hamster Posted 20 July, 2012 Share Posted 20 July, 2012 Yesterday me and mrs h did a walk around of a castle with a view of securing the window cleaning contract. I **** you not. I could quote low to get a payday but they literally have decades of soiling both inside and out. Liz it's my home town of which I am am an extremely proud and ambassadorial member of the community. The windows are a mix of framed and stone surrounds of varying sizes and shapes. This is not a quick wet n wipe. Job. It will require the absolute best method and technique, both of which I possess. Anyway, 102 windows. What price would you charge for a twice yearly clean?half of the windows are in the moat with nice access from the actual moat but the inner corridors of the rounds are under water in some areas. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saintscottofthenortham Posted 20 July, 2012 Share Posted 20 July, 2012 You tell me your quote and I'll tell the castle mine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doubleonothing Posted 20 July, 2012 Share Posted 20 July, 2012 What's the going rate for a normal size family home? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glasgow_Saint Posted 20 July, 2012 Share Posted 20 July, 2012 £200 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hatch Posted 20 July, 2012 Share Posted 20 July, 2012 £10 a window Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andysstuff Posted 20 July, 2012 Share Posted 20 July, 2012 How long is it going to take? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TopGun Posted 20 July, 2012 Share Posted 20 July, 2012 How long is it going to take? Presumably that's the key to it with a one-time premium for the first time if they haven't been cleaned for years. I pay £6.50 every three weeks for my castle though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lumuah Posted 20 July, 2012 Share Posted 20 July, 2012 £10 a window. If the government are paying, don't forget to add 800% to the quote. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buctootim Posted 20 July, 2012 Share Posted 20 July, 2012 (edited) I pay £6.50 every three weeks for my castle though. Jeez. I pay £30 for my 4 bed average size one. I know hes ripping me off because it only takes him 20 minutes but the other local cleaners are all fully booked. Hamster I reckon something like £1 per square metre (or 10sq ft) per side. Assuming the windows are average ish size then around £250. You should break down the quote though and show them how you've calculated it, and dont have a call out charge, people hate that. Edited 20 July, 2012 by buctootim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sotonjoe Posted 20 July, 2012 Share Posted 20 July, 2012 I pay £8 a month to have my two front bay windows and my little bathroom one cleaned if that helps. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hamster Posted 20 July, 2012 Author Share Posted 20 July, 2012 If anyone wants educating a but in window cleaning I will gladly oblige. I've learnt a lot and am an excellent craftsman. It isacraft btw. Firstly a cheap trad window has to lug laddersaboutbuttheytend do be very good, up close and personal with their glass. Go for one who will promise to clean in winter. That's when the older heads show their customers a real service. Winter windows are filthy. The water fed pole guys have invested a lot of their own (the government grant system is crap) and use some very hi-tec gear. They get great resultsas they only use pure water, amazing cleaning properties. They can also reach fantastic heights. I myself can clean 5 storey house and my pole is by no means that long. I am saving for a carbon fibre 70 footer! I guess I'm lucky as Ican work both methods. I talent time and get great results. Prices? terrace £10 f n b. £5 just front. Standard 3 bed semi £15 all round, £10 for just fronts. Detached price on viewing. A castle? My actual quote. 1 off @ £500 then £250 subsequent cleans. Twice yearly (agreed in contract) @ £200, first clean £400. Anyone struggling work wise I would recommend spending £40 on trad gear and seeing how you get on. You need to be comfortable canvassing though. Have a simple script or do what I do, have a good old natter on people's doorstep. Have A simple selling point, I find saying I was born in this lovely little seaside town generally ends in a 5 minute natter.they tell their mates who tell their mates it can sometimes result in the phone starts ringing. My gimmick is that I drive a London cab. Everyone knows my cab and wherever I'm working people ask me about my London cab and even take photos of it. One customer even put me on YouTube cleaning his windows. Another got me to look after his dog for 10 minutes then gave me a 50% tip. Get in. