how much should window cleaning cost?

jaykie

Thats still cheap for what you have, and as for hanging out of window i dont know about that, as you say about polish wc this is happening every where, if i ever get asked by a customer to do there windows i always ask if they have a cleaner if so i dont do them as i wont take work from another cleaner, if the custy sacks there cleaner then contacts me then thats fine. As for electric window cleaning pole (never heard this term) but its called water fed pole and will soon become the norm due to health and safety laws, and its down to the operator to do a good job as there are many cleaners out there who cant use it properly, ive had new customers who where adoment they wouldnt have another cleaner who uses wfp but i did one clean with the option that if there not happy i wouldnt return and im still doing them to this day.

Rich_s_3

usignuolo wrote: »

Well I pay £25 for my house in south west London. This is not just because it is rip off London, it is a very tall Victorian house with big sash windows so you either need a large ladder, or a good head for heights to do the top and there is a lot of glass. Mostly window cleaners do it once and then find easier windows somewhere else and don't come back.

Our regular cleaner uses a ladder on ground floor and then sits on the outside on the window sills, or stands, to clean them. He uses a squeegee and then rinses them with clean water. We have 2 large bays with windows on three sides at front of house (ground and first floor) he just does the fronts, plus a glass conservatory at rear (just does the doors and glass above them) plus 3 large sash windows at rear of house (ground and first) which he does inside and out. This involves raising and lowering them and they are quite heavy.

He said he has been undercut recently by Polish workers trying to get his round but my neighbour said these guys use a remote control pole which does not give satisfactory result.

If you are aware that your window cleaner is putting his or anybody safety at risk and continue to let him do it “just so you can have clean windows” you will be held accountable you are breaking the law as much as he is.

The attitude of residential window cleaning customers of expecting to get there windows cleaned cheaply is the cause of a lot of accidents and that is why they are now being prosecuted, (they wont go after the dead or injured window cleaner)

There are properly trained professional window cleaners available even though accidents will still occur your interest have been protected, so part of the extra cost will be for peace of mind. Clear conscience if any bad was to happen.

Pay more for your window cleaner but have fewer cleans a year and you will still pay the same amount of money or less! Just work within your own budget

Marcus_Absent

SE London 3 bed semi, it's £5 for the front or £10 for the whole house - total of 9 windows (2 are big bays), front and back door and french windows.

SandC

jaykie wrote: »

Id like to comment on this as i am a window cleaner, and the prices you guys are paying are obviously paid to people without any insurance (god help if there ladders come down on your conservatorie assuming they use ladders) how long have you had a window cleaner for as youll probably get dropped soon, well time will tell with bad weather setting in, as for using a extending window washer jobbies i would love to see the results from this. Window cleaning isnt what it use to be anymore, if i charged these sort of prices i wouldnt beable to pay my public liability, van insurance, uniform, water bill, diesel, tax bill (yours probably just collects cash) mots, road tax, wear of equipement, consumables like liquid, cost of flyers, i also have a crb check (police check) so at least my custys no they have a trust worthy cleaner on there property especially with all those nice lawn mowers and bikes in your gardens.

I don't know how my guy makes a living on what he charges me and he does have someone else working with him. I think it's a little unfair to presume that anyone not charging large amounts is doing it on the fiddle. I've had the same guy for the past 13.5 years since I bought my house and he did the previous owners for the 4 years they were there as far as I'm aware. I have no reason to believe he is anything but legit and as he comes every fortnight (rain or shine usually just changing the days if the weather is bad) then maybe he's making his living by purely working his butt off.

Rich_s_3

I’m sure there are lot of window cleaners that are working legitimately by paying tax and have been doing so for many years.

The point I am making even just over the past few years there have been a lot of changes in the rules for window cleaners and unfortunately a lot of the older window cleaners have not kept up.

For example it’s not a legal requirement to have public liability and personal accident insurance although strongly advised, so the window cleaner is not breaking the law if a customer accepts this, but the customer and the window cleaner put themselves in a vulnerable position.

The point of the new regulations (which is the law) regarding window cleaning is to reduce accidents, so now most accidents occur when these rules are broken. Breaking these regulations and having no insurance, doesn’t matter how long he has been cleaning windows you will be held accountable.

The rules are there for a reason, putting someone’s like at risk by having your windows cleaned cheaply will put you in very hot water if anything should go wrong.

dougk_2

I don't bother cleaning the windows very often - i don't really see the point as long as light comes in!
When I do, I do it myself with a pressure washer (£40) and it reaches both floors without an issue.
I would hardly say cleaning windows is an essential thing to do when money is tight - if you have a mortgage pay the £20 or whatever a month to that instead.

1jim

I really would like to see a window cleaner try and sue someone if they fell off their own ladder whilst cleaning a window they assessed as suitable for cleaning and in a manner in which they assessed it was safe to be cleaned. The window cleaner would have to show any accident was avoidable and the home owner had not taken reasonable steps to reduce the risk- such as removing loose stones etc, the window cleaner would I assume also have to prove that they had alerted the home owner to the risks and the home owner had not taken any action to minimise risk and then they would have to explain why they continued to clean the windows knowing it was unsafe.
I would suggest the major concern is if the window cleaner damages your property, but I guess most insurance companies would help with this if you have accidental damage cover and legal cover

the_tired_one

I was reading some of the earlier posts in this thread.

Why is it the customers fault if the window cleaner falls off his ladder?

27col

I pay £10 for 11 windows, two of which are 8ft wide patio doors. The chap spends quite a long time on them. I feel a bit guilty for paying so little. If he asks for more I will pay up without query. I have no idea if he has insurance. But I agree with the previous post, why should there be any claim against me if he injures himself.

TomsMom

the_tired_one wrote: »

I was reading some of the earlier posts in this thread.

Why is it the customers fault if the window cleaner falls off his ladder?

I don't think it's necessarily the customer's "fault" as such, but the window cleaner would be on the customer's property and in this litigious society any accident happening on the customer's property then the claimant (i.e. window cleaner) would most likely win damages if he sued.