[Davew]

Makes me laugh how people on here think they are businessmen from Dragons Den. You are supplying a non essential service to people - how you can possibly drive prices through the roof by adding percentages here and there for infrequent cleans is beyond me - a couple of pounds maybe. If you were providing an essential service such as boiler repair, burst pipes or whatever then yes because you are in control and the customer has no choice provided the market is not saturated with competition. But cleaning windows - get real!

[Ian_Giles]

Makes me laugh how people on here think they are businessmen from Dragons Den. You are supplying a non essential service to people - how you can possibly drive prices through the roof by adding percentages here and there for infrequent cleans is beyond me - a couple of pounds maybe. If you were providing an essential service such as boiler repair, burst pipes or whatever then yes because you are in control and the customer has no choice provided the market is not saturated with competition. But cleaning windows - get real!

I more or less agree with Dave here, it doesn't bother me to be honest whether I clean 4 weekly or 8 weekly, half the time I'm so busy I don't get around on time anyway (not with the residential cleans).

I'm earning good money at what I do, 8 weekly or 4 weekly doesn't make a lot of difference in the time it takes to clean a house, in fact I don't think it makes any difference at all.
It can depend a lot on the location of the house, on the side of a busy road, or surrounded by trees and hedges, exposed to lots of wind and so on.

On a ten pound house I might put it up two quid if I thought it justified it, and would certainly increase the price if they went to 12 weekly.

My price are by and large very good anyway, if I put a £35 house up to close to fifty quid a clean I am pretty sure of the reaction I would get!

Ian

[Ian W]

Dave, I agree with you to a certain extent, but we all operate our businesses in our own way. Some of the ideas people have posted on here have been really useful and I have put them into practice. Some I wouldn't even attempt to try. I can see a couple of useful ideas in some of the posts above.

[Neil271052]

Makes me laugh how people on here think they are businessmen from Dragons Den. You are supplying a non essential service to people - how you can possibly drive prices through the roof by adding percentages here and there for infrequent cleans is beyond me - a couple of pounds maybe. If you were providing an essential service such as boiler repair, burst pipes or whatever then yes because you are in control and the customer has no choice provided the market is not saturated with competition. But cleaning windows - get real!

Have to agree with that.

I charge the same whether monthly or bi-monthly.

It is not an essential service (I do my own rarely  ) and most people just have their windows cleaned because of tradition IMO.

I did someones windows the other day who had not had them done for six years and to be honest although they were dirty close up they looked perfectly acceptable from the street and didn't take me any longer to do.

I don't think people set so much store by immaculate windows as some WC'ers think and my customers certainly wouldn't be held to ransom.

[Davew]

I would add that if your stacked out with work then yes you could "try it on" but then word would soon get round and probably have an adverse effect in the end. You have to balance the market, weigh up what the competition are charging and how much competition there is and also what prices the customers will stand. I know in my area if i hiked my prices by fifty per cent for a twelve week clean then i'd soon loose them.

[windowwashers]

I would add that if your stacked out with work then yes you could "try it on" but then word would soon get round and probably have an adverse effect in the end. You have to balance the market, weigh up what the competition are charging and how much competition there is and also what prices the customers will stand. I know in my area if i hiked my prices by fifty per cent for a twelve week clean then i'd soon loose them.

the thing is I dont want 12 week cleans, some may need them I dont, I charge what I do and have done for many years now, why anyone would charge the same to do more work is beyond me but each to there own I guess, knock me , mock me, I dont really care it works for me.

[Sir Squeaky]

I think you know my thoughts on this without even posting...

Dave. Spot-on.

I read stories of getting above your station and abusing customers like this, and then wonder why I'm a bit short of work. :

[windowwashers]

I think you know my thoughts on this without even posting... :

Dave. Spot-on.

I read stories of getting above your station and abusing customers like this, and then wonder why I'm a bit short of work. :

I am not abusing my customers in anyway I am totally up front with everyone of my customers.

[cvdewsbury]

if folks want to double up on prices or overcharge let it be personally myself its up to the customer if they want to change  there windows cleaned onto a 2 month rota,as long it fits in with yr run there aint no problem.i am presuming your round is compact..so id rather do this than lose the customer and possibly end up with another cleaner on your round.....

[mark dew]

i clean a barn conversion for £25 each month. I went last month and the wife asked if i could do them 8 weekly now.
I went back this month and there was only 1 window dirty. Money for old rope with wfp.

