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UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: dave f on May 04, 2016, 05:30:20 pm

Title: one off cleans
Post by: dave f on May 04, 2016, 05:30:20 pm
ive had 3 calls this week all for one off cleans but gave them the knock back as they don't want to pay a premium for one offs I have found out in the past any body else do the same.
Title: Re: one off cleans
Post by: Perfect Windows on May 04, 2016, 05:41:40 pm
ive had 3 calls this week all for one off cleans but gave them the knock back as they don't want to pay a premium for one offs I have found out in the past any body else do the same.

I had one that was in a  street I was cleaning in anyway.  Named a price and he said OK, needs doing as house being photographed for sale.

I think they need a good reason to pay extra.  "Grandma's visiting" might not be enough.

Vin
Title: Re: one off cleans
Post by: Lee Pryor on May 04, 2016, 05:56:12 pm
I tell them its double the 6 week price, and even then we will only do it with one of the other services added on.
Title: Re: one off cleans
Post by: Smurf on May 04, 2016, 07:40:29 pm
I can generally tell the desperation in peoples voices phoning around looking for a cleaner at short notice that is willing to do a one-off clean. I’m happy to do one-off’s only if they are willing to pay what I want out of it and you will be surprised how much some are willing to pay too.

Some wise up and may never tell you even if asked if they want a one-off clean either so that is why I always charge a lot more for a so say first clean as tends to weed out the messers too.

I tend to get a lot of one-off enquires not just glass but the whole exterior deep clean jobby which again is priced well to make it worth the hassle and time.
Title: Re: one off cleans
Post by: SeanK on May 04, 2016, 07:57:40 pm
I don't go out of my way to price or clean one offs but if its in the area I clean then depending on how bad
the windows are it could be anything from double to my normal repeat clean price.
Iv actually gained a few fulltime customers from ones that were originally looking for a one off.
Title: Re: one off cleans
Post by: Tony dunmall on May 04, 2016, 09:52:40 pm
I love one offs as no one around here will do them

I usually get a regular £400-500 a month of one offs

Which is about 6-8 jobs

End tenancy cleans are now £85 starting for a 2-3 bed

But I'm too busy To cope so I can afford to say that, but they still say yes
Title: Re: one off cleans
Post by: dave f on May 05, 2016, 06:30:57 am
blimey were   are you  chelsea or mayfair  ;D .people up north turn their nose up at 20 quid
Title: Re: one off cleans
Post by: Smurf on May 05, 2016, 01:09:20 pm
blimey were   are you  chelsea or mayfair  ;D .people up north turn their nose up at 20 quid

My starting price for one offs just glass, frames & sills for small 1-2 bed starts at £65 and no I don't live in London either as would be a whole lot more  ;D
Title: Re: one off cleans
Post by: NWH on May 05, 2016, 01:24:14 pm
I really don't know why anyone bothers doing one offs can someone tell me what the point is in doing this,let's say it's a £50 job and you charge £100-150 for a one off why not go and do 3 regular not very dirty cleans for the same or more without the ball ache.
Title: Re: one off cleans
Post by: richard groves on May 05, 2016, 01:47:20 pm
I really don't know why anyone bothers doing one offs can someone tell me what the point is in doing this,let's say it's a £50 job and you charge £100-150 for a one off why not go and do 3 regular not very dirty cleans for the same or more without the ball ache.
money
Title: Re: one off cleans
Post by: NWH on May 05, 2016, 02:08:32 pm
Do you not have much work then.
Title: Re: one off cleans
Post by: Tony dunmall on May 05, 2016, 06:30:29 pm
Because often they turn into 12 weekly or twice a year jobs and there so much easier than con roofs or gutters

And to be fair when try round is sometimes finished by Thursday its not bad doing one week for £600 your not expecting

True regular are always easier
I just like one offs much more  satisfying
Title: Re: one off cleans
Post by: richard groves on May 05, 2016, 06:49:45 pm
Do you not have much work then.
I could ask you why you work ? and would  get the same answer. I don't distinguish  between the two. End of the day its money earnt..
Title: Re: one off cleans
Post by: 8weekly on May 05, 2016, 07:42:16 pm
An email today. Destined to be a one off so dumped before I started.

Subject: Re: Windows Compton

Do you not want the business then?! I can't agree to every 8 weeks until I've seen your work


It is an 8 weekly only service I’m afraid. Thanks for your interest.
 
Steve
 

Subject: Re: Windows Compton
 
Sounds good.   Why don't we say start next week and if all is well, we'll see you every 8 weeks.  How do you normally arrange payment?
 
Hi Lindsay,
 
We’re due back in Compton next week. It is a regular 8 weekly service only. It would be £30 for the first deep clean then £20 thereafter.
 
