Clean It Up

UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: kevinc on November 18, 2009, 08:32:39 pm

Title: do i charge or not?
Post by: kevinc on November 18, 2009, 08:32:39 pm
ok guys,the father in law phoned us up the other night can i clean his windows from now on as he's past cleaning them-point is do i charge or not?to be honest for them i'm hung on the back of a door ready to do things as and when(they phone up once a year to ask about the kids etc,)don't get me wrong i get on with father in law-not the mother as can be expected (she's a tight arsed yorkshire woman)nothing wrong with that though but how can/do i approach this one?they'll expect not to pay but we're running a bussiness here-what do you think?
Title: Re: do i charge or not?
Post by: daz1977 on November 18, 2009, 08:37:42 pm
how long will it take u, how far are they away from you,  and is not doing worth the hassel of your wife
Title: Re: do i charge or not?
Post by: mci services on November 18, 2009, 08:44:50 pm
i always say i know the guy that does that area, they are good window cleaners and i will have a word if you want. as i am choka block.

either that or get my wife to say youve no chance he wont do our windows i have to pay a window cleaner(and this is true)
Title: Re: do i charge or not?
Post by: Nathanael Jones on November 18, 2009, 08:45:12 pm
Before you even start work say "Listen, you're family and I don't think it'd be right to charge you,... but if you want to buy someting small for the little un's instead of paying me, that's your call".

Makes you out to be the good guy & they'll feel mighty guilty if they don't get something for the kids each time you clean! ;)
Title: Re: do i charge or not?
Post by: kevinc on November 18, 2009, 08:46:59 pm
there not far away,wife doesn't mind as they don't see her that much-black sheep an all-i guess it would take either me or the wife(both clean)ten/fifteen minuites tops
Title: Re: do i charge or not?
Post by: daz1977 on November 18, 2009, 08:51:00 pm
u know that if you charge them, then you will get called,  i would do them once every 2 months and dump the kids on them for an hour as payment
Title: Re: do i charge or not?
Post by: kevinc on November 18, 2009, 08:51:00 pm
hi nat,was just talking to the missus about joining the guild the other week glad you reminded me!do you supply logos for two vans on one subsciption(where from yorkshire)
Title: Re: do i charge or not?
Post by: macmac on November 18, 2009, 08:51:36 pm
By the sounds of it, you've nothing to lose anyway so I'd give it a miss to be honest mate. Concentrate on paying customers, who are also nice people! ;)
Title: Re: do i charge or not?
Post by: simon smith50 on November 18, 2009, 08:53:24 pm
charge them
you said your running a business unless you can do it when you go for sunday lunch like i do take sunday lunch for 4 as payment . b4 you ask my motherinlaws sunday roast is to die for . well worth a few clean windows .
just my opinion .
Title: Re: do i charge or not?
Post by: Nathanael Jones on November 18, 2009, 08:57:44 pm
hi nat,was just talking to the missus about joining the guild the other week glad you reminded me!do you supply logos for two vans on one subsciption(where from yorkshire)

There's 3 van stickers in the standard member pack,.. but if you need more they're only £3 each.
Title: Re: do i charge or not?
Post by: Blue Frog Systems on November 18, 2009, 09:05:02 pm
I clean my mother in laws house and charge her full price !

Sounds like they only ring when they want something, so i wouldnt bother to be honest.

If they treat your wife like a black sheep, why not them ;)
Title: Re: do i charge or not?
Post by: kevinc on November 18, 2009, 09:30:14 pm
nat,whats included in the pack?
Title: Re: do i charge or not?
Post by: Nathanael Jones on November 18, 2009, 09:37:39 pm
Everything you see here,... the  decals don't say 2009 anymore tho!
 ;D ;D
Title: Re: do i charge or not?
Post by: Niall McAllister on November 18, 2009, 09:38:12 pm
You don't charge family.
this might be what it takes to get them back together.
 was said above, do them every other month ;)
Title: Re: do i charge or not?
Post by: Niall McAllister on November 18, 2009, 09:39:38 pm
Everything you see here,... the  decals don't say 2009 anymore tho!
 ;D ;D
will you be including your W.I. jam recipes  ;)
Title: Re: do i charge or not?
Post by: martinsadie on November 18, 2009, 09:57:39 pm
if you charge family your not much of a man,right time of year to bring it up Scrooge  ;D
Title: Re: do i charge or not?
Post by: Blue Frog Systems on November 18, 2009, 10:08:06 pm
My mother in law gets charged at my wifes say so

Business is business

Title: Re: do i charge or not?
Post by: windowcleaninginessex.co.uk on November 19, 2009, 07:49:44 am
My mother in law gets charged at my wifes say so

Business is business


Just charge  a Sunday dinner
Title: Re: do i charge or not?
Post by: daniel worgan on November 19, 2009, 08:36:15 am
there not far away,wife doesn't mind as they don't see her that much-black sheep an all-i guess it would take either me or the wife(both clean)ten/fifteen minuites tops

They dont see the kids very often yet they live nearby,your wife is the black sheep of the family....yeh right go round there and clean all their gutters as well ::)
Tell them politely to p i s s off
Title: Re: do i charge or not?
Post by: JRDEasiReach on November 19, 2009, 11:29:21 am
I charge my mother, my granny, my uncle and my sis n law to clean their windows, the in laws dont want me to clean theirs :) Im running a business and would be severely out of pocket if i didnt charge them.  They all get a reduced rate though, with my uncle getting off the most of the lot :)
Title: Re: do i charge or not?
Post by: Niall McAllister on November 19, 2009, 09:16:18 pm
I charge my mother, my granny, my uncle and my sis n law to clean their windows, the in laws dont want me to clean theirs :) Im running a business and would be severely out of pocket if i didnt charge them.  They all get a reduced rate though, with my uncle getting off the most of the lot :)
if you can't afford to look  after family, you can't be running it that well :P
Title: Re: do i charge or not?
Post by: dai on November 19, 2009, 09:39:05 pm
I don't even charge my next door neighbour. They water my garden if we're away, take in parcels for us, and generally keep an eye out.
Mind you they only get done the same time as I do mine, about every 4 months
Title: Re: do i charge or not?
Post by: amayze on November 19, 2009, 10:34:17 pm
Do 'em for free.
You never know a neighbour might see you and ask you to do theirs.........plus you might alos get a small mention in one (if not both) wills !!
Title: Re: do i charge or not?
Post by: GWCS on November 20, 2009, 09:30:48 am
I don't even charge my next door neighbour. They water my garden if we're away, take in parcels for us, and generally keep an eye out.
Mind you they only get done the same time as I do mine, about every 4 months

Exactly do them when you can be bothered to do them or when you can (if your having to go out your way - driving route wise), or if they want something regular make them pay (perhaps discounted).

Otherwise do them in the dark when you have nothing else to do or when its raining. (thats when I do friends etc)

I do the in-laws for free but they have helped me out so many times, and they are very nice & i get on with them well and i always get a cuppa and lunch when i turn up to do them :P
Title: Re: do i charge or not?
Post by: JRDEasiReach on November 20, 2009, 04:41:41 pm
Well im just different to the rest of you :) So you would do family members for free even when they want a monthly clean?  If i done that i would be out of pocket all year round!!