[Ian101]

There is a new build near here at a place called Lime Grove. A big development of 3 story town houses. You can get access to the back but you would have to move your van.

I would say the going rate for them is around £16-18. I am doing one for a property company. The rest were canvassed at £10 by somebody who looks like a new start.

An estate of 3 storey townhouses at a tenner a pop ... lots of em all close together ... no probs with that ... not many windows in a 3 storey townhouse ..... get big chunk at a tenner then stick em up £2 ... 30 a day easy ... sounds like a good operator to me.

My cup always half full if not overflowing  

[Granny]

Makes me think if this row of 11 houses I'm wondering whether to do or not -  £5.50 each 3 bed semis - I would think price wise should be at least £8 but would I rather do them or nothing at all?
g.

[H S and Son]

The reason why its BS is because there are plenty of blokes out there who will quite happily clean your £50 house for £20 and still feel they have got a result. When that bloke said "do one of them a day and you are sorted" do you not realise you put an idea in his head?

Money is like water it only runs downhill and eventually settles at the lowest level. Prices in this business are eventually going to tumble, don't think they won't. Everything conforms to market forces 

This isn't the first recession the economy has been through. Why didnt prices tumble in previous recessions then?

[Panorama]

I've got to the point were I've become more confident in pricing, picked up a £12 bungalow the other day ( with conny attached) the customer has gave me the number of her mother in law to price up, my starting prices start from £8 now . If this was last year I would of probably started around the £6 mark. The other thing about the area that she lives in is this, I've been told that the previous window cleaners ( gang of 4) burgled 6 properties in the same street. All my work comes from word of mouth.

[richard jagger]

The only reason why prices tumble in this industry is a lack of understanding of business. How can you make a lower price than say 3 years back with costs going up daily.
There are a lot of fools who have no idea of there costs.
I HAVE A COMMERCIAL job were the owner asked why my prices were so higher than what he pays for windows at his other shops. He thought I should be 30% less. I ash him if he could sell me his product for 30% less. HE SAID HE COULD NOT DO THAT AS HIS MARGINS WERE TO SMALL AND COST WERE A PROBLEM. ALL I SAID WAS SNAP.

[C o z y]

To get into window cleaning 15 years ago, you had to learn to trad fast enough to earn a decent crust AND you had to go up ladders! Lots of people have a problem with working 10 foot off the ground so that put some people off. Others were useless at fanning and couldn't get a decent speed etc. All this trimmed the herd as it were.

Now, newbies go and buy a set up and a vehicle to put it in, and away they go. So really, because ANYONE can get into window cleaning, more and more will have a pop at it. The more cleaners around, the lower the prices go. It's basic market fact.

[Panorama]

My point was, since all my work comes from word of mouth, the potential customer already knows that I charge a higher rate . They are willing to pay that bit extra for a quality ,reliable  and trustworthy service . Had one the other week, customer asks for quote, do you have a cleaner I ask, I did have but I scattered them as I caught them sunbathing in my back garden using my sun loungers she says, walked round property and says £9 , this includes frames and doors, fine she says , the previous cleaners( who she scattered ) charged me £6 she informed me .

[AshWhite]

hiding your wallet liam?how ridiculous!!!

i couldnt give a flying f**k what my customers think whether im skint or flush!its none of their business!!!i work hard in all weathers and have invested in my equipment and van and provide a damn good service!!

if i want to go on holiday 4 times a year and buy a sports car then again its none of their business.i dont drink or smoke anymore and no kids/wife so im rolling in it!!



dazmond

You thinking of trading the Cougar in for a sports car already?

 

[H S and Son]

To get into window cleaning 15 years ago, you had to learn to trad fast enough to earn a decent crust AND you had to go up ladders! Lots of people have a problem with working 10 foot off the ground so that put some people off. Others were useless at fanning and couldn't get a decent speed etc. All this trimmed the herd as it were.

Now, newbies go and buy a set up and a vehicle to put it in, and away they go. So really, because ANYONE can get into window cleaning, more and more will have a pop at it. The more cleaners around, the lower the prices go. It's basic market fact.

