Clean It Up
UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: 8weekly on May 06, 2016, 07:31:18 am
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Following on from the other thread I just wondered how much longer people take on a first clean. I reckon at least 2/3 times as long even if they aren't minging. If I break it down by window, on a maintenance its typically once around the frames on a full flow, then once or maybe twice over the glass. On a first clean it's a minimum of of 5/6 times round the frame and the same over the glass. Then when I've cleaned the house, it's back over the glass again once and a rinse. I estimate three times longer.
At an estimate, how much longer on average do people reckon?
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Twice as long, squirt of cif on the brush for each window does the job nicely.
If the windows are severely hydrophobic or if the frames are wood then even longer.
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2 - 3 times
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Seriously if they are not minging then what are you removing that takes you longer ? if they're not minging they get the same clean as a repeat, guys don't listen to that nonsense about having to remove all the soap residue left by previous shiners, a couple of heavy rain showers will have more than removed it.
For me depending on how bad they are it can be anything slightly longer to double, any longer than that and it would be quicker to do them by hand.
If the frames are bad then I will use a stiff brush especially if they are badly cobwebbed and do all the frames first but even then
I would be going well to double my time.
That said I don't know if I'm quick at first cleans or slow on repeat. lol.
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All depends on your methods of cleaning and the results you want to achive will determine the length of time a job should take.
If you are wanting to restore all the plastics back to white then yes for sure it may take longer. Oxidation on plastic frames, rubber gasket seal bleed, frame drainage holes leaking dirt, frame vents dripping etc can also add time to a first/one off clean. Not to mention how dirty the glass is and if it's clased as a builders clean or not.
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I don't ever take them on if it's like you say a one off with no chance of an on going job,if you have enough work what would ever be the point in cleaning it up for someone else to come along and get it on a regular basis cos in my experience that's what happens.
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I take my time on first cleans , purely because iv done them quick in the past and 2nd clean iv noticed iv missed bits. so now I give them s good scrub and a good rinse a couple of times . It makes life a lot easier when they're on a maintenance clean after that
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Letting agents and people who want one offs are not the people I want to work for if someone rings you at the end of March-April why would you put off your regular easy to clean work to clean something that might not have been touched for years,windys either don't have the work or are living in la la land thinking you can earn more working this way.
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Following on from the other thread I just wondered how much longer people take on a first clean. I reckon at least 2/3 times as long even if they aren't minging. If I break it down by window, on a maintenance its typically once around the frames on a full flow, then once or maybe twice over the glass. On a first clean it's a minimum of of 5/6 times round the frame and the same over the glass. Then when I've cleaned the house, it's back over the glass again once and a rinse. I estimate three times longer.
At an estimate, how much longer on average do people reckon?
There's a big difference between a first clean and a one off. A first clean i'm going back to, a one off i'm not. There is no way i go round a frame 5/6 times whether i'm going back or not either. And of course it depends upon what price i've got for it. A lower price might entail me saying there might be some runs or drips but this is normal, AKA i aint staying there all day for the price i just got. Or opposite end of the scale, i asked a ridiculous price and got it and say............any problems, let me know.......
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Letting agents and people who want one offs are not the people I want to work for if someone rings you at the end of March-April why would you put off your regular easy to clean work to clean something that might not have been touched for years,windys either don't have the work or are living in la la land thinking you can earn more working this way.
I must be living in la la land then ;D
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I must be living in la la land then ;D
Me too! I love one offs. Charge at least double the monthly rate and you rarely fall short of earning more per hour.
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I must be living in la la land then ;D
Me too! I love one offs. Charge at least double the monthly rate and you rarely fall short of earning more per hour.
Only if you're in the area or have the spare time. At the moment I have the capacity so I'll take them on at double the regular price but even then they often take double the time or more. I wouldn't travel to the other side of town to do one though.
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I just like taking on a job where you can see the difference when finished it sort of takes the edge from the boredom at times.
Double the price in my area and you just don't get them which is what I normally do when I have enough work, but sometimes
I will take one on just for the job satisfaction even though business wise its stupid.
But I could very happily work like Smurf if I could get away with it as stand alone jobs certainly for me are a lot less boring
and give more job satisfaction.
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People are saying I charge double the price what's the earner there then,say I do a regular easy to clean £50 job and I do the same thing for 100 what's the point if I have many other easy to clean 50 jobs. For me working hard just so I can stand back and say ahhhh what I good job I've done there for you so you can now sell your house never to be seen again is not a good way to work IMO,I want to clean frames and Windows with no more than 3 months worth of dirt on the frames and glass these people are not worth putting in the effort for as I say they don't normally bother to have there Windows cleaned so why do any favours.
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I just like taking on a job where you can see the difference when finished it sort of takes the edge from the boredom at times.
Double the price in my area and you just don't get them which is what I normally do when I have enough work, but sometimes
I will take one on just for the job satisfaction even though business wise its stupid.
But I could very happily work like Smurf if I could get away with it as stand alone jobs certainly for me are a lot less boring
and give more job satisfaction.
