Hi Mike,
Listen to Brett. Home-owners can be VERY picky, epecially the old "spinsters" who have nothing better to do but fallow you around and make sure you are doing your job right etc.
You must be VERY careful not to break anything, slosh water about on the inside, they tend to be dirtier than commercial shop-fronts as they only get cleaned once per year. (if that)
Alot of hard work, which there is nothing wrong with, but dont feel guilty about CHARGING them !
Sure, you can count the wndows, but make sure to factor in all the other variables to match up with the bottom line of what you need to make an hour. $40.00 is decent, you can go as low as $25.00 BUT...Make sure you advertise it as a "Introductory" offer. That way, as your business grows, next year, when you have (if you do it right) more business than you can handle at $40.00 per hour, when these people call you back,(the $25.00 people) you can charge more without it looking like you have raised your prices, although I still might offer these people a significant discount, especially if (and you should) get many referals from them, plus the job is usually easier the next time, as you know the lay-out, exactly whats expected etc.
Oh....I always do a "cursory" wipe of the tracks as part of cleaning up after myself, of course, BUT...if those tracks havnt been cleaned on a regular (sometimes NEVER) basis,and they want them "pristine", I charge at LEAST $1.00 per, and as much as $2.00 per track, and I dont feel guilty about it.
I never cleaned a "track" in my life till I came to California, and 3 jobs in a row demanded that I include that as part of the "service." (after I had already made the bid and was working at the job-site)
Yes, it may seem arrogant on my part, but check it out...it can take longer to clean the tracks than it did to clean the rest of the windows.
I NEVER discuss my method of giving estimates (I.E. $1.00 per pane, so much $$'s per hour, etc) unless I am REALLY pressed.This just seems to work best for me.I just hand over my estimate, and if they ask how I arrived at that $$ amount, I say "Years of experience". <g> If they press me, in the same breath I will suggest that they are encouraged to get other estimates, that will be similar to mine (and this has proven to be the case) BUT...Then I am quick to let them know why they should ultimtely hire ME, and what I can do for them,that someone else might not. In short...Offer what you mght call "Free Consumer Information" regarding what to look for in a window cleaner,what should be included, what questions to ask etc.
The motivation for every consumer is "Whats In It For ME" ? I let them know that yes, I appreciate the business, but in the long run, as a member of the IWCA, (sounds more important than it really is) I just want to make sure that they are taken care of, and if not by me, I still want them to get the best, most honest deal they can. I know it sounds crazy, but 99.99 % of the time, they'll just hire you, right then, without getting another estimate.
One more thing...."DITTO" ON THE STORM WINDOWS !!!!!
I must not be the only one who feels this way, because a few years back, I decided I had enough, but didnt want to come right out and say "I dont DO storm windows", I decided on a $300.00 MINIMUM for storm windows, and albeit not many, I STILL got calls :-(
Anyway....
Thats a whole "nuther" topic.
God Bless you all, God Bless WINDOW CLEANING !!!!!! <g>
Chris / Shiner
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Chris-Shiner Window Co. Sacto Ca.