[Jack Wallace]

I had a call this week to go and price a job, the lady was looking for a regular 8-12 week service.

When I arrived it turned out to be a large house set in lovely grounds, a brand new Volvo XC 90 on the drive plus a couple of other very nice cars.

My first thought was "these folk are loaded" my second thought was, "so what"

I have a method of pricing which is a point system, that way if it’s a bungalow or buckingham palace the price is comparable and spot on every time.

Once I had added up the points, I arrived at the price and told the lady. She agreed so I arranged to do the job next day.

When I had finished she came out and looked at the work, she was very happy, (naturaly  ) then said. "My husband and I would like to thank you for giving us a fair price, we have had 4 quotes all were ridiculously high"
And because my price was fair (not cheap) she changed to 4 weekly and asked me to quote her husband’s offices and her neighbour.

My point... don’t be greedy just because its a big house, (unless you live near me, in which case carry on so I can clean up after you) 

[Ian101]

fair price for a fair days work or summit like that 

would you mind explaining how the points based system you have works please ?

I work on a quid a window plus 1 for good luck (read that on here ages ago) but always open to new ideas

[Jack Wallace]

fair price for a fair days work or summit like that 

would you mind explaining how the points based system you have works please ?

I work on a quid a window plus 1 for good luck (read that on here ages ago) but always open to new ideas

I have never understood how the "quid a window" works!

Windows come in all shapes and sizes so therefore it can not be accurate, you may just as well say. "I guess"

I tried all sorts of methods until I came up with my system. It works well as I am able to adjust it to suit which area I am working in.  I am able to tell my lads and anyone canvassing for me how to price, that way I don’t get any poorly priced work and all my jobs are comparable.

I am sure you will understand if I don’t post on here how I price, depending where you are I will be happy to email you, but putting prices on an open forum where my competitors may (and do) visit would not be the brightest move. Forums are a great idea but some things are best not shared if you want a successful business.

[Jack Wallace]

Ian, you dont have an email address in you profile,
If you would like to know how I price drop me a line and I will try and explain it to you.

wingman684@hotmail.com

[bobby p]

i totally agree , dont be greedy is a good motto. i normally price up at a quid per window but then subtract at least 1 or 2 windows. now and again i hear of some really cheap prices and this reassures me im not too cheap. bit of a daft method really i know

[Sunshine/Cleaning]

I wouldn't worry about posting how you price up, out of 5 of you who quoted for the house above the other 4 were quite a lot higher. Are you sure your the one that is pricing up right?

[the bfg]

I'm never greedy when it comes to pricing and I too have a decent system which has proved successful for me.

what I do is a min of £10 and then the bigger the house I round off to an even and fair price

for example houses that I may come up with a price of £11,£12, £13 or £14  I round off to £12

houses beween £16 and £19  I round off at £15

houses at £21,£22, and £23 I round off at £20

houses between £24 and £28 I round off at £25

£29 to £33 I round off at £30

and as I tell all potential customers prices include frames and sills

[chopsie]

I use the same rate whether its a 60 grand council house or a million pound mansion. Its just not right to me to have different rates for different people/areas. I am currently charging min £8 and put/putting up the few customers I have below that.

[Jack Wallace]

I wouldn't worry about posting how you price up, out of 5 of you who quoted for the house above the other 4 were quite a lot higher. Are you sure your the one that is pricing up right?

I am positive I priced correctly, I have been in this game long enough to know what is fair and what is "trying it on"

I know what most of my competitors charge for about a 20 mile radius as generally we all get on well and charge about the same.  The prices the lady was quoted were very high for this area and she knew it, which is why she called in more than one company/cleaner.
I will make good money on this job just as I do all my others whether I do it or send one of the lads.

[Sunshine/Cleaning]

I wouldn't worry about posting how you price up, out of 5 of you who quoted for the house above the other 4 were quite a lot higher. Are you sure your the one that is pricing up right?

I am positive I priced correctly, I have been in this game long enough to know what is fair and what is "trying it on"

I know what most of my competitors charge for about a 20 mile radius as generally we all get on well and charge about the same.  The prices the lady was quoted were very high for this area and she knew it, which is why she called in more than one company/cleaner.
I will make good money on this job just as I do all my others whether I do it or send one of the lads.

That sounds like a good call then.

[LQQK]

I have never understood how the "quid a window" works!

