Yea, I get you.
But where are you finding these non-legit window cleaning services that hire 16 year old’s and haven’t the first clue of what Workers Comp is?
Pretty much every city has Professional Window Cleaners; if they don’t then the neighboring city does.
Hopefully you are not trying to find dirt cheap pricing for what should be professional work.
Even check with the local BBB should show something?
Springfield BBB
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out of the three comp. one came threw but they over booked and couldn’t get to the property for two weeks after the cut off day…
ya… so skip… no work comp isn’t good… look into it… even if your sole proprietor.
its not the first time ive seen that Garry.
This kinda depends on how bad the hard water staining is, and do you have any experience removing it, some may come off with a little chemicals and a light scrub while other staining my require polishers and buffing compounds. using the wrong chemicals or abrasives will damage the glass very fast to a point where you may have a replacement cost or full scratch removal cost which is normally around 50% of replacement cost.
If you want to post a pic download it to your device and post it.
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Busy time of year.
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nothing personal bud but many of the property mangers I have worked for were no different
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Workers comp for a sole proprietor doesn’t look like a good fit. I picture endless hassles from a claims adjuster when an owner files a claim on his own behalf.
I have WC for my employees but I got an exemption for myself (I am an employee of the corporation I own).
I will start researching disability insurance for myself. I think it will be more cost effective than WC and runs 24/7.
If the OP requires a sole proprietor to have WC there could be some good cleaners that get excluded.
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Here in Florida unless you have 4 or more employees it is not required.
Lol.
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I was asked to bid a retirement home, three stories several thousand panes, the maintenance lead was willing to rent the lift. I couldn’t get any further w/o WC. But they don’t ask about care, custody, and control. Typical follow the herd corporation.
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Where-abouts in Western Mass? Kind a large area.
You have a couple factors working against you. First, these deadlines or ‘cutoff dates’.
Anyone who’s established and has a good reputation will be booked solid this time of year (from my observation).
Second, hard water restoration is a specialty service. A lot of companies will claim to do it, but don’t really know the science involved or just how easily they can screw up a customer’s glass.
@Henry Grover is probably the foremost expert in glass restoration in the North East. But he’s up in NH and I’m guessing that it won’t be cheap or quick to hire him. But it would be worth it.
@mephany Melody Edwards of Renew Window Cleaning works western mass. Last I knew she was booking out a month +. But she may know someone else who is worth checking out.
There’s also Tryggvi Jonsson of Valley View: http://valleyviewwindowwashing.com
In terms of getting and keeping good people to work with you, you’ve got to be a little bit accommodating. I’m not saying that you in particular are failing at any of the following points, but this is from what I’ve observed working with property managers.
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The PM needs to book ahead well in advance of any cutoff dates.
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They also need to realize that 99% of solo operators are not going to carry workman’s comp - nor should they. Most insurance agents will make exclusions for the owner(s) when they write up a WC policy, just so the premiums aren’t exorbitant - so it makes no sense for a solo op. to pay for something that doesn’t even cover them. Even some good companies that have a couple of helpers may not have WC, as they may be paid as sub-contractors (and in this part of the country, it seems everyone’s got their own side gig, and may very well qualify under the IRS rules for being a sub vs employee).
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and finally, a PM needs to be someone a small outfit wants to work with. Making sure they get paid quickly, have good communication and plenty of lead time, and are reasonable in their expectations.
I hope my post has been helpful 
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Kind of puts it in perspective.
I saw my Alex mentioned my name in this thread, so I thought I should respond to your post. Ive been in business in Western MA for over 20 years. My current company is www.renewwindowcleaning.com. I don’t think you contacted me, but I don’t often work for property management companies. I have a very regular residential an commercial clientele, and we tend to be booked a month in advance (more or less). Someone on this thread commented that property managers tend to want low pricing and need the job done yesterday, and in my experience I have found that to be true.
If you are starting up in window cleaning I’d be happy to meet up with you sometime to talk about what works in this area. I always enjoy meeting other local business owners. If you decide not to take on window cleaning yourself, I have heard good things about Tryggvi Jonsson, and have recommended OKNA Window Cleaning to customers I couldn’t serve.
There are reputable companies in this area, but for every reputable company, there are 4 others that aren’t great and will be out of business in a year or two.
Good luck and feel free to contact me if you need any local advice.
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Yes you’re in the ballpark for a given ballpark. If it’s hardwater on the deck windows might be easy to remove but without pics hard to say.
Make sure the picture is uploaded before clicking reply. If it’s a big pic might take a little while.
Resize it for quicker load times.
i find baseball boring.
ya it’s funny that you find it hard to find a good window cleaner and that window cleaners in general find maintenance companies in general to be bad customers.
i have limited experience but my first year i worked for a company that offered a variety of home services and accepted sub work. anything we did for a cleaning or maintenance company was fast service low pay and long wait. i would never go after one for business now.
the stupidest part was when the company i worked for had a client that used their cleaning service and maybe lawn or snow servicethey would give them a discount on window cleaning!!! wtf!? i do the windows once a year if the cleaner gets so much business he shuld give the discount not me!!
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Brian Stewart of Clearview Window Cleaning WOrcester MA
[email protected]
does hirise and homes 30 year vet
I apologize for guys picking you apart but we have all had bad experiences with PM firms like you are undergoing with WC firms. Credientials to me is a cert of insurance,proof of safety traing,membership in pro trade groups. you are correct that having hs age kids dropped off with no supervision is wrong-if you tell them up front you need a crew leader onsite with cell phone that should solve that
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thanks LA. its a double edge sword . I learned , i should have ask more
questions before they start to make sure there legit.
I know everyone on here wants to keep the professionals busy. I’ve run
crews for years in the building industry so i disregard people that are
insecure and narrow minded. I pay more in GL than most, due to my position
its an umbrella policy. In regards to work comp. its called an artisan
policy in the state of mass. you have employees you cover them with a
normal policy and as the business owner is exempt. now if your a LLC or
corp. its different…either way if you dont have a policy regardless of the
extra paper work and book keeping. The audit you will get if there is one
is all taken care of by your CPA. unless your trying to do all that .
the homeowner/PM is liable if someone were to fall or get hurt.if there
isnt work comp policy being held by that company. with that said… one of
my customers is an partner in a very large law firm and he has explicit
explained to me the ins and out… so its better to know than it is to
assume… because that doesn’t stand in court…i know because Ive already
been there…
I tried to get a feel for bidding on one of the properties, that was
my question… I’ve tried to resize and upload still shows an error with
pic… i thought about using google picture or photo bucket… i could easily
email to anyone who would like me too.
I want to thank everyone who has given positive feed back! the properties
i manage are in Becket Ma.
Heath Property Services
1023 South Street
Dalton,Ma. 01226
Cell: (413)822-2131
email: [email protected]
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