[dazmond]

i think its a bad idea as well.most will accept 2 monthly cleans if u want to be not as regular.maybe 3 monthly at a higher price but dial-a-clean?too much hassle!!u want regular work and fit the others on a not as frequent basis and charge a higher price.keep it simple!

i would say its a naive stupid idea.

regards

dazmond

[james44]

Dazmond( 3 monthly at a higher price) exactly!

[amayze]

In principle this seems like a good idea, however, pratically I don't think it'll work.

Firstly, the level of marketing required to;
(a) Get the message across that you are a window cleaner NOT offering a regular but one-off cleaning service. You would probably need to repeat your message 3 or more times, to capture enough peoples attention to get the message across. Therefore, this would be cost prohibitive.
(b) You're then relying on people keeping your number safe thro' the year. There are a very few that will, for example, not everybody can find that chinese takeaway menu when they want it ! And they would probably use the Chinese then than would use a w/c to clean their gutters.

Secondly, you would cannonabilize your existing business; when your current customers recognise that you are allow a percentage of your customer base to have a 'pay-as-you' service, then they will want to follow suit as it would save them a few quid.
In reality, you would probably find four weekly customers slip to six or eight weekly, giving them the best of both worlds ! Whilst the customer wins, you would lose out and I doubt if you would gain enough one off customers to compensate.

Finally, the cost;
(a) You would want to quote a job before you did it, which means 2 visits, two lots of fuel etc,
(B) If you quoted 2 or 3 times the normal amount (as quoted) the potential customer may feel that they aren't getting value for money and decided to postpone or totally cancel the idea of having their windows or gutters cleaned.

Now where I think this idea works is,
(a) In the main the window cleaning fratenity are too willing to dismiss one-off cleans as they would prefer regular repeat customers, unless you're just starting out and any work is better than no work.
(b) The guy walking the streets, is able to both price up & probably complete the job at the same time.

In short, I don't think we should turn down one-off cleans unless we are totally rammed with customers when they come along, but should we try and create, offer and market a one-off clean service as something in addition to our regular service - then NO.

[Tosh]

Has anybody considered the market has change in the UK?

For example are there more home owners today compared to the 60’s 0r 70’s?

I don't know if anyone has mentioned Texas Girl?  She does window cleaning on demand in Texas, but only because it's a much bigger job over there (it would be wouldn't it; it's Texas).  They have shutters and fly screens to keep the bugs out; these all get removed and the dust washed out.  She charges (and this was some years ago) something like £6 per window and cleans them annually.

If I charged £10 for a 3 bed semi for a regular monthly clean, I think I'd want about £30 to £40 (depending on location and access) for a one-off clean.  But how many people would be prepared to pay that?  Maybe some would, especially on the lead-up to Christmas, but usually?

[rg1]

Another thought..If you don't already have a customer base of regulars then you would need a hell of a lot of one off cleans to make a living. 

[JRDEasiReach]

In principle this seems like a good idea, however, pratically I don't think it'll work.

Firstly, the level of marketing required to;
(a) Get the message across that you are a window cleaner NOT offering a regular but one-off cleaning service. You would probably need to repeat your message 3 or more times, to capture enough peoples attention to get the message across. Therefore, this would be cost prohibitive.
(b) You're then relying on people keeping your number safe thro' the year. There are a very few that will, for example, not everybody can find that chinese takeaway menu when they want it ! And they would probably use the Chinese then than would use a w/c to clean their gutters.

Secondly, you would cannonabilize your existing business; when your current customers recognise that you are allow a percentage of your customer base to have a 'pay-as-you' service, then they will want to follow suit as it would save them a few quid.
In reality, you would probably find four weekly customers slip to six or eight weekly, giving them the best of both worlds ! Whilst the customer wins, you would lose out and I doubt if you would gain enough one off customers to compensate.

Finally, the cost;
(a) You would want to quote a job before you did it, which means 2 visits, two lots of fuel etc,
(B) If you quoted 2 or 3 times the normal amount (as quoted) the potential customer may feel that they aren't getting value for money and decided to postpone or totally cancel the idea of having their windows or gutters cleaned.

Now where I think this idea works is,
(a) In the main the window cleaning fratenity are too willing to dismiss one-off cleans as they would prefer regular repeat customers, unless you're just starting out and any work is better than no work.
(b) The guy walking the streets, is able to both price up & probably complete the job at the same time.

In short, I don't think we should turn down one-off cleans unless we are totally rammed with customers when they come along, but should we try and create, offer and market a one-off clean service as something in addition to our regular service - then NO.

This is the best response to this so far, very well thought out, the reason i thought it was a good idea was that we shouldnt turn down one offs even if we have a full round but didnt think it was solely aimed at those customers, it surely will make other w/c's hunt you down and try to kill you

[ftp]

The only person this would suit would be a cleaner who hasn't enough work and is desperate to earn more.

[ftp]

How many dial-a-cleans do you think you'll get when the weather is bad? I know exactly how many. What are the chances of each job being close to the next? I know the answer to that. How many people will part with forty to fifty quid for fifteen minutes work? I think I know. 