There's a great deal to be said for that. As I mentioned above I've done a one-off recently along with a couple of first cleans (unusual for me as they normally go to our franchisees). You're right, there's a great deal of satisfaction in doing them.
Vin
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I just like taking on a job where you can see the difference when finished it sort of takes the edge from the boredom at times.
Double the price in my area and you just don't get them which is what I normally do when I have enough work, but sometimes
I will take one on just for the job satisfaction even though business wise its stupid.
But I could very happily work like Smurf if I could get away with it as stand alone jobs certainly for me are a lot less boring
and give more job satisfaction.
There's a great deal to be said for that. As I mentioned above I've done a one-off recently along with a couple of first cleans (unusual for me as they normally go to our franchisees). You're right, there's a great deal of satisfaction in doing them.
Vin
Yes, but they take it out of you.
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Yeah they are hard work for no more money if you have a full schedule of work,even if your over charging coz it's a one off IMO you'll still earn more doing less dirty regular work.
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Lol.
Customer: hello there, are you a window cleaner?
Shiner: looks down at his water fed pole and across at his newly sign written van Yes love, I'm a window cleaner.
Customer: Great! I urgently need a window cleaner, our house goes up for sale tomorrow and we are getting photos taken, the windows really need a good seeing to.
Shiner: Sorry, I'd love to give you a good seeing to but I only clean windows that aren't dirty.
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I recently picked up a custy that's selling her house , after a couple of cleans , she's asked me to clean her new house when she moved - I feel like part of the family now and we'll all be moving together ✋ - high five brother
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I like doing one offs...I charge a lot more for doing them and some turn into regulars any way.
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Lol.
Customer: hello there, are you a window cleaner?
Shiner: looks down at his water fed pole and across at his newly sign written van Yes love, I'm a window cleaner.
Customer: Great! I urgently need a window cleaner, our house goes up for sale tomorrow and we are getting photos taken, the windows really need a good seeing to.
Shiner: Sorry, I'd love to give you a good seeing to but I only clean windows that aren't dirty.
No the shiner says to the customer do you only want it done once and the customer says yes so the shiner says sorry I don't do one offs,if it's a monster of a job and they say I'll leave your details I would consider it but only if it was a big place,like I've said in the past this job is all about instinct when taking on new work. Small work I wouldn't even bother looking and these days it's easier to quote even by phone if they send you a picture of all 4 sides of the property.For me I get no satisfaction out of knocking my pipe out just to say that looks better for you love hope you sell it now.
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....knocking my pipe out ... Haha not heard that one before lol
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I've done all them first cleans in a former life running around cleaning labels paint and putty I'll save for my regulars I don't think I'll go looking for them jobs anytime soon.
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NWH I can just imagine you smoking a pipe ;D ;D
The way I look at it money wise I would much prefer do one very well paid job than to be rushed off my feet trying to complete a window cleaning route for the same or less gross profit. That's the advantage of offering multiple services to clients as if priced very well you don't have to rush about like a headless chicken.
Obviously it goes without saying if you are rammed packed with trying to service a window cleaning round then you will have no time to be able to offer or do other and in most cases more profitable work.
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NWH I can just imagine you smoking a pipe ;D ;D
The way I look at it money wise I would much prefer do one very well paid job than to be rushed off my feet trying to complete a window cleaning route for the same or less gross profit. That's the advantage of offering multiple services to clients as if priced very well you don't have to rush about like a headless chicken.
Obviously it goes without saying if you are rammed packed with trying to service a window cleaning round then you will have no time to be able to offer or do other and in most cases more profitable work.
But a business with regular contracted work is a more stable business than one relying on one offs. Are you a fireman Smurf? If so, this isn't your main income. From day one I've largely shunned one offs as they are harder work and generally at much the same hourly rate. Half a day spent cleaning fsgs is harder that a day cleaning regular customers.
If you are looking to grow, you can't start to employ based on a hope that you'll get one off jobs. However if you know you've got 800 regular window cleaning customers, you can hire with confidence.
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No I'm not a fireman
All I'm suggesting is maybe to look at other ways to increase turnover and profitability for working fewer hours that’s all.
The likes of Smudger and others on here get my drift I hope?
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There is no opinion with this first cleans or one offs are much harder work if you are advertising for this you must need the work,I'm quiet happy doing regular stuff that needs a quick scrub and fast rinse to get them clean. Climbing ladders getting labels and stickers off is a mugs game I would only ever do this for good paying customers that have had extensions done etc.
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I do first cleans for free and one offs and conservatory roofs.
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Oh yes the odd freebie I do didn't I tell you lol
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I'm seriously thinking about starting to do one offs ya no I just want to be able to stand back and say ooooohhhh what a lovely job I've done there for someone who couldn't really give a Toss.
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I'm seriously thinking about starting to do one offs ya no I just want to be able to stand back and say ooooohhhh what a lovely job I've done there for someone who couldn't really give a Toss.
I must admit one thing I don't do is so say builders cleans as is way too much hassle.
Anything else I will consider. That is only if the price is right to make it worth my while.
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I couldn't care how much they want to pay me builders cleans I never take on they talk to you like your royalty before you start doing them then when you want paying they treat you like a terrorist.