Hello and thank you

[Mark Lynch]

Dear All

I'm expecting to go operational next month and want to say a big thank you for everyone contributing to this web community and helping me get organised. Particularly Gav and Darren and all the many  others helping me decide what kit to get and how to do the actual job. The downloads, advice and excellent anecdotes have been a big booster as I get to grips with the business. I have not seen any negative treatment of newbies which in my world is top dollah.
 

I'm going residential WFP but also trad where applicable. Have traditional gear, gutter-vac and genie already . My van should get booked in next month for fitting with WFP. My website is under construction. ( I engaged someone local before I realised there is a chap attached here specialising in cleaning companies). Don't have final logo yet so don't want to print up anything as yet.

Now here is the thing. Four hours ago whilst in a shop around the corner from me, the shopkeeper in conversation asked what my new business was going to be. I said window and gutter cleaning.

"Oh can you do mine?" We walk around and I count the panes. "Its inside and out she says". I said I will quote her tomorrow....( if we haven't all been blown into the north sea). Eight window panes, two doors, UPVC clean.

I'm now searching like the devil all previous posts but its going to take all of tonight. I have been reading up on residential rather than commercial due to my previous perception of posts on here and starting out.

I'm kicking myself for not being ready and having an idea about commercial. Also I failed to ask if its a one off. She has been open about four months. A local window cleaner does a house directly opposite but her windows have defo not been done since she opened....UPVC restorer/cleaner will be required as they are all grotty at the bottom. If he has quoted it did not work. No agreement on price between parties maybe or I'm the first she asked. No Scooby.

I will ask if its a one off tomorrow or regular. Fill one of Darrens slips and present that according to how the conversation goes.

I'm thinking if it's a one off, One hour , remove all the posters in the windows, do inside and out...... £20. If it's regular in future, and only the outside  it should be 15 minutes so £10 would be okay for me. It's on the road leaving my estate and next to a busy road near the railway station. But I notice many stickers, particularly on the left most door, so need to know if I'm to remove these too.

Sorry its long! And thanks if anyone puts their tuppence in. If not I understand it's windy tonight!

Cheers

 

[Part Timer]

I appreciate you are new and getting your first enquiry is an exciting time, I agree with your outside price but if you have to take everything off the internal windows, clean them and then put everything back then I would be at least double your £10. I would play up on the fact that you are new to the business and try and talk her through the quote to see if she will give you feedback and where she will be happy. Good luck with your quote.

 

[Mark Lynch]

Thanks Part Timer. Much appreciated, along with all the other posts of yours I've read over the last month or so.

 

[Deleted member 257]

Well there’s your first lesson! Always be sure what you are quoting for, it’s easy to come unstuck... your pricing sounds about right to me though.

 

[Mark Lynch]

Thanks High Tower. I forgot to mention I'm in the North East of England regarding prices.

 

[Part Timer]

Thanks High Tower. I forgot to mention I'm in the North East of England regarding prices.

Where exactly as this will affect your prices

 

[Mark Lynch]

North Yorkshire. Market town near York. A three bed terrace is £7.50 to £8.50 using two of the local well established guys as a pointer.

 

[Part Timer]

North Yorkshire. Market town near York. A three bed terrace is £7.50 to £8.50 using two of the local well established guys as a pointer.

I do some houses in Carlton Husthwaite between York and Thirsk, a long story. If that's what houses go for then your external price is about right. 

 

[Mark Lynch]

okay thanks Part timer......Thirsk.......The Vets Town!

 

[Green Pro Clean Ltd]

This Darren chap sounds rather helpful.  I thought I was the only Darren in here. ?

I'd probably want £20 in and out.  Remember a nice sharp scraper to get the glue residue from the posters off. 

Thats about 20 mins work with experience so expect it to take at least an hour. 

As for these 'well established' chaps wheb was the last time they had a price rise?  

Start at £10 quoting that type of house.  If you're not winning any then start to come down but building a business on cheap labor will just demoralise you. 

 

[RyeCleanLiam]

North Yorkshire. Market town near York. A three bed terrace is £7.50 to £8.50 using two of the local well established guys as a pointer.
 

Which Market town fella? I'm based in Pickering which is about 20 miles east of York. As a one off inside and out I would be looking for at least £30 for Windows, Frames, Stickers etc. If she wanted a regular service a lot of shops like a weekly clean so for exterior windows only I would quote £10, if she wanted 2 weekly £12, 4 weekly £15, especially if it's on a busy road so will get dirty quickly. Best wishes in your new venture.


