[jay moley]

I often wonder if those charging say 20 quid for a 3 bed semi clean them slower. For me the top one in the pic (assuming there was back access ) would be spanked off in 5 minutes. I would charge about 12 quid. I admit I am slap dash but good at it I clean what needs to be cleaned and no more.

I’m similar but would probably be £10 for the top one on a 4 weekly schedule.  Assuming there is access, with 1 van move I would knock out 9-10 of these in an hour without breaking sweat. Splash and dash £10 a pop, 18’ pole, no chapping before starting, slip through the letterbox ….what’s not to like eh.

9-10 an hour. Thats not possible. Thats 6 mins per house. As if you could get 9 in a row. Even with one van move its not possible.

Because it’s not possible for you, doesn’t mean it’s not possible for others.

You are having us on. This is pure fiction. Have a lie down then go and get your 10 in a row mate!!

Why did you call me up on my 6 mins per house claim and not Stoots on his 5 mins a house claim? Ah  you’ve got a beef with me because I had the audacity to question why an experienced window cleaner like yourself  would need to ask others what to charge for a standard semi detached house.

Im not aware of Stoots 5 mins house claim. If its in the same context then that too is rubbish.

I haven't got any beef with you. I actually forgot it was you that made that original post. I dont see why asking questions about what others charge is so bad tho.

As for the 9/10 in an hour rubbish, I dont know what else to say to you except to remind you that its not April's fools day.

[jay moley]

I do agree that everyone on here is different. Some will be slower than others, others faster.

In this instance I just think its bull.

People also have different standards of cleaning, from overcleaning to doing the absolute bare minimum (not cleaning frames when they need it, not wiping sills with a cloth when needed).

I try not to compare myself to others on here, tho sometimes its difficult. I also know that not everything own here is truthful.

In my opinion, the standard you should be aiming for is the minimum possible standard the customer will accept.

Anything better than that is a waste of time and money.

As an example, I knew a window cleaner who always used to clean the front step, below the front door. I was quite surprised by this, and asked him if he’d been asked to do this by customers.

“Oh no, I just think it’s good, and it only takes about a minute for each house”

I considered this to be beyond what customers would expect. A minute per house will work out about 20 mins per day. That’s 100 mins a week, and 6hrs over a month.

At £50 per hr that’s £300 per month doing something that customers haven’t asked for and wouldn’t expect.

I suggested he spend just a day not doing it and see if anyone complained. Of course, nobody did. I doubt customers even noticed he was doing it. So, he stopped doing it altogether, and still nobody complained.

Doing less than the minimum standard that customers will accept will cause complaints, doing more is a waste of time.

Also, the minimum standard a customer will accept may vary according to the customer.

I agree that there is a balance to be found.

[jay moley]

How do you know the minimum standard each of your customers will accept?

My personal view is to try and do a reasonable job for everyone at a fair price. Obviously the more efficiently I work the more I earn.

Good question.

I would start by putting yourself in the customers shoes, and trying to imagine what they would (and wouldn’t) expect.

After that it’s down to trial and error.

Perfect example:
A few years ago I used to routinely clean the sills, including the TOP sills (with wfp).

Then I started to wonder if customers even expected that (plus I hated doing it). So, I stopped cleaning the top sills (still did the bottom ones).

Over the space of a month, out of hundreds of customers, about 5 or 6 customers complained, in a nice way. I just profusely apologised and said I’d make sure to do them thoroughly next time.

So I marked on my list that these ones need the top sills doing, and stopped for all the others.

This way I had found a minimum standard. For those 5 or 6 they expected the top sills, the others didn’t.

This has saved many hours of time, and therefore money, over the last few years.

Depends how you sell the customer. If you have said you will clean the frames and sills and then don't do it you are being disingenuous. Also your reputation is built on the quality of your work. Cutting corners rarely works in the long term. Haven't we all picked up work where customers are unhappy with the current window cleaner because they dont do X.

[Pete Thompson]

Depends how you sell the customer. If you have said you will clean the frames and sills and then don't do it you are being disingenuous. Also your reputation is built on the quality of your work. Cutting corners rarely works in the long term. Haven't we all picked up work where customers are unhappy with the current window cleaner because they dont do X.

Totally agree about doing what you’ve said you will do, I never said I’d do sills and it’s not on my leaflets. (Frames are).

I don’t think the vast majority of my customers even noticed I was cleaning their top sills, so nothing lost.

I also don’t think that “reputation” plays much of a role for our business until you’re in the really big leagues.

[dd]

How do you know the minimum standard each of your customers will accept?

