It’s happened again, I go to this big house with a bunch of cut ups to do an estimate that takes 20 minutes to do and my price is WAY “more than I’ve ever paid”. These people have piles of cash living on their urban horse farm, a drive to get to, what a waste of time. I knew it soon as I pulled in the winding driveway. I priced these things at approx .50 each per side (against my better judgment), half the house was cut ups. I shot her a price of $750.00 and told her if I can do the outside with DI/WFP I could make it $650 (again against my judgment). I would like to see someone who could do this for $500.00. It would take me 2 days working by myself. I swear these people have it in there minds that mom and dad used to do their own windows and I’m not going to pay someone over xxx.xx to do mine, no matter how much work it is. For me smaller houses just seem to work out to pay more, problem is most of them want to do their own windows so the bulk of my work is good size homes . No more estimates on big houses with cut ups! Thanks, I feel better now.
I had the same thing happen a couple times recently. I still do the estimates though. On one job, they had me do only the high windows. I just laugh at the prospect of them trying to DIY the rest. I think some of these richy rich types don’t have as much money as they want you to think. I know of doctors and other supposed rich people on the verge of bankruptcy. I think they balk at the price because they actually can’t afford it and hate to admit it.
I usually play it cool and try to get them to think about how much work is involved. Last week I quoted $520 for a house with Pella hinged storms. The owner balked until I showed him what was involved and wished him good luck in not scratching the low-e coating. They called back before I even got home to change thier mind.
why would you only give a $100.00 discount to only do the outsides?
It takes longer to do the insides
The same thing happened to us earlier this week. Beach house with tons of frenchies. They had a few sliding doors with like 40 panes. Another giant bay window with 40 panes. We gave them a conservative estimate because we know theres a bunch of cheapy guys around,.
It was still too much!! We qouted $278(should be like $330.00) and they said they had just gotten another estimate for $150.00!! So they guy grilled us on why we charge so much more and what makes us so much better.
I explained our level of service ,license,bond,insurance,shoe covers,track cleaning,screen cleaning etc. He went on about their other house in Malibu and comparing all the prices. He finished with " I would clean that window(the huge one) for 20 bucks myself!" So we said we could lower it further if we used the WFP. That seemed to agitate him further! We said good luck, hope this guy does a good job for you. This has happened a few times in this area. Huge beach houses that some guy bids at $100.00 which is really worth $300-$400. Crazy, we always say give us a call if you’re unsatisfied with the cheap guy.
If you read it again you will see the $100 off was for using a pole with DI, instead of nose to glass.
gotcha, sorry about that, people are really cheap, that is why i stay away from Commercial
It was residential
I feel for ya Kirk. I had one recently and the bid of $600 had them looking at me like like I was insane. My first instinct on these jobs is to lower the per (french) pane cost from .75 a side down to .50 a side but then I remind myself how much work is involved and how I hate Frenchies so why would I rob myself. The price goes back up, I don’t get the job but at least I land the next house for $350 that will be a pleasure to clean. 
P.S. This is also the reason I don’t bid over the phone. When you’re actually looking at the house you are reminded how much work is sometimes involved depending on amount of storms or Frenchies or landscaping/obstacles, etc.
Why is anyone offering a discount if they get permission to use wfp? Why is anyone even asking for permission to use wfp?
I don’t even ask the customer. I use the wfp automatically wherever I see the need.
I’m doing a house that’s all cutups on Monday morning. I’ll be using a wfp, period. I’ve already explained to the client what a benefit this is to them. But, I didn’t ask them for permission to use it.
Amen to that! Our job is to get the glass clean. As long as we use inustry standard cleaning methods/tools and the results are clean glass then there should be no problem at all.
The only thing is that some glass needs a prescrub with a tough scrubber sleeve and solution before WFP’ing. An MK3 angled Triumph scraper on a pole helps out now and then too. Of course as always have a scratched glass waiver if using metal scraper.
I did not mean I was asking the customers permission to use DI. It was a matter of would they turn out OK. Have you ever had a job with over 500 cut ups, there would be a huge time difference.
What exactly is the benefit to them if your not discounting the price at all? What is it you tell them?
“This pole allows me to clean them faster while saving you no money at all.”
If there is another reason that a home owner would prefer you to use a WFP over a squeegee I need to know it…yesterday 
Or a plastic scraper.
