[Flash..]

Presuming you knock the door before starting work
I say something like " Morning window cleaner, alright to carry on?" which I think makes it easy for them to say no give it a miss this time.  What do you say, or do you just carry on which I am starting to think might be a good policy as they have already agreed/asked you to clean them?  But I think its polite to let them know you are around saving any embarassing incidents

[EandM]

Never.

[Window Washers]

Never.

Same ^^^

[Total shine cleaning services]

Always as it's courtesy but I would not ask an open ended question which as you say does give them an opportunity to possibly decline, I usually just say hello and have usually dragged half my hose out and have brush in my hand, I have had the odd one who does say "is it ok not to have them cleaned this month" I then say sorry I can't as you have not given me enough notice to fill the time slot with another customer.

Graham

[Window Washers]

Always as it's courtesy but I would not ask an open ended question which as you say does give them an opportunity to possibly decline, I usually just say hello and have usually dragged half my hose out and have brush in my hand, I have had the odd one who does say "is it ok not to have them cleaned this month" I then say sorry I can't as you have not given me enough notice to fill the time slot with another customer.

Graham

time out over a month how much time you waste doing this, you will be surprised I used to do this but I stopped for the following reasons:

Wasted time standing there when could have started and finish quicker
customers sometimes said can you leave it this time
stand there waiting and no answer (wasting time)


they are three that comes straight to mind which is enough not to knock first.

Now we start then knock, still curtious and cuts down on wasted time, if customer comes out and says not this time (which is very rare) we offer to clean the front only at min charge as we have already started, they normally just say oh do them all if not at least we have not cost time and money.

[rg1]

If the customer knows your coming then there's no need to knock.

[Erithwc]

If you knock first how are you going to catch them sunbathing in the nude  

[dazmond]

defo NO from me.i just turn up and start cleaning every month,6 weeks,2 monthly.whatever the agreed frequency is.im roughly on schedule every month give or take a few days.

i do book the odd clean in esp if im cleaning inside.i had a posh house to clean inside and out this morning booked in for 9am.all done!easy morning!weekend off now!!happy days!!

[wfp master]

no never. time is money dont want to be standing waiting on someone to answer the door. would have half the house done by the time it takes some people to answer the door.

[KS Cleaning]

I have just refused to take on 2 Asian customers who wanted me to knock first, and if they wern't in wanted me to leave them,told them to try another window cleaner as that's not how I work.

[SB Cleaning]

I don't bother knocking.

[dotty]

dont mess about if they have it monthly do it monthly if it fortnightly  they should know when you are coming

[Crystal-clear]

Never.

[Richard iSparkle]

never knock...  unless its the first clean when we will.

[Jackal]

i dont knock first as a lot of mine come out to pay me saving me time standing at the door waiting,

altough i pulled up to clean a house this week only done it 3 times up to now and she was outside painting the gates which were closed so said do you want windows doing luv,she said no ok thanks,i should of put it another way realy so she couldnt say no but not fussed now shes dumped

[Tom White]

I have just refused to take on 2 Asian customers who wanted me to knock first, and if they wern't in wanted me to leave them,told them to try another window cleaner as that's not how I work.

I've been asked similar and replied similarly.

[gary999]

only if they have to give me access to rear of property through
garages etc

[Ian101]

I knock on 1 door out of all of mine ... an old lady of a very nervous disposition but never had a leave it this time.

No need to knock otherwise as you agreed a price and frequency with em so why bother.

In parts of Liverpool the challenge is to get the brush on the glass before they come out and say leave it this time

[LWC]

I have a few i knock first, sometimes i wish i just carried on as it does give them chance to say not this time.

But most of the ones i do knock i knock for a reason, ie cant get over the gate, or need to go thru garage/house.

[[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.