I won’t be taking large exterior storm windows off, cleaning them and reinstalling them by myself using a system rigged up with ropes & pulleys, ladders & suctions cups -counter balanced with a couple five gallon water jugs. Nope, can’t see doing that anymore. In fact, avoid storm window jobs altogether.
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I would have loved paid to see that 
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On CCU we charge 50% more of our regular cleaning rate. That has worked out as a fair spot for me and the contractor for years. We also get steady calls from Home Builders year round, so its great consistant work for my guys.
If you have a good crew of guys that can get the job done right an efficiently , then who’s to says it’s nit worthy. Most guys don’t have that though. I would more than likely assume most guys in this business are either solo , or just have a helper.
So More then likely they can keep there schedules full with other types of work that doesn’t have the liability that construction clean offs bring.
Anything can be profitable if you price it correctly.
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Removing/reinstalling large exterior storms on the second/third level can be a challenge for two guys with cups while they’re on ladders in my experience. Usually I’d just get someone to give me a hand with big glass and that’s how we’d do it - muscle it down with cups. Ended up grossly underestimating a storm job with a lot of exterior that I would have normally had to get help with. Necessity being the mother of invention I ended up rigging up pulleys. Afterwards, I’d never take a big storm window off without it set up that way. Way safer imho to not have to be struggling to lift glass whilst on a ladder. Set it up with a couple pulleys and some counterbalances and it’s like lifting 5 - 10 pounds if you do it right. In hindsight I’d use four cups instead of just two. A backup for each side - just in case - Woods power grips. It take while to set up of course; but kinda cool to be able to remove big storms by yourself if needed. All the same, to be safe, removing big storm windows should be a two man job imho.
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And eventually a big chunk of stucco falls out and leaves a bullet hole looking chip out of the side of their house. Oops.
20 months into this and I don’t do:
- outbound calls-hired a great college student to do that part-time
- Trips to the Big Convention even when I buy tickets (employee issues…I’m reading up on that topic in the search bar)
- diets and exercise-I’ve gained a ton of weight even though I climb ladders and am on my feet all day! The stress level of owning a business is a wee bit high.
Probably won’t do film removal anymore unless it’s brand new film that peels off easily but still…
I see many of you don’t do CCU’s and I’ll probably add that to the list, I hate scraping someone else’s mess.
Inside skylights are a pain in the ass too, maybe I’ll come up with a simpler way to clean em.
No more storefronts or recurring commercial work for cheap / odd hours, I’ll be slowly downsizing it this year.
I need to learn not to take on every single job especially CCUs / film removal. Let someone else bust their ass.
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I don’t think there is a simple way. Pads don’t do a good job. Nose to glass is the best way , and you have to be up there to wipe the sides when all that dirty water comes tumbling down.
I now only do CCU with 3 guys.
My college girl graduated and I’m the guy but haven’t made an out bound call in 8 months… 
I’m sleeping at the wheel, I know.
No more pressure washing. We must have not set clear expectations that the pavers and concrete can’t look brand new after 10 years of chemical drips from vehicles.
I won’t do after builders clean, no cement render, if I have to pull out a razor or some acetone that’s going to cost alot extra…shower screens…do you ever get asked to do shower screen glass …the only people who ever ask haven’t had it cleaned for 20years…and they expect you to just squeegee all the soap scum off for $5…no thanks…I always just tell them to call the house cleaner…I’m down to a tight list so I won’t even take on new jobs outside my 10km.radius, and it’s rare that I’ll do any last minute jobs, I keep my schedule booked 2-3 weeks ahead…i won’t do any real estate agent jobs any more, they always want last minute low price too.quality, and then when you’re done you can spend more time chasing your money than the actual job took, not all the time…but most of the time! Same goes for most commercial jobs and shopfronts. High season in Aus is Nov Dec, the yearly jobs that call through at that time get shelved until Jan, priority goes to the regular regulars…I also don’t want the one offs but I will do them at a premium price. The best one is when they say the last guy I had a window cleaner he did it for half the price and then I say…‘can I have his number I think I might get him to work for me then!’ and then they reply…‘he doesn’t answer his phone anymore’
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Same here.
They usually call and announce their title first, as if they are celebrities.
So I immediately say 3 things:
- I have a minimum price.
- I will not move them ahead in the schedule even though they promise to send sooo much business.
- I require payment immediately once the work is completed.
Of course, I say it tactfully. But I make these points clear.
I haven’t booked a real estate agent in more than a year - it feels great.
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this is amazing how even a whole continent away in australia the experiences are exactly the same with construction, re agents, half pricers and the same homeowner issues
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Yep I had one a while back that tried to cut me down on the price, and it’s always not tomorrow or today, it was needed to be done last week when they call you, and then give them priority and they take forever to pay. They texted me last Tuesday and asked if was available to do a clean ‘this week’…
I texted back on Friday at 5pm and said
‘i will need three weeks notice for any future jobs’
Anyone that makes me call more than once to remind payment is automatically cut off, I’m a window cleaner and I like doing it, I’m not a debt collector and I hate doing it.
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Yep I’ve been lurking in this forum for a few years and have only just joined…but man I used to read on here and laugh out loud at some of the things I read…as you say it just goes to show that people are pretty much the same wherever you are in the world…my biggest laugh was when I realised that wherever you are in the world there’s always gonna be people that try to get you to do the ‘while you’re up there’ jobs…
While youre up there can you knock down that wasps nest cos I know the exterminator charges $90 per nest……perhaps replace a tile…re attach that cable…etc
I thought it was just me they were trying to take advantage of…but it’s all of us…cuts both ways though I guess, you also get the people that buy you lunch and give generous tips, fill your books up with them!
Your yes means nothing if you can’t say no!
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I was young and needed the money!
Got this text the other day. . I did her in December. Forgot all about it. Works the opposite sometimes.
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Remind me to NEVER do a CCU again!!!
Currently stuck on a job removing film from 1 casement and got 2 more after this.
3 hours for this single one!!
I don’t wanna see or hear or smell another CCU type job ever again!
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that’s all it takes is one job like that and you’re cured lol
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