[dazmond]

I walked away from an fsg job this morning.

Cleaned a customers windows £15. Put all stuff back in van, then he came out saying youve forgot to do the fascias.

I said sorry I forgot I said I would do them, how much did I quote?  ( I vaguely remember the convo but this was before lockdown)

£30.

Oh ffs why did I say £30  ....

So I looked at it and just sighed, can't do all that for £30, plus it's red hot i really cba. Plus I've just cleaned all his windows and im going to have to do them all again.

Anyway just as im trying to get the words together he hops in his car and says I'm off out ill transfer you the money for windows and fascias later.

So I'm stood there on the drive just looking at the job, I gave the front a little tickle in the hope the dirt would just melt away and perhaps I could bang this out in half an hour.... It's just didn't come off easily.. I reckon at least and hour and a half plus re cleaning all the windows...

b******s to this, slung gear in van and drove off. I don't care if he bins me off I'm not doing that in this weather for that price. Loads to do as it is today I don't need that.

Moral of the story, I always regret taking on add ons, they crop up on a day like today when I've got loads of windows to do and it's baking hot.

I hate them and I always quote them way too cheap, I darent tell them I want £100 plus lol so I end up saying a daft price and getting myself into it.

Add ons are just not worth it unless you getting way above your hourly rate.

thats a proper newbie thing you did  today adam...... .......f/s/g jobs are ok if you price them right......i picked one up the other day £150.......its a 2 hour job(2 and a half if their in when i clean it)

i also priced up a large self cleaning glass roof today.....£120 (2 hour job)...but she thought it was expensive so declined.....no way am i dropping my price!its filthy!

[robbo333]

Offer 2 levels of service
1. Glass only and a get the worst off the frame. Say £30
2. Full clean, glass, finials, frames edging gutters blah blah £120.
Then you know what the customer's expectations are and you can price accordingly.

[Simon Trapani]

Offer 2 levels of service
1. Glass only and a get the worst off the frame. Say £30
2. Full clean, glass, finials, frames edging gutters blah blah £120.
Then you know what the customer's expectations are and you can price accordingly.

But then you gotta put your name to it.
Do a proper job for proper money or don't bother.

That's a note to myself btw

[Stoots]

I walked away from an fsg job this morning.

Cleaned a customers windows £15. Put all stuff back in van, then he came out saying youve forgot to do the fascias.

I said sorry I forgot I said I would do them, how much did I quote?  ( I vaguely remember the convo but this was before lockdown)

£30.

Oh ffs why did I say £30  ....

So I looked at it and just sighed, can't do all that for £30, plus it's red hot i really cba. Plus I've just cleaned all his windows and im going to have to do them all again.

Anyway just as im trying to get the words together he hops in his car and says I'm off out ill transfer you the money for windows and fascias later.

So I'm stood there on the drive just looking at the job, I gave the front a little tickle in the hope the dirt would just melt away and perhaps I could bang this out in half an hour.... It's just didn't come off easily.. I reckon at least and hour and a half plus re cleaning all the windows...

b******s to this, slung gear in van and drove off. I don't care if he bins me off I'm not doing that in this weather for that price. Loads to do as it is today I don't need that.

Moral of the story, I always regret taking on add ons, they crop up on a day like today when I've got loads of windows to do and it's baking hot.

I hate them and I always quote them way too cheap, I darent tell them I want £100 plus lol so I end up saying a daft price and getting myself into it.

Add ons are just not worth it unless you getting way above your hourly rate.

thats a proper newbie thing you did  today adam...... .......f/s/g jobs are ok if you price them right......i picked one up the other day £150.......its a 2 hour job(2 and a half if their in when i clean it)

i also priced up a large self cleaning glass roof today.....£120 (2 hour job)...but she thought it was expensive so declined.....no way am i dropping my price!its filthy!

I know, i just cant bring the words out of my mouth....ONE HUNDRED AND...lol

I have found when quoting in the past these people are expecting way less than what i would ideally want to charge.

Like you say it has to be £60 per hour really for add on work.

[robbo333]

Offer 2 levels of service
1. Glass only and a get the worst off the frame. Say £30
2. Full clean, glass, finials, frames edging gutters blah blah £120.
Then you know what the customer's expectations are and you can price accordingly.

But then you gotta put your name to it.
Do a proper job for proper money or don't bother.

That's a not to myself btw

It's more about meeting customer's expectations.
I get texts saying 'can you do the conservatory roof'
Some customers literally just want the glass cleaned, because the sun is out. They really don't want to spend any money but they want it nice to look out of.
Others want a full conny makeover.
By offering 2 levels of service, it helps me 'clarify' what they actually want.
And as for putting my name to it, I offer a top quality job and service, my customers know that and I have nothing to prove.

[dazmond]

Offer 2 levels of service
1. Glass only and a get the worst off the frame. Say £30
2. Full clean, glass, finials, frames edging gutters blah blah £120.
Then you know what the customer's expectations are and you can price accordingly.

i cleaned it a few years ago for the woman who lived there before.... i have to stand on the neighbours flat roof to access it properly.........its really not worth faffing about with for £30....i dont want the job anyway...unless she agrees to pay me £120!

