I’ve not bid on many large house, so I would like a little imput please:confused: I have no pics, but it’s on a lake, will need to bring my 20’ ladder inside, and it’s only 2 stories. However, there are 135 windows. A bit of landscaping to move around but nothing crazy. Thank you in advance!
some people bid by the square foot of the house. i personally bid by the window and there are different types of windows with different difficulties for every window. without knowing any specs, i couldnt help you. what type of windows?
about 100 double hung windows, about 30 needing a 20’ ladder to reach. 30 a 12’ ladder to reach, the rest a step ladder or ground level. The front of the house (overlooking the lake) has about 14 large fixed picture windows, of which 7 would require a 20’ ladder. the rest a step ladder.
somewhere around 1500
Just did another bid on the same lake.
Just did another bid on the same Lake, and spoke with homeowner above as well. They have not been completely satisfied with their current or former window cleaners, great! But they pay, and EXPECT to pay less than $4 per opening! What the Heck?! I usually get more than $8, and I often can get more! Despite the better customer service I know I can offer, they just can not conceive of paying even $6 an opening it seems. I kinda need to break into this particular lake market to get where I need to be business wise…How is someone doing windows for $3.23 per opening!?
Don’t play on that playing field.
Don’t talk about price/opening. That’s great if you price that way, but disguise it in package pricing. And don’t let them reverse engineer it. It has worked great for us.
Also, be very careful about saying that you NEED to break into any segment. You may think you want something, but if you find your niche, cling to it. And don’t be distracted. It sounds like if these people are really tight with what they perceive window cleaning pricing should be… perhaps you need to run from that market. Or just innovate. But be deliberate.
Definately on the pricing breakdown! They told me what other wcer have charged them, I’m just doing the math off that. It just seems crazy the prices have been paying…
Great points all through what you wrote Curt (I would like your post 10 times if I could, but I’m on tapatalk so I can’t even like it once right now) but your point about deliberate innovation is especially good.
There was a similar community that I really wanted to break into, but pricing was along the same lines as the OP is talking about. Through the use of WFP we were able to come close to the pricing of the other companies there, but provide much better service (we are only company in that market w/ WFP). We aimed to make our money back on Soft Washing, and have done really well with that. We still make $60-80/hr for window cleaning, but for SW are in the $150 range.
It’s been very lucrative, but you are right, having a plan and innovating (WFP, in my case) is really important.
I wonder if this might help in your proposal.
Feel free to use it however best helps your situation: Your FREE In-Person Bidding TemplateResponsiBid | ResponsiBid
This may be what they have paid in the past, but they have also told you they have not been happy with the previous companies they hired. Have you asked the customer specifically what they disliked about what the previous company did. If they give you specifics, tell them how you will approach it so that they will not be upset with your work. Have they shown you the previous invoice or just told you what they paid? If they haven’t shown it to you, it could be a negotiating ploy. Play up the advantages of hiring your company and stick to your pricing.
And don’t forget to point out that even in your “basic” package you address whatever that concern was (if it’s true, obviously…). Let them know that addressing whatever that concern is probably one significant reason that your pricing may be higher than what they’ve seen other window cleaners do, but nonchalantly explain that your company has always held the belief that you want to provide the best balance between top-quality and reasonable pricing. (I assume that is true too)
When you point these things out with your pricing along with packaging everything into “bundles” it will make it very hard to compare you to anyone else.
It’s worked really, really well for our company anyway…
Maybe the previous window cleaners are out of business, or no longer want to work that cheap, or their heart isn’t in their work because they aren’t charging enough to make the job worth it. Anyway, have a price that works for you and try not to let people beat you down on price. Sell on the quality of service that you provide and don’t get too hung up with per opening price. Some home owners you’ll come across don’t place a value on the benefits of clean windows, frames, screens, tracks and sills. They have some obscure vision of a guy wetting the glass and wiping it off. Way more goes into professional window cleaning and nothing wrong with a thought out explanation of what sets you apart to justify your prices.
Thank you very much 5 Star! And to the great advice from everyone else as well! This is my first year on my own window cleaning, so the encouragement is greatly appreciated!
The homeowners did tel me why they are looking for a new window cleaner. The first won’t clean the sills, despite being asked multiple times. The other homeowner’s wc complains to the family while in their home washing the windows about how dirty it is. And the homeowner just doesn’t want to hear it anymore. BTW, the homeowner seems extremely pleasant…
Yeah, there is no reason at all to complain about how dirty it is when that is what you are hired to take care of!
They aren’t happy, but yet, they don’t want to pay you more for better service…
I run into that all the time doing floor work. Someone calls me in to clean up the mess some wax monkey left, I have to re-strip, seal and finish the floor, and then the customers complains, "I paid him $XXX.00 to do this…and you want how much (more)?
You have to sell them that YOU are that good and they will love your service…and yes, you do cost a little more
