[zesty]

Few days ago I clean a house (three bed detached) at exactly the same time as two guys cleaning the neighbours (3 bed semi) in fact they started about 3 minutes before me.

Friendly guys, no issues.

Point I want to make is I finished the house on my own much faster than two of them took to finish the neighbours. And I mean much faster.

I always new I was quick. I never get complaints. Ever.

They’ve been going a fee years longer then me, I was suprised how long it took them. Made me think working in pairs is a bit pointless if the goal is speed and houses cleaned. Better off getting the other bloke in his own van.

I’m not most thorough, but I never get complaints. I’m not the guy cleaning all round the trickle vents and messing about cleaning every part of the frames, but my customers are happy. No wonder I’m home at midday 

[Scottish Cleaning Service]

Depends what you are charging? I can spend the same time on my customer's front door if its a white pvc door than all the windows. I only clean above the vents twice a year or when webs or dirt is on them. I have one window that always seems to drip so I went up the ladder to check it out. Turns out its in the unit as its decades old. I got complaints about it after I cleaned it, one could notice the marks easier.
All of my complaints now come down this path. Customers think glass units last forever but if you get more than 20 years then you are doing well.
Now I will put the ladder up right away to find out what's wrong and inform my customer.

[dd]

Pretty obvious that 2 men from one van will never be as efficient as one guy on his own. Maybe if the work is large  commercial jobs it is not such a big disadvantage.

[AuRavelling79]

Higher water flow is your friend...

[KS Cleaning]

Same as Zesty, I work quick and never get complaints. I probably would spend a little longer cleaning each house if I was able to command southern counties prices.
My business model will be a bit different from most on here, I work quickly and efficiently and achieve an hourly rate that’s right up there.

[Bungle]

Depends what you are charging? I can spend the same time on my customer's front door if its a white pvc door than all the windows. I only clean above the vents twice a year or when webs or dirt is on them. I have one window that always seems to drip so I went up the ladder to check it out. Turns out its in the unit as its decades old. I got complaints about it after I cleaned it, one could notice the marks easier.
All of my complaints now come down this path. Customers think glass units last forever but if you get more than 20 years then you are doing well.
Now I will put the ladder up right away to find out what's wrong and inform my customer.

You get complaints? 

[Tam1872]

No complaints doesn't mean the jobs done correctly.

[zesty]

No complaints doesn't mean the jobs done correctly.

Strange comment. Correctly is subjective. I’ve been doing this job since I was 18. I’m now 36.

No complaints means my customers are happy with the service and the quality.

[The Jester of Wibbly]

I am always baffled when I see a duo working thinking I would never want to share my takings.  Any journey time is never quicker with two in the van.  Think it's also a distraction too slowing the process down. 

I much prefer working on my own with my earbuds in.   I do understand,  that some can't cope with window cleaning, without someone else next to them.

[JandS]

Some I've seen cleaning near where I am cleaning are 3 up and trad.....they pull up clean one house and away again......I can clean 1 house nearly as quick as 3 of them by the time they have untied ladders, cleaned and tied them back on.....don't know how they make money.

[Smudger]

Everyone has different speeds and efficiency in working which is why the "what should I charge for this" threads are a waste of time.

Some people take ages to clean a property and still do a bad job. The quality of clean is down to the individuals personal pride in the job.

And yes you do an ok job and not get complaints even a bad job on occasions - despite what's said many many customers put up with poor cleans

[Simon Trapani]

Some I've seen cleaning near where I am cleaning are 3 up and trad.....they pull up clean one house and away again......I can clean 1 house nearly as quick as 3 of them by the time they have untied ladders, cleaned and tied them back on.....don't know how they make money.

They don’t. Not much anyway.
And it’s certainly not sustainable as a business imo.

[EandM]

Back in the days when I worked with a very lovely young lady, we used to pitch up at a house, run hoses to the back by opposite sides, start in the middle and work back.

In comparison to working on my own it was highly productive and we'd be a bit competitive.
Adding to the fun was that whoever finished first would be packing up while the other was writing the ticket.

Our best job was a largeish house with multiple dormer windows that used to take me about 40 minutes and we had it down to a fairly easy 12 minutes.

We were getting through the work between two and three times quicker and then having lunch out together.
Happy times.

[dazmond]

Some window cleaners have other income streams and just like to take their time....

I'm usually more brisk without rushing about like a headless chicken.

There's a happy medium somewhere and that's where I like to work with purpose and efficiency....

[zesty]

Some window cleaners have other income streams and just like to take their time....

I'm usually more brisk without rushing about like a headless chicken.