Windows come in all shapes and sizes so therefore it can not be accurate, you may just as well say. "I guess"

I tried all sorts of methods until I came up with my system. It works well as I am able to adjust it to suit which area I am working in. 

Sounds like just about the same system as a quid a window/30 pence a pane/whatever figure your happy to go by per metre.

Anyone who works on a set price per window is most likely to ALSO allow for 'adjustments' as you do for larger windows.

Theres no difference in the pricing structure, you go by how much glass/how many windows/how many frames/how dirty/frequency/what access is like bla bla bla.

You make it sound like theres a secret system for pricing that is more likely to secure the job for you. Only if you underprice. Even then the custard may not go for that one, I picked one up a while ago which came out at £65.00. She told me she had 3 others price it too, like you have.

I wasn't the cheapest, nor the most expensive but she did like my manner and my flyer. Which works miracles. 

[woody1]

my price is as much as i can get out off them always been good at it come from a family off sale people had it drumed in to me

[dazmond]

i just price up how i see fit!i must admit i do tend to charge higher if its a big posh property!

for instance i was £40 dearer than the last window cleaner (he charged £12!!)on a very exclusive property but i clean ALL the windows and not just the ground floor(he was 69 yrs old!!).they are very pleased with me!

there is no set price!charge what you want!if your happy and the custys happy then happy days!!

im no rip off merchant but i constantly strive to make a better living!!

regards

dazmond

[ptwt]

when i price up i view windows as units small to medium windows are 1 unit, larger windows are 2 units etc i know what i class as one unit and i can see by looking at a window how many units it is. I keep a tally on a piece of paper the of the amount of units then at the end i add up all the units and x by 70pence eg 10 units = £7 sometimes i may adjust this end price though generally i find this a good way of pricing and it works on council houses or mansions.

[Tom White]

Sometimes it does pay to be greedy.  I've got quite a few really well priced accounts; large rural houses and the like.  If you're jam packed with work, you'd be daft not to.

[the bfg]

my price is as much as i can get out off them always been good at it come from a family off sale people had it drumed in to me

if you had it drummed into you then you couldn't have come from a family of sales people but a family of musicians 

[Dale Smith]

Sometimes it does pay to be greedy.  I've got quite a few really well priced accounts; large rural houses and the like. If you're jam packed with work, you'd be daft not to.

This is exactly what I have just started to do, we have a decent round now and if anything new comes in I price it so that it is well worth my while.
If I don't get it.... well who cares I have plenty of regular work..

Jack is right as well with it needs to be a fair price... it's the best way to get more work..as he has proved.

[martinsadie]

my price is as much as i can get out off them always been good at it come from a family off sale people had it drumed in to me

if you had it drummed into you then you couldn't have come from a family of sales people but a family of musicians 

[Sapphire Window Cleaning]

fair price for a fair days work or summit like that 

would you mind explaining how the points based system you have works please ?

I work on a quid a window plus 1 for good luck (read that on here ages ago) but always open to new ideas

I have never understood how the "quid a window" works!

Windows come in all shapes and sizes so therefore it can not be accurate, you may just as well say. "I guess"

I tried all sorts of methods until I came up with my system. It works well as I am able to adjust it to suit which area I am working in.  I am able to tell my lads and anyone canvassing for me how to price, that way I don’t get any poorly priced work and all my jobs are comparable.

I am sure you will understand if I don’t post on here how I price, depending where you are I will be happy to email you, but putting prices on an open forum where my competitors may (and do) visit would not be the brightest move. Forums are a great idea but some things are best not shared if you want a successful business.

I charge £1 per window, £1.50 if its that large it would take 2 climbs of a ladder.
£1.50 for patio windows, french doors.
£2.00 for sky-lights, second floor windows, windows above a conservatory.
50p per door, £1 if it has panel either side of the door.
I add all this up then add £1
I find this way you are pretty fair as pricing goes. you will still get customers moaning about the price though,

Matt

[Walter Pole]

Using WFP:

For domestic work I aim to charge a £ a minute from pole in hand to back at van.  So a 12 minute house...£12.  I am experienced enough to know how long a property will take, even with add on extesions etc....this doesn't equate to £60 per hour, 8 hours per day, 5 days a week etc.  This way, aprt from commercial work (which tends to be more expensive) everyone 'enjoys' the same pricing policy and I have consistent work days.