A pricing question (sorry)

[Chris34]

I think it's best to add a bit of time to get to the next job as well, so if it is possible to do it in 40 minutes then add 10 minutes to get to the next job, otherwise you find that you get 4 hours work on paper but the reality is you're out working for 5.5 to 6 hours.  So if your rate is £40 per hour then 4 hours cleaning is £160 but you're out working for 5.5 hours once travel time is factored so your rate is actually reduced to £29 per hour.

I have lots of houses like this in my area so it's very difficult to come up with a one size fits all pricing as they are all unique.  I think the only way is to count the windows and work out the time it's going to take and then add a bit for travel time.  It won't be bang on perfect but it's better than plucking figures out of thin air.

I'm currently cleaning the inside of houses and making the switch to window cleaning as the grass looks greener (and full of gold, ha ha).  For a house this size they normally allocate 4 to 6 hours per week to clean the inside of the house.  That's at a rate of £15 to £20 per hour.  So the way I see it, if these people are willing to pay £60 to £90+ minimum per week on cleaning then £40 per month to get the windows cleaned isn't that much in the grand scheme of things.  

Chris.

 

[Davy G]

Reading this with interest as I've got to come up with a pricing strategy.

How many minutes per window would it take?  Surely the only way is to work out the average time per window and count the windows.  40 mins sounds a little optimistic if you factor in set-up and pack up time.  2 minutes per set of windows comes in at 24 minutes and then there is the conservatory, is it possible to do a good job at 2 minutes per window and 16 minutes on the conservatory?    

I'd be aiming to properly clean a window, including it's framing and sill, counting the time in seconds not minutes. When you get used to the technique it should be almost like dancing a waltz. Light pressure, quick, square strokes with not too much overlap, twice across the top to start flushing everything out, then full vertical strokes, to clean across, finally, twice across the top to build up a head of water then zig zag down from the top of the glass with the curtain of water you've created at the top to rinse off. About 20 seconds for a medium sized window, I reckon. All the vertical windows on that conservatory I'd guess about 5 minutes. I'm not knocking you, or bragging (neither are in my nature). Just trying to show you what's achievable without killing yourself. The customer is paying for good quality service, not time on a clock. My price excluding the very high wìndows would £38, including them would be £42 six weekly. 

Good luck, and give them hell. 

The give them hell bit is joking, please don't! It's just one of my sayings. ☺ 

 

[TruWFP]

I hate having to do pricing questions because like people have said above everyone’s prices and aims are different. Although I do find it interesting how much everyone’s prices differ for doing the exact same job.

Anyway, I’ll give you the outcome... I went there with my mind made up £40 8 weekly. She wanted it fortnightly with the insides doing every other time lol (no chance) eventually we agreed on 4 weekly £30 and insides every other I went in with £70 she knocked me down to £60. 

I got more than I was expecting so I can’t complain. Now all I’ve got to do is figure out how to reach that top window and learn how to trad ? 

Cheers for all the help lads 

Oh and of course the famous line of “my last window cleaner did it for £45” was mentioned a few times 

Price the job including those windows and if you win it why not buy a extension for the SLX? Gardiner deliver in a day or two. Don’t need to tell them you don’t have the pole, though!

I did think about that but I went hoseless last week so I don’t think I can add sections ??

 

[Bart90]

I'd also be £40 - £45.  But like someone has said there isn't a right or wrong just make sure you don't undercut yourself or you'll regret it every time you go!  Remember that those of us more established can put in higher prices because we don't need the work in the same way somebody just starting out might.  Worth bearing that in mind.

 

[dazmond]

I hate having to do pricing questions because like people have said above everyone’s prices and aims are different. Although I do find it interesting how much everyone’s prices differ for doing the exact same job.

Anyway, I’ll give you the outcome... I went there with my mind made up £40 8 weekly. She wanted it fortnightly with the insides doing every other time lol (no chance) eventually we agreed on 4 weekly £30 and insides every other I went in with £70 she knocked me down to £60. 

I got more than I was expecting so I can’t complain. Now all I’ve got to do is figure out how to reach that top window and learn how to trad ? 

Cheers for all the help lads 

Oh and of course the famous line of “my last window cleaner did it for £45” was mentioned a few times 

I did think about that but I went hoseless last week so I don’t think I can add sections ??

8 weekly or not at all and no inside window cleaning would be my answer to her,cant be arsed to go round every fortnight...thats ridiculous!also payment by BACS or standing order only on stand alone jobs.....

 

[Ash87]

Just build a little extension hose that has a male and female coupling on each end for that window then. With regards to learning to trad for the indoors practice at home and just gave loads of decent cloths handy, worst case scenario mop and blade the glass then tidy up the streaks with a cloth

 

[TruWFP]

8 weekly or not at all and no inside window cleaning would be my answer to her,cant be arsed to go round every fortnight...thats ridiculous!also payment by BACS or standing order only on stand alone jobs.....