Regards,
 
Steve
 

Subject: Windows Compton
 
Hello
 
I've  just got your leaflet through the door.   Please can I arrange for you to clean our windows?  We are a 3 bed detached at   Please let me know when you are available
 
Thanks
 
Lindsay
 
Title: Re: one off cleans
Post by: duncan h on May 05, 2016, 07:42:28 pm
Had loads of calls today.
Did one this morning as I was passing, good earner. I ask them if its a 1 off of regular clean....well..for now......
 Bull, its a 1 off
Some will do it over summer, some 1 off, some just want as and when. I charge them all at least double and a bit more. You just know what they are wanting. Would love to tell them what to do. Why should they just pay a 1 off price while our loyal custys pay all year round?
Its a shame if anyone wants a regular clean this time of year, because one one believes them. If they say they have just moved in, or moved in but havnt seen a window cleaner. Then I believe them
Title: Re: one off cleans
Post by: SeanK on May 05, 2016, 11:34:01 pm
Guys invest in WFP as it makes light work of one offs, I cleaned one today and you could have grown potatoes on the frames, it
took me about 20% longer than a repeat clean.
Decided not to charge her extra as the property was very tidy and I had a hunch that her last shiner was responsible for the filthy frames so there was the potential of picking up a fulltime customer.
I was wrong I got a text tonight asking me to add her to my round along with the neighbours on each side, that said it could have
all went horribly wrong and I would then have ended up stressed, annoyed and bitter like some on here. lol.
 
Title: Re: one off cleans
Post by: Smurf on May 06, 2016, 12:07:41 am
I really don't know why anyone bothers doing one offs can someone tell me what the point is in doing this,let's say it's a £50 job and you charge £100-150 for a one off why not go and do 3 regular not very dirty cleans for the same or more without the ball ache.

The one off quote I did today I cleaned 4 windows for free at the back of the semi only as they just wanted the back guttering cleared of sods & then the outside of the guttering, fascia and soffits cleaned including the kitchen extension. Took less than 2 hours including giving the quote, setting up and packing away for £130 gross takings. Customer was over the moon with the work and I was happy to oblige.

No stress, no hassle just well paid easy work for less than a couple of hours of my time.





Title: Re: one off cleans
Post by: 8weekly on May 06, 2016, 04:05:56 am
Guys invest in WFP as it makes light work of one offs, I cleaned one today and you could have grown potatoes on the frames, it
took me about 20% longer than a repeat clean.
Decided not to charge her extra as the property was very tidy and I had a hunch that her last shiner was responsible for the filthy frames so there was the potential of picking up a fulltime customer.
I was wrong I got a text tonight asking me to add her to my round along with the neighbours on each side, that said it could have
all went horribly wrong and I would then have ended up stressed, annoyed and bitter like some on here. lol.
I find most first cleans and one offs take at the very least twice as long as a regular job.  Often three times as long. If I used an Xtreme on them as I think you do even longer. It's not bitterness, it's just a desire to be paid for time spent and to maintain a profitable hourly rate.
Title: Re: one off cleans
Post by: 8weekly on May 06, 2016, 04:07:40 am
I really don't know why anyone bothers doing one offs can someone tell me what the point is in doing this,let's say it's a £50 job and you charge £100-150 for a one off why not go and do 3 regular not very dirty cleans for the same or more without the ball ache.

The one off quote I did today I cleaned 4 windows for free at the back of the semi only as they just wanted the back guttering cleared of sods & then the outside of the guttering, fascia and soffits cleaned including the kitchen extension. Took less than 2 hours including giving the quote, setting up and packing away for £130 gross takings. Customer was over the moon with the work and I was happy to oblige.

No stress, no hassle just well paid easy work for less than a couple of hours of my time.
I assume a guttervac didn't clear that lot?
Title: Re: one off cleans
Post by: richard groves on May 06, 2016, 06:39:38 am
I really don't know why anyone bothers doing one offs can someone tell me what the point is in doing this,let's say it's a £50 job and you charge £100-150 for a one off why not go and do 3 regular not very dirty cleans for the same or more without the ball ache.

The one off quote I did today I cleaned 4 windows for free at the back of the semi only as they just wanted the back guttering cleared of sods & then the outside of the guttering, fascia and soffits cleaned including the kitchen extension. Took less than 2 hours including giving the quote, setting up and packing away for £130 gross takings. Customer was over the moon with the work and I was happy to oblige.

