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quote for a big one but with a nasty down side

ECLM
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riggy

riggy

Well-known member
Messages
94
Location
gloucester
Hoping for abit of feed back on priceing althow i know i dont have any pics to help with this.  so i know it will be hard for people to judge priceing

Had a guy needing a window cleaner, cracking job in many ways. wants 6 weekly. number of windows as follows

outbuilding single story, with A frame roof with...

5 bay windows 2ft x 6ft each in a row, ground level easy access,

2 roof windows small, can clean from inside or outside as windows spin 360 degrees, easy acess from out side anyway,

2 side windows 1.8 ft x 3.4ft, again easy ground acess.

back of house 14 windows pains, standard size windows u get on 3 bed simis, half on ground level, other half first floor, all easy access.

2 x 3ft in diamiter round windows one on each end of house, easy access again. plus they also sin round so can be cleaned on inside if u wanted too

attached to house outside is glass slideing doors x 6 in a row 2ft x 6 ft each, strange design as no frames, easy acess again thow,

7 roof windows above first floor on A framed roof of main house. 2ft by 3ft aprox, stright farward acess from ground and can spin 360 to face inside again so can clean out side pain from inside if wanted. 

all these are stright farward acess thus far, 

now the last and bad it of the other wise pritty good job,  5 deep set half moon windows, frames of these windows set back from face of wall at atleast 12 inches with wooden frames running from top to bottom making the half moon shaped window have about 10 small pains of variying sizes,  2 of these windows are about first floor high cant get a wfp to go at the angle but happy on a ladder at that hight, then the other 3 same design and 12 inch plus set back from edge again are about 30 foot up at least, 3rd story hight put simply.  again with 10 small pains making up the windown between all the wood framing. this 12 inch deep set back makes it even more impossible with standard wfp then the bottom too.  this side of the house is on the road side too.  its a mega fiddly ladder job and at 30 ft up is in the back breaker teritory if i fall off. or badly broke bones teritoty at least. rest of the job is great its just this one side thats tricky and a dody safty wise. 

hoping anyone could give a ruff idea of what u think the quote might be for all the standared stuff without the bad side wall. and how any of u might handle this bad side of the house, like is there an attachment for a wfp  that can be 35 ft long but then with a right angled pole coming off it about 3 foot long ?  if not then how long can windows like this take and what kind of charge for them do u think might be about right.  

wants every 6 weeks and then twise a year the insides done aswell. 

hope iv explained it ok, i know with out pics its hard to tell. everything but this one wall is stright farward acess. hope that helps on the costs.  any feed back on ruff area on priceing  would be good, thanks all

 
Last edited by a moderator:
Not sure how long of a gooseneck you can get , I’ve seen people make their own out of copper , so little idea /task diy gooseneck ,

i got lost half way reading my ? doesn’t stay focused long enough , lol

try and work out how long it will take you and go from ther ,  work at your hourly rate ?

 
riggy said:
Hoping for abit of feed back on priceing althow i know i dont have any pics to help with this.  so i know it will be hard for people to judge priceing

Had a guy needing a window cleaner, cracking job in many ways. wants 6 weekly. number of windows as follows

outbuilding single story, with A frame roof with...

5 bay windows 2ft x 6ft each in a row, ground level easy access,

2 roof windows small, can clean from inside or outside as windows spin 360 degrees, easy acess from out side anyway,

2 side windows 1.8 ft x 3.4ft, again easy ground acess.

back of house 14 windows pains, standard size windows u get on 3 bed simis, half on ground level, other half first floor, all easy access.

2 x 3ft in diamiter round windows one on each end of house, easy access again. plus they also sin round so can be cleaned on inside if u wanted too

attached to house outside is glass slideing doors x 6 in a row 2ft x 6 ft each, strange design as no frames, easy acess again thow,

7 roof windows above first floor on A framed roof of main house. 2ft by 3ft aprox, stright farward acess from ground and can spin 360 to face inside again so can clean out side pain from inside if wanted. 

all these are stright farward acess thus far, 

now the last and bad it of the other wise pritty good job,  5 deep set half moon windows, frames of these windows set back from face of wall at atleast 12 inches with wooden frames running from top to bottom making the half moon shaped window have about 10 small pains of variying sizes,  2 of these windows are about first floor high cant get a wfp to go at the angle but happy on a ladder at that hight, then the other 3 same design and 12 inch plus set back from edge again are about 30 foot up at least, 3rd story hight put simply.  again with 10 small pains making up the windown between all the wood framing. this 12 inch deep set back makes it even more impossible with standard wfp then the bottom too.  this side of the house is on the road side too.  its a mega fiddly ladder job and at 30 ft up is in the back breaker teritory if i fall off. or badly broke bones teritoty at least. rest of the job is great its just this one side thats tricky and a dody safty wise. 

hoping anyone could give a ruff idea of what u think the quote might be for all the standared stuff without the bad side wall. and how any of u might handle this bad side of the house, like is there an attachment for a wfp  that can be 35 ft long but then with a right angled pole coming off it about 3 foot long ?  if not then how long can windows like this take and what kind of charge for them do u think might be about right.  

wants every 6 weeks and then twise a year the insides done aswell. 

hope iv explained it ok, i know with out pics its hard to tell. everything but this one wall is stright farward acess. hope that helps on the costs.  any feed back on ruff area on priceing  would be good, thanks all
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I would say it’s impossible to evan give you a ball park figure with out any pictures , as so many factors are taken into consideration when pricing work , sorry . 