My personal view is to try and do a reasonable job for everyone at a fair price. Obviously the more efficiently I work the more I earn.

Good question.

I would start by putting yourself in the customers shoes, and trying to imagine what they would (and wouldn’t) expect.

After that it’s down to trial and error.

Perfect example:
A few years ago I used to routinely clean the sills, including the TOP sills (with wfp).

Then I started to wonder if customers even expected that (plus I hated doing it). So, I stopped cleaning the top sills (still did the bottom ones).

Over the space of a month, out of hundreds of customers, about 5 or 6 customers complained, in a nice way. I just profusely apologised and said I’d make sure to do them thoroughly next time.

So I marked on my list that these ones need the top sills doing, and stopped for all the others.

This way I had found a minimum standard. For those 5 or 6 they expected the top sills, the others didn’t.

This has saved many hours of time, and therefore money, over the last few years.

I have noticed that a lot of people simply do not like to complain. You seem to do OK so ultimately that is what matters.

[KS Cleaning]

I often wonder if those charging say 20 quid for a 3 bed semi clean them slower. For me the top one in the pic (assuming there was back access ) would be spanked off in 5 minutes. I would charge about 12 quid. I admit I am slap dash but good at it I clean what needs to be cleaned and no more.

I’m similar but would probably be £10 for the top one on a 4 weekly schedule.  Assuming there is access, with 1 van move I would knock out 9-10 of these in an hour without breaking sweat. Splash and dash £10 a pop, 18’ pole, no chapping before starting, slip through the letterbox ….what’s not to like eh.

9-10 an hour. Thats not possible. Thats 6 mins per house. As if you could get 9 in a row. Even with one van move its not possible.

£100 an hour x amount of hours worked. 6 hours worked = £600 a day x 5 days = £3,000 a week. X 4 = £12,000 a month. X 12 = £144,000 a year = 60% tax bracket + VAT.

Hypothetical or truth? That is the question 🤔

Your figures are flawed tho aren’t they? Firstly I don’t have enough of those type of houses on my round that would allow me to work 6 hours a day 5 days a week on them. Secondly, like most I don’t work all year round, I do take holidays. Thirdly where did I say I make £100 per hour, every day? As for a 60% tax bracket? I don’t really care too much whether you or anyone else believes what I can or can’t do.
What I said was the truth, I would clean 9-10 of those properties in an hour, oh and I do pay higher rate tax.

Note the word hypothetical 👍

So you’re asking if figures that you’ve plucked out of mid air are hypothetical or the truth? I’m even more confused now👍

[jay moley]

Depends how you sell the customer. If you have said you will clean the frames and sills and then don't do it you are being disingenuous. Also your reputation is built on the quality of your work. Cutting corners rarely works in the long term. Haven't we all picked up work where customers are unhappy with the current window cleaner because they dont do X.

Totally agree about doing what you’ve said you will do, I never said I’d do sills and it’s not on my leaflets. (Frames are).

I don’t think the vast majority of my customers even noticed I was cleaning their top sills, so nothing lost.

I also don’t think that “reputation” plays much of a role for our business until you’re in the really big leagues.

don't agree on the reputation thing. That drives referrals. Also most of my new customers have been impressed by my google reviews which has helped them over the line.

[jay moley]

How do you know the minimum standard each of your customers will accept?

My personal view is to try and do a reasonable job for everyone at a fair price. Obviously the more efficiently I work the more I earn.

Good question.

I would start by putting yourself in the customers shoes, and trying to imagine what they would (and wouldn’t) expect.

After that it’s down to trial and error.

Perfect example:
A few years ago I used to routinely clean the sills, including the TOP sills (with wfp).

Then I started to wonder if customers even expected that (plus I hated doing it). So, I stopped cleaning the top sills (still did the bottom ones).

Over the space of a month, out of hundreds of customers, about 5 or 6 customers complained, in a nice way. I just profusely apologised and said I’d make sure to do them thoroughly next time.

So I marked on my list that these ones need the top sills doing, and stopped for all the others.

This way I had found a minimum standard. For those 5 or 6 they expected the top sills, the others didn’t.

This has saved many hours of time, and therefore money, over the last few years.

I have noticed that a lot of people simply do not like to complain. You seem to do OK so ultimately that is what matters.

Most people don't complain they just vote with their feet. We should all be providing a quality service in my opinion, not one that will just be good enough in the hope people don't complain. I beleive if you cut corners it will catch up with you.

