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jay moley

  • Posts: 519
Quoting different prices
« on: February 09, 2025, 10:48:06 am »
When I quote I say it will be X whether they have it every 4 or 8 weeks.

Am I missing a trick?

If I quote a lower amount for the 4 weekly am I more likely to get  more people going for that and therefore more work?

90% of my work is 8 weekly.

dd

  • Posts: 2610
Re: Quoting different prices
« Reply #1 on: February 09, 2025, 11:13:57 am »
I find 4 weekly is too frequent for vast majority of my customers. When I started I offered 4 weekly and 8 weekly and after a while got fed up with 4 weekly often telling me they were surprised to see me back so soon.

jay moley

  • Posts: 519
Re: Quoting different prices
« Reply #2 on: February 09, 2025, 11:16:21 am »
I find 4 weekly is too frequent for vast majority of my customers. When I started I offered 4 weekly and 8 weekly and after a while got fed up with 4 weekly often telling me they were surprised to see me back so soon.

It's funny you say that when I turn up every 8 weeks a lot of my customers think they are on a monthly.

Same happens when people try to skip a clean, they say: "we don't need it this month".

zesty

  • Posts: 2558
Re: Quoting different prices
« Reply #3 on: February 09, 2025, 02:25:40 pm »
Once a month for me, means I get a payment from each customer every month. It’s also easier work as the windows aren’t that dirty.

I have a handful on 2 monthly, but not many, they do pay more.

AuRavelling79

  • Posts: 26119
Re: Quoting different prices
« Reply #4 on: February 09, 2025, 02:58:50 pm »
90% of my work on residential is 8 weekly. I generally offer 8 weekly.

I have a bit of 4 weekly and 8 weekly in one specific area where heavy traffic throws up muck and grime in wet weather.

In that area I offer (say) £18 for 4 weekly or £20 for 8 weekly.
It's a game of three halves!

Perfect Windows

  • Posts: 4269
Re: Quoting different prices
« Reply #5 on: February 09, 2025, 04:38:07 pm »
6-weekly standard

12-weekly +50%

Vin

Splash and dash

  • Posts: 297
Re: Quoting different prices
« Reply #6 on: February 09, 2025, 04:42:48 pm »
90% is 4 weekly on domestic 8 weekly is 25-50%  more, commercial is done on what ever the customer wants and priced accordingly.

Simon Trapani

  • Posts: 1625
Re: Quoting different prices
« Reply #7 on: February 09, 2025, 06:09:53 pm »
6 weekly. Don’t offer 12 weekly anymore.

Messes up my aworka planner.

NBwcs

  • Posts: 941
Re: Quoting different prices
« Reply #8 on: February 10, 2025, 08:56:08 am »
I tried charging more for 8 weekly work and soon lost it. I guess people who want to  miss every other clean are trying to save money so when there's plenty of other wc around who will  happily charge the same rate as 4 weekly and are cheaper at 4 weekly than I am anyway, it's only a matter f of time. I made the mistake when I very first started of allowing some to go 8 weekly and found others on the same estate soon followed effectively halving my income from them. I soon learnt from it! Today my 4 weekly schedule is more like a 5 to 6 weekly which is just about right. I still have 2 or 3 that miss every other who have been with me since the start but that's it.

dd

  • Posts: 2610
Re: Quoting different prices
« Reply #9 on: February 10, 2025, 09:02:21 am »
I tried charging more for 8 weekly work and soon lost it. I guess people who want to  miss every other clean are trying to save money so when there's plenty of other wc around who will  happily charge the same rate as 4 weekly and are cheaper at 4 weekly than I am anyway, it's only a matter f of time. I made the mistake when I very first started of allowing some to go 8 weekly and found others on the same estate soon followed effectively halving my income from them. I soon learnt from it! Today my 4 weekly schedule is more like a 5 to 6 weekly which is just about right. I still have 2 or 3 that miss every other who have been with me since the start but that's it.
My view is I would rather have happy customers. If people overall prefer 8 weekly cleans for me that is the way to go.

Scottish Cleaning Service

  • Posts: 615
Re: Quoting different prices
« Reply #10 on: February 10, 2025, 09:04:48 am »
I'm near double for bi-monthly and folk are happy to pay it. I clean plenty of big Victorian flats for a score every 2 months and the customers are very happy because they can't get a cleaner to do it. I love this day as I can make a few bob in a few hours with my 25' pole. I would love all my cleans bi-monthly because I get nearly the same as monthly cleans. It takes a tad longer but with hot water you just need to soak stuff that will take a bit longer.

KS Cleaning

  • Posts: 4062
Re: Quoting different prices
« Reply #11 on: February 10, 2025, 03:08:31 pm »
I'm near double for bi-monthly and folk are happy to pay it. I clean plenty of big Victorian flats for a score every 2 months and the customers are very happy because they can't get a cleaner to do it. I love this day as I can make a few bob in a few hours with my 25' pole. I would love all my cleans bi-monthly because I get nearly the same as monthly cleans. It takes a tad longer but with hot water you just need to soak stuff that will take a bit longer.
Your customers must be a sandwich short of a picnic then! Who in their right mind would pay near double for bi-monthly? 🤦‍♂️…..it would make more sense to get two cleans for the price of one don’t you think?

Soupy

  • Posts: 21160
Re: Quoting different prices
« Reply #12 on: February 10, 2025, 03:31:34 pm »
Mine is

4 weekly = x
8 weekly = 1.5x
First clean (and any other frequency) = 2x
#FreeTheBrightonOne
#aliens

JandS

  • Posts: 4311
Re: Quoting different prices
« Reply #13 on: February 10, 2025, 04:57:20 pm »
5/6 weekly 9/10 times a year.....seems to be the sweet spot for me.
Impossible done straight away, miracles can take a little longer.

