A shout out to Sean!

A Shout Out To Sean
 
Sean is the Salesman for Window Cleaning Resource - of which my blog is posted on the forum. Thanks Chris and Alex.

Sean is a very successful businessman, and has helped WCR to acquire much of their commercial work.

I watched Sean's video today about his new approach to pricing. I must say I'm impressed. He's not going to lowball his prices anymore to win accounts - and he will charge what is good for him - working on commision, and high enough for the guys who work at WCR and Chris and Alex.

I too don't believe in charging lower than I want for an account simply to match local competition or get a client.

My belief in pricing is too charge at a rate/hour that you want, and a rate that you know the majority of your desired clients will accept.

I would rather charge too high and not get a business, than charge too low, and kick myself later, and find myself over time with a lot of underpriced work.

My pricing philosophy is always changing, based on what I think I can charge, what high prices others have charged, and when I find out that I'm not charging what others do.

The most current change I have made to my pricing is to not treat all glass the same.

Before, even when cleaning a large piece of glass, I would charge what a small piece of glass would cost. Most customers understand that they will pay more if they have a store with big glass than if their store had small windows.

If I need to just clean windows with one method, cleaning with just a squeegee and applicator I will charge a basic rate per window. If I have to use a pole (I'm tall - 6 feet 2) than I will charge up to double that rate.

I would advise all of you to not treat all glass the same. Let's say you charge $1/per outside pane) for a regular pane that requires no polling. For one that requires polling, or is much larger charge $2/per pane.

Your pricing philosophy can change, be willing to accept new ideas and make adjustments where necesary.

Are you in the Toronto area and want a quote for window cleaning? Call the Toronto Window Cleaner at 647-409-8144 or visit my webiste at http://mmwindowcleaners.com

Damn! It's cold!

Damn It's Cold

Today, was a freezing day. The windows were whipping up, and the windchill was making it feel like -20.

For some reason, the windchill factor seems to have an effect on the water. Even though the windchill factor was designed to show how cold it feels for a human. Windy days tend to make the water freeze at the windchill temperature, not the actual temperature.

On cold days like this I dress warm. When it's below -10 (14 Fahrenheit) I wear snowboarding pants, or snowpants. I wear a thermal shirt, a solar fleece, a heavy goose down jacket, a touque, and for hand protection, I use snowboarding mitts (Kidd by Eskimo). I wear very warm boots.

I have been having problems with my boots. Although I spend a lot of money, on apparently good quality boots, I still tend to get a little bit of water in my boots. Which should never happen.

To keep the water from freezing, I use Methyl Hydrate (AKA, Methyl Alcohol). Using this product I can work at levels of lower windchills, then windshield washer fluid. I also don't like the soap in WWF, and I think I spend less money usning methyl hydrate than wwf.

I encounter a problem with working on these extremely cold days. It's hard to squeegee with a lot of methyl hydrate because the liquid is thinner, no matter how much soap is added, it can't soften the water so it's easier to squeegee. My water seemed when applied to the windows not to be even, heavy to squeegee too. Perhaps I'll have to add some softener or easy squeegee solution.

On days like this people wonder why you are cleaning the windows. But of course, on days like this, with snow on the ground, and sidewalks oversalted the windows are just filthy.

Word of advice - invest in boots. Make sure - that you get waterproof, warm boots if you live in a cold climate. Before I got these boots, I had very cheap boots, that made my feet freeze. As soon as your feet feel cold, you simply can't work, simple as that. Invest in boots.

I tend to go with very bulky warm clothes, instead of layering. However, I've reduced the amount of cotton I wear (T-Shirts, undershirts etc) I wear, since I found that I either feel overdressed, or it stiffles me.

What a winter it's been.