My Last window cleaner disappeared, was it Magic? Or is it all to do with pricing...

Don't worry, your last window cleaner did not turn into a magician, although he does have a few tricks up his sleeve when it comes down to his business model and pricing strategy. His first trick is to drastically undercut his competitors. Example: lets say if we priced a detached house at £21, he would go in about £10-£11, which would be fine in 1988.

His second trick is to cut corners, so he can afford to do the work at such a low price-point. This might be as simple as not having a professional website, or any website at all, no van (so no commercial insurance), or worst than that no window cleaning insurance. Yikes!

He undercuts his competitors, as he thinks it's a sure-fire way to build up his business quickly, but there are no shortcuts in business. Building a good business takes time and effort, like his tricks, he thinks a magic pill is the key. Kinda like thinking you can drink a protein shake, and expect to grow muscle without going into a gym to train the muscles.

Before we go any further consider this:

• Have you ever bought any cheap product and service and it be any good?

• Would you agree good quality and cheap does not mix?

• Have you ever bought anything cheap and had to pay out again for a more expensive one later, because the cheap one broke or did not live up to expectations?

Why would a cheap service be any different, buy cheap buy twice.

Why The Customer Will Be The Loser

This blog post was inspired from various stories and feedback that we've had from our customers, who have been caught out, so I decided to write this to save others from the same trap.

If a window cleaner prices too low, the customer will be the loser. Here is why: Because of the very low price point, the window cleaner will have to cut corners. From the feedback we have had, this varied from window cleaners doing the job too fast, as he wants to save time, so he can justify that £10 job whats half the price of his competitors. This means your windows will be left dirty and not properly cleaned. It's impossible to do a quality job, if its done too fast or halfhearted.

Other complaints are that frames, sills, and doors are not cleaned.

With very slim margins, the window cleaner will often just pack it in and shut shop, and find another way to make ends meet. This is another reason why he has vanished into thin air.

Other problems are reliability issues. They simply just turn up whenever it suits them, or they don't turn up at all, a regular schedule is out the window (no pun intended), leaving you hanging. We always send a text message the day before, so our customers know when we are coming.

Ask yourself a few questions when getting quotes: Does the window cleaner have a professional website, a van, window cleaning insurance. That said, we started our business with a car, but as soon as we could afford, we promptly got a little van. So if someone is starting off, it's okay, as you have to start somewhere. But if they have been in the business 10 years and still using the family run-about, you have to ask, is he really invested in his business, or just wants to earn some tax-free money on the side. If the price sounds too good to be true, alarm bells should be ringing.

Having the cheapest window cleaning service is not in your best interest. Look out for the signs, check out reviews, get recommendations, and check the work carried out by looking at the frames, sills and doors, after the clean. Check the glass is clean once the water droplets have dried (Water Fed Pole Method).

Our charges are competitive. They are in line with our real competition. Our aim was not to be the cheapest, as our business model is about giving the best value, doing a quality job, and giving our customers a simple monthly window cleaning service what they trust and can count on.

Hopefully, I have shed some light on the mystical vanishing window cleaner, and some insights into why the cheapest window cleaners might not be the best idea, if you you want your home looking its very best.

Keep safe.

Written by Dean