[Stoots]

I will only use add on work as a "bridge" to more window work from now on

what do i mean?

i mean when i set on an employee i will will push the add ons to bridge the gap until i pick up more windows, and so on and so forth.

[Frankybadboy]

all upvc cleans are left until bad rainy days 

[simon w]

I suppose if your a sole trader once you have a full round providing add ons might result in you spreading yourself a bit thin so to speak. If you employ and carryout residential work then these add on services can vastly benefit revenue and keep your employees working.

[markymark]

all upvc cleans are left until bad rainy days 

THIS ^
As long as all my windows work is up to date  I'll do my add-ons, usually at the end of the month - and then it's only for existing good customers.  Certainly beats doing the jobs around the house I've been putting off for the last oooh..... 13 years 

[lee_dewing]

I would say external window cleaning only.

But I have a couple of customers I do inside window cleaning for.

Same as Connie roofs, fsg cleans, just a few a year for existing customers.

Don't bother with add ons from enquiry call ups, just busy enough with windows.

Happiest cleaning, clean windows 😁

Maybe if I had more spare cash I'd buy a gutter vac and do that as an add on.

Other option is a Connie roof ladder and charge more of a restoration service.

But happy at the moment with my kull'd round of windows.

Don't like the stranger danger add ons bring😁
Driving about quoting.
"how much!"
"I'll get back to you on that"
"I need it done tomorrow"

Messers galore😁

[Splash & dash]

Inside cleaning can be very lucrative.

All i do is window cleaning ; render washing, upvc washing.

I discourage conservatory roofs. I hate them.

I dont clear gutters either, no money in it.

Really..? Perhaps you're not pricing correctly?

Well id rather blast through a bunch of houses at £30 a pop than spend a half day or more for £200 on one house, being covered in dirt, and wrestling with a huge gutter vac.

I might consider a sideline business StockSuck.    clearing out gutters and drains. Then that would be worth it

Clearing gutters will earn you a lot more than a few £30 houses if priced right . We love gutter vac work very lucrative , if you arnt earning 150 per hour you are doing something drastically wrong

[Walter Mitty]

I remember losing a job some years ago for the following reasons:
(1) through not cleaning frequently enough
(2) not cleaning insides (I asked him to give me more notice rather than letting me know on the day)
(3) not clearing gutters (inaccessible job without a gutter vac)
(4) not de-mossing the roof when asked (this looked like a major job and one for which I was not equipped)

On its own, (1) might have been fair enough as I had been going through some difficulties that distracted from work.  However, when added to the other reasons, I felt a need to point something out to him.  This was that if I carried out those extra tasks for even a small number of customers, the gap between window cleans would be even longer - meaning that the things he wanted from me were in conflict.

This was part of the process of deciding to reduce my additional services.  So, F/S/G exterior cleans and exterior conservatory roof cleans only.  If it's not built in to an annual agreement, I need to be notified on the previous visit so that I can work it in.  Sometimes I can do it on the spot if I'm in front with my work, but I tell them that I need some prior warning to guarantee that I can do it.

[dazmond]

i lost a job last year.a large house (inside every other clean)the pre notifiying could be a nightmare sometimes and on more than a few occasions id clean the outsides and be waiting  for her to come home to let me in to clean the insides (wasting time).

she eventually went with another window cleaning company who also offer jet washing services,roof cleaning(proper roofs not just conny roofs)etc as they had already been doing these services for her for a couple of years.

i can honestly say if she phoned me up again id refuse to take her on again unless it was just outsides only...

i also lost another one (a nice little road of 4 bedders)i clean nearly all of her neighbours but she wanted me to clean insides(i refused)georgian windows!no thanks.loads of junk in front of the windows too!i sometimes see the 2 chaps that clean hers now.their trad only.takes them ages to clean all her little windows by hand.been there, done that!

[NWH]

I advertise a lot of ad ons but half of them I won’t do myself I pass them on to another guy I know,I’m not cheap but I’ve been enquiring as to what other people charge for gutters and weatherboard washdowns and I reckon I’ve been far to cheap.