There's a happy medium somewhere and that's where I like to work with purpose and efficiency....

Nah this bloke is running full time, no other business.

To me, it’s seemed futile paying someone when you can do the same amount on your own and do shorter hours.

Getting someone out in another van is obviously game changing. But working with someone just doesn’t seem worth it.

Each to their own, it was an interesting observation on my part.

We had a good chat, and no issues with cleaning houses on the same road. So that was a positive because there are some seriously teritorial window cleaners out there!

[Scottish Cleaning Service]

If you walk about like robo cop then you can save some time. I had to go back to my van for scraper to get the silicon off the glass on new windows today. On the same job I made an extra tenner removing a small drainpipe and clearing it out. They had texted to say it was blocked and could I fix it. In the end if your van can hold more stuff then more can get fixed.
Bizarre thing I came across today. Looking at new Sprinters and one said it can hold  1400kgs and will weigh 3.88 tons. I know wee Rishi had to put the 3.5ton limit up to 4.25ton because of the weight of the batteries on EV vans or they won't sell many. Going to look into it but it would suit me down to a tee if its diesel.

[Missing Link]

Back in the days when I worked with a very lovely young lady, we used to pitch up at a house, run hoses to the back by opposite sides, start in the middle and work back.

In comparison to working on my own it was highly productive and we'd be a bit competitive.
Adding to the fun was that whoever finished first would be packing up while the other was writing the ticket.

Our best job was a largeish house with multiple dormer windows that used to take me about 40 minutes and we had it down to a fairly easy 12 minutes.

We were getting through the work between two and three times quicker and then having lunch out together.
Happy times.

Apart from the 'lovely young lady' bit, that's how I've been working with Wor Lass for years now (over 20).

She's not normal (she's very - extremely - physically fit) and we have most jobs down to a 't'; we're like a well-oiled machine.

Unless her HRT patch has gotten stuck to her t-shirt and she turns into some kind of raging monster.

I get all the awkward reaches though.

[KS Cleaning]

If you walk about like robo cop then you can save some time. I had to go back to my van for scraper to get the silicon off the glass on new windows today. On the same job I made an extra tenner removing a small drainpipe and clearing it out. They had texted to say it was blocked and could I fix it. In the end if your van can hold more stuff then more can get fixed.
Bizarre thing I came across today. Looking at new Sprinters and one said it can hold  1400kgs and will weigh 3.88 tons. I know wee Rishi had to put the 3.5ton limit up to 4.25ton because of the weight of the batteries on EV vans or they won't sell many. Going to look into it but it would suit me down to a tee if its diesel.

You are  deluded mate. I think you are at the wind up aren’t you?

[Stoots]

I once worked with a guy for a period who was a good grafter and perhaps even a tad quicker than me but we had to go like the clappers and work a bit longer hours to make it work money wise.

We did about £600  in a 7 hour day but the pace would be relentless to achieve that. I could have done about £350 on my own working at the same pace...he was costing £150 so 100 quid better off a day.

Not bad but could only do 3 days with him otherwise would have gone over VAT . When you factor in all the extra customers needed, days that he would ring in sick, days we where rained off , extra fuel and water needed, extra payments to chase etc etc it really wasnt worth it. Only plus to it is we got on well and had a laugh so made the days more enjoyable but knackering.

[Scottish Cleaning Service]

If you walk about like robo cop then you can save some time. I had to go back to my van for scraper to get the silicon off the glass on new windows today. On the same job I made an extra tenner removing a small drainpipe and clearing it out. They had texted to say it was blocked and could I fix it. In the end if your van can hold more stuff then more can get fixed.
Bizarre thing I came across today. Looking at new Sprinters and one said it can hold  1400kgs and will weigh 3.88 tons. I know wee Rishi had to put the 3.5ton limit up to 4.25ton because of the weight of the batteries on EV vans or they won't sell many. Going to look into it but it would suit me down to a tee if its diesel.

You are  deluded mate. I think you are at the wind up aren’t you?

No, they raised it to 4.25 tons for EV vans. They said we would need to go on a 6hr driving course to add to our full licence then they dropped the course. They had to do something because no one would buy the vans because of the weight limit of 600kgs.

AI Overview
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The weight of a Mercedes-Benz eSprinter electric van depends on the battery version and the model:
113 kWh battery: The 113 kWh eSprinter has a kerb weight of 3,248 kg with a driver and 3,323 kg without a driver. The 113 kWh battery is only available in the L3 vehicle length and has a gross vehicle weight (GVW) of 4.25 tonnes.

Its all there in black and white. Its just I'm up to date with politics and usually first to know when things are changing.