Spruce

  • Posts: 8560
Re: Quoting different prices
« Reply #14 on: February 10, 2025, 06:07:37 pm »
I tried charging more for 8 weekly work and soon lost it. I guess people who want to  miss every other clean are trying to save money so when there's plenty of other wc around who will  happily charge the same rate as 4 weekly and are cheaper at 4 weekly than I am anyway, it's only a matter f of time. I made the mistake when I very first started of allowing some to go 8 weekly and found others on the same estate soon followed effectively halving my income from them. I soon learnt from it! Today my 4 weekly schedule is more like a 5 to 6 weekly which is just about right. I still have 2 or 3 that miss every other who have been with me since the start but that's it.

When you first start off it's extremely difficult to set your stall out and stick rigidly to it as we needed the work. Nowadays it's easier to say no to some jobs and walk away.
Success is 1% inspiration, 98% perspiration and 2% attention to detail!

The older I get, the better I was ;)

M & C Window Cleaning

  • Posts: 1583
Re: Quoting different prices
« Reply #15 on: February 10, 2025, 08:14:36 pm »
I explain at the start that 4 weekly is one price and 8 weekly is usually a little more per visit for obvious reasons. Most get it immediately.
If they don't I simply explain that they are asking me to do more work for the same price. They usually get it at that point.
If they don't I don't want them on my books as they are shaping up to be bad customers from the get go.
Most still opt for 4 weekly where I live, though I can see that changing in the not too distant future with the price of things going up the way they are.
This method works for me because if they come on board they know what to expect if they choose to change frequency later. Oddly, I recently had one switch to 4 weekly from 8.

Scottish Cleaning Service

  • Posts: 615
Re: Quoting different prices
« Reply #16 on: February 10, 2025, 08:20:17 pm »
I'm near double for bi-monthly and folk are happy to pay it. I clean plenty of big Victorian flats for a score every 2 months and the customers are very happy because they can't get a cleaner to do it. I love this day as I can make a few bob in a few hours with my 25' pole. I would love all my cleans bi-monthly because I get nearly the same as monthly cleans. It takes a tad longer but with hot water you just need to soak stuff that will take a bit longer.
Your customers must be a sandwich short of a picnic then! Who in their right mind would pay near double for bi-monthly? 🤦‍♂️…..it would make more sense to get two cleans for the price of one don’t you think?

No one will offer one clean never mind 2 so they have little choice and are very happy to have me do it.

In life, it all comes down to supply and demand. The demand is there but no supply bar me, so that's the reason I get paid the big bucks to do it. Not many into window cleaning up here especially wfp and I think I'm the only one offering hot water wfp in my area.

KS Cleaning

  • Posts: 4062
Re: Quoting different prices
« Reply #17 on: February 10, 2025, 08:53:52 pm »
I'm near double for bi-monthly and folk are happy to pay it. I clean plenty of big Victorian flats for a score every 2 months and the customers are very happy because they can't get a cleaner to do it. I love this day as I can make a few bob in a few hours with my 25' pole. I would love all my cleans bi-monthly because I get nearly the same as monthly cleans. It takes a tad longer but with hot water you just need to soak stuff that will take a bit longer.
Your customers must be a sandwich short of a picnic then! Who in their right mind would pay near double for bi-monthly? 🤦‍♂️…..it would make more sense to get two cleans for the price of one don’t you think?

No one will offer one clean never mind 2 so they have little choice and are very happy to have me do it.

In life, it all comes down to supply and demand. The demand is there but no supply bar me, so that's the reason I get paid the big bucks to do it. Not many into window cleaning up here especially wfp and I think I'm the only one offering hot water wfp in my area.
What area are you in?

dazmond

  • Posts: 24218
Re: Quoting different prices
« Reply #18 on: February 10, 2025, 09:40:35 pm »
Virtually all new work is 8 weekly at a higher price but I still have a fairly large amounts of 4 weekly work.

20 years ago it used to be mainly fortnightly work when trad! I cant imagine getting round that often anymore.

Some of my 4 weekly work is really dirty after 4 weeks in the summer months due to insect marks and bird muck. I wouldn't like to clean them on longer frequencies.
price higher/work harder!

Scottish Cleaning Service

  • Posts: 615
Re: Quoting different prices
« Reply #19 on: February 11, 2025, 11:29:05 am »
Its went from 2 weekly with the old Trad guys and now Monthly seems to be the Optimum. When you do bi-monthly then one can notice the difference in the time it takes so you have got to charge more. I'm getting called to clean them after the storm, a first for me. Folk are realising what an asset a home is and quality of life is now number one priority. You can save all your life and then become ill and then get asset stripped to pay for it so what's the point. My father was a mean millionaire and wouldn't spend a penny unless it was something that increased in value like Art and Antiques.
I grew up watching him from a distance and my mum who was the opposite. He ended up a lonely old man in a mansion and the moment he became senile his young estranged wife took everything. My mum on the other hand lives in a council house and spends every penny she receives and enjoys life to the full, full of company.
So its hard for me to save money, I would rather invest in tools and equipment and make my business as efficient as possible and now that's what's happened.
People like working with me because everything seems so easy and my businesses run like clockwork. But its only when they tell me they spend hours doing things because they don't have the correct equipment I begin to understand.
I knew a roofer but he never had a roof ladder and always needed someone to hold his ladder when he went on a roof. Where I would put ladder up and then haul roof ladder up and tie them both together meaning they couldn't move and fit in the missing slate or tile. £160 for the roof ladder, first job and it was paid for.