Clean It Up

UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: jouk45 on January 11, 2009, 12:56:10 pm

Title: weird customer inquiry
Post by: jouk45 on January 11, 2009, 12:56:10 pm
i gets this inquiry on the phone, from an architect who is building this house, hi he says do you use the wfp thing, i says yes. good can you give me some advice, i says yes if i can, he says the house is build on the cliffs edge, and the beach is below the house, he said its about 20m from the bottom to the top windows, i told him he would need to get someone with a much longer pole,weird i thinks this is a joke, i say why not just open the windows from inside? he says we cant, as the safety authorities said it was to long a drop, so the windows are to be permanently shut, so i said surly there is a footpath round the back , there is non he said it is just one sheer drop, anyway i says sorry i cant do it, he says please could you come to the house just to see how it could be done, trying to avoid going i says why don't you just hire a cherry picker, o nothing can get down to the beach, there is no access for vehicles,  (what) this is starting to frustrate me lol, then he said, there might be another problem, i said yes how is that, you would need to time the tide so that it was out??? i said ok this is a joke, he laughed no honest its not, anyway to get him of the phone i take all his details, me finishing of the conversation jokingly i said the only real solution to this job is when the tide is in, you hire a boat and use the boat as a platform, we both laughed at that idea, then he seriously says well that is an option, me 100% this is a joke, anyway call ends with see you on Monday, i came of the phone laughing, but i decided to call back a few Min's later to the number he gave me, guess what, it was him and no joke   ;D am standing on no %*%* boat and wfp at the same time for nobody lol  ::)
Title: Re: weird customer inquiry
Post by: chrisyg on January 11, 2009, 01:15:10 pm
I hope you dont have a van mount - lol, you wouldn't be able to do it then..

Seriously, why build a house so close to the cliff edge?
Title: Re: weird customer inquiry
Post by: jouk45 on January 11, 2009, 01:26:13 pm
thats why i thought it was a joke, think i will call him back, tell him to fit selfcleaning glass  ;D i forgot  to mention that one to him, apparantly as he is the architect  , he has to put all this into the plans, he said the house will be finished in 2 months time, anyone here from fife who wants the job, you can have it
Title: Re: weird customer inquiry
Post by: Nathanael Jones on January 11, 2009, 01:53:29 pm
I'd love to do a job like that,.. for the right price of course!

The other option would be anchor points on the roof and simple rope access? Do it when the tide is in and even if you do fall you'll be fine,.. so long as you can swim that is!!

:)
Title: Re: weird customer inquiry
Post by: lovewindows on January 11, 2009, 02:28:02 pm
could be a good earner ? at least you could get a 60ft pole out of it. ie " i would have to buy specialist equipment costing £x then i would charge £x if you are happy with that then i will clean your windows "
Title: Re: weird customer inquiry
Post by: Nathanael Jones on January 11, 2009, 02:33:02 pm
could be a good earner ? at least you could get a 60ft pole out of it. ie " i would have to buy specialist equipment costing £x then i would charge £x if you are happy with that then i will clean your windows "
Tell him the first clean will be the cost of a 56' SL2 package, and then charge a reasonable figure after that.
Title: Re: weird customer inquiry
Post by: jouk45 on January 11, 2009, 02:44:16 pm
i could put that to him nathan, if he was willing to fork out for an sl2 pole, i would be only to happy to do the work for him, but some how i cant see them doing this, it is worth a try though,
Title: Re: weird customer inquiry
Post by: williamx on January 11, 2009, 02:56:20 pm
You could get them to pay for the sl2 upfront and deduct this out of the cleaning bill over a period of time, say 2 years, that way you still recieve some money for cleaning his windows and you also have a sl2 earlier than you wanted one.

Another way is to use one of them boat that has a water cannon and jet blast the whole house. ;D
Title: Re: weird customer inquiry
Post by: foxy on January 11, 2009, 03:30:16 pm
you got to do it for the experience! get a stuffed parrot on your shoulder and ask to be paid in pieces of 8 :)
Title: Re: weird customer inquiry
Post by: pingu on January 11, 2009, 04:37:18 pm
These guys use a boat as a platform for wfp..


http://www.baudoin.nl/content_en/pag1_01.php

cheers
Dave.
Title: Re: weird customer inquiry
Post by: RO-Sheen on January 11, 2009, 06:33:28 pm
It must be a wind up! If the house is built that close to the edge (ie no foot path just a sheer drop), surely you wouldnt be able to dig foundations!
Title: Re: weird customer inquiry
Post by: RO-Sheen on January 11, 2009, 06:36:24 pm
It must be a wind up! If the house is built that close to the edge (ie no foot path just a sheer drop), surely you wouldnt be able to dig foundations!
Title: Re: weird customer inquiry
Post by: simon knight on January 11, 2009, 07:10:10 pm

With the coastal erosion we get these days his house will end up in the sea some time in the next few years anyway....how well does wfp work under water?
Title: Re: weird customer inquiry
Post by: Central Window Cleaners on January 11, 2009, 07:22:34 pm
I would clean it for the exposure, call the local papers and tell them what you are doing for the advertising
Title: Re: weird customer inquiry
Post by: Nathanael Jones on January 11, 2009, 07:23:59 pm
You'd get some fantastic photo's for your website too,,... :)
Title: Re: weird customer inquiry
Post by: jouk45 on January 11, 2009, 08:54:54 pm
well couriosity has got the better of me, i am going to see this and i will take pics of it, when i get there, am expecting some guy to jump out shouting your on candid camera  ;D
Title: Re: weird customer inquiry
Post by: mark dew on January 11, 2009, 09:29:42 pm
I would clean it for the exposure, call the local papers and tell them what you are doing for the advertising
You'd get some fantastic photo's for your website too,,... :)

