as bespoke/1 off and is double (£24)

12 weekly £20 ( but not offered on small stuff - £45 plus cleans )

8 weekly £16.00

If it helps, when quoting I offer 2 cleaning options after the initial first clean these are on the quote as 4 weekly and 8 weekly clean, customers may swap between the 2 as and when, they know the price, I know the price, any non genuine miss me customers know the next clean will be the 8 weekly price

I get no arguments we all know where we stand - if people cancel in advance for holidays, window replacement etc.. Then we keep the 4 weekly price. ( unless this become a habit )

Darran
Title: Re: Price per clean vs. Frequency
Post by: Shane sharples on September 18, 2015, 09:41:27 pm
I had one customer say that to Me the other day. As I pulled up, could see her waving and shaking her head no at through the window. So I got out as I had to do her neighbour anyway . She came out, 'not this month thanks, they don't need doing ' as she said it, I remembered she's one of these who say don't do if I'm not in- not even front only.
So I said ' I only do monthly' she said 'I know but they don't need doing this month '
I said ' it's ok, il take you off my round then, cheers '
Im not jumping when the customer tells me to now. If word got round that I leave windows as and when the customer decides they don't have bird poo on them, I'd lose half my work- I have quite a few next door neighbours. It's either monthly or nothing , good look finding a window cleaner to clean your windows as and when  ;D
Title: Re: Price per clean vs. Frequency
Post by: Walter Mitty on September 19, 2015, 06:55:00 am
I had one customer say that to Me the other day. As I pulled up, could see her waving and shaking her head no at through the window. So I got out as I had to do her neighbour anyway . She came out, 'not this month thanks, they don't need doing ' as she said it, I remembered she's one of these who say don't do if I'm not in- not even front only.
So I said ' I only do monthly' she said 'I know but they don't need doing this month '
I said ' it's ok, il take you off my round then, cheers '
Im not jumping when the customer tells me to now. If word got round that I leave windows as and when the customer decides they don't have bird poo on them, I'd lose half my work- I have quite a few next door neighbours. It's either monthly or nothing , good look finding a window cleaner to clean your windows as and when  ;D

"Only clean if I'm in" is an automatic refusal - I can't work like that.  It wouldn't have got that far with me.
There's only one job where I do that.  It's behind gates that apparently have no access code.  The cleaning date is pre-arranged and I do it as the first job of the day.  I do next door too - who has given me an access code.  Financially, it's worth it due to the size of the jobs.  That is my only exception.
Title: Re: Price per clean vs. Frequency
Post by: Shane sharples on September 19, 2015, 07:46:21 am
I had one customer say that to Me the other day. As I pulled up, could see her waving and shaking her head no at through the window. So I got out as I had to do her neighbour anyway . She came out, 'not this month thanks, they don't need doing ' as she said it, I remembered she's one of these who say don't do if I'm not in- not even front only.
So I said ' I only do monthly' she said 'I know but they don't need doing this month '
I said ' it's ok, il take you off my round then, cheers '
Im not jumping when the customer tells me to now. If word got round that I leave windows as and when the customer decides they don't have bird poo on them, I'd lose half my work- I have quite a few next door neighbours. It's either monthly or nothing , good look finding a window cleaner to clean your windows as and when  ;D

"Only clean if I'm in" is an automatic refusal - I can't work like that.  It wouldn't have got that far with me.
There's only one job where I do that.  It's behind gates that apparently have no access code.  The cleaning date is pre-arranged and I do it as the first job of the day.  I do next door too - who has given me an access code.  Financially, it's worth it due to the size of the jobs.  That is my only exception.

It's true mate, really winds me up when they say not this time and then expect next months clean to be the same price , I'd rather earn less then get f@cked about, there's plenty of people who do actually want monthly cleans  ;D
Title: Re: Price per clean vs. Frequency
Post by: Cookie on September 19, 2015, 08:39:31 am
Thanks guys for your input & advice. I need to have a think & work out which policy will be best for me ....
Title: Re: Price per clean vs. Frequency
Post by: duncan h on September 19, 2015, 10:06:35 am
If people want to mess me about, I charge at least double. "ill let you know when I want them doing" well that price is for monthly. * weeks is + 20% 1 off is double. "WHY" here we go. Better off without them.
I do monthly or bi monthly only
Title: Re: Price per clean vs. Frequency
Post by: Joey Eastwood on September 21, 2015, 10:25:18 pm
90% of my work is 4weekly, 10% 8weekly.  time and a half for 8weekly so £12 house would be £18.  i know its quite high but it deters alot from changing,  id rather clean 4weekly as its a lot easier especially trad, 8weekly is double the dirt so i try to keep as many 4weekly as possible
Title: Re: Price per clean vs. Frequency
Post by: sunshine windows on September 22, 2015, 08:14:25 am
Depends how easy the job is. I have some jobs that I add just 20% going from £25-£30. Others jump from £25-35. £30-£40.

Use your judgement to work out if you feel they're going to get a little or a lot dirtier based on location.