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Housekeeping

What do you look for in a window cleaner?

26 replies

DjH4yZ · 23/01/2017 15:52

Hi everyone I run a family run window cleaning business (don't worry not looking for any customers) and I was wondering what everyone thinks about there local window cleaner and what you look for when picking one, is it just about price or do you expect more. Just abit of market research to help improve our business :) many thanks in advance :)

OP posts:
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mumofthemonsters808 · 23/01/2017 16:07

I don't ask for much from mine, I just like them to turn up on a set day, wash my windows (smear free ) and collect their money.They do just that and are a cracking bunch of lads who are nice and friendly. I detested my other window cleaner and his mate because they were always talking at the top of their voices about fighting. Even though they were middle aged men every single time I overheard them they were describing in detail some pub scrap they'd been involved in.Im presuming they are in prison now.

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mumofthemonsters808 · 23/01/2017 16:09

It's a fiver every fortnight and they do gutter clearing if you want to pay extra for it.

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BigGreenOlives · 23/01/2017 16:10

Our window cleaner comes every two months, texts me the night before to remind me, sets the next date either when he leaves or by text. I pay him by direct transfer to his bank account. He is very polite, he & his team wear shoe covers inside the house. Lovely man, he's been coming to us for 12 years at least.

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MilkTwoSugarsThanks · 23/01/2017 16:11

Turn up when you say you will, collect the money when you say you will. Do a good job. Don't charge massively over the odds.

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Parisbanana · 23/01/2017 16:25

We're in London where a reasonably priced window cleaner was hard to fine, and one that could manage tall Victorian terraces. Anyway we now have. It's a long established family company that emails in advance (e.g. Every month or whatever you've asked for) to see if you still want them that week. We can defer if we want. We can just get the front done (which is far dirtier than the back due to road), or front and back, or add the top floor (which is a separate flat but our neighbour lets us know if they want us to get their's done too).
And then we just let the window cleaner know by email.
And then we pay by bank transfer.
It's wonderful having clean windows again!

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Ilovewillow · 23/01/2017 17:01

Turn up when you are supposed to, ours is every 6 weeks. Do a good job. Ours also does cleaning out of the gutters annually which is a really helpful service.

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SaorAlbaGuBrath · 23/01/2017 17:06

Ours comes once a fortnight, and cleans the frames and sills as well as the windows. He charges £4 a fortnight but we usually just give him £5 and £20 at Christmas. He's chatty and friendly (we know him, he lives on our estate) and just does a good job.

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wowfudge · 23/01/2017 18:12

Reliability and thoroughness. Ours are a shower, we have discovered, so we're are going to look for new ones.

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Jojoanna · 23/01/2017 18:15

Mine took all the paint off the window frames with the high powered poles ,, plus they were £15 a time so I'm looking fur a new one

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user1475253854 · 23/01/2017 18:18

Reliable, trustworthy, reasonably friendly. Does them once a month.

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ClaudiaNaughton · 23/01/2017 18:50

£65 every 3 months. Inside and out and garage windows and all frames and sills. Pay by direct debit and arrange next date before leaving and always have him first call on a Monday. Lovely man takes great care. Also texts reminder 2 days before coming.

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Treewall · 23/01/2017 20:12

Just that they actually turn up and clean the windows really. I've had to lower my standards! I can only find one chap in our town who cleans them by hand, all the others use the pole/hose and they look horrendous and covered in water marks done that way.
Ours doesn't do the doors or the window pane above the door, or the frames. I'd happily pay extra if he did but he doesn't seem to think it necessary.

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FuckOffDailyMailQuitQuotingMN · 23/01/2017 20:16

I can't find one! London with huge (filthy) leaded glass windows.

I like someone who shows up regularly, cleans quickly, responds to texts and texts me before coming out again or show up as scheduled. And who takes cash.

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FuckOffDailyMailQuitQuotingMN · 23/01/2017 20:18

ShockShockShock at these prices!!! Mine costs £45 per cleaning! But that's not with water and inside and out.

Is anyone else Zone 2 London?

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BigGreenOlives · 26/01/2017 06:07

FuckOffDaily I'm Zone 2 too & I'm not going to say what we pay, it would turn into a handbag thread. However house is 3 storeys and has a lot of tall windows - takes 3 people over an hour.

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Araminta99 · 26/01/2017 09:01

Mine is very prompt, always comes on time and is very professional. He told me he uses a program called roundpartner to organise his round so that's why he's so well organised. He is very friendly and we have a nice chat, he was telling me about his cats that he's mad over, I am a huge cat lover as well! Nice guy.

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Zoflorabore · 26/01/2017 09:03

One that comes back!!

Seriously we had a great window cleaner and he even lived next door, he moved around the corner and stopped.
I've been asking around for a new one but no luck, were in the north west.

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Cakescakescakes · 26/01/2017 09:07

Washed by hand. The long reach poles leave them streaky and don't clean properly. Waste of money. Also reliability. Ours turns up when he feels like it.

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FuckOffDailyMailQuitQuotingMN · 26/01/2017 14:06

What is a handbag thread?

If you just say you pay more than me then I won't feel like I am getting ripped off when I do actually get someone out to clean them.

I can't actually find anyone to do it. The leaded glass is a pain.

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Parisbanana · 26/01/2017 14:44

fuckoffDailyMailQuitQuotingMN have a look at this company
//prudentialwindowcleaning.co.uk
We're in zone 2 north London and they come to us as often as we want. Not at all pushy. Do half the house (front only) or all, or not at all. No problem at all. Really really nice guys.

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ladysparkle56 · 26/01/2017 14:46

Ours comes every four weeks he texts the night before so I can allow access into the back garden of the weather is bad on that day he texts to let me know he won't be coming.

He cleans all outside windows frames and sils and doors he charges £6.50 and does a great job.

I got rid of the first cleaner as he did it with a pole and jet wash and the windows where left smeared

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FuckOffDailyMailQuitQuotingMN · 26/01/2017 14:50

Thanks so much, Parisbanana Will have a look.

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toffeeboffin · 26/01/2017 14:51

Tall, dark and handsome.

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Parisbanana · 26/01/2017 16:12

Wow ladysparkle that is extraordinarily cheap!

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FrostNixon · 29/01/2017 12:02

I can tell you why I've binned off having a window cleaner and will do it myself this year for the first time ever.

Scruffy, different groups of men and women. No uniform. Smoking on the job. Haphazard cheap equipment. No follow up or checking if I was satisfied. High price. Very good at presenting the invoice and chasing payment.

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