[[GQC] Tim]

I've noticed straight from the beginning how much longer it takes on first cleans with wfp. When I was trad, I never charged more, even though I did do a good wipe of the frames to make em look good. Even then I should have charged more I guess.

I find it really difficult to ask double for the first clean, even though I price my work well, when it comes to that point I always cringe when I try to say it's double for the first clean. I mean, £50 or £25, that's quite a lot.

Does anyone else have this? Maybe it's because I don't have a full round yet, and want to get the custom?

[gerard mcmanus]

I am still doing trad and had a much needed first clean today and it did take me a bit longer, but they were spot on when done, wouldn't think double though, what about doing the first clean trad then WFP after that.

Gerard 

[steven ainger]

i feel the same, i dont normally charge extra for the first clean, i just suffer the extra time because i want the new work. the only time i charge extra is if the windows are really bad, a one off or if its a builders clean.
im sure that when i get to where i want to be, customer wise, i will charge the extra but i still think it will only be 50% on top.

[geefree]

first clean i do at time and a half.... if its a tenner i say... 15 this time as they are really bad then 10 after that.... we all happy then.

[Wayne Thomas]

If you asked a new customer if he/she wants a 'one off' or regular and she replies regular, you may then spend twice as long to bring your new customer's windows up to the same standard as a regular clean.
Once cleaned really shiny, the customer phones and says we've sold our house, or we don't feel the need to have them done for another year, or we've found someone cheaper or whatever excuse they may come up with, how would you feel knowing you've worked twice as hard, twice as long for half the money you would have earnt elsewhere.
Don't feel guilty about asking 50-100% more for doing 50-100% more work on a new customer's windows than an existing, regular customer if you need to put in the extra work. The customer won't lose any sleep in taking advantage of your good nature with their dishonourable intention of using you once as a 'one off' and cancelling after you've completed the job.
Initial cleans, customers pay for my extra time, after that I'm on a lower set price for the windows which are regular.

[dmlservices]

i never used to but do now. why spend ages getting them good , only to be cancelled after 1 clean, usually by people who only want them cleaned for eg . moving house , christmas , ect, at least if you charge double you do not loose out , and i find it sorts out good from bad custys.been wcing 20 yrs + , you wise up to things over  that length of time.


daz

[Steve CM]

i just take first cleans on the chin. as long as i break even i'm fine. do a good job then cream it in from the second and so on cleans 

[ftp]

Idealy you should charge double BUT i find it very difficult to charge the customer for something that's not their fault but a problem of the wfp system itself. You could charge double then as a parting shot "by the way you may have a few spots and runs on the first clean". Not good.

[windowwashers]

rare that I charge double for a first clean, most of the time it is the set price for gegular, I do add that this price is for a min of 3/4 cleans and one-off cleans are set at standard rates, if they cancel after first clean they are charged one-off price which in most cases is way over double

[NWH]

I never ever do 1 off`s.

[windowwashers]

I never ever do 1 off`s.

Then you lose out on a lot of money NWH

[NWH]

No i don`t i`m getting the same amount for regular work mate.

[peter holley]

i charge the same but i explain, thast i only do regular.... if they only want a one off then its   £££££ more

[windowwashers]

No i don`t i`m getting the same amount for regular work mate.

so am I but adding to top end all the time

[peter holley]

work hard today...and tomorrow will be easier

[windowwashers]

work hard today...and tomorrow will be easier

I only wish that was true

[trike]

i never never charge more for first clean,its a new custie so im glad got more work.

[Chris Galloway]

first clean i do at time and a half.... if its a tenner i say... 15 this time as they are really bad then 10 after that.... we all happy then.

Pretty much how i do it. It really depends on how dirty their windows are afterall.

If they say anything i say its for the added time, and water used on the initial clean.
I can always compromise and say i will charge less on the forth subsequent clean to make it level, that way - the "one offs" dont get my regular prices.

[Tim82]

I've noticed straight from the beginning how much longer it takes on first cleans with wfp. When I was trad, I never charged more, even though I did do a good wipe of the frames to make em look good. Even then I should have charged more I guess.

I find it really difficult to ask double for the first clean, even though I price my work well, when it comes to that point I always cringe when I try to say it's double for the first clean. I mean, £50 or £25, that's quite a lot.

Does anyone else have this? Maybe it's because I don't have a full round yet, and want to get the custom?

I'm trying to get used to charging double for first cleans too... it takes you twice as long (especially if you're to leave it with no spots etc) and at least the customer will appreciate the price being half as much the next time too. I think we have every right to charge double the first clean. At least the time wasters will decline and the serious customers will still be keen.

[Ian Lancaster]

Your best, most reliable and easiest source of income is good, regular "maintenance clean" jobs.

One-offs, builders cleans and so one are extremely hard work, fine if you want to work twice as hard as necessary, but if you want a good regular income for the minimum effort then your efforts should be to build a full round of regular work.  If you have time for lots of "one-offs" etc, then you haven't got enough regular work.  What happens when the "one-offs" dry up?

When I quote, part of my "unique selling point" is that we DON'T charge any more for first cleans, regardless of how long they take.  I make it very clear that the agreement is we are happy to invest the extra time and effort but we expect the customer to have their windows cleaned regularly in the future.  Of course this doesn't stop the odd cheat from agreeing to this, then cancelling before the next visit, but they are very few, and they wouldn't have been good customers anyway.

We have full books of regular work, which means we know every week how much we are going to earn and how long it's going to take us.  Except for extreme weather, we don't have "short weeks" or gaps of unproductive time - all our working time is spent earning maximum income from minimum effort.