[Londoner]

Once upon a time there were two window cleaners, Peter Perfect and Splash & Dash Sid. Both had sucessful businesses but the two couldn't have been more different.

Peter Perfect took a real pride in his work. He wouldn't leave a house till every window was 100% and often used to redo any window that wasn't up to his high standard. His customers loved him, even though most of his customers didn't realise actually how much effort he put into his windows.

Splash & Dash Sid on the other hand couldn't really have cared less what his customers thought of him. As long as they paid him they must be happy. Even if they weren't happy there was always another customer around the corner so why worry?

I have known both of these characters in my time. I must admit I am a little too close to being Peter Perfect but I believe that Splash and Dash is the real winner when the takings are counted at the end of the day.

Most of us want to be the best we can but is it the right way to go?

[Captain Scarlet]

I would like to think I was a hybrid of both:

Peter Splash Perfect Dash!!!

Without the not caring about customers part, but working as a quickly as I can, Luke

[Paul Coleman]

As ever, a compromise is called for.  Also it depends on the customer.  The more you do for some customers, the less satisfied they are.  They want perfection for a pittance.  I have taken a lot of care over my work and, apart from the very beginning, have had only two complaints in about 18 months.  Therefore, I am now speeding up.  The water flow has to be quite high to achieve it though.

[steve m]

someone once said to me  "dont leave a job unless you'd have it done on youre house" and I've always worked that way. 90% of all new work is now by reccomendation, I wonder why

[Dale Smith]

I agree with Steve M, I do each job as if it was my own house, well..... better probably 

[Wayne Thomas]

I would prefer to do the bare minimum, efficiently enough to be classed as acceptable in the quickest time now I'm WFP. I made the mistake of being too consciencous when I was trad but won't fall into that trap again. I prefer more money in my account, rather than having the reputation for being the best and also the slowest WF poler

[paulscotney]

I used to try to do a 100% job but all that is required is a 95% job. No "normal" person can tell the difference when you have finished, but the time taken to do a very good job or a perfect job is massive. Far more than a 5% increase in earnings. More like 25% at the very minimum.

[NWH]

I know a Peter perfect and even his customers think he`s mad,no joke.It`s when the phone keeps ringing for call backs,that`s when your doing something wrong if you have no complaints don`t worry.

[LWC]

just lately ive been flying around all my customers with my new employee, ive looked after them for so long i dont think they even care if i did them now or not, theyd just pay, im so friendly with them all, i wouldnt do anything for them, but if theyre in need of course i will. last year a customer of mine had a stroke his wife had no way of getting to the hospital 20 odd miles away, so i took her and waited till about 9 o clock with her then took her home. now theyve never forgotten that and for that i know they will never get anyone else.

i have priced up jobs and theyve said the window cleaners are awful, but theyre so friendly, and get on with them so well. sometimes, people wont get rid of a window cleaner because they like them

i trymy best to get a job perfect, everytime, all the frames are done everytime as well as the pvc, doors etc, and i always tell customers, any problems, let me know, its not a problem and ill be striaght back. have yet to be called back...gotta be a good thing hey

do your job well and the rest will come

[NWH]

LWC you hit it right on the head there m8,the number 1 priority is to get all your customers on side,if you do this you will have an easy life.

[riz]

I've found that if you get right up close to any window you've cleaned you will def see something wrong. I however do not want customers who study their windows from an inch away!!

No window can ever be 100% perfect ever.

[NWH]

I have window`s that i do with the pole on a regular basis and they DO come up PEFECT and i mean PERFECT all the time,some window`s just don`t give you any problems.

[Londoner]

I have always thought that the first clean is the big hurdle because thats when they will go round and check up on you. After that it should get progressively easier but getting them on your side is definitely part of the process.

Difficult customers don't help. I have just dumped a bloke who would go round and inspect every window before he paid me.