I couldn’t agree more !
Nick, ive never tried offering different packages…i charge everything separately…extra for wiping sills, extra for removing/replacing screens, more if scraping involved. Seems to work for me. But I dont think its a bad idea.
"You would like a bid on having your windows cleaned? Great, now would that be my premium work work where I actually do what I can to get your windows clean or the crappy job where I show up, make a half assed attempt to look busy if I catch you looking my way? Or perhaps my Ultra Premium Grand Slam Special where we replace the air between the thermal panes and sprinkle pixie dust around to ward off window trolls?"
Geeeez fella. Give folks clean windows. In my case I will clean their ledges and brush their screens anyway. If there is paint to be scraped I will include that in my estimate. I will even knock a cobweb down from around the window if I feel like it detracts from my work. People will pay well for quality. If not…they can use my competition. I hear they offer all kinds of clean at all kinds of prices.
[B]THEGLASSMACHINE[/B]
[I]“because glass looks it’s best when you can’t see it”[/I]
+1
To me, a brushed screen is not a clean screen.
Hey Nick, If window cleaning was your HOBBY I’d say give the customer a quick inexpensive service, but it’s not, it’s your BUSINESS! Give them a service the fly by night, low ballers can’t or do not care to deliver. Give them a real professional job! JMO
a range, absolutely. its the safest way to keep from cheating the customer or, more importantly, yourself, short of inspecting every window during the estimate(who has the time).
If they call you back again to have the windows done before they are really dirty you could give them a frequency discount for what we call a maintenance cleaning.
We bid every job individually in person at the site. We count up the windows, check the damage and then give them an itemized estimate sheet that includes a price for inside, outside, screens, acid treatment and any extras (gutters, pressure washing) if requested, the only choices they get are if they want both sides done. The estimate includes a cover sheet with a detailed description of how we clean windows every time, every window, no exceptions (which our customers absolutely love and we get the majority of our referrals because of it). We have standardized pricing so there are no surprises, the customer could technically do the bid themselves, us showing up is so we can see the job and decide if its worth our time and so we can meet the customer and decide if they are someone we want to do business with.
We are window cleaners, our customers want clean windows, they don’t want you to tell them they have to pay extra for a good job, you should just do a good job. If you have to scrape a window… SCRAPE IT! Geez, this isn’t rocket science, make them look good and leave. Seriously, the reason you want to have packages is so you can justify doing less than your best. But that’s ok, when they decide to call SKW because their friends tell them we do a superior job, we’ll show up and take your customers.
Here in New England most of my customers call for a once a year in and out service, very few go more frequently than that. At that frequency the windows are DIRTY and need some TLC to make them sparkle. A lot of new customers have wait 3 - 5 to years. Sometimes I will add 25% to 50% extra for a first time clean that is really bad.
I always talk about different types of services… I think it’s a must do with all clients. I just don’t assume what they want, although I start off with providing a premium service. I discuss cleaning tracks, frames, screens, gutters, pressure washing- almost everything and discuss the prices and discounts for additional services like pressure washing, gutter cleaning, fans etc.
also, it might help making a residential estimate sheet with all the options on it. Price out all the services and present them.
I offer a upgraded service, but that is for screens.
I charge extra for scraping if there is a lot of scraping to be done.
That’s a great idea. What’s your prices/price differences in your packages?
