I wouldn’t say a newbie dazmond but I know what you’re saying when it comes to reading posts on here about what people charge / earn. Happy with £25 an hour? guess we’d all like to earn more - I work out my prices on what I feel I could live off, expenses blah blah, what others are charging. Does make me wonder how people get work in the area (if they actually do) by charging more, I also wouldn’t budge and charge a penny less. It works for me mate
Pricing and how you deal with customers very much depends on the area and affluence of that area.
In the North East we just don't get the prices the cleaners in the South do. If we do ask and get an above average price for a house, it won't be long before we get cancelled and there will be another cheaper cleaner doing the job. If you are able, then to reach a higher hourly rate you have to clean more windows and that maybe a tall ask when your round isn't compact.
Most of our work is in small local villages where everyone knows everybody. They all talk about how much their window cleaner charges, have you seen him lately etc. If we are rude or short with one of our customers, whether its justified or not, word quickly spreads and this can damage our reputation. When people talk the issue becomes exaggerated by the story teller to put themselves in a better light.
IMHO its only when you have been cleaning a long time and have developed your round that you can afford to choose higher paid work and only take higher paid work on. If your work schedule is full then you have the luxury to do that. (By higher paid work I also don't mean work that pays more money per clean. It could also be work that is just easier and quicker to do due to the type of windows, garden design, garden clutter etc.)