[Splash & dash]

I often wonder if those charging say 20 quid for a 3 bed semi clean them slower. For me the top one in the pic (assuming there was back access ) would be spanked off in 5 minutes. I would charge about 12 quid. I admit I am slap dash but good at it I clean what needs to be cleaned and no more.

I’m similar but would probably be £10 for the top one on a 4 weekly schedule.  Assuming there is access, with 1 van move I would knock out 9-10 of these in an hour without breaking sweat. Splash and dash £10 a pop, 18’ pole, no chapping before starting, slip through the letterbox ….what’s not to like eh.

9-10 an hour. Thats not possible. Thats 6 mins per house. As if you could get 9 in a row. Even with one van move its not possible.

We have literally hundreds of this type of houses we do between 5-7 per  man per hour and move the van a handful of times a day longest run without moving the van is 200 meters and both sides of the road we have several estates ware we do  the vast majority of the properties .

[Splash & dash]

I often wonder if those charging say 20 quid for a 3 bed semi clean them slower. For me the top one in the pic (assuming there was back access ) would be spanked off in 5 minutes. I would charge about 12 quid. I admit I am slap dash but good at it I clean what needs to be cleaned and no more.

I’m similar but would probably be £10 for the top one on a 4 weekly schedule.  Assuming there is access, with 1 van move I would knock out 9-10 of these in an hour without breaking sweat. Splash and dash £10 a pop, 18’ pole, no chapping before starting, slip through the letterbox ….what’s not to like eh.

9-10 an hour. Thats not possible. Thats 6 mins per house. As if you could get 9 in a row. Even with one van move its not possible.

Because it’s not possible for you, doesn’t mean it’s not possible for others.

You are having us on. This is pure fiction. Have a lie down then go and get your 10 in a row mate!!

It is perfectly possible we have  rows   of houses both sides of the same road ware we do over 20 houses in a line on each side of the road , just beacause you cannot get jobs close together doesn’t mean it cannot be done

[Splash & dash]

I often wonder if those charging say 20 quid for a 3 bed semi clean them slower. For me the top one in the pic (assuming there was back access ) would be spanked off in 5 minutes. I would charge about 12 quid. I admit I am slap dash but good at it I clean what needs to be cleaned and no more.

I’m similar but would probably be £10 for the top one on a 4 weekly schedule.  Assuming there is access, with 1 van move I would knock out 9-10 of these in an hour without breaking sweat. Splash and dash £10 a pop, 18’ pole, no chapping before starting, slip through the letterbox ….what’s not to like eh.

9-10 an hour. Thats not possible. Thats 6 mins per house. As if you could get 9 in a row. Even with one van move its not possible.

£100 an hour x amount of hours worked. 6 hours worked = £600 a day x 5 days = £3,000 a week. X 4 = £12,000 a month. X 12 = £144,000 a year = 60% tax bracket + VAT.

Hypothetical or truth? That is the question 🤔

No one said they were doing that 8 hours a day 5 days a week 48 weeks a year that’s just YOUR interpretation of what the guy said he’s doing , and it is possible we  have a lot of this type of work but we do 5-7 per man per hour BUT NOT ALL YEAR .

[Splash & dash]

How do you know the minimum standard each of your customers will accept?

My personal view is to try and do a reasonable job for everyone at a fair price. Obviously the more efficiently I work the more I earn.

Good question.

I would start by putting yourself in the customers shoes, and trying to imagine what they would (and wouldn’t) expect.

After that it’s down to trial and error.

Perfect example:
A few years ago I used to routinely clean the sills, including the TOP sills (with wfp).

Then I started to wonder if customers even expected that (plus I hated doing it). So, I stopped cleaning the top sills (still did the bottom ones).

Over the space of a month, out of hundreds of customers, about 5 or 6 customers complained, in a nice way. I just profusely apologised and said I’d make sure to do them thoroughly next time.

So I marked on my list that these ones need the top sills doing, and stopped for all the others.

This way I had found a minimum standard. For those 5 or 6 they expected the top sills, the others didn’t.

This has saved many hours of time, and therefore money, over the last few years.

You are charging the customers for cleaning the windows that in my books includes all the sills not just the ground floor ones , by doing it for customers that complain you are building up a round with double standards , we clean all windows exactly the same way wether it’s a council house or Buckingham palace

[KS Cleaning]

I often wonder if those charging say 20 quid for a 3 bed semi clean them slower. For me the top one in the pic (assuming there was back access ) would be spanked off in 5 minutes. I would charge about 12 quid. I admit I am slap dash but good at it I clean what needs to be cleaned and no more.