I’ve only got 61 custys at the minute and need the money so our mindset is completely different..i’d gladly do it fortnightly if she paid me the same money for it 

 

[P4dstar]

i didnt say that........each to their own....i only work short hours(5 or 6 hours a day)so i want to maximize each hour that i work....

Never said you did dude. Not a personal attack on you, it was a comment around these types of threads.

 

[dazmond]

i reckon she ll be a messer by the way mate.......people dont "knock me down"....my price is my price...take it or leave it......

 

[Ash87]

I was just in the middle of typing about that, @Doddy111 i hope you dont mind me hijacking your thread but could i ask the other guys and yourself how would you negotiate a customer asking for overkill on the service ? 

From my point of view i would of explained i thought that was  unnecessary and i could save her money doing a longer frequancy- i would then priced a bit higher based on the fact she wanted it doing all as often as she mentioned.?

 

[dazmond]

I’ve only got 61 custys at the minute and need the money so our mindset is completely different..i’d gladly do it fortnightly if she paid me the same money for it 

ah...i see.....you need every job you can get when your just starting out.....good luck....

I was just in the middle of typing about that, @Doddy111 i hope you dont mind me hijacking your thread but could i ask the other guys and yourself how would you negotiate a customer asking for overkill on the service ? 

From my point of view i would of explained i thought that was  unnecessary and i could save her money doing a longer frequancy- i would then priced a bit higher based on the fact she wanted it doing all as often as she mentioned.?

i dont negotiate,i dont budge on price and i dont clean inside windows......

the problem is when you start cleaning at a lower price than you would like you end up hating the job,it becomes a "grudge" clean after a while......

 

[Iron Giant]

Looking at the top window you are going to need 2 extensions for your slx-25 otherwise you ain't going to get it at all 

 

[Davy G]

i reckon she ll be a messer by the way mate.......people dont "knock me down"....my price is my price...take it or leave it......

Totally agree on both points. My gut feeling is she is likely to be a messer, and yes the price is the price. Though it's difficult to stand your ground when you're starting out and finances might be very tight, so you need every customer you can get. It gets easier as the business gets stronger and and we gain confidence cos we're less needy. 

 

[Pjj]

Reading this with interest as I've got to come up with a pricing strategy.

How many minutes per window would it take?  Surely the only way is to work out the average time per window and count the windows.  40 mins sounds a little optimistic if you factor in set-up and pack up time.  2 minutes per set of windows comes in at 24 minutes and then there is the conservatory, is it possible to do a good job at 2 minutes per window and 16 minutes on the conservatory?    

Dont get get bogged down with 2 mins for this and 5 mins for that you will always over estimate time like that ,set a stopwatch and clean a window for 2 muinits you will be very suprised how long 2 muinits is I recone an avarage window is 40-50 seconds try it you will be suprised ,you will find once you have done it it will take less time than you think , from many years of experience I know I can do that property in an absolute maximum of 40  muinits from pulling up and driving away first clean might be a tiny bit longer if it’s really dirty , once it has been done a few times Ime confidant I could do that on my own in 30-35 muinits with out breaking into a sweat , we are all different but I think most should be able to achieve very similar times , that includes the 3 rd storey window as well . Having said that I wouldn’t be driving 10-15 muinits just to do that job then 10-15 driving to the next if that were the case then the price would be at least £90 , it looks a bit like a posh estate type of house ?? So I would be canvassing the  neibours trying to get several all together to maximise profit and minimise travelling time and cost 

 

[Ash87]

i dont negotiate,i dont budge on price and i dont clean inside windows......

the problem is when you start cleaning at a lower price than you would like you end up hating the job,it becomes a "grudge" clean after a while......

Your spot on i dont negotiate on my price either, and im in the process of switching all my residential from 4 or 8 weekly to just 6 weekly .

 

[HALTON]

Your spot on i dont negotiate on my price either, and im in the process of switching all my residential from 4 or 8 weekly to just 6 weekly .

How are your 8 weekly taking this as thinking of doing the same

 

[Ash87]

How are your 8 weekly taking this as thinking of doing the same

So far absolutely fine, i started by asking them what they thought and said it means an extra 2 cleans a year but i felt it was the perfect amount of time between cleans then said it would help me run more efficiently (not that they would care) and then after i decided to definitely do it  iv been telling them i can only do 6 now.

Now im telling them rather than asking them i re-enforce it by saying all the others are happy because the know when im expected and it means they are clean that bit regular bla bla, if theres any that really detest it i will likely drop them or have to adjust the price- but expect will drop them as more work comes in  

 

[ks789]

you might well get that top bit with some steps if you can fit them in your vehicle. Ive done this with some high ones as ive only got a slx22.

 

[Cleanteam South west]

£40+ and double that for your first clean