Waiver first clean price for sign up?

[Kennygggkent]

Hello Chaps,

Was hoping to get your opinion of this, especially you Green Pro Clean Ltd because I think I remember you mentioning it in the past.

I think I'm currently losing out on 40% of the work I quote for because of my first clean price(and probably 70% of online enquires I quote for). I had a first clean price policy because I really felt angry when I cleaned the hell out of some really dirty windows to get the reg clean, only to be dropped on the second clean - we've all been there! But I'm thinking about waivering the first clean price and saying to the customer that I'm happy to start with a reg price as long as they sign up for at least 5 cleans.

There-after if they still drop me I'm confident to take them to the small claims court because I've done it before when I got ripped off on a van.

What do ya thing chaps, have any of you tried this?

 

[TolishAPurd]

40% is not too bad a loss, but how are you wording your emails? Give us an example of a first clean quote email. I get most of the ones I quote, and I consider myself pricey, especially on first cleans.

 

[Kennygggkent]

Here's a real life one Tolish:

Hello Steve, thanks for your enquiry.

Is it just a one off clean? If so for 9 windows to be deep cleaned on the outside, including all frames, cills and PVC doors will be approximately £30 depending on when they were last done.

As a regular 6 week clean we could bring that price down to about £15 thereafter.

Hope this helps

Kind regards

Blah blah blah

 

[TolishAPurd]

Here's a real life one Tolish:
Hello Steve, thanks for your enquiry.

Is it just a one off clean? If so for 9 windows to be deep cleaned on the outside, including all frames, cills and PVC doors will be approximately £30 depending on when they were last done.

As a regular 6 week clean we could bring that price down to about £15 thereafter.

Hope this helps

Kind regards

Blah blah blah

That's worded pretty well. Maybe switch it up a little and see how it goes though. Instead of just calling it a deep clean, just refer to it as the 'first clean', and say how "it is likely to take 2 or 3 times longer to get them shiny", hence the extra cost of the first clean.

Mentioning a deep clean and then going on to say all the things they already expect on any clean doesn't differentiate it enough.

 

[Adams0211]

I find that many of the first cleans I do aren't much more effort than a regular maintenance clean so I don't charge a first clean price with those.

Minging first cleans are usually 50% extra and really filthy ones are double or more.

I find that quoting in person rather than over the phone/online makes things easier as you can see for yourself and explain the first clean price properly to the customer. Most customers understand and are happy to pay a bit extra the first time. And if they're not happy to pay a bit extra then I don't want their custom. All that only really works if your work is fairly compact so you're not driving all over the place doing quotes.

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[Kennygggkent]

I find that many of the first cleans I do aren't much more effort than a regular maintenance clean so I don't charge a first clean price with those.
Minging first cleans are usually 50% extra and really filthy ones are double or more.

I find that quoting in person rather than over the phone/online makes things easier as you can see for yourself and explain the first clean price properly to the customer. Most customers understand and are happy to pay a bit extra the first time. And if they're not happy to pay a bit extra then I don't want their custom. All that only really works if your work is fairly compact so you're not driving all over the place doing quotes.

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Yeah totally - there is so much to be said for quoting in person.

I work on the basis that if they haven't been done in about 4 months they need double scrub and double rinse if i'm doing it WFP so as not to spot, but it's so hard to tell some times. But also I believe everyone should have there windows done regularly so I like penalising custy's that don't because it's money the market has lost out on!

 

[peter rogers]

I don't charge a extra for firsts sometimes take 3 times as long jus bite the bullet but u do get the wise ones who do one clean then not again blah blah but it's the rest I care bout

 

[Chris33]

Also don't change extra for firsts, and have found with really dirty windows the appreciation factor has helped them stick with me (i think)

 

[Green Pro Clean Ltd]

Here's a real life one Tolish:
Hello Steve, thanks for your enquiry.

Is it just a one off clean? If so for 9 windows to be deep cleaned on the outside, including all frames, cills and PVC doors will be approximately £30 depending on when they were last done.

As a regular 6 week clean we could bring that price down to about £15 thereafter.

Hope this helps

Kind regards

Blah blah blah

It's 'Sills - not cills' Otherwise your email seems fine to me.

We have a minimum first clean charge of £20. Of course if it's a £50 job then that usually covers it. The £20 is only for the £12 - £15 little jobs.

There is nothing wrong with the wording but I would have established if it's a one off or ongoing clean before quoting.

When you quote from Google Earth you cant see all the eggs, moss, algae and scum on the windows so you give a "typical" price, turn up and are annoyed to see what you priced at £12 is now going to take an hour cause you didn't bother to go look in person to begin with.

I know some of you rural lads prefer quoting from the armchair but I only quote face to face.

