Dial-a-clean

jamesy

Hi peeps i aim to up my income by offering a when you want it service,

Basically its a service for those who dont want there windows cleaned on a regular basis,

I do window cleaning but feel there is a niche market for as and when cleans,

so looking for feedback do people here have there windows done reguarly or now and then

if you where to be given an option what would you prefer

would the option of a dial-a-clean be a service that would interest you,

all feedback welcome thanks!

jamesy

pitkin2020

Most people get charged a low monthly rate for window cleaning on a regular basis and its just easier to have it done regulary, no need to phone anyone to ask them to come and do it.
If your already doing window cleaning then it could be a service you offer as an add on, but I think it will do you more harm than good, as really you want people to be on the books for regular work.
Have you looked at other add ons like gutter, sofits and fascia cleaning?

Lube

I would say people wouldn't want to pay much more for this service, I believe they may be some demand but I think the problem for you is getting enough work from it and as its a bespoke service costs will be higher as you may not do a lot of houses in one area

jamesy

thanks for the replys not everybody is getting charged low rates for window cleaning,

i mean if you are paying your window cleaner say £10 a month wich is £120 a year and in this present situation would you not rather pay out less and only have them done when they are dirty

Lube

The problem is if there is a saving say instead of 12 times a year you get it 6, but the cost will be more there comes a point when the saving may be negligible

For example £10 for 12 months £120 (12 times a year) per annum
£20 for 12 months (6 times a year) £120

If its below that say £15 or less then it may be worth while. If I am honest with you I find windows tend to be dirtier in late Autumn to early Spring.

They could be a added extra for customers if you want to clean conservatories, and maybe a good clean around the windows sills as often they get missed by windows cleaners

pitkin2020

jamesy wrote: »

thanks for the replys not everybody is getting charged low rates for window cleaning,

i mean if you are paying your window cleaner say £10 a month wich is £120 a year and in this present situation would you not rather pay out less and only have them done when they are dirty

Yes £120 a year is a lot from the consumers point of view, but if you get called out to a house one side of town monday then the other side of town on tuesday your going to have charge £20 (for arguments sake) to go and do the job. Ideally as a window cleaner you want to be doing as many houses as you can in one area at any one time, instead of being pulled to and fro and spending more time travelling between jobs than cleaning.

Your idea isn't a new one by any means most window cleaners round here will do a one off clean, but there main aim is to get regular work.

You will also need some decent constant advertising so people know who to call so thats another extra expense if your just getting work currently from dropping leaflets.

The idea is feasable if your considering adding it into your current business alongside all the regular work but as a stand alone service I don't think you'll make a living.
If you currently charge £10 a month to customers and you aim to take £1500 per month, you obviously need 150 customers per month, hopefully those 150 customers stay with you. Over 12 months you still only need 150 customers. Doing the one off cleans say they have it done twice a year and you charge £20, you'll need 75 customers per month, and every month there after, a total of 450 new customers over the first 6 month period, repeated for the 2nd 6 months.

jamesy

thanks again peeps what if people had a option to have them done say 3/4 times a year as i have said a cleaning service when you want, you can still work in you same radius,

lube says 6 times a year £120

customer wants 4 times £80 saving £40

i think customers should be given this option!

geordie_joe

I lived in a 1st floor rented flat for over 10 years. The landlord paid for the windows to be cleaned once per year. In that time I never cleaned the windows myself, or got anyone else to clean them.

2.5 years ago I moved into a house where I am responsible for having the windows cleaned. The windows have not been cleaned while I have lived in this house.

I just don't care about the windows, I don't even think about them. I don't sit inside looking out, and I don't care about anyone outside looking in.

One day I will decide they need cleaning, but I won't clean them until the day I get the urge to clean them, or until I find someone who will do a "one off" job.

I'm pretty sure there are others like me, people who don't want, or care if their windows are clean, but now and again want them cleaned.

People moving out of rented accommodation, who need the place spotless to get their deposit back.

People living above the ground floor, who can't clean the windows themselves, but don't need them done regularly.

People who can't afford to pay the window cleaner to clean the windows every fortnight, but can affords every month.

I remember my MiL asking her window cleaner if he could "come every other time" and he said "No, I'm not messing about with that, either you get your windows cleaned every fortnight or I don't clean them at all".

I have no doubt that there is a market for semi-regular cleaning or one off cleaning, and it could work if you had a regular round and it was just another string to your bow.

jamesy

totally agree geordie joe, some customers feel they need to accept a regular clean in fear of not having a cleaner come round when they want them, customers should be given an option,

thats why i feel a clean when you want service should be offered, you don`t get the milk man telling you that you have your milk delivered every day or none at all do you

and thats why i am now offering dial-a-clean

geordie_joe

Go for it jamesy, if you don't offer it as an option, nobody will take it up. If you do offer it then some might.

You can't lose anything by offering it, but you might make something if people take it up.

pitkin2020

As I said its a feasable option to generate some extra income, but as a stand alone your going to need a hell of a lot of new customers to make a living.

Idealy from your perspective you want repeat and regular customers, mainly so you know you have an income but also a repeat customer is cheaper to obtain than a new customer. Then is nothing wrong with offering this one off clean service but financially it would be better for you to focus on the regular monthly cleans. But include in your ads one off cleans available and also target places like estate agents and letting agents who can pass your details to tenants and lardlords.