[M Henderson]

I received this email today from a lady in Banbury:

Hi there,
My new window cleaner charges £30 per month to clean my 17 windows (casements) once a month - outside only.  My husband thinks that this is too expensive as, according to him, our last house also had 17 windows on three floors (and not the current two) and our cleaner of 10 years charged just £8!
Is he right?  or was £8 too cheap?  I don't know how long the job takes because he cleans the windows while I am at work and leaves invoice for payment.
Your comments would be welcome.

My response would be this (below) but I thought I'd see what you guys say before replying.

There are many variables involved when pricing a job (eg. location, access, window style etc.)
so pricing a job is not an exact science.

However, £8 does sound very cheap for 17 windows - especially on three floors! Many window cleaners charge £1 per window, others I know of have a £10 minimum charge.

I would suggest that as a more reliable guide an experienced professional window cleaner working alone would likely charge in the region of £30 for a job which takes between 45 minutes and one hour including travel time.
Obviously if there are two of them cleaning then the job would likely take half the time for £30.

Hope that helps!

[leapstallbuildings]

I received this email today from a lady in Banbury:

Hi there,
My new window cleaner charges £30 per month to clean my 17 windows (casements) once a month - outside only.  My husband thinks that this is too expensive as, according to him, our last house also had 17 windows on three floors (and not the current two) and our cleaner of 10 years charged just £8!
Is he right?  or was £8 too cheap?  I don't know how long the job takes because he cleans the windows while I am at work and leaves invoice for payment.
Your comments would be welcome.

My response would be this (below) but I thought I'd see what you guys say before replying.

There are many variables involved when pricing a job (eg. location, access, window style etc.)
so pricing a job is not an exact science.

However, £8 does sound very cheap for 17 windows - especially on three floors! Many window cleaners charge £1 per window, others I know of have a £10 minimum charge.

I would suggest that as a more reliable guide an experienced professional window cleaner working alone would likely charge in the region of £30 for a job which takes between 45 minutes and one hour including travel time.
Obviously if there are two of them cleaning then the job would likely take half the time for £30.

Hope that helps!

Impossible to say for sure without seeing it but £21 - £25 would be a reasonable ballpark figure I guess.  £8 is clearly way too cheap.  If there are access or other  problems etc., then £30 may indeed be about right IMO.

[M Henderson]

You could mention different window cleaners have differing overheads, and then offer to give her a quote because your prices are more competitive because your overheads are lower.
 

I would have to charge at least £600 to make it worthwhile counting overheads!
Flight, accomodation, vehicle hire etc.

Worth asking though?

[Moderator David@stives]

He could have a minimum charge of £30 ?

I know a couple who have that minimum.

It doesnt matter how long it takes, she is either happy with the service or not.

any chance you could get her to send a photo of her windows

[windowcleaninginessex.co.uk]

He could have a minimum charge of £30 ?

I know a couple who have that minimum.

It doesnt matter how long it takes, she is either happy with the service or not.

any chance you could get her to send a photo of her windows

£30 minimum charge, and they get work?
I take only nice big houses

[AuRavelling79]

Don’t mention £30 minimum, you will encourage the I have been window cleaning umpteen years and you can’t have a minimum because “I” charge £7.50 and it’s flexible!   

  Touche!

[prestigeclean]

why tell her anything ? if you must reply tell her the price is spot on regards alan

[Niall McAllister]

i feel sorry for her window cleaner.
gave her a price she agreed to, now she's sneaking about looking to have him under cut.
just tell her that you cant comment on the charge as you cant see the variables.
Niall

[Window Cleaning Services]

i feel sorry for her window cleaner.
gave her a price she agreed to, now she's sneaking about looking to have him under cut.
just tell her that you cant comment on the charge as you cant see the variables.
Niall

Ditto

[Window Cleaning Services]

i feel sorry for her window cleaner.
gave her a price she agreed to, now she's sneaking about looking to have him under cut.
just tell her that you cant comment on the charge as you cant see the variables.
Niall

Ditto

[Window Washers]

Don’t mention £30 minimum, you will encourage the I have been window cleaning umpteen years and you can’t have a minimum because “I” charge £7.50 and it’s flexible!   

Time to raise mine I think lol