I’m similar but would probably be £10 for the top one on a 4 weekly schedule.  Assuming there is access, with 1 van move I would knock out 9-10 of these in an hour without breaking sweat. Splash and dash £10 a pop, 18’ pole, no chapping before starting, slip through the letterbox ….what’s not to like eh.

9-10 an hour. Thats not possible. Thats 6 mins per house. As if you could get 9 in a row. Even with one van move its not possible.

Because it’s not possible for you, doesn’t mean it’s not possible for others.

You are having us on. This is pure fiction. Have a lie down then go and get your 10 in a row mate!!

Why did you call me up on my 6 mins per house claim and not Stoots on his 5 mins a house claim? Ah  you’ve got a beef with me because I had the audacity to question why an experienced window cleaner like yourself  would need to ask others what to charge for a standard semi detached house.

Im not aware of Stoots 5 mins house claim. If its in the same context then that too is rubbish.

I haven't got any beef with you. I actually forgot it was you that made that original post. I dont see why asking questions about what others charge is so bad tho.

As for the 9/10 in an hour rubbish, I dont know what else to say to you except to remind you that its not April's fools day.

You’re not aware of Stoots’ 5 minute claim? I’m not sure how you noticed my post then because  it’s Stoots’ post that  I quoted and replied to…as can clearly be seen at the top of inserted quotes.

[AuRavelling79]

So the "I can do this easy" posters have dropped from 12 per hour to 9/10 per hour and now 5/7 per hour.

And now we're getting the qualifiers - "I didn't say all day long, all week, all year." And even not washing the sills. I'm sure this post will bring out the "Your misinterpreting" stuff etc.

I'm glad Jay posted this thread - the rest of us and the members who may have read it without commenting will draw their own conclusions.

[AuRavelling79]

Depends how you sell the customer. If you have said you will clean the frames and sills and then don't do it you are being disingenuous. Also your reputation is built on the quality of your work. Cutting corners rarely works in the long term. Haven't we all picked up work where customers are unhappy with the current window cleaner because they dont do X.

Totally agree about doing what you’ve said you will do, I never said I’d do sills and it’s not on my leaflets. (Frames are).

I don’t think the vast majority of my customers even noticed I was cleaning their top sills, so nothing lost.

I also don’t think that “reputation” plays much of a role for our business until you’re in the really big leagues.

Reputation plays a very big role in the really small leagues too. This is why the owner operator will always have a business if he/she is trusted by the customer. I have jobs that have come to me from slapdash unreliable cleaners and I know I am over 50% more expensive than they were.

[KS Cleaning]

So the "I can do this easy" posters have dropped from 12 per hour to 9/10 per hour and now 5/7 per hour.

And now we're getting the qualifiers - "I didn't say all day long, all week, all year." And even not washing the sills. I'm sure this post will bring out the "Your misinterpreting" stuff etc.

I'm glad Jay posted this thread - the rest of us and the members who may have read it without commenting will draw their own conclusions.

I’m surprised even you can’t read the posts properly, nowhere can I see anyone saying they do 12 per hour. I think you’re getting confused with Stoots saying he can spank 1 of those houses off in 5 mins, two  different things……stick to locomotives😂

[AuRavelling79]

So the "I can do this easy" posters have dropped from 12 per hour to 9/10 per hour and now 5/7 per hour.

And now we're getting the qualifiers - "I didn't say all day long, all week, all year." And even not washing the sills. I'm sure this post will bring out the "Your misinterpreting" stuff etc.

I'm glad Jay posted this thread - the rest of us and the members who may have read it without commenting will draw their own conclusions.

I’m surprised even you can’t read the posts properly, nowhere can I see anyone saying they do 12 per hour. I think you’re getting confused with Stoots saying he can spank 1 of those houses off in 5 mins. Two different things……stick to locomotives😂

My locomotive analogy is spot on.

I'm not confused by Stoots 5 minutes for ten windows/doors at all - just extrapolating it for one hour. If he can't hold that pace for just ONE measly hour it's not relevant to real life window cleaning and pricing.

Back to locomotives. The fastest timed steam locomotive in the world was timed at 126 mph. The fastest regular steam express train in the world was "The Cheltenham Flyer" at 81mph on the section between Swindon and London.

One off stop watch stuff versus real life.

[jay moley]

I often wonder if those charging say 20 quid for a 3 bed semi clean them slower. For me the top one in the pic (assuming there was back access ) would be spanked off in 5 minutes. I would charge about 12 quid. I admit I am slap dash but good at it I clean what needs to be cleaned and no more.

