[julianbiggs]

I find it a lot easier doing 5 biggish houses in a day and charging them £16 - £25 each than racing round doing 10 3 bed semi's. How can I get more big houses ?

[Easyclean Windows]

  the same way you got the other big houses

[pjulk]

Agree with EasyClean Windows the same way you get smaller house's.

You need to get out there and knock of drop leaflets.

Paul

[gaza]

GO TO AN ESTATE WITH BIGGER HOUSES ON IT
 GAZA

[Grafters Cleaning Services]

target BIG HOUSES

[Moderator David@stives]

This has to be the funniest thread for ages 

I think it as all been said above.

What i would do is

1 find some big houses
2 leaflet them
3 ask the people in the big houses
4 If they say yes clean the big houses

[matt]

i have a easier solution

take your smaller houses

put them in a grow bag

wait till the spring

then hopefully they will grow

[AuRavelling79]

i have a easier solution

take your smaller houses

put them in a grow bag

wait till the spring

then hopefully they will grow

That's a good plan Matt - my bro. stood in a grow bag and he's over 6ft 3" so it does work.

[Easyclean Windows]

Im not being nasty here but if someone really has to ask how to get BIG houses whatever they are? then i have to question the motives for starting a window cleaning business.Sorry but ive heard some daft things in my time.Dear oh Dear Oh deary me

[Easyclean Windows]

Also can i ask what a big house is? with a conservatory?with more than 10 bedrooms ? i dont know what he means by BIG house.I thought i lived in a big house well so i tell my mates anyhow.

[windows_chepstow]

Ah, come on lads now.

Maybe Julian just isn't asking the question properly.

Just maybe he's thinking that people who live in mansions prefer a more upmarket window cleaner; someone who wears a uniform, has a sign-written van and shaves every day.

I think he's looking for some re-assurance that he'll be okay; or some direction on getting a better class of business.

Personally though, I have around 20 houses on a small council estate.  They're all compact and easy access and all very small accounts.  Two windows and a door front and rear.

I charge each £6.00 and Wor Lass and I can knock five or six out in an hour.

It's good money for us; easy too.  I did have some problem accounts there, but dropped them and have a hard-core of good customers.

My biggest residential accounts are two £50.00 houses.  I think if I had one central paying point for the small council houses; I'd prefer doing eight or nine of them to one of my £50 houses.

[Paul Coleman]

i have a easier solution

take your smaller houses

put them in a grow bag

wait till the spring

then hopefully they will grow

Great stuff Matt.  I know the forum is about window cleaning but, in my view, there's always room for a bit of humour.  Made me smile.

[Easyclean Windows]

My biggest is £200.00 7 hours 2 hours outside wfp 5 hours inside all lead glass on three floors

[dai]

I think I know what he means . It can feel really intimidating when you drive through those big gates in your old Escort van. Your half expecting some toffee nosed git to jump out with a shotgun.
I think a really proffesional letter that introduces your business may help. ask them if they would be interesed in availing thenselves of your excellent service.
Having another client that knows them would be a big help. You could ask them to refer you.
If your an honest sraight up guy, then your as good as any man on this planet.
Integrity makes you any mans equal. Be confident, stand up staight and look them in the eye. If they say no thank you, or they have a w/c you have lost nothing but the time. Good luck.


Thanks Tosh, bringing the thread back on line. It happens sometimes that what your thinking in your head comes out different when you start hitting the keys.
This may well have been the case in this posts origin. Dai

[Ben Walker]

yeh, i agree with Dai
but...
act accordingly!

like you act differently if you talk to your mum or if you talk to to your bank manager.

act accordingly if its a rich guy or rich woman, theres ways to play them. (very different if its rich guy or rich woman!!)

if they really look down on you becuase you're a window cleaner then they're d!cks and only clean for them if the moneys well worth it

businessmen/ pro acting people like to deal with pro acting window cleaner. talk straight, no waffling pretend that you're their business client.

i mean it nicer in this way cleaning for the old lady in the bungalow, but then you'll have a differnet act for her too. like really sweet and chatty.  (perhaps)

Ben

 

[dai]

I aggree, The art of being a good w/c is to be able to communicate on all levels.
The one very important thing I forgot to mention is try and find out their name first.
If you know their name it gives you an advantage. It goes something like this.
"Mr Forbes  Brown"? "yes." Ah good morning sir, My name is Julian Biggs, window cleaner. Here's my card. I am looking to expand my business and seeking new accounts in this area.
 Do you have a reliable window cleaner? If not I would be pleased to offer you a quotation for your property. If this is not a convenient time I could come back later.
If he has a dog, talk to it, if it looks friendly, give it a pat. If he has a really fit teenage daughter just smile politely and avert your gaze. These are just life skills really. You must have an air about you that offers no kind of threat. You are a stanger, they will be on guard. You will have to make them feel at ease. A smart but not over the top attire, and a dissarming smile will get you in almost anywhere. DAI

[julianbiggs]

  Thanks Tosh, Dai and Ben Chan. Correct,  it was simply just the way i worded it, I'm not stupid!!  but glad to see you guys picked up on the point I was making, I appreciate the feedback. Quite ironic cause today i did a quote ( and got the customer) for a,  wait for this... 32 roomed ( not bedroomed ) 32 in total,  old vicarage. One full days work a month to clean as many windows as i can in 9 hours inside or outside at £16 per hour. get right in !! I reckon it would take about 3 days to do the whole place inside and out including an enormous conservatory built by Isambard kingdom Brunel!!

[Andrew McCann]

Good on ya Julian!!!   

Some might say thats too cheap an hourly rate but good regular work like that can't be turned away easilly. Hmmm insides on the rainy days   Nice one mate!!

Andrew

[kingfisher]

Hi Julian

I think if your 10 3 bed semis are priced right then you won’t be too bothered about what size the jobs are.

When you price the smaller jobs take in to account the extra agro of haven to collect money from more people and maybe having to set your gear up and pack away more often.

If you go to quote for one job in a street never assume you are going to get more work in that street price as if it going to be the only customer in that road if you do get any one else it a bully bonus.

I find that smaller customers can be quit profitable with this attitude.

Kev

[texas girl]

Julian,

I agree; large houses are very profitable. One stop; no driving around; loading and unloading. Back tracking to collect, etc.

The average house over here is $250.00 to $400.00. Most smaller homes are done by the owner or not done at all.

Too bad because I think it is a good market; $125 to $200 per. Depends on the class of people living there.

Strange; but only upper middle and upper class pay to get their windows cleaned; houses cleaned; lawns cut, etc.

We are all equal in my book (and in God's book) and I have found most people of all classes feel the same.

If they are a jerk; charge them a jerk fee. If they are really nice; give them a "nice" discount.

Go for what you want; go for it all and do not look back.

You will never catch a large fish if you do not put out lots of bait.

I would distribute lots of flyers, knock on a lot of doors; "Hi; I am Julian; I am expanding to this area with my window cleaning services and am offering an introductory price of $ off for the first cleaning all this month (week, etc).

"Your rate would be $ if you are interested." Have the price ready ahead of time if possible; or a general idea; be aggressive. "We now do the Smiths down on the corner. Would love to have your business; here is our card"

Then go by again in a month and let them know you are serious.  Go back in a couple of months. It will pay off.

 Dress well; proffessional. Shirt with Logo, name. Smile. Beleive in yourself. If you look good it will help your chances  a lot.   You will succeed. Set a goal and go for it.

Hugs,

Texas Girl