[Sseddon]

Everybody that calls just seems to want a one-off clean. Should I be trying to persuade them to have a reg clean, or just be glad of the work and charge double?

[Sean Dyer]

if you have the time charge for it at your hourly rate - simples

[Sseddon]

I am, but I really want to be building a round.

[Ian101]

im about a month in and not had this so far .... would I do a one off ?? at this stage if it was about £30 an hour then yes ... never know may convert at a later date to a regular ?

[Jackal]

i dont do one-offs i always think where would we be if most people asked for one-offs,struggling make a living,but up to you if you do decided to carry on doing them charge more than double, i would anyway

[EZclean]

cant be bothered with em. same reason as above.

"so you want them cleaned but dont want them to be kept clean.....

better things to do

[Sseddon]

i dont do one-offs i always think where would we be if most people asked for one-offs,struggling make a living,

That's how I feel, but I'm finding I convert them to a 4 weekly clean and they cancel before the second one & I've only picked up £12 for the first hard clean instead of £25 which really represents the work I've put in.

[Sseddon]

"so you want them cleaned but dont want them to be kept clean.....

Exactly what my mum said when I told her. (Dad was a window cleaner)

[AuRavelling79]

I do if I get really good rate and I've a bit of spare time in the summer.

[Sseddon]

Problem is that I'm just starting and 80% seem to just want a one-off. In truth I can't really afford to turn them down.

[EZclean]

we'd be like carpet cleaners if we only did one offs.

obviously we could charge more

not for me

i want to clean clean windows

[LSB]

i dont do one offs ( not deliberately , anyway ! ) ,
i manage to convert quite a few of these enqiries into 8 weekly .
however , if youre just starting out , and need the income , then do them at the correct high price ! , and be seen in these roads by the neighbours , hopefully getting you more work .
when youre busier , then you can say no to one offs , and mean it !

[LQQK]

Ive got a one-off I priced  up yesterday.

10 windows and I felt guilty putting in a price of £22.00

It'll take 15 mins but she was happy to pay so why not.

[chopsie]

I did one yesterday £20 8 windows and a patio door, I felt a bit guilty at the price, But then thought sod it, its a one off and she came to me and accepted the price

[Sseddon]

In future I will quote daft money for one-off and reasonable 8 week option with higher priced first clean so that if they cancel after 1st, I've at least got decent pay for first one.

[Jackal]

dont no how you go about it but next time just say i come around once a month wait for there reaction first if they say yes thats ok your in there,but if they look like they ready say p**s off say if you want every 2 months its a different price because it takes you longer about 30 - 50% extra ,as for 1 offs set yourself a minimum price id go for £20 at least.

iv had a few try it on before with one-offs and after a few months have come to me again saying they will go for monthly clean,i no at the moment you need the cash but to be honest these type of customers arnt what you want in your book more trouble than its worth sometimes.

[Sseddon]

dont no how you go about it but next time just say i come around once a month wait for there reaction first if they say yes thats ok your in there,but if they look like they ready say p**s off say if you want every 2 months its a different price because it takes you longer about 30 - 50% extra ,as for 1 offs set yourself a minimum price id go for £20 at least.

iv had a few try it on before with one-offs and after a few months have come to me again saying they will go for monthly clean,i no at the moment you need the cash but to be honest these type of customers arnt what you want in your book more trouble than its worth sometimes.

I like "I come around once a month". I will use that. I don't want one-offs and truthfully I think all window cleaners should turn them down, me included. Lots of good advice.

Thing is with WFP, first cleans are really hard, so a one-off is a major pain for a novice. I will turn them down in future I think or just put in a totally ludicrous £60 an hour price.

[Mike_G]

Be thankful they are decent enough to tell you they only want a one off clean I have done loads of work over the years which when you first quote they say "oh yes we would like them done every month" only to be told when finished "I will call you when I want them done again" Charge a few shillings more if you have time to do them, keep at it and the regular work will come along soon enough

[Tom White]

I did one yesterday £20 8 windows and a patio door, I felt a bit guilty at the price, But then thought sod it, its a one off and she came to me and accepted the price

That's the idea if you can't persuade them to have a regular clean.

But my favourite customers are large, well priced domestic; rural accounts; with a long frequency of every two-or-three months.

I price these very well and because of the long frequency, they're always happy to see us.  So try using a longer frequency - but a higher price per clean - as bait.  Say something along the lines of, "Most window cleaners insist on every-four-weeks, but I'll do them every 8 (or something like that).

[SPE]

was cleaning a 3 storey house the other day, a new regular.
neighbour opposite asks if I can clean hers 1 off, just a 1st floor bay (its a flat) ok I say as I have the equipment set up anyway, then another the same, so the outcome is that I earnt twice as much as I was expecting for an extra 10 mins work 
then yesterday I get a call from a shop in town who have been passed my number, go quote for it and will be cleaning it 2 weekly and signage washdown monthly, turns out the shop owner is a friend of the lady who asked for the one off and recommended me.
work is work and money is money whichever way you look at it, I've never really understood why some people flatly refuse to clean one offs out of principle, sure a regular customer is better but to turn down work could be a missed opportunity.

Stick at it Steve, I've a few repeat one offs now who will call me several times a year, I just explain to give me a weeks notice or so then I can fit them in. I dont charge as much as double, typically I stick maybe an extra fiver on and explain they are welcome to book me in at their convenience but if they wish to go on my regular round there will be a reduction in price.