Okay so I am new to the window cleaning industry. 2 weeks ago I bought an Ettore Backflip, a pro handle squeegee, a bucket, and some Ettore window solution. The day I bought the supplies I walked 2 strip malls and picked up 2 store fronts on bi-weekly cleans (not the best ROI I know). I have cleaned my house, my old roommates house, and my parents house in the past two weeks as practice. Last week I began a design on a flyer for windows, gutters, and soft wash of siding, to disburse in a few upscale neighborhoods near my home. I was extremely excited to begin residential work, especially since I am beyond ready to leave my current full time job.
Well that leads up to this weekend, I was talking with a friend of mine about my new venture and he said something that both surprised and scared me. Apparently his in-laws who live in my area have their 2 story 3000 sq-ft. home with “a ton” (his words) of windows cleaned for $50-$75 externally twice a year by a legit company. The company also offers to do the windows internally for an additional $25. They include cleaning the tracks with their price.
Should I let this discourage me? Has anyone else run into legit companies that appear to be under pricing like this? From the sounds of it they don’t use a WFP but instead a squeegee on an extension handle and some special tool to remove second story screens from the ground. I was planning on a $115 minimum price for windows but now don’t know what to do.
Dont let it get to you. Find out your hourly rate. Charge a fair price, do great work and the rest will follow. Dont drop your prices. There is always going to be someone out there cheaper than you. That’s just how it goes. Let the price shoppers shop. Good luck to you
If somebody wants to spend all day cleaning a residential for $100 then let them. Don’t get in a price-matching contest with them, … unless you want to be underpaid as well. Sure you need to keep competition in mind, but do your own thing. It’s true when they say “there is a lot of glass out there”. And since someone else is busy all day NOT making money, that gives you more time to find the people that will pay you what you’re worth.
I’d venture that the average 2-story 3,000 square foot home with a ton of (non-storm) windows being cleaned by a legitimate business inside and out averages $250-350 nationwide.
Your friend knows how much his wifes parents get their windows cleaned… but only within a plus/minus of 30%
And he claims the company has robo-stretch arms to get the second floor screens in & out from the ground.
I would take your friends’ claims with a large grain of iodized salt.
Even for around here that’s a pretty low price. Sounds like your buddy and I have a different definition of “legit”. My guess is that around here, with screens, that would be around 300.00 bucks.
Everyone in SE Michigan has magic fairy wings to remove second story screens, but a lot of times I just use my 20 foot pry bar from the ground. Virtually EVERY screen I run across has to be unlatched from the inside (Anderson or Pellas).