 
I was having serious doubts, Until, I read about the possibility of back breaking strain and the real possibility of broken bones. Then I had to wonder if you're serious, or if this is a wind up. Jury's out at the moment. If you are serious, I can't believe you'd take such risks. As for pricing I wouldn't know without seeing it properly. I'd be guessing £80 six weekly external, from gut feeling only. I'm probably way over on price because I don't think I'd touch it. Do three or four, 3 or 4 bed houses instead, without the risk of life changing injuries. 

Easy to get suckered in to doing jobs that should be kept well clear of. Been there, done that, got more experience and sense now, I'd like to think. 

 
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im not on a wind up about anything. just a stright detailed run down of the amount of glass thats onsite. and a discription of the part of the job that makes is questionable to weather its worth the risk or is there a safe way round it with wfp.  its a cracking property to get to do other than this annoying part of it.   i say broken bones ect cause from 30ft plus upwards thats just what can start happening.  its shame to not take it on when the most part of the job is good.  really annoying that if it wasnt for the one weird wall and windows it would be a great one to have.  

 
riggy said:
im not on a wind up about anything. just a stright detailed run down of the amount of glass thats onsite. and a discription of the part of the job that makes is questionable to weather its worth the risk or is there a safe way round it with wfp.  its a cracking property to get to do other than this annoying part of it.   i say broken bones ect cause from 30ft plus upwards thats just what can start happening.  its shame to not take it on when the most part of the job is good.  really annoying that if it wasnt for the one weird wall and windows it would be a great one to have.  
Click to expand...




In this day and age anyone who goes 30 feet up a ladder to clean windows when there is a far safer and easier means to do the job is an utter fool ,and deserves to be prosecuted by the HSE .

 
Apologies riggy. I didn't really think it was a wind up having read your previous posts that didn't point to you being that kind of person. Just found it difficult to understand the idea of considering using wfp while straining off a ladder. One serious mishap and it could be career, livelihood and quality of life over. 

Stay safe, would be my priority, mate. 

Good luck whatever you decide. ?

Pjj said:
In this day and age anyone who goes 30 feet up a ladder to clean windows when there is a far safer and easier means to do the job is an utter fool ,and deserves to be prosecuted by the HSE .
Click to expand...
I'd agree to a point, but if someone's circumstances are real desperate that can be a difficult choice. 

 
Davy G said:
Apologies riggy. I didn't really think it was a wind up having read your previous posts that didn't point to you being that kind of person. Just found it difficult to understand the idea of considering using wfp while straining off a ladder. One serious mishap and it could be career, livelihood and quality of life over. 

Stay safe, would be my priority, mate. 

Good luck whatever you decide. ?

I'd agree to a point, but if someone's circumstances are real desperate that can be a difficult choice. 
Click to expand...




Evan if it was a £100 job your life and health are worth far more , only a fool would consider working this way , wfp has made this job so much easier and safer , if someone doesn’t have the equipment to do the job either buy it borrow it or walk away from the job it’s not worth the risks involved, I don’t want to be rude but why would anyone evan consider doing a job in this way they must be mad  

 
Davy G said:
Apologies riggy. I didn't really think it was a wind up having read your previous posts that didn't point to you being that kind of person. Just found it difficult to understand the idea of considering using wfp while straining off a ladder. One serious mishap and it could be career, livelihood and quality of life over. 

Stay safe, would be my priority, mate. 

Good luck whatever you decide. ?

I'd agree to a point, but if someone's circumstances are real desperate that can be a difficult choice. 
Click to expand...
no thats alrite. i know theres a alot of **** talkers out there, i didnt explain it very well. i wasnt intending to go up a ladder useing a wfp at same time. i ment to say its a ladder job going up 30ft or useing a wfp from the ground but one that is 30 ft plus long and has a long right angle  on it at the end thats about 2 or 3ft long to reach deep inside the resess as its only way of getting a brush to make contact with the glass. like a gaint numer F with out the dash below it. i dont want to go up a ladder to do it. just really need to find a way of getting the brush pole to it.  

 
Pjj said:
Evan if it was a £100 job your life and health are worth far more , only a fool would consider working this way , wfp has made this job so much easier and safer , if someone doesn’t have the equipment to do the job either buy it borrow it or walk away from the job it’s not worth the risks involved, I don’t want to be rude but why would anyone evan consider doing a job in this way they must be mad  
Click to expand...
yer i dont want to risk it. i know its not worth it.  wont say i didnt consider it, soon as i saw it i knew it was a very bad idea to go that high. but when ur starting out and have very few custys and every job is like gold dust it gose throw ur mind more so than when u got a full round and money coming in. but even thow im desprate for work im still not going go up a ladder that far. the customer seem to think it was fine tho..lol recons his last windy went up the ladder to do it...just going have to explain thay cant be reached by ladder or pole.  maybe thay will see sence and acept these windows cant be done. there so sheltered and small anyway i dont see why there that fussed anyway tbh...lol 

 
Rent a lift and to them twice a year when you do the insides. ? Extremely expensive for those windows, sure. But if it's the only way they can be done, take it or leave it I say. 