And the flip-side of that is when you started out 10 years ago you needed a rust-heap of a motor, a set of ladders, a bucket and all the various paraphanalia that you'd need to blade windows; so you could start out for as little as £300 if you were in the right place at the right time.

To start out now in the manner to which you describe takes considerably more money. Therefore

ANYONE

cannot get into window cleaning due to the financial restraints that come with the advances of modern-day window cleaning.

[C o z y]

If most people have a credit card, they can buy the kit and pay it off quickly. I'm not talking about Jeremy Kyle candidates with no money at all. They go into the drug trade, not window cleaning.

No real (semi)skill involved in this game now. It's open to just about anyone.

[g.brookes]

it is open to anyone but most people dont want to do it.  thousands and thousands of homes are built every year, there is absolutely no point in worrying about people getting into the trade.  the guy is was talking to is not suddenly gonna quit his job and price my mansion at £20. 
most people dont like being self employed, they dont have the drive an theyre too worried about sickness and holidays. 

[DG Cleaning]

Makes me think if this row of 11 houses I'm wondering whether to do or not -  £5.50 each 3 bed semis - I would think price wise should be at least £8 but would I rather do them or nothing at all?
g.
There is a lot of bs talked on here about pricing, if they fit within your hourly rate then do them. Better to have 11 in a row than 4 on separate streets at £8. I'm guessing 2 hours wfp max or bit less than 3 hours trad. Roughly £27 per hour ain't bad put them up a quid and your laughing. A lot on here don't have compact stuff so need to charge top money.

[Ian101]

! Hiding wallets? Rolling in it? Dear me.

my roll wont fit in my wallet so I use cash bags from Group 4 to keep my cash in 

[AuRavelling79]

Why my £15 custies continue to use me and recommend me over the £10 canvasser ...

1. Trusted
2. Regular
3. Reliable
4. Consistent work standard.
5. Gorgeous looking

(OK mebbe not that last one!)

But there are plenty who won't use me and I won't clean for them.

I pitch about right I reckon.

Now if the prices are going to fall then I think if people become that price driven then window cleaning will drop off of their radar completely.

So I think there is more chance of the industry collapsing completely than prices dropping.

[Total shine cleaning services]

Lots if comments on how this job is unskilled and I beg to differ as not everybody has the capabilities to be their own salesman, cleaner, administrator, employer and to run a business and constantly point it in the right direction whilst constantly striving to improve and overcome hurdles on a day to day basis takes a lot of skill and tenacity.
I have had various skilled jobs in the past and feel that only now by pooling all of my past experiences and skills that I am finally making something of myself..!
Please give yourselves a lot more credit

Graham

[Roy Cauldery]

Lots if comments on how this job is unskilled and I beg to differ as not everybody has the capabilities to be their own salesman, cleaner, administrator, employer and to run a business and constantly point it in the right direction whilst constantly striving to improve and overcome hurdles on a day to day basis takes a lot of skill and tenacity.
I have had various skilled jobs in the past and feel that only now by pooling all of my past experiences and skills that I am finally making something of myself..!
Please give yourselves a lot more credit

Graham

Great post Graham-spot on

[Granny]

Pikeys do this too though 

Exactly!!!!
"Pikeys" run rings round almost anyone when it comes to being their own salesman and getting business i.e. getting money out of people which is what any thriving business needs.
Never seen a poor Pikey.
G.

[Londoner]

The only thing you need to be a window cleaner is a pulse. My 16 year old son went into school gobbing off about how he can earn £100 on a Saturday cleaning windows. (Using my gear and me feeding him the work I might add)

Now there must be twenty kids at his school who are starting up, or reckon they are.

But while we are talking about prices lets look at the local taxis round here. Fifteen years ago it would cost £20-25 to go to the airport. There are firms advertising it now for £12.50. Fifteen years ago the chances were that the driver that took you was a local english man, born and bred in the area. Today it will be an Afgan or a Somali.

[dave f]

gets me why some people boast how much they earn and post on forums like this where they may be moniterd they wouldent be so smug when they get a tug from hmrc and the books dont tally why dont they stay schtum and do us all a favour

[gavinb]

Pikeys do this too though 

Never seen a poor Pikey.
G.

They Dont pay tax thats why .