I’m similar but would probably be £10 for the top one on a 4 weekly schedule.  Assuming there is access, with 1 van move I would knock out 9-10 of these in an hour without breaking sweat. Splash and dash £10 a pop, 18’ pole, no chapping before starting, slip through the letterbox ….what’s not to like eh.

9-10 an hour. Thats not possible. Thats 6 mins per house. As if you could get 9 in a row. Even with one van move its not possible.

Because it’s not possible for you, doesn’t mean it’s not possible for others.

You are having us on. This is pure fiction. Have a lie down then go and get your 10 in a row mate!!

Why did you call me up on my 6 mins per house claim and not Stoots on his 5 mins a house claim? Ah  you’ve got a beef with me because I had the audacity to question why an experienced window cleaner like yourself  would need to ask others what to charge for a standard semi detached house.

Im not aware of Stoots 5 mins house claim. If its in the same context then that too is rubbish.

I haven't got any beef with you. I actually forgot it was you that made that original post. I dont see why asking questions about what others charge is so bad tho.

As for the 9/10 in an hour rubbish, I dont know what else to say to you except to remind you that its not April's fools day.

You’re not aware of Stoots’ 5 minute claim? I’m not sure how you noticed my post then because  it’s Stoots’ post that  I quoted and replied to…as can clearly be seen at the top of inserted quotes.

Seen it now. So he's worse than you!

[KS Cleaning]

So the "I can do this easy" posters have dropped from 12 per hour to 9/10 per hour and now 5/7 per hour.

And now we're getting the qualifiers - "I didn't say all day long, all week, all year." And even not washing the sills. I'm sure this post will bring out the "Your misinterpreting" stuff etc.

I'm glad Jay posted this thread - the rest of us and the members who may have read it without commenting will draw their own conclusions.

I’m surprised even you can’t read the posts properly, nowhere can I see anyone saying they do 12 per hour. I think you’re getting confused with Stoots saying he can spank 1 of those houses off in 5 mins. Two different things……stick to locomotives😂

My locomotive analogy is spot on.

I'm not confused by Stoots 5 minutes for ten windows/doors at all - just extrapolating it for one hour. If he can't hold that pace for just ONE measly hour it's not relevant to real life window cleaning and pricing.

Back to locomotives. The fastest timed steam locomotive in the world was timed at 126 mph. The fastest regular steam express train in the world was "The Cheltenham Flyer" at 81mph on the section between Swindon and London.

One off stop watch stuff versus real life.

Your locomotive analogy might well be spot on in your own mind but I can assure you it has no relevance whatsoever in the context of my work. I reckon I am best positioned to know what is and isn’t achievable within my business.
Thank you for your wisdom regarding trains, me, I wouldn’t know the difference between the Flying Scotsman and the Bullet.
Anyway I think I will take on board the sound advice you gave Jay…..I won’t listen to the naysayers😉

[KS Cleaning]

I often wonder if those charging say 20 quid for a 3 bed semi clean them slower. For me the top one in the pic (assuming there was back access ) would be spanked off in 5 minutes. I would charge about 12 quid. I admit I am slap dash but good at it I clean what needs to be cleaned and no more.

I’m similar but would probably be £10 for the top one on a 4 weekly schedule.  Assuming there is access, with 1 van move I would knock out 9-10 of these in an hour without breaking sweat. Splash and dash £10 a pop, 18’ pole, no chapping before starting, slip through the letterbox ….what’s not to like eh.

9-10 an hour. Thats not possible. Thats 6 mins per house. As if you could get 9 in a row. Even with one van move its not possible.

Because it’s not possible for you, doesn’t mean it’s not possible for others.

You are having us on. This is pure fiction. Have a lie down then go and get your 10 in a row mate!!

Why did you call me up on my 6 mins per house claim and not Stoots on his 5 mins a house claim? Ah  you’ve got a beef with me because I had the audacity to question why an experienced window cleaner like yourself  would need to ask others what to charge for a standard semi detached house.

Im not aware of Stoots 5 mins house claim. If its in the same context then that too is rubbish.

I haven't got any beef with you. I actually forgot it was you that made that original post. I dont see why asking questions about what others charge is so bad tho.

As for the 9/10 in an hour rubbish, I dont know what else to say to you except to remind you that its not April's fools day.

You’re not aware of Stoots’ 5 minute claim? I’m not sure how you noticed my post then because  it’s Stoots’ post that  I quoted and replied to…as can clearly be seen at the top of inserted quotes.

Seen it now. So he's worse than you!

Really?