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mattio Posted 20 July, 2012 Share Posted 20 July, 2012 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hamster Posted 21 July, 2012 Author Share Posted 21 July, 2012 /\ dont get this? Is it from a film? I don't watch films. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TopGun Posted 21 July, 2012 Share Posted 21 July, 2012 (edited) The irony of having your outside windows cleaned is really you should make an effort to keep the insides clean also. I can't say I do it as often as my window cleaner does the outsides! He's also very weather beaten to look at but a lovely guy. He must be 60. He does sunshine, rain, snow and hail. I pay him to clear the roof guttering twice a year also and we always have a joke about how he is going to put tennis balls at the top of the down pipes! Edited 21 July, 2012 by TopGun Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
norwaysaint Posted 21 July, 2012 Share Posted 21 July, 2012 Wow, I would pay so much more than that for a window cleaner. I don't think anyone over here does it and I live by the sea, so the windows are dirty really quickly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tokyo-Saint Posted 21 July, 2012 Share Posted 21 July, 2012 Wow, I would pay so much more than that for a window cleaner. I don't think anyone over here does it and I live by the sea, so the windows are dirty really quickly. Just do it yourself and have a packet of crisps afterwards to celebrate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spudders Posted 21 July, 2012 Share Posted 21 July, 2012 Wow, I would pay so much more than that for a window cleaner. I don't think anyone over here does it and I live by the sea, so the windows are dirty really quickly. I live next to the sea as well. I find that after cleaning mine, they are covered in salt & stuff after about two days. I've also discovered that after a few weeks of not cleaning they stop getting worse, therefore I now don't bother. Sometimes after a really windy & rainy night they seem cleaner. Therefore I have concluded they are self cleaning to a certain extent which saves me time bothering now Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jawillwill Posted 21 July, 2012 Share Posted 21 July, 2012 One of my favourite quotes: "Life is denied by lack of attention, whether it be to cleaning windows or trying to write a masterpiece.” If that doesn't help, try asking here. I expect they knw more than those on a football forum. http://windowcleaningresource.com/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buctootim Posted 21 July, 2012 Share Posted 21 July, 2012 I got a glass verandah made of this stuff. It works (the glass needs some sunshine on it to work best - it oxidises the dirt and the rain washes it off). http://www.pilkingtonselfcleaningglass.co.uk/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fish fingers Posted 21 July, 2012 Share Posted 21 July, 2012 Never had the windows cleaned on my house, the rain does it for free. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hamster Posted 22 July, 2012 Author Share Posted 22 July, 2012 Using purified water (0 dissolved particles per million) leaves the glass properly clean. Trad method leaves a trace of detergent which is sticky and attracts dirt. This is just one of the reasons why pure is so good. Self cleaning glass is good if you can afford it but they even economised in this area with the Shard. Dirty windows are a sign of a dirty mind too. Get them cleaned by a pro. Trade secret if you are too tight to get them done properly: after you've attempted to clean them yourself, throw a bucket of rainwater on them and leave to air dry naturally It is far cleaner than tap water and will leave no white residue. Rainwater is better than you with your pound land squeegee by a million miles. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
norwaysaint Posted 22 July, 2012 Share Posted 22 July, 2012 I live next to the sea as well. I find that after cleaning mine, they are covered in salt & stuff after about two days. I've also discovered that after a few weeks of not cleaning they stop getting worse, therefore I now don't bother. Sometimes after a really windy & rainy night they seem cleaner. Therefore I have concluded they are self cleaning to a certain extent which saves me time bothering now That sounds about the same, only on one side of the house obviously, but they always have a salty residue on them. I'd pay somebody to clean them if they came round here, but I'll probably just make my kids do it when they're a bit older. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hamster Posted 22 July, 2012 Author Share Posted 22 July, 2012 Anyone in we Kent gets free deionised water with every clean for ironing. Pm fora quote. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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