[Plankton]

This forum could have a negative impact on some folks business.
It's a wet day and your cleaning windows, a customer comes out and says I'd rather not as it's raining. Ciu reply stuff you I only want regular all weather customers.
Wet day phone rings, are you able to clear the gutter. Ciu reply stuff you I've stopped because I don't make 1 trillion an hour your a cheeky blighter phoning because it's raining and I bet you want it done tomorrow, if I do it it'll hold up my customers who don't know I clean the windows in heavy rain or are too scared to mention it incase I flounce off to pick up a new round of customers.
Can you do the insides today. Ciu reply maybes I maybes naw! I'll check the forum and see whether this is acceptable... Ok I'll do the kitchen window and I'll have a few biscuits with my cup of tea!
Can you clean the upvc. Ciu reply only if it's raining and my windows are up to date and you need to book me in advance... Somehow!
Can you clean inside of the conservatory roof. Ciu reply as before biscuits and kitchen windows only!
Outside of the conservatory roof. Ciu reply only if I'm expanding my business and I don't have anything for the new guy one day... So maybe next year but only if it's a regular clean.
Time spent writing this has probably cost me £35.00!

[NWH]

I don’t get what you mean Alan.

[Stoots]

You could just say NO Allen and keep the reasoning to yourself.

I think despite all the reasons the Main one is can I be arsed or not.

[Walter Mitty]

This forum could have a negative impact on some folks business.
It's a wet day and your cleaning windows, a customer comes out and says I'd rather not as it's raining. Ciu reply stuff you I only want regular all weather customers.
Wet day phone rings, are you able to clear the gutter. Ciu reply stuff you I've stopped because I don't make 1 trillion an hour your a cheeky blighter phoning because it's raining and I bet you want it done tomorrow, if I do it it'll hold up my customers who don't know I clean the windows in heavy rain or are too scared to mention it incase I flounce off to pick up a new round of customers.
Can you do the insides today. Ciu reply maybes I maybes naw! I'll check the forum and see whether this is acceptable... Ok I'll do the kitchen window and I'll have a few biscuits with my cup of tea!
Can you clean the upvc. Ciu reply only if it's raining and my windows are up to date and you need to book me in advance... Somehow!
Can you clean inside of the conservatory roof. Ciu reply as before biscuits and kitchen windows only!
Outside of the conservatory roof. Ciu reply only if I'm expanding my business and I don't have anything for the new guy one day... So maybe next year but only if it's a regular clean.
Time spent writing this has probably cost me £35.00!

No problem.  I'll put those jobs your way.  No charge!

Seriously, I have a gutter clearing contact who has a gutter vac and who doesn't clean windows.  So I put that work his way now as there's no chance of him going after my work. 
He's happy.  I'm happy.  Customer is happy.
And he may even reciprocate sometime with window cleaning work, though I'm not so bothered about that,

[Steve Newres]

Full personal.

[Plankton]

I don’t get what you mean Alan.

I'm sitting down after the school run this morning with a cup of tea and a sore back reading on here. I'm then thinking some folk must come on here spend time reading and then think wtf, I must be doing things all wrong.
I've got a dry sense of humour apparently so it's not intended to be a dig at anyone!

[dazmond]

This forum could have a negative impact on some folks business.
It's a wet day and your cleaning windows, a customer comes out and says I'd rather not as it's raining. Ciu reply stuff you I only want regular all weather customers.
Wet day phone rings, are you able to clear the gutter. Ciu reply stuff you I've stopped because I don't make 1 trillion an hour your a cheeky blighter phoning because it's raining and I bet you want it done tomorrow, if I do it it'll hold up my customers who don't know I clean the windows in heavy rain or are too scared to mention it incase I flounce off to pick up a new round of customers.
Can you do the insides today. Ciu reply maybes I maybes naw! I'll check the forum and see whether this is acceptable... Ok I'll do the kitchen window and I'll have a few biscuits with my cup of tea!
Can you clean the upvc. Ciu reply only if it's raining and my windows are up to date and you need to book me in advance... Somehow!
Can you clean inside of the conservatory roof. Ciu reply as before biscuits and kitchen windows only!
Outside of the conservatory roof. Ciu reply only if I'm expanding my business and I don't have anything for the new guy one day... So maybe next year but only if it's a regular clean.
Time spent writing this has probably cost me £35.00!

 

the truth is ive done all the PITA jobs before in my 25 years doing this job,i even used to cut some customers ivy down,fix gutters,a bit of painting etc but i dont want to(or need to)anymore.....

you can all make your own mind up what work you take on im simply telling you the work i cant be arsed with anymore...