[chopsie]

The only person this would suit would be a cleaner who hasn't enough work and is desperate to earn more.

that will be me then 

[gary999]

 i thought the majority of cleaners already offer a one
off cleaning service i know i do i obviously charge more
and i generally fit them around my regular work same with
gutter cleaning which 99% are one off jobs.

i offer my custies 4,6,8 and for really large properties 12 weekly cleans
the majority go for 4 weekly with the option to go to 6 weekly if
it isnt working out for them but i have found very few want 12 weekly.

i would of thought a nice full round of good regular customers
would make more sense which you are constantly refining to
your advantage(more money less work) rather than chasing your tail.

winter time without your regular custies you are really going to suffer

[dazmond]

everythings been said!it WONT WORK!regular custys is what u want for regular repeat income esp in winter.then one off cleans at a high price in the spring/summer along with the conny roofs/fascia/gutter cleans if u can fit them in!

as for charging £45 to clean a normal house.dream on!its never going to happen!some of us live in the real world.as for £10 a clean NO WAY EITHER on a monthly clean up north!u would just end up getting undercut.

regards

dazmond

[ronnie paton]

dazmond im up north and dont charge less than ten pound and my business is over 4 years old so it does work, has for the dial a clean you could have a team who only doone offs  but more han window cleaning ie guters con roof presure washing,

so it could work but not has a business in its own right but running side by side

[dazmond]

dont be surprised if u get undercut ronnie! ;)a tenner for a small 3 bed semi.not a chance and i work in an affluent area!guys round where i work clean for £4-£6 per house and there are lots of em!im upping mine every year but on compact stuff no more than £8.they simply wont pay as there used to getting them done cheaper by other windys. : :

[geoffreyspecht]

I like this idea and just as you mention it as i was canvassing the other day a man said to me i just normally ring a guy and he comes out and cleans them sure ill take your flyer and now ill ring you was annoyed in a way but when i went on and thought about it i think its a great idea, if we dont just kick these types to the kerb then we will be the ones with the extra cash in our pockets as and when and not others

what a stupid idea

[dazmond]

i was thinking the same geoff.i think JRD has got a lot to learn yet!

[geoffreyspecht]

Hi this is an idea from a post from dai,

Dial-a-clean is exactly what it is, a clean when you want it service

I have thought long and hard about this and i think dai is so right, we all seem to target a small number who want regular cleans i think the vast majority would only want your service now and again.

before anybody says about regular customers you will still have them

now what made my mind up was i got talking to a lad on the dole and he appears in the summer to clean windows gutters etc i asked if he got many houses to do he said yes,

Now all he does is walk around all day knocking doors to get work, thing is these people see you about all the time but they dont ask you to clean there windows why! because we all want regular customers and most know this so wont ask you to do theres you may get some but not alot, i have myself turned people down because i wanted regulars.

Now just to test this way of working i got a mate to go around houses all day knocking on doors did he get work yes he did and he earned over £90.

Now i am at the moment getting flyers done to target the no so regular customers who will come near easter will be looking out for a window cleaner it could be you or the guy with the ladders walking the streets, i think people will keep your number as you are not forcing them to have it done regular, i mean how many times have you done a house for them to say i will ring when i want them done again normaly we would ditch them i dont do this anymore.

If these people keep hold of your number there is a good chance you will be doing there windows in the spring and (you never know they just might decide to keep hold of you) that means less work for the street walkers as the customers know they will be coming along so why not you!

Price wise could be example:

Regular clean 4 weekly  £5:00

8 weekly £7:50

12 weekly £10:00

i have been thinking of offering a package deal like

windows cleaned

guttering

wheelie bin cleaning.


now i  am sure there will be a lot of opinions as to this set up  so what do you all think,

just to have you think about it customers call plumbers, tilers plasterers, decororators any trade as a when you want service, and most trades people get repeat work from regulars.

so lets see what we all think!

what stupid idea and your prices r to cheap anyway

[karygate]

i think the idea is good if you only want a saturday job. to make it full time would involve a lot of hard work and time consum ing with little reward. oh thats me anyway i think

[dai]

When I posted this idea originally, it was as advice to guys starting out in this business, if you only have 2 days work a week it makes sense.
I also said that I hoped nobody would start this in my area.
I know a lot of my customers would love to have their windows cleaned as and when they wanted, I could lose out in a big way.
I really think that dial a clean could be a good stepping stone into building a full time round of regular customers.
It's better to be earning something than nothing.

[dai]

Just another thought, how many big commercial outfits work on a dial a clean principle?
If Dave St Ives  gets to do the Eden Project domes, you can bet your life it wouldn't be more than once a year if that.

[dazmond]

i think most customers want a regular reliable window cleaner whos trustworthy,does a good job and charges a fair price.MOST custys want this i believe.

absolutely ridiculous to let the custy dictate to u!what are u gonna do?wait at home for the phone to ring?