What about cleaned frames and no detergent residue, for two examples.
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Ma’am, I notice your gutters are dented, where the last window cleaner laid his ladder up against your house, we’ll be using wfp and will be able to get them from the ground, no damage to your house.
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Ma’am, I noticed the big dent in your yard where the last Window Cleaner fell, we’ll be able to get at even your highest window’s without any risk of falling, using the newest innovative product in window cleaning, wfp.
3 Ma’am, all of the spider webs, dirt and such on the window frame itself, will be washed away and will dry spot free using our wfp. Not just wiping it down with a dry towel and leaving a dry wipe spot.
- etc.
5 etc.
6 etc.
Fill in as needed. I feel like some of the others here, I never ask a customer, or do I feel the need to tell them. I just take my wfp out and use it. I had 2 women in the last 11 years ask me before I left, my windows are still wet, why dont you squeegee them off. I said “let me go straighten out my truck, ck the air in my tires, tie my shoe’s, or whatever, and then let’s look at it together”. Within 5 minutes they were dry and both women were super happy.
The wfp is a tool like any of our other tools. I dont ever discount a job if I can use it. I paid money for my poles, tanks, RO/DI setups, etc and I expect that equipment to make me a huge return in profit. So If I finish faster, I make more money per hour!
That’s generally the point right?
windowman
If the windows are sliders that go out onto a deck or a sensitive flower bed is under them I ask permission. I explain that there will be water flowing down off the windows. Now I know it rains and everything but I just dont want people freaking out if maybe their deck isnt sealed or they just planted these flowers or. blah blah blah
As far as offering a discount for using the wfp. In my experience using it on some cut ups has caused me some real stress. The ones that have metal dividers with rubber seals in them can leave drips. Ive had this experience twice. No matter how much rinsing I still had stuff flowing down out of these seals. So in the end I had to do them the traditional way. The house I bid on last week had these type of cut ups. So I initially gave them the estimate and after hearing all their complaining I figured , ok I’ll try the WFP and give them a discount and maybe we’ll land the job. Didnt happen. So the discount was kind of a last ditch effort to land the job, nothing to do with the pole except it woulve saved me some time if the drip thing didnt happen. If I had the job secured I would never offer a discount for using the pole.
As for telling the customer about the pole: I always do this. I explain the method and it’s benefits(there are many, for me and for the customer) I want customers to feel like theyre experiencing something special, cutting edge and that we have this technology. Promote the method and educate them on it. Instead of leaving the windows wet and water everywhere. Then they have to ask " Why are my windows still wet?" I prefer to educate them first. WFP’s are becomig pretty popular , but the majority of the general public has never seen one let alone know how it works. People know squeegees and thats what they expect to see. I have had plenty of cutomers ask me about it. So I decided to explain before they ask. Then they can tell their friends about this cool gadget the window cleaner had!
Hey kirk dont worry about it. People are morons. I ran an ad over the christmas for 30% off if the customer booked by the 1st of the new year. I had a estimate that was a little under 1000. Customer gave me a look and I knew it was not going to happen. I got the same old crap. “My last window cleaner charged me CHEAP”. I told to call him. Anyway long story short. She called the other day. I knew she would, they all do at one point or another. But heres the wonderful thing I have to deal with this lady all over again and now she does not get the 30% off. That deal was for me to bring in new customers in a certain location here. Now I know when I call her tomorrow she is going to freak out cause now it’s full price and she wants the job done asap. Not going to happen anytime soon as I’m booked. Don’t worry about them. I know sometimes it’s annoying as hell but that’s part of the business. I think it’s part of any business. You are going to have people try and get a great deal every where. Don’t freak about it.
I see where your coming from. I saw not falling, and not having to use a ladder as my problem/benefit, but I can see now how to turn those around and make it a plus for my customers.
As a side note, anyone have a link where I could go to read up on Pure water systems and how it all works?
I have a tucker pole, used for years but just using tap water, but since it seems to only get them 90% clean, I reserve them for high commercial windows or for customers that want them well cleaned but perhaps not 100% and on the cheap.
Go to the search on this forum and you’ll find out a tremendous amount about it. You could also call Chris or Alex or Shawn Gavin, as they all sell systems and could educate you. Di or RO or combined can get them 100% cleaned, that way you can use it on maybe 80-90% of your work!
windowman
