Hard water stains

Conversation
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Not true !! Where he went wrong was … he didn’t set the expectation level.

I don’t do hard water stain removal. So that doesn’t mean I’m not professional . I tell people you need a restoration specialist. If that deems me unprofessional than so be it. Just like you don’t do insides anymore :crazy_face:. That Doesn’t deem you unprofessional.

He did explain that it’s not part of the job , but the unfortunate thing is some people don’t want to hear it. Rightfully so , been there done that. It’s a learning experience for the new guy.

Remember where you came from we all were there at one time or another.

I’m still learning

BTW : I will do Minimal HWS removal. I carry some stuff . Sometimes it’s just a couple of windows , and if ir comes off Easy., and I have time I do it , but they’re getting charged , if it takes me 5 minutes I don’t charge them.

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Were they metal (aluminum) screens ? If metal it’s oxidation ( Screen burn ). From years of neglect.

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…Oh yes it does…it doesn’t get any more unprofessional than that… :crazy_face:

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Yes I didn’t set the expectation level during the estimate. The reason the husband went was cause he volunteered I said typically you need a solution to remove that staining and I don’t have it on me and he asked which one so I showed them both a picture of it and he volunteered and insisted on it.

It’s like when you go to a family get together or something and the grandma you haven’t seen in a while offers you food, you feel obligated to eat some of it lol…

I didn’t tell the guy go and get the chemical lol I simply said it’s needed and I don’t have it on me. He insisted on getting it so I was thought yeah sure and I kept cleaning the windows ands screens in the meantime.

Would look unprofessional on me if I was like “No I’m going to get the chemical,” and leave their screens down and windows open lol.

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It could be from the screen burn, the screens didn’t look too good.

Edit: Yes it’s most likely from this I think you’re right!

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Why couldn’t the windows be closed without screens?

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I’m always right :grin:

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Re-reading this thread gave me a chuckle lol.

I had a job the other day that had massive screen burn and the windows weren’t cleaned in 8 years. I knew what I was getting myself into before starting and explained to the customer that they’ll look better and come out cleaner but won’t look fully clean due to the oxidation runoff from screens.

Do you tell them this before starting the job or on in person estimates? Typically I do estimates over the phone and can’t tell if it’s restoration until I show up to work. I explain the distinction to the customer and most of the time they’re ok with a regular cleaning. Just leaves me with an unsatisfactory feeling in the end lol

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I do a lot of estimates via Google earth and pictures from customers if I need them. No all the time, but a lot

I just put everting I’m doing in the estimate, then I let them know what’s not included in the price

So when I’mat the house cleaning the windows I’ll bring it to their attention, and figure out a price to see if they want to get it done.

Who has time on the estimates to be pulling screens off ? And checking windows to see if there’s oxidation. You have to clean them first too. It could be just really dirty, and you won’t know till you clean them.

So here’s what I do, and yes I don’t do interior sky lights anymore I’m so unprofessional

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Just to revisit this. We make very little money to clean windows. Therr could be jobs you’re estimating that are 275 -375.

I try not to waste my time, and do in person for those

This isn’t home improvements were out tickets are 5,000 - 75,000, and in person quotes are a must.

So how can anyone want to dedicate the time to go over every window to see what’s required .
Especially if you’re a one truck operation. By all means if you need to keep 3-10 trucks busy, then maybe that’s a different story, or if you’re new and clients are minimal

Once things slow up, then I’m more inclined to do in person estimates. Your close rate will go up.

So I’m telling you just do the estimates the way I have on mine, and when cleaning and you notice hard water staining , oxidation that’s when you bring it to their attention. I don’t even go over all the idiosyncraties so to speak on the phone.
I just want to see how many and what type, and send an estimate.

Bigger houses 50 -100 plus windows I like to go to, don’t want to under bid those. So more than likely I’m going to look.

Everything is in that estimate that I’m doing and not doing. That’s all !! It’s common sense there cleaning and restoration, and construction cleaning. They all are different labors required to get done, at different cost

Anyone do all for the same costs are leaving money on the table and not running a profitable business. Hey but atleast they feel good about themselves. :roll_eyes:

Don’t feel bad if they don’t want to restore their glass. Just like dont feel bad if you just an exterior clean and the insides are dirty.

I read so many times guys don’t do exteriors, because insides are dirty too. Well duh ! that’s common sense. Things get dirty, and if all they want is exterior that’s not my problem. Maybe they just want to save money, and do it themselves. That happens a lot.

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Yeah I do estimates over the phone majority of the time and include “does not include restoration work” on the work orders. I don’t offer the service but when I show up and see the oxidation (cause I can tell most of the time just by looking at it) I let the customer know they’ll look better but won’t be 100% and that they need to either change screens and glass or a restoration service after. I haven’t had anyone cancel on day of service like that (yet lol) but sucks when it’s a negligible difference after the cleaning. But that’s why I say what I say and beyond that it’s up to them on what to do. I had a recurring customer this year whom I serviced last year with the same issue and I guess it’s fine for her if she called me again lol.