No stress, no hassle just well paid easy work for less than a couple of hours of my time.
Smurf, you realise there are people on here who would have charged that on a regular job ? and from what I'm reading here would have insisted on atleast double for a one off  :-\
Title: Re: one off cleans
Post by: dave f on May 06, 2016, 06:40:44 am
imo  a lot of people depending  were you live  up north are still in the dark ages regarding window cleaning and other add ons  .etc  I have a custy who wanted a conny roof cleaned I gave her a price and she nearly  fainted she said I only expected a tenner ;D
Title: Re: one off cleans
Post by: SeanK on May 06, 2016, 07:16:26 am
Guys invest in WFP as it makes light work of one offs, I cleaned one today and you could have grown potatoes on the frames, it
took me about 20% longer than a repeat clean.
Decided not to charge her extra as the property was very tidy and I had a hunch that her last shiner was responsible for the filthy frames so there was the potential of picking up a fulltime customer.
I was wrong I got a text tonight asking me to add her to my round along with the neighbours on each side, that said it could have
all went horribly wrong and I would then have ended up stressed, annoyed and bitter like some on here. lol.
I find most first cleans and one offs take at the very least twice as long as a regular job.  Often three times as long. If I used an Xtreme on them as I think you do even longer. It's not bitterness, it's just a desire to be paid for time spent and to maintain a profitable hourly rate.

An Xtreme stiff and a drop of what ever chemical you like to work with sprayed onto the brush for the frames, do all the frames first and then change over to your brush of choice for the glass.
Shouldn't take 2 or 3 times as long even with the odd problem opener.
I don't mind taking a slight drop in my hourly rate if it gains me a long term customer and if it doesn't work out then its
no different than paying for advertising that doesn't get you the desired results.
Title: Re: one off cleans
Post by: sunshine windows on May 06, 2016, 07:47:11 am
Not read all the comments but for me, one off cleans are great for adding extra money to your week in the nicer weather.

Only so much work you can do in 7ish hours work during the winter. That's if you're lucky not to get rained off for the day.

I don't pack our rounds to bursting point, falling behind on schedule, we're always on time and as such have a great reputation.

Add ons are great, I price them above what our average hourly rates on windows are too.
Title: Re: one off cleans
Post by: Smurf on May 06, 2016, 10:10:03 am
I really don't know why anyone bothers doing one offs can someone tell me what the point is in doing this,let's say it's a £50 job and you charge £100-150 for a one off why not go and do 3 regular not very dirty cleans for the same or more without the ball ache.

The one off quote I did today I cleaned 4 windows for free at the back of the semi only as they just wanted the back guttering cleared of sods & then the outside of the guttering, fascia and soffits cleaned including the kitchen extension. Took less than 2 hours including giving the quote, setting up and packing away for £130 gross takings. Customer was over the moon with the work and I was happy to oblige.

No stress, no hassle just well paid easy work for less than a couple of hours of my time.
I assume a guttervac didn't clear that lot?

8 weekly, No ladders where needed on that job but still I would have used them if required  ;)
The gap between the tiles was good and the sods being dry meant they were easy to remove using an ali bend dirt breaker vac head.
Title: Re: one off cleans
Post by: Smurf on May 06, 2016, 10:29:51 am
I really don't know why anyone bothers doing one offs can someone tell me what the point is in doing this,let's say it's a £50 job and you charge £100-150 for a one off why not go and do 3 regular not very dirty cleans for the same or more without the ball ache.

The one off quote I did today I cleaned 4 windows for free at the back of the semi only as they just wanted the back guttering cleared of sods & then the outside of the guttering, fascia and soffits cleaned including the kitchen extension. Took less than 2 hours including giving the quote, setting up and packing away for £130 gross takings. Customer was over the moon with the work and I was happy to oblige.

No stress, no hassle just well paid easy work for less than a couple of hours of my time.
Smurf, you realise there are people on here who would have charged that on a regular job ? and from what I'm reading here would have insisted on atleast double for a one off  :-\

Barry, I'm sure like myself there are cleaners on here that do jobs in less time worth more. I've found Its just a case of swings & roundabouts really as each job is different.

I had to laugh to myself though when I mentioned about the 4 windows would be cleaned for free when the lady said "Oh I've just had them cleaned this morning by my regualr window cleaner"   I then said " how much do you normaly pay to have all your windows cleand?" She said "£10."

So for instance if I was that window cleaner working down that street I would have had to clean 13 semis for the same amount. Makes you think don't it.  ::)roll

Don't get me wrong I'm not having a pop at hard working folk but for me I know what kind of jobs I would prefer to do.

Title: Re: one off cleans
Post by: Richard iSparkle on May 06, 2016, 11:27:55 am
we charge 3 times the price for one off cleans, minimum price £45, and they have to pay upfront for them too.

on these terms they are worth doing for us on a day where there's a bit of space and we're in the area.