[Steve H]

Hi Guys,

Im new to this site, great site by the way!!!!!

As in the heading, i am starting up my own business having been made redundant a few months ago. I now work only 2 or 3 days a week so am looking to get going with this (part - time at first) to increase my income.

Just wanted to ask the following please guys:

- when canvassing ( i will do this myself to start with as i'm not that busy) do you find it best to knock on the doors or just put leaflets through (or a bit of both)?
- secondly, when quoting prices i find that difficult at present as i assume most people expect you to clean the UPVC (frames) as well as the windows. Do you guys just take that into account and price it up accordingly, i will be using traditional method initially and only doing residential then move on the WFP from there probs depending on how busy i get.

Any ideas would be much appreciated, as i am canvassing tomorrow (saturday) and just wondering whether or not to put prices on any leaflets i post - thanks guys in advance

Steve

[Banbury Window Cleaning]

the best canvassing method we use is leaflet an area then go back 2-3 days later and door knock.
we always clean the frames etc and its no extra

[Steve H]

Thanks for the reply, sounds a good plan to me, will give it a try.

Just also wanted to ask if anyone knows the best stuff to use on the sills, i assume i would just use a sponge/cloths if really dirty and clean the sills with the same stuff i have in my bucket (ie using ungers liquid professional) just making sure that it wont cause problems with the upvc OR if other guys use anything different (I cant see how you can use different cleaning fluid windows and sill as you would need two buckets etc..
Thanks in advance 

[Banbury Window Cleaning]

firstly try ecover in your bucket loads cheaper then unger liquid and is great for blading
on first cleans we aslways do the upvc cills with Thompsons UPVC restorer as this gives a great finish and makes it easier for us on the following cleans 

[robertphil]

door knock or leaflet like a man possessed, dont go home till youve done proper long stints (not under 3 hours at a go) and you will be as good as guaranteed a roll in of work .   go home early and you will likely fail

[Steve H]

Thanks for the advice guys, much appreciated.
I am from a sales background (most of the last 20 years) and so canvassing is something i will hopefully take too quite easily as im comfotable chatting to people and used to the knockbacks.

I will have a look online for the upvc cleaning fluid - thanks again guys

[VSP Home Care]

Door knocking is the way mate, I've stuck out lots of leaflets and had nothing, go door knocking and you'll likely get one new customer an hour depending on area.

I wouldn't under price yourself or others, if you're working trad I'd still charge the same as the WFP boys and girls.  I think trad cleaners should charge way more than they do, people seem to think trad is the cheep alternative, but to be honest I'd charge way more to trad clean than WFP.

Plus if you charge peanuts when you're trad cleaning, then jump up the price for WFP at a later stage you might give your customers a shock.  We charge a minimum of £10, if someone grumbles and asks how much for fronts only I say £10 minimum or 15 all round, I always get the all round.

Good luck fella.

[Steve H]

Thanks for the reply fella, I agree, door knocking is the way to do it unless your really bad at it then you might have get someone else in to do it for you. I have leaflets that i will drop through doors that arent in and then probls follow them up.

If you pick this thread up again can i just ask how you work out a quote!!! ie do you use a per window price, say £1.00 per window (big or small - it will average out) or do you just have a look and say a price based on experience.

Thanks in advance and thanks for your input before.

[jk999]

you will find it hard cause there is that many window cleaner s now . you need to be good at what you do because customers can be very fussy n if u make mistake s they will drop u quicker than they set u on . I was lucky my dad set up nearly 60 years ago and we have lived in the same town all our lives so being well known helps with your window cleaning round

[robertphil]

IF YOU  feel somebody is a messer ditch them erly or dont even do their 1st clean , dont think theyll improve in personality over time cos they wont.   

[VSP Home Care]

Personally I just look at how long I think it's going to take me to do, I have a £10 minimum and if people ask "how much for the fronts only" I tell them 10 minimum and offer all round for 15, it seems to work for me.  I guess I don't pick up that many customers as other people, but the ones I do get seem to be good customers.

[William McCafferty]

Hi Steve

With pricing, firstly you need to see what the local cleaners are charging, if they are charging x amount, don't charge less because you think you will get more work, all you will pick up are the ones they have dropped off their round and you will be a busy cleaner earning nothing, unlike other businesses windys very rarely complete against each other in the domestic market.

Next look at what you will be doing, for instance you will be cleaning the glass, but look at the other small things that might get you the job, for instance when I give my price for a house and they seem to waver, I point out that I clean all the glass all the frames and sills, I wash down the front and back doors, the garage doors if they are white, I even clean the facial boards if they are really dirty or covered in green moss, I also clean low level guttering and I even call them to night before to let them know, that way they can leave the side gate open and leave the money in a safe place.

When you list all of this, the price you have quoted looks to be the deal of the century.

I also charge extra for the 1st clean, if they query this I just point out that the 1st clean will take longer than the maintenance ones.

The best way I have found when first quoting a figure is to say that the price is £22 for the 1st clean and then drops to £12 per month thereafter.

Starting off and getting new work is easiler than you will think, for a start ask everyone you know, neighbours, family, friends, ex work collagues, people down the local pub or club to spread the word that you are now a window cleaner and looking for work.

as has been said get some leaflets printed and drop them off locally to you, follow this up with a door knock, you will soon start to see the work coming in.

also use Ecover from your local supermarket, it is better than fairy, gg3, gg4 or some of the other chemicals that cleaners use and it covers up the mistakes a new cleaner will make when they are learning how to clean glass with a squeegie.

I would get some Oil flo which removes tape and a lot of residues from glass and frames quickly and easily and you can also try Docktor Powder, this is very good on dirty marked frames.

[bobplum]

dont forget to learn the following mantra  "dump,dump,dump,"repeat every day for a year and this will probably save your business in the long run

[Steve H]

Thanks guys, info appreciated, i guess price depends on where you live and wether you are using a waterfed pole or trad etc. Im going trad to start with but will want to mover over to wfp im sure in the next 12 months, will give myself a target date to focus on so i know if i'm heading in the right direction.

[4S Cleaning]

I have been using fairy in my bucket, had no complaints yet, but I have been on occasion having to go over the window again, think I will give ecover a go next time I'm out after reading advice on this thread, all the best Steve on your new business 

[DG Cleaning]

Fairy is fine, in fact most every washing up liquid will do a good job, I've used coop own brand or whatever I could get my hands on. If your having to redo windows its more likely technique not the soap.   

[4S Cleaning]

Thanks dg, I will take a look on you tube at techniques & say to my cousin about where I'm going wrong