Had a prospect contact who has a vacation cabin biz. Mind you I am running a special this spring 'up to 10 windows for $99. She has 8 cabin she wants to clean but doesn’t want to pay nearly $800 to have them clean. I think she figures about $45-$50 is fair. I get the impression that they haven’t been cleaned in awhile, and the only reason she considering it now is because of customer complaints. She has dangled the prospect of cleaning them 4 times a year as bait. I figure twice a year at the most. I am willing to do them for $7 per window, and I am thinking about committing her to a contact for a number of cleaning a year for a number of year…
Hi Lee, What if you charged her in a descending fashion…like, each cleaning gets cheaper and cheaper down to a certain point, but the first cleaning will be the highest…due to them being so dirty is what you tell her. That way it will encourage her to hire you multiple times, plus its a good excuse to charge more the first time…just a thought…
That’s what I do on most cases, first cleaning is $xxx because it takes longer to complete, after that we can manage to give you a discount based on frequency.
They’re always telling you “yeah, give me a good price and we can get into quarterly maintenance or even monthly” … yes, sure !
Is that for any 10 windows? I have some storm windows that need to be cleaned. LOL Anyway , I would give her your price. Stick to your guns on that . Especially for the first time service. Yes if they want a regular service Maybe cut them a deal. 4 x a yr is a good frequency. But not enough for me to drop my prices that much. Maybe 5%
Hot tub heaven #3 definitely has more than 10 windows, and requires ladder work. Chalet in good condition, 2 hours by yourself by the time you set up and take down everything in and out, if it’s only exterior, maybe $99 if your generous.
Also consider that the weekend special was $350, so in one day rental she can cover all of the utilities and still pay you a decent wage for your time out there! And from the wording of the ad she is booked into the summer so the money is there if she wants the windows clean. Maybe mention to her that even four times a year cleaning (at your $99 price) is still cheaper than her normal one weekend rate, and her customers come to the cabins because they want to look at the views (preferably cob web free)!
Frequency discounts are working for me but they are still full price the first time (every year).
I agree on the higher price for first cleaning it always takes longer the 1st time around and Id stay with the prices you quoted after…good point on what shes making per rental…
Looks like they have more than 10 windows a piece to me. What is included in your 7 dollar bid? Screens, tracks, sills?
I think you should tell her that since she has not had them cleaned in so long that they will require scraping and that you will throw that in for free, a $2 per window value, but that the windows are $10 a piece. I would also tell her that skylights are typically $15 - $25 each but since she is offering so many properties you will do them at $10 each.
I wouldn’t however do each place for $99 as there are more then 10 windows on each from what I can tell from the photos.
I also wouldn’t offer to do a lower price next time. I would tell her twice a year. If she insists on 4 times a year I would bring the price down by a dollar per window. Then when I came back I would probably skip doing the inside of some of the windows that are higher up that people don’t reach a few times as chances are they will still be clean.
www.hthva.com/ Some of these “cabins” are definitely old and the windows shows it more. Also, they havent been cleaned in awhile. otherwise I wouldnt have gotten the call. I also had to take into account the distance.
There are 8 units scattered in a 1 mile radius I think. Also, the drive from my base is about 30-40 minutes. Also, I still have my full-time side job. (2pm-10pm) so I couldn’t do more than a couple of them a day; maybe.
At any rate, she’s found someone to do them all for $400. About $50 each.