When you are there with them pointing out what needs doing they are more appreciative, then get the internal claen, add on a gutter clearing and start discussing the driveway. If you truly assessed your customers property you'd be amazed at how much work is sitting there waiting for you.

If forced to quote by email then it's something along the lines of ....

"Hi Mary ,

Thanks for you enquiry, the price options for window cleaning at your property are as follows.

(All options include full cleaning of all the glass, frame work, sills and doors for the whole property on each clean)

A one off (as and when cleaning) would be £40.

A bi-monthly cleaning would be £18 per clean

A monthly cleaning would be £15 per clean.

Should you want us to include the conservatory that would be an extra £5 per clean.

Please let us know how you wish to proceed.

Kind regards. Darren.

Feel free to copy and paste.

Final point. You will always close more deals face to face than google map quoting.

 

[Green Pro Clean Ltd]

P.S. The reason I charge forst cleans is that it eliminates the messers right away.

 

[Chris33]

Agree with first clean principles, local to me this is unheard of for customers thought I'd do it for really dirty or big jobs I guess.

 

[Green Pro Clean Ltd]

Agree with first clean principles, local to me this is unheard of for customers thought I'd do it for really dirty or big jobs I guess.

Big jobs I dont mind as they are priced accordingly. It is the small mingers that require time above and beyond what they should be that need to pay.

 

[CHWS]

It's 'Sills - not cills' Otherwise your email seems fine to me.
We have a minimum first clean charge of £20. Of course if it's a £50 job then that usually covers it. The £20 is only for the £12 - £15 little jobs.

There is nothing wrong with the wording but I would have established if it's a one off or ongoing clean before quoting.

When you quote from Google Earth you cant see all the eggs, moss, algae and scum on the windows so you give a "typical" price, turn up and are annoyed to see what you priced at £12 is now going to take an hour cause you didn't bother to go look in person to begin with.

I know some of you rural lads prefer quoting from the armchair but I only quote face to face.

When you are there with them pointing out what needs doing they are more appreciative, then get the internal claen, add on a gutter clearing and start discussing the driveway. If you truly assessed your customers property you'd be amazed at how much work is sitting there waiting for you.

If forced to quote by email then it's something along the lines of ....

"Hi Mary ,

Thanks for you enquiry, the price options for window cleaning at your property are as follows.

(All options include full cleaning of all the glass, frame work, sills and doors for the whole property on each clean)

A one off (as and when cleaning) would be £40.

A bi-monthly cleaning would be £18 per clean

A monthly cleaning would be £15 per clean.

Should you want us to include the conservatory that would be an extra £5 per clean.

Please let us know how you wish to proceed.

Kind regards. Darren.

Feel free to copy and paste.

Final point. You will always close more deals face to face than google map quoting.

Left out the 'r' in your /emoticons/tongue.png

 

[Phildeeney]

On first cleans I won't do much more than normal maintenance cleans and just explain to the customer that they may have a few spots as I have give the frames a good scrub and that it will disappear after the second clean. Normally if they want an ongoing clean they won't be that bothered.

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[Kennygggkent]

On first cleans I won't do much more than normal maintenance cleans and just explain to the customer that they may have a few spots as I have give the frames a good scrub and that it will disappear after the second clean. Normally if they want an ongoing clean they won't be that bothered.
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I have a buddy that does that, but IMO i think it gives the customer the oppertunity to think that WFP is a no go because of spotting

 

[Kennygggkent]

I don't charge a extra for firsts sometimes take 3 times as long jus bite the bullet but u do get the wise ones who do one clean then not again blah blah but it's the rest I care bout

If it takes 3 times as long and they turn around the next clean and say na thanks. Then they have basically robbed £20 off ya if it was £10 reg for instance. After that happening to me my opinion now is "fool me once shame on you, fool me twice shame on me!"

 

[Eddie dragon]

I visit every customer to give a quote. That way I can see exactly how dirty the windows are, also get a better feel for the customer when chatting in person. I don't always charge a premium first cleans unless alge is growing on the sills. I also visit all properties as it's the only time I actually get to meet some customers.

 

[Green Pro Clean Ltd]

Left out the 'r' in your /emoticons/tongue.png

Always one pedantic pick on the forum!!

OOopppss, did I miss the 'r' again? /emoticons/tongue.png

 

[Adams0211]

Always one pedantic pick on the forum!!
OOopppss, did I miss the 'r' again? /emoticons/tongue.png

And the 'e' on 'one' [emoji23]

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[Chris33]

Aye similar, excess paint spatter etc is removed within two cleans and explained to customer.

 

[Green Pro Clean Ltd]

And the 'e' on 'one' [emoji23]

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Shoulda gone to Spec Savers /emoticons/smile.png)