[simon knight]

i clean a barn conversion for £25 each month. I went last month and the wife asked if i could do them 8 weekly now.
I went back this month and there was only 1 window dirty. Money for old rope with wfp.

I think that's the point.  In all but exceptional circumstances windows just really don't need cleaning monthly.

It follows that w/cers who turn up monthly are just really going through the motions....and the word that springs to mind is CON!

Sorry!

[Londoner]

Makes me laugh how people on here think they are businessmen from Dragons Den. You are supplying a non essential service to people - how you can possibly drive prices through the roof by adding percentages here and there for infrequent cleans is beyond me - a couple of pounds maybe. If you were providing an essential service such as boiler repair, burst pipes or whatever then yes because you are in control and the customer has no choice provided the market is not saturated with competition. But cleaning windows - get real!

Have to agree with that.



I charge the same whether monthly or bi-monthly.

It is not an essential service (I do my own rarely  ) and most people just have their windows cleaned because of tradition IMO.

I did someones windows the other day who had not had them done for six years and to be honest although they were dirty close up they looked perfectly acceptable from the street and didn't take me any longer to do.

I don't think people set so much store by immaculate windows as some WC'ers think and my customers certainly wouldn't be held to ransom.

You are so right.

 Some customers, a few , HAVE to have their windows cleaned because the world wold stop turning if they didn't. As for the rest..............

I have my first once a year customer on my books now. Did her this week and she is set up on George as every 52 weeks. If thats what she wants thats what she gets. I can guarantee that every one of my customers has been canvassed by other window cleaners at least once in the past six months. Give them some respect or they will easily find someone else.

[windowwashers]

i clean a barn conversion for £25 each month. I went last month and the wife asked if i could do them 8 weekly now.
I went back this month and there was only 1 window dirty. Money for old rope with wfp.

I think that's the point.  In all but exceptional circumstances windows just really don't need cleaning monthly.

It follows that w/cers who turn up monthly are just really going through the motions....and the word that springs to mind is CON!

Sorry!

windows get dirty within a month, 2 months they will be more dirty, I am paid to keep my customers windows clean all the time and thats what they are, why have clean windows for a month and getting dirtier for the next month till you come again 

[Davew]

Do you was your car because it's sunday or do you wash it because it's dirty?

[windowwashers]

Do you was your car because it's sunday or do you wash it because it's dirty?

I wash my van most days as I dont want it to get dirty, my car one or twice a week I prefer for them to look clean all the time, why have them dirty sometimes when there is no need ?

[Davew]

    the only answer you could use really
But if you had to pay to have your car washed i'm sure even you wouldn't do it if it didn't look dirty.

[xxmattyxx]

I have my first once a year customer on my books now.

Oh Id hate that, so much can happen in a year, she could die, she might move, she might forget she ever had an arrangement with you, she might become senile and forget who you are in a years time    I just couldnt take on a job like that and expect to just turn up do it and expect everything to be fine.

Id be half expecting her to say 'Oh, not this time mate !'

[windowwashers]

   the only answer you could use really
But if you had to pay to have your car washed i'm sure even you wouldn't do it if it didn't look dirty.

I do have to pay for it m8, I use pure water and that I pay for  

I understand your point, but I am not agreeing with it  

I maintain my van by washing it alot this way it stays clean just the same as windows really 

[bluez]

The customer will always dictate when they want their windows cleaned imo, sometimes they will follow a cycle that we think we dictate but that is only how it seems.  When they are tight on money they we will be dropped, no point in getting your nose out of joint, they might be your best customer again in 6 months. My prices are for the work carried out the frequency will not necessarily change the price but the amount of time required to do the job will and I am not shy about saying it to them in a very polite way.

[Londoner]

I have my first once a year customer on my books now.

Oh Id hate that, so much can happen in a year, she could die, she might move, she might forget she ever had an arrangement with you, she might become senile and forget who you are in a years time    I just couldnt take on a job like that and expect to just turn up do it and expect everything to be fine.

Id be half expecting her to say 'Oh, not this time mate !'

Well its not going to be the end of the world if she does forget me is it? It started as a one off clean and I was trying to get her to commit to having them done regularly. So I said we have a computer system and we can set you up for whatever time interval you like. Once a year was what she said she wanted.
It does show how differently people see the whole subject of having their windows done. I set her up on George because I thought a bird in the hand etc etc.

I have several 4 times a year customers and when I go to them the windows don't look any worse than the windows at my regular houses.