A very good marketing opportunity. The 'can do window cleaning company.'
I wouldn't price it like a normal job though. I would charge a half day or full day rate regardless of the time. And get someone taking photos with a half decent camera.
Title: Re: weird customer inquiry
Post by: Niall McAllister on January 11, 2009, 09:39:41 pm
better get him to check his building regs. under scotish law all windows above ground floor level have to be accessable from the inside for cleaning and basic upkeep
Title: Re: weird customer inquiry
Post by: williamx on January 11, 2009, 10:02:56 pm
better get him to check his building regs. under scotish law all windows above ground floor level have to be accessable from the inside for cleaning and basic upkeep

Its probable not in Scotland so it won't apply
Title: Re: weird customer inquiry
Post by: Niall McAllister on January 11, 2009, 11:15:11 pm
thats why i thought it was a joke, think i will call him back, tell him to fit selfcleaning glass  ;D i forgot  to mention that one to him, apparantly as he is the architect  , he has to put all this into the plans, he said the house will be finished in 2 months time, anyone here from fife who wants the job, you can have it
fife- east coast of scotchland.  ;)
Title: Re: weird customer inquiry
Post by: mci services on January 12, 2009, 05:33:53 pm
jouk you seen it yet, this had me wondering yesterday ;D
Title: Re: weird customer inquiry
Post by: weetot on January 12, 2009, 07:50:33 pm
Careful its not a one off and your forkin out for a bloody big pole........Let it go mate, its probably a wind-up anyway.
Title: Re: weird customer inquiry
Post by: jouk45 on January 15, 2009, 05:29:48 pm
ok i got there at last, its not exactly a cliff, but it is right on the edge of the beech, there is no public access to the back, i checked both ways, you cant walk on the rocks as it is slimy with seaweed, and i would have to time the tide, this morning it was coming in fast. from the beech to the top windows it is around 45 ft
(http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x75/trainingacademy/15012009002.jpg)
this is looking down
(http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x75/trainingacademy/15012009001.jpg)
as you can see there is no steps or access to the beech
(http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x75/trainingacademy/15012009003.jpg)

(http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x75/trainingacademy/15012009004.jpg)
this is the back door, you have to crawl out to the metal platform that is only 3ft wide facing the glass


this is the new front windows being fitted, problem is the platform will get in the way cleaning from the ground,
(http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x75/trainingacademy/15012009.jpg)
this  one can be done inside

(http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x75/trainingacademy/15012009005.jpg)
Title: Re: weird customer inquiry
Post by: williamx on January 15, 2009, 05:43:25 pm
Looks like a bog standard £10 house to me ;D
.
You could try abseiling down to the beach, or a rope ladder, or use a boat when the tide is in, you would need to secure the boat to the cliff face, to slow down the rocking, and run your hoses from the top where you have parked you van.
Title: Re: weird customer inquiry
Post by: C.C.S. on January 15, 2009, 06:12:42 pm
wouldn't be easier with a trolley type of wfp or clean them while the scalfolds still on.cheers
Title: Re: weird customer inquiry
Post by: Oakley Windows on January 15, 2009, 06:15:12 pm
I bet the scaffolders had fun with the Health and Safety, local council etc
Title: Re: weird customer inquiry
Post by: weetot on January 15, 2009, 06:20:11 pm
It sounds like youve already talked yourself out of it...................Good for you!
Title: Re: weird customer inquiry
Post by: Spruce on January 15, 2009, 07:07:20 pm
Or you could ask them to leave the scaffolding there for you to use each time ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: weird customer inquiry
Post by: jouk45 on January 15, 2009, 07:45:26 pm
the windows will be cleaned while the scafolding is up, it will be  after it comes down the problem starts, i was going to take it on, but tonight, i have put a lot of thought into it, there is far to many saftey problems, so i will let this one go, plenty more fish in the sea  ;D
Title: Re: weird customer inquiry
Post by: ducky on January 15, 2009, 08:45:25 pm
is that tayport ? jouk45. looks a hard one 2 do
Title: Re: weird customer inquiry
Post by: matt on January 15, 2009, 09:00:59 pm
explain you charge more for the first clean

add on the price for a long pole, that can be the first clean surcharge

then just charge what you want to earn on top of it

job done
Title: Re: weird customer inquiry
Post by: jouk45 on January 15, 2009, 09:12:52 pm
is that tayport ? jouk45. looks a hard one 2 do
yes it is, you want it ducky, its yours if you want to do it
Title: Re: weird customer inquiry
Post by: geefree on January 15, 2009, 09:25:39 pm
imagine building a house there??

when we all know erosion of the coast line is getting worse....

And these are intelligent people who look down on people like window cleaners.....lol ;D
Title: Re: weird customer inquiry
Post by: ducky on January 15, 2009, 09:26:59 pm
thanx jouk.got poles up 2 60ft hat should do it.but it looks hard with the water and will be slippy.gazzaap8 there all the same on that bit of the water