[james peters]

when I was younger I didn't mind doing them, but I found myself rushing and working like a crazy fool to finish it . these days I don't get many and don't like doing them . however from now on, if anyone asks I will quote but I am going to charge accordingly.
I find it bizzare that people can spend 20k and upwards on a connie but wont spend £100/ £200 getting it maintained.

[dazmond]

when I was younger I didn't mind doing them, but I found myself rushing and working like a crazy fool to finish it . these days I don't get many and don't like doing them . however from now on, if anyone asks I will quote but I am going to charge accordingly.
I find it bizzare that people can spend 20k and upwards on a connie but wont spend £100/ £200 getting it maintained.

exactly......some people WILL pay though.....the others can do it themselves or find someone cheaper.......my time is precious.i only actually physically work 20-25 hours a week and each hour must count.......

long gone are the days where i used to do these sorts of jobs dirt cheap....they are hard work,take time and use a lot of water.....ive also spent a lot of money on my van,poles and system.......im not cleaning them for £30!

[jay moley]

I've never massively underpriced them but just hate the work.

Maybe £10 a panel is the way to go, £50 minimum.

[Stoots]

This is why I cringe at quoting a decent price.

I know it's a window clean quote but the same principle applies! I'm up against some really cheap competition round here.

[james peters]

unbelievable !!!! she has been quoted £4.      so instead of getting them done at £4 she asks you to quote..... maybe thinking you can do it for £3
these are people I avoid like the plague, and the reason I always charge more for the first clean.

[AuRavelling79]

unbelievable !!!! she has been quoted £4.      so instead of getting them done at £4 she asks you to quote..... maybe thinking you can do it for £3
these are people I avoid like the plague, and the reason I always charge more for the first clean.

That seems weird Gomo. The use of "initial scrub" seems like someone who knows window cleaner jargon.

[zesty]

£4?

Crikey Adam, you really have got some competition!

[Stoots]

£4?

Crikey Adam, you really have got some competition!

Yep.

Well, almost as it was written in the stars I got asked to do an fsg this afternoon. I went in at £120 and he said that's a reasonable price when can you do it. 

Could have got a bit more out of him I reckon.

I just can't tell, one person's expensive is another's cheap.

[dazmond]

£4?

Crikey Adam, you really have got some competition!

Yep.

Well, almost as it was written in the stars I got asked to do an fsg this afternoon. I went in at £120 and he said that's a reasonable price when can you do it. 

Could have got a bit more out of him I reckon.

I just can't tell, one person's expensive is another's cheap.

see....there you go adam......thats more like it.......ive got an out of work barber cleaning some of my customers conny roofs and doing garden jobs at the moment with a yard brush and customers hosepipe.....he s welcome to them.......he s charging them £12-50 an hour......rather him than me!

the only thing is he s gone over the conny windows on one with the hosepipe (and the tap water is 278tds)and its dried on the glass leaving hard water stains......

what do you guys use to get rid of hard water stains?unger rub out or 000 grade wire wool?

[Richard iSparkle]

i agree with what some others are saying..

if you charge enough for them (work but annoyance premium too) they are nice to have when they come up

we charge a min of £90 then upwards depending on the size etc.

we dont get all of our enquiries, but as they aren't the most fun jobs thats fine. the ones we do get we're making more than our normal rate on so its worth the hassle

[Stoots]

£4?

Crikey Adam, you really have got some competition!

Yep.

Well, almost as it was written in the stars I got asked to do an fsg this afternoon. I went in at £120 and he said that's a reasonable price when can you do it. 

Could have got a bit more out of him I reckon.

I just can't tell, one person's expensive is another's cheap.

see....there you go adam......thats more like it.......ive got an out of work barber cleaning some of my customers conny roofs and doing garden jobs at the moment with a yard brush and customers hosepipe.....he s welcome to them.......he s charging them £12-50 an hour......rather him than me!

the only thing is he s gone over the conny windows on one with the hosepipe (and the tap water is 278tds)and its dried on the glass leaving hard water stains......

what do you guys use to get rid of hard water stains?unger rub out or 000 grade wire wool?

Can't say I've ever come across hard water stains, or attempted to remove them.

If something doesnt come off with the brush then it stays on lol

[harleyman]

It depends how skint you are

[Michael Peterson]

Offer 2 levels of service
1. Glass only and a get the worst off the frame. Say £30
2. Full clean, glass, finials, frames edging gutters blah blah £120.
Then you know what the customer's expectations are and you can price accordingly.

But then you gotta put your name to it.
Do a proper job for proper money or don't bother.

That's a note to myself btw

excellent advice

[Mr.G]

Every time I agree to do a roof I end up regretting it
I only do them now if it's a regular thing, as they're nice and easy.  filthy one offs arent worth the aching arms and shoulders as you get older