[Perfectly Clean]

Hi, I have been reading this forum since Nov and have found it so helpful...Because of all the posts on WFP systems a have brought one and am just getting used to using it. I have also given up my job and going full time WC, so any help in Surrey would be appreciated.  My main problem at the moment is pricing.  Im pricing at £0.65 per window pane, so if there is a window with 2 openers and a central pane i would price at £1.95 and so forth.  Does this sound right?  I have also taken note from previous posts and am trying to put a min of £10.00.
Does it sound like im pricing correctly?
Can someone PLEASE clear this up for me....

Many Thanks
Paul

[steve k]

work out what you need to earn per hour and then work out how many houses you would need to clean in an hour to achieve this. So if you can clean 3 semis an hour and are happy with 20 per hour(approx) then you charge about £6.50-£7.00.
You may not be doing 3 an hour at the moment but you will soon. That figure is a baseline...do not underprice in your early days.

[Perfectly Clean]

Thanks for that i'll keep plugging away....

[s.hughes]

I dont bother with the 0.50p its a pain when you have to give change. I always price to the highest £1.00. So if a property is only worth £7.50 then I price it at £8.00. I find that the customer is happier that they also dont need to bother with the change and I explain that I am pricing it on an up to date price and the price will only increase in 2 years time.

Steveyboy

[lawrence berrigan]

hi my name is lawrence im a window cleaner in republic of ireland. i lived in leeds for 4 years so appreciate the value of the pound. i charge 30 euro around 19 sterling 4 a average 3 bedroomed house and am getting it no bother, mind u i do clean down all frames, average 20 houses a day, the best ever been 27, after about 40 cans of red bull i started canvassing door 2 door, people need 2 meet and trust u. im 26 work 5 days a week and am taking in 3000 euro per week. come 2 ireland guys.

[geoffreyspecht]

i agree with u lawrence not many window cleaners there but there r loads of dirty windows

[Mike_G]

PAUL   65p a pane sounds steep to me but if you are picking up work at this price then it is either bang on, or not enough. If on the other hand you are not getting much work it is clearly to much.

[Perfectly Clean]

Hi Mike
As times moving on im getting a better idea how long jobs take so I have adopted Steves way which does seem to be working.

My biggest problem at the moment is speed, Am trying to speed up but seems to be taking a while.  I think im detailing too much.  I rub the edges with a scrim until the water goes, do you think this is the problem?

Have been doing this full time since end of May and loving it, Started slowly back in Nove.  Just trying to get more work now.

Thanks Paul

[andy1274]

Hi

Try unger micorwipes, better than scrim, if windows are cleanish, then we spray with car screen wash and then wipe over with a single microwipe, saves time as no wiping up or detailing, need to squegee still if dirty or large windows. best tip ive seen on this forum is ditch any low paid work when you can for better paid work, dont make mistake i did, never losing work but not getting round good paid customers bang on time.Get to well paid customers on the dot and lose the low paid ones

[marc al]

  Push the price to as hgh as you think you can get away with. Take note of the car(s) they have and the general condition of the property and how house proud they look, this will give a good indication of how much you can push the price, call me cynical if you like but I have learnt quickly and am now going for top dollar on everything I quote and will soon be dropping the early jobs that are too cheap.

  Marc
 

[windows_chepstow]

I was asked for a quote this morning and thought I'd try 75p per window.

The lady had fifteen windows and two doors, so that's 17 x 5.  I couldn't work it out in my head without using my fingers and thumbs so I said £15.00 per month.

The actual price should've been £12.75 (calculator assisted) and rounded upto £13.00.

She accepted!

I also recently started cleaning the 'wrong house' - I should've been two doors down.  Luckily enough the lady owner told me quite quickly and laughed about it.  I asked her how much her 'real' window cleaner charges (just out of interest).  He charges £8.00 for a three bedroomed semi with a conservatory.

I do a near identical house (the one two doors down) and charge £12.00 (although access is slightly difficult as I have to go over a garage to get to the rear).

There's no hard and fast rule when it comes to charging; just don't charge to cheaply.

You're not doing youself or your customers any favours as you'll end up 'dropping' them in favour of better priced work.

For all you know they might well have been willing to pay 'the extra' to hold onto an honest, regular, reliable and good window cleaner.

[Perfectly Clean]

Hi all

I seem to be getting better with the pricing, giving good prices which have all been accepted.

1 strange thing, an old lady came over to me and asked HOW MUCH?  I asked her if she already had a window cleaner which was a Yes so I asked how much he charges.....She wouldn't tell me so I explained that I didn't want to undercut him for the simple reason he is probably a normal guy like me trying to pay his way through life....Any way she still wouldn't tell me so I quoted high....didn't get the job but my concious is clear.....

[danny mckim]

Without trying hard i reckon most wc s could easily double their income in Ireland. U have 2 c it 2 believe

[Perfectly Clean]

Why do you think that is Danny, I know the cost of a lot of things are higher in Ireland and Tax is higher.

I have noticed the cost of having your windows cleaned is going up, I think people are begining to realise that its a business not just people out for a quick buck.

[steve k]

Lawrence, are you saying you earn nearly £2000 a week on 20 houses a day...?
that is serious money...over £100 grand a year...!

are those figures correct?

[steve k]

Lawrence..come on...I need to book my ferry ticket

[steve k]

cannot believe no-one has responded to Lawrences figures...including Lawrence..?
...maybe everyone is on the ferry...??

hello...anyone there

"TAXI..."...!!!

[Perfectly Clean]

Just got back from Ireland, tried getting some customers but none spoke English...Bugger