Price wise, I find a good rule of thumb if you have to buy new special equipment to do that one job, add the cost of the gear to the price. It'll pay for the new stuff after one clean and make up for the extra work down the line.

 
Tell the customer that you can only price the job for the three "safe" sides and that you'll be unable to clean the nightmare side that you've described. Tell him why and to have a think about it.

Once he's been told the same by other window cleaners, he'll probably come back to you for the job.

 
wezza13 said:
Tell the customer that you can only price the job for the three "safe" sides and that you'll be unable to clean the nightmare side that you've described. Tell him why and to have a think about it.

Once he's been told the same by other window cleaners, he'll probably come back to you for the job.
Click to expand...
Yeah, good idea. Could probably still do some on the same side as the awkward /dangerous ones but point out decisively the ones that will be excluded, and, very importantly, write them down on a card for the customer to keep for future reference, and also important, make a note on your own paperwork to carry forward and have with you on future visits, so that you also know exactly what you've agreed to and will and have a record if they question it. As you get busier it's harder to remember everything,so records and notes are important. 

 
riggy said:
Hoping for abit of feed back on priceing althow i know i dont have any pics to help with this.  so i know it will be hard for people to judge priceing

Had a guy needing a window cleaner, cracking job in many ways. wants 6 weekly. number of windows as follows

outbuilding single story, with A frame roof with...

5 bay windows 2ft x 6ft each in a row, ground level easy access,

2 roof windows small, can clean from inside or outside as windows spin 360 degrees, easy acess from out side anyway,

2 side windows 1.8 ft x 3.4ft, again easy ground acess.

back of house 14 windows pains, standard size windows u get on 3 bed simis, half on ground level, other half first floor, all easy access.

2 x 3ft in diamiter round windows one on each end of house, easy access again. plus they also sin round so can be cleaned on inside if u wanted too

attached to house outside is glass slideing doors x 6 in a row 2ft x 6 ft each, strange design as no frames, easy acess again thow,

7 roof windows above first floor on A framed roof of main house. 2ft by 3ft aprox, stright farward acess from ground and can spin 360 to face inside again so can clean out side pain from inside if wanted. 

all these are stright farward acess thus far, 

now the last and bad it of the other wise pritty good job,  5 deep set half moon windows, frames of these windows set back from face of wall at atleast 12 inches with wooden frames running from top to bottom making the half moon shaped window have about 10 small pains of variying sizes,  2 of these windows are about first floor high cant get a wfp to go at the angle but happy on a ladder at that hight, then the other 3 same design and 12 inch plus set back from edge again are about 30 foot up at least, 3rd story hight put simply.  again with 10 small pains making up the windown between all the wood framing. this 12 inch deep set back makes it even more impossible with standard wfp then the bottom too.  this side of the house is on the road side too.  its a mega fiddly ladder job and at 30 ft up is in the back breaker teritory if i fall off. or badly broke bones teritoty at least. rest of the job is great its just this one side thats tricky and a dody safty wise. 

hoping anyone could give a ruff idea of what u think the quote might be for all the standared stuff without the bad side wall. and how any of u might handle this bad side of the house, like is there an attachment for a wfp  that can be 35 ft long but then with a right angled pole coming off it about 3 foot long ?  if not then how long can windows like this take and what kind of charge for them do u think might be about right.  

wants every 6 weeks and then twise a year the insides done aswell. 

hope iv explained it ok, i know with out pics its hard to tell. everything but this one wall is stright farward acess. hope that helps on the costs.  any feed back on ruff area on priceing  would be good, thanks all
Click to expand...


Photos would have been far easier and quicker ?

 
I have the same trouble. Ive got a sony cyber shot camera, and is such a pain trying to upload pics that i end up not bothering, unless ive got a spare hour or more. the pics are too many bytes or whatever it is. 

 
Yo riggy from what you've said mate i'd leave this to more experienced windys. I know you're desperate for work (me too lol) but it's not worth risking your life and health over. Honestly believe me, I'm struggling with back strain just from washing a few awkward windows that are over extensions etc. It just isn't worth it.

Your best option might be to go back to the client and say that some of those windows won't be possible without specialist equipment (eg portable scaffolding tower) but you'd be happy to do the others. Some people might say they'll go elsewhere, others will say "just do what you can". I've got a few like that, they're not bothered as long as most of it gets done. One i went to today has a bloody great palm tree in front of her front upper window, plus dead ivy all over it. I explained to her the difficulties in cleaning them properly and she was fine about it. I still give it my best but we both accept they'll not be properly cleaned. She did say she has trouble retaining windys lol but she's a lovely lady and despite the place being huge with windows that get really dirty everytime i go back (literally first clean every time), she's one of my best customers. One of her rear windows doesn't even get done - it's above a really long conservatory..

 

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