[Londoner]

ive quite a few of these "novelty "types.  you can see it on their face after the third clean.  i then relegate them to the lower class and only clean  when it suits me , this keeps them from droppin u .  come this spring im going to have a fresh trawl for new work and  then drop  the noveltys

Its always been the same. Short attention span

[bobplum]

up here we still have a 2eekly clean and 4 weekly i dont know of any 8 weeklys up here on domestics must be a southern thing lol

im in chester dave ,were are you
i think its the fact this guy(the wc) keeps turning up and taking money from people every 4 weeks.its almost the repetitiveness of the situation and people start thinking "this is a lot"and then its "can you call every two months or more ,they are only windows"
im trying to take the sting out of it by moving everyone on to 5 weekly cleans
i did work out that by moving everyone from 4 to 6 weeks id lose £6000 a year as it stands so i suppose im £3000 down by moving to 5 weekly,i will have to do more plumbing jobs? or start advertising for conny roofs etc

[Tosh]

I won't do 'on demand', but I will adjust my frequency; and most of my favourate jobs are done every-other-month and priced really well. 

When I'm asked to quote for a stand-alone house; I'll make sure its big enough for me to stick in a decent price; and I'll explain that I can do it monthly or every-other-month.  I'll say that I think monthly is a little too regular, but its slightly cheaper, but if they want to save money and still have a regular window cleaner, I'll charge them a little bit more and come every-other-month, six-times-per-year.

I may also comment that many window cleaners come every-four-weeks, which is I think is too regular.

And then I'll stick in a GOOD price and it seems to work.  I like what I get for these jobs and the customer doesn't see too much of me.

[dazmond]

sounds like what im planning on doing when i go wfp tweedledum.i do a few good priced 8weekly stand alones but could do with more.ive got about 150 v.compact 3 bedders that are ok 4-5 weekly as there underpriced!gonna creep them up and 170 other accounts ranging from granny flats/converted barns/4/5 bedroom houses/bungalows/childrens home/nurseries etc almost all 4-5 weekly but underpriced again!

[simbo]

people used to put up with regular because they thought they would not get another if not, now though  50% could not give a toss as the country swarming with them now thanks to wfp and can easily get another.
paul

[John Walker]

I think one way to avoid being treated as the 'lowest of the low' as previously mentioned is to always turn up professionally turned out in uniform with logos.

It doesn't cost much but it does make one hell of a difference in the way you are treated.

I've seen a number of cleaners round here and they dress in old work clothes, haven't shaved and when in pairs there's a lot of 'chav' shouting between them.

If we want to be treated with respect we have got to earn it.  Window Cleaning has moved on and so must we.   

Right off my soap box now 

[dazmond]

i agree john.i often get told im too articulate,smart and bright to be just a window cleaner!appearance is only half of it! ;Dwork steady and professionally and people wont look down on u.most dont to me as im 6ft 2in!be polite,honest and matter of fact and of course have a sense of humour and u wont go far wrong!!(and get round regular!)

[Tosh]

i agree john.i often get told im too articulate,smart and bright to be just a window cleaner!

Who tells you that?  It doesn't show in your posts.

 

[dazmond]

what i meant to say,is that whathappens  when i clean my mums windows!

[JRDEasiReach]

Tweedledum if you want to try and get the customer to go to an 8 weekly then thats your look out but dont start dissing other cleaners who work on a 4 weekly basis as it gets them more cash in their pocket, i also believe 4 weekly is the easiest way of working out your cashflow and exactly how much you will have each month in your bank account.  Theres loads out there that have regular cleaners, there are the same who mess you about, ive got both sorts.

[1wayno]

i agree,i think 4weekly is the best frequency to have,i only do the odd 8weekly,but i charge good for em and i dont like doin it 8weekly

[geefree]

After 8 weeks the glass is similar to a first clean, and should be charged accordingley.

i prefer 4 weeks as its keeping the windows cleaned " mantainance"

and in the summer the customers love to see nice shiny frames and glass, on house and conservatory.

not minging muck left for 8 weeks...

i agree its personal choice for us window cleaners....

and thats my little view.