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[Eddie dragon]

I agree with green on price. You are going wfp so sell the fact that you clean all frames and sills every time. Even the doorstep love. Helps when saying prices start at £10.only go lower if not picking them up. Keep it simple it's only window cleaning. Don't over talk it because you're new.  Confident no problem sir madam even the difficult one over the conservatory. Price to low an you will come to dislike the jobs. 

 

[Mark Lynch]

This Darren chap sounds rather helpful.  I thought I was the only Darren in here. ?

I'd probably want £20 in and out.  Remember a nice sharp scraper to get the glue residue from the posters off. 

Thats about 20 mins work with experience so expect it to take at least an hour. 

As for these 'well established' chaps wheb was the last time they had a price rise?  

Start at £10 quoting that type of house.  If you're not winning any then start to come down but building a business on cheap labor will just demoralise you. 

He's incredibly helpful if you know him Darren  Thanks For the advice. I will report back tomorrow how it goes. But as someone once said on this 'ere forum..."work out the price you're happy with, say it, and walk away with no more thinking about it".

Cheers

 

[Mark Lynch]

Which Market town fella? I'm based in Pickering which is about 20 miles east of York. As a one off inside and out I would be looking for at least £30 for Windows, Frames, Stickers etc. If she wanted a regular service a lot of shops like a weekly clean so for exterior windows only I would quote £10, if she wanted 2 weekly £12, 4 weekly £15, especially if it's on a busy road so will get dirty quickly. Best wishes in your new venture.


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Thanks RCL,

Much appreciated on the pricing.

Don't want to say exactly which town as don't want to jinx things... I mean it could be in Pickering?

Cheers

 

[Mark Lynch]

I agree with green on price. You are going wfp so sell the fact that you clean all frames and sills every time. Even the doorstep love. Helps when saying prices start at £10.only go lower if not picking them up. Keep it simple it's only window cleaning. Don't over talk it because you're new.  Confident no problem sir madam even the difficult one over the conservatory. Price to low an you will come to dislike the jobs. 

Thank you Eddie

I think the "Price to low..." really makes sense to me. I've had two residentials also asking me to quote their windows and you have that, shall I say £10 or go with the usual £7.50 to get going....Knowing I will make the windows and frames look brand new. Like they've never been done before.

Understood..........No over talking.

 

[RyeCleanLiam]

 
Thanks RCL,
Much appreciated on the pricing.
Don't want to say exactly which town as don't want to jinx things... I mean it could be in Pickering?
Cheers
 

Haha no worries. If you are worried about me making a move on it don't be lol I don't do any shops I stick to houses as I much prefer them [emoji23] was just going to say if you see me about be sure to say hi lol all the best!


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[Mark Lynch]

Haha no worries. If you are worried about me making a move on it don't be lol I don't do any shops I stick to houses as I much prefer them

was just going to say if you see me about be sure to say hi lol all the best!


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Yes will do! Not worried about anyone else haha.....The clock is ticking and we've all got to look after family and self first

 

[Mark Lynch]

So I went back and started by nailing down exactly what was required.

1. was it a one off or initial/regular? Answer depends on price.

2. How often to do the inside? Answer.. The inside's only to be the front door and three adjacent windows. The rest is boarded inaccessible......up-ex gun shop.

3. What about all the internal stickers in door entrance number two. Answer The secondary door is about to be covered in new graphics so will be nothing to do with it outside or inside. So it dropped from12 inside and out, 24, to 5 panes inside and 8 outside, 13.

Before I entered I'd decided if it's a one off it would be £25.

If it was going to be a regular at 5 weeks then the initial clean would attract a £5 discount.

There after I'd do the outside windows/frames etc for £10 @ 5 week intervals. Inside as required ad hoc basis for whatever when the time comes.

With the new lesser amount  of actual work I told her £20 for one off. Otherwise £15 initial and the regular. She agreed. I then asked if she wanted the UPVC restored as I have soudal. She said yes how much? So I said £5 on the initial. Done deal. So invoice tomorrow for £20, get service agreement signed and then clean.

Thanks for the advice everyone. Feels like I'm moving.....Before I meant to.  Oh and she is a seamstress with embroidery machines and can sort me out for uniforms, fleeces etc.....This time next year Rodney.......

Cheers

 

[Part Timer]

Well done, I would check her prices first on logos etc. There are loads of online companies, Krowmark etc that do cheap workwear

 

[Mark Lynch]

Thanks Part Timer, will do :1f44d: