[AuRavelling79]

Pole to window and water on as I knock to alert. Usually a thumbs up through the window. But I always start a second or two before I knock.

Only knock so as not to scare them!

[[GQC] Tim]

Always knock, you are on private property. Common decency and respect. If I had a window cleaner he would be dumped on the first clean if he wouldn't knock first. It's just rude to go into someone's gardens/private property without knocking first. You aren't asking permission, as said you are there on agreed frequency. I don't do "not todays". I still knock out of politeness. Every property, no matter how small or big.

Incredible some of these replies lol.  

You're on Private Property with the express permission of the householder confirmed by a verbal contract or if you're very astute a written one.
Should the dustbin men, milkman, postman etc knock when they arrive at unspeakably early times?
Many people today, even in the South West, simply don't have enough time or the desire to be bothered by anyone.

They don't exactly walk through the back gate, put a ladder up against the bedroom window do they?

[ben M]

Always knock, you are on private property. Common decency and respect. If I had a window cleaner he would be dumped on the first clean if he wouldn't knock first. It's just rude to go into someone's gardens/private property without knocking first. You aren't asking permission, as said you are there on agreed frequency. I don't do "not todays". I still knock out of politeness. Every property, no matter how small or big.

Incredible some of these replies lol.  

i knock every time, as above

Same as above

[Nameless Drudge]

Never knock though i did first time with some bought work,more importantly the customers do not expect it,its a window cleaners privilege!
                   I`d probably dump a customer that asked me to knock first and that means i`d get 2 more that don`t so its a no lose situation.
                  I always thought it was an unwritten rule. Think about it in detail there are so many reasons not to knock,yes its courteous but you`ve already shown courtesy by bothering to turn up and clean their windows for a pittance and the dirty low life window cleaner is expected to be lacking in a few social skills.I prefer my customers to regard me as a neccessary evil,never daring to turn me away and begrudgingly accepting my price increases.
                  This dump 1-get 2 more formula is fantastic,all my customers live on a precipice at the moment.

[mlscontractcleaner]

To be honest if I get asked to knock first the alarm bells start to ring as I think they'll be the not today sort of customer and I don't even put them on my books.

We've never knocked; we do a lot of flats, big blocks with intercoms. I'm buggared if I'm going to spend ten minutes stood by the main entrance buzzing everyone first.

They've asked me to call each month so I call each month. Anyway, most of my customers are at work when I call; I can only assume that the knock every time lads clean a lot of doley houses lol

[Johnny B]

When I had my round in England, I didn't need to knock before starting. Here in Ireland it's a completely different world as far as window cleaning goes.

Most of my customers I have to knock, as many are of the 'not today' or 'can you come back next week' brigade. I almost expect them to turn me away, but as I am still building my business up, I am rolling with the punches at the moment as I need the work. A few however, are happy for me to just turn up and work away.

It can be very frustrating at times, but by my reckoning, once I have enough good, reliable customers, I will be able to sort the wheat from the chaff and build a decent business here.

John   

[AuRavelling79]

Never knock though i did first time with some bought work,more importantly the customers do not expect it,its a window cleaners privilege!
                   I`d probably dump a customer that asked me to knock first and that means i`d get 2 more that don`t so its a no lose situation.
                  I always thought it was an unwritten rule. Think about it in detail there are so many reasons not to knock,yes its courteous but you`ve already shown courtesy by bothering to turn up and clean their windows for a pittance and the dirty low life window cleaner is expected to be lacking in a few social skills.I prefer my customers to regard me as a neccessary evil,never daring to turn me away and begrudgingly accepting my price increases.
                  This dump 1-get 2 more formula is fantastic,all my customers live on a precipice at the moment.

Top post Sean - even my wife laughed!