[Window Washers]

After 8 weeks the glass is similar to a first clean, and should be charged accordingley.

i prefer 4 weeks as its keeping the windows cleaned " mantainance"

and in the summer the customers love to see nice shiny frames and glass, on house and conservatory.

not minging muck left for 8 weeks...

i agree its personal choice for us window cleaners....

and thats my little view.

8 weekly is nothing like a first clean, have you been on the sherry ?

[geefree]

well they are nearer to a first clean ....and anyway how do you define a first clean.... 6 weeks , 6 months .. a year?

i like 4 weekly , keeping them up to scratch is better ... especially on a main road.

[Window Washers]

well they are nearer to a first clean ....and anyway how do you define a first clean.... 6 weeks , 6 months .. a year?

i like 4 weekly , keeping them up to scratch is better ... especially on a main road.

I define a normal first clean as one that has not had wfp before, some people me included when trad do not clean the frame unless paid extra (  shoot me, it worked for me for years  ) anyway back to point, 8 weekly when wfp is not that much different there is a little more work involved but no where near a first clean amount. If it was 6 months maybe about twice as long, but 8 weekly cleans take about 5% more time to clean maybe 10% if there is birds about

[dazmond]

windowwashers why would u spend an extra 5 mins cleaning if a few women are watching u?

[Clive McDonald]

Ref above on demand.This is stupid. Our business model is based on repeat business and small but regular growth in the general direction of making work more compact, whilst progressively weeding out the idiots.


This on demand model asks if not begs for idiots, asks for a low hourly wage, high call back rates, and a lot of time quoting for jobs you won't get.As in, it will be £20 as a one off and hasn't been cleaned for five years, but only ten if you had it done regulary.
"The last chap was a fiver you chancer, but i ,might pay you six if you do the frames and i inspect it after it's dry."
"okay I'll do it for ten"
"I'll speak to the wife and ring you"
"But i've driven five miles to quote i was expecting to do it now."
"as i said i'll speak to the wife and ring you"


Good luck.

[matt]

i tell my customers i will be 6 to 8 weeks BUT i warn them i can run over as i dont clean in heavy rain and i like my holidays ( i am truthfull from the start and most respect that ) 90 % or my work comes from recommendations and that speaks volumes

i have built my round that i could work full time at any time, i like the idea of having too much work and whilst i run slightly late, its a nice feeling to know that a few cancellations will not effect me

funny this has come about, i was thinking of advertising as a " on-demand window cleaner " when my daughter starts school, mrs jones have family coming, she panics and thinks " look at my windows " she then thinks of me, i have that card in the junk drawer and phones me, she pays over the odd's as its a non-regular clean,  i get some over-the-odds priced work and fill a odd spare day i have

[1wayno]

windowwashers why would u spend an extra 5 mins cleaning if a few women are watching u?

got to have a good perv lad lol

[simbo]

i tell my customers i will be 6 to 8 weeks BUT i warn them i can run over as i dont clean in heavy rain and i like my holidays ( i am truthfull from the start and most respect that ) 90 % or my work comes from recommendations and that speaks volumes

i have built my round that i could work full time at any time, i like the idea of having too much work and whilst i run slightly late, its a nice feeling to know that a few cancellations will not effect me

funny this has come about, i was thinking of advertising as a " on-demand window cleaner " when my daughter starts school, mrs jones have family coming, she panics and thinks " look at my windows " she then thinks of me, i have that card in the junk drawer and phones me, she pays over the odd's as its a non-regular clean,  i get some over-the-odds priced work and fill a odd spare day i have

this works for me also matt, ther are a lot of customers want a cleaner but feel 4 weekly too often most of mine rally good after 8 weeks,plus on a4 weekly i would get even more bored with the rounabout
paul