What to do about window cleaner

[GlummyMcGlummerson]

Had a card through my door advertising window cleaning by "Steve". Been looking for a window cleaner for a while and thought great! I text the number to ask for a price explaining I'm in a 3-bed semi with 10 windows in total etc. He replied to say he'll "come round tonight at 8pm to have a look" . I said "sorry what do you mean" - he wants to come inside the house to check the layout! A window cleaner!! I've said no and I'll just leave it. I'm a single mum with 2 kids, I don't let anyone in the house unless they're family or friends.

WWYD - this is dodgy right? And not normal? Do I report him?!

I'm a 3 bed semi and lay £10. My parents are a 4 bed detached and pay £12

I've window cleaned in the past in the SE, some customers want the insides done, but to be honest it's a PITA having to move ornaments, nets, blinds etc, it's not something you'd want to do often.
As to cost, assuming you are working as a pair, I would expect to earn around £17 per hour, that includes travel time. A typical 3 bed without conservatory was about £12, a small conservatory would add about £4. Biggest job was £100 for a massive place in country, it would take a pair about 2.5 hours, plus another 40 mins of travel.
Expenses included diesel etc for van, insurance, resin for the water used by poles and a small amount on cloths, Fairy etc. The owner of the company also took a cut, a decent round would sell for about £150,000.

Our window cleaner is from a well known local family and they're not known for anything good. At first I used to wonder if he was actually cleaning or casing. Turns out he was above board. Sort of. I highly doubt he declared a single penny of his income as he didn't even have any name, personal or business, or a telephone number on his card! He randomly stopped coming last summer.

A few weeks ago, almost a year after I'd last seen a window cleaner, two young dodgy looking lads came round and just started washing my windows. I let them finish and went to pay them what I paid their predecessor but it was now more money. I still paid but told them I didn't need a window cleaner for the moment (I'd got used to doing it myself after mine quit coming round) but would be happy to take their number and call them when I wanted my windows done again. He argued that it was "only once a month" and acted like I was being unreasonable with him. I simply reiterated, "it's fine, we're struggling for money right now and can't afford extras but give me your number and I'll give you a shout when I need them cleaning again"

Neither of the boys owned a mobile apparently. Suuuure. Nowt dodgy there.

And OP, are you sure your window cleaner didn't mean he needed in the back garden to see the back? And not in the house itself? If you're sure he meant house, I would perhaps ask the neighbours who they use instead.

he didn't even have any name, personal or business, or a telephone number on his card!

What?!?!?! So he went to the trouble of getting business cards made up and all they say is 'Window Cleaner' (and possibly a town name)?!

That's not a business card - that's a flash card for teaching new words to tiny children!!!

@WeBuiltThisBuffetOnSausageRoll yep. It's literally a cut piece of paper so not even a business card. It's got a clip art window cleaner pic, a few things he does (gutter cleaning etc) underneath the pic and a "we called today but you weren't in" bit to leave to basically prove he's been round and washed the windows and will be back to collect the cash.

Totes legit, right?

a "we called today but you weren't in" bit to leave to basically prove he's been round and washed the windows and will be back to collect the cash.

Surely that only proves that he's been round and left his little scrap of paper, doesn't it?!

I have never known a window cleaner to need to come inside the house.
Sounds as though he wants to see inside before giving you a price so he can get an idea how much you can afford to pay.
Tell him you are no longer interested and find somebody else.

Ours is a very professional window cleaning company. They did the first wash free so you could see if you where happy with the work. £13 a month for a large 4 bed detached with huge windows.
We pay by bank transfer.
It’s very dodgy for a window cleaner to want to come inside to give a quote imo.

Thanks all. I'm gonna ask around the neighbours and see if they've been in touch with him.