So true Chris! My favorite is when they ask me to just clean the outside of the windows because the housekeeper does the inside. Then after I do the outside, I politely point point out the areas the housekeeper missed. I just don’t want them to think that is areas I missed.
Then… BAM! They start having me clean the inside as well.
I always tell housekeepers… You clean the house, I will take care of the windows. I have never met a housekeeper that was upset I clean the windows. They don’t want to do it. And I don’t want to dust, vacuum, clean toilets, etc. So it works out really good for both of us.
Lol a few months ago I did a home, finished the insides, and here comes the housekeeper to re-do the insides with a SwifferSweeper. I ran over there like NOOOOOOOOO!
I’ve found it to be 50/50; some housekeepers are very territorial with “their” house, others are thrilled to let me do the windows. Just yesterday I was at a new customers home. When she originally called to schedule, she told me she wanted to have me take apart all 40 or so of her Pellas. By the time of her appointment the housekeeper had done about half of the Pellas and was telling the housewife that she could get the rest - “you don’t need to pay [I]him[/I] to do that.” In the end, I only did the exterior plus 5 lofted windows that were hard for the housekeeper to get to. Insecure, territorial housekeepers are irritating, but they are part of the deal, I guess.
They just built a buffalo wild wings on my route manager told me the samething. Another window cleaner that i know just picked one up so i guess it just depends on the manager.
I’m thinking, once I get busy helping customers, I won’t have time to clean to windows or be too tired to even care about cleaning windows myself if I’m making money. But at this moment in time, I’m try to penny pitch and cleaning windows myself.
If all window cleanings were the same, Home Depot would sell Pro equipment. But, most home owners and business owners don’t know the difference. To put it a different way… it is like having a car. You can chose a Yugo or a Ferrari. They will both get you there, but man do you look good in the Ferrari. And you got there in half the time. All your friends are talking about it. But, it cost way more for high quality.
He was the most abusive customer we have ever dealt with. He yelled screamed and cursed at everyone in our office, made numerous threats, and absurd accusations.
We can tolerate a lot, but I wont tolerate threats.
If you compare the big box brands Unger/Ettore at H/D or Lowes the prices are pretty close maybe a few dollars cheaper then buying pro tools (better quality) from a w/c supplier.
a number of easy reasons. They have joint or back problems.
-Its easy to put off, and before you know it, its been 6 months and you the owner has not got away from the desk to do it.
-If you are a $300 per hour lawyer, why would you want to do windows?
-If you are a $300 per hour lawyer, why would you want to be seen doing windows?
-Employees will abuse or steal the gear. Employees will do a bad job on purpose so they are not asked to do it again. It might take a ladder, and any time any employee steps on a ladder insurance goes up ALLOT.
-Window washing is not the hardest thing in the world but if you do it once a month, on three large store front windows, it will take a long time to get good at it. They likely know, its not worth the effort.
-In business school they teach you to focus only on what you think you can do the best in your industry, and if you are not the best or vying for the best, get out of that, and sub it out. So obviously people that are not skilled trades, or in labor business at all would not want to try to do windows, any more than patch a roof, or do a bump out on the store. Installing windows is not rocket science either, but you wont see many people trying to do it.
