Window cleaner wanted

GagaJo it would seem it is the conservatory roof (with lichen and moss on it) pushing the price right up. It’s one of those bog standard ones with a Perspex roof and is unusable in the winter (freezing) or in the summer when it’s hot (roasting).

£12 every six weeks here. He cuts the grass too.

All fascias & sills (excluding detached garage)
All exterior windows (they are not large windows)
Conservatory roof
Interior of conservatory windows

That is quite a large amount to be cleaned if fascias are included, plus the inside of the conservatory which will have to be done by hand rather than brush and water method.

It's a big job particularly if none of it has been cleaned for four or so years.
However, it does seem expensive and £60 thereafter just for exterior windows is probably 3 times what we pay each month.

MerylStreep

I couldn’t get past windows cleaned since before the pandemic 😱
Ours carried on all the way through it. He couldn’t afford not to.

Same here!

It's probably the conservatory roof pushing the price up

Yes.
For just a straightforward clean of the conservatory roof we pay an extra £7 but if this one has moss and lichen growing on it, it will need a lot more attention.

We had a post-scaffoldung clean on the front only. £85.
Took hours and was still only "fair"
Then had a "first clean" all round £50. Subsequently £30 - it's 3 storey with two bay windows (16 windows in total) and front door with sidelights.
Like M0nica's it's a professional company and they are reliable.

We pay £14 every 4 weeks, we have a 4 bedroomed detached house. The previous quote was £25.

My next door neighbour says £30 is a "rip off" - however, the guy that does hers seems sloppy to me and is a friend of her son's so "mate's rates".

No idea what's fair to be honest.
If you are using distilled water, running a vehicle, travelling, paying tax and your pension, buying and maintaining cleaning equipment and then (once at the property take an hour (say) to clean, I'm not sure you should be charging much less than £30 to be honest.

Germanshepherdsmum

MerylStreep

I couldn’t get past windows cleaned since before the pandemic 😱
Ours carried on all the way through it. He couldn’t afford not to.

Same here!

Agreed.

Outside, it was done often during covid. People have to eat.

We must have clean windows - particularly during at home covid.

We have 38 windows, some quite large.

Other posters must not count windows same to me, I think.

So cheap in the UK! Here in Sydney I have just paid $165 for inside and out windows of a one bedroom apartment. All windows easily accessible without needing a ladder.

I use the window cleaner I saw doing others in my road. I live in a bungalow have 8 windows and 2 doors . My window cleaners all the uPVC including door canopy £10 a month. Once a year cleans my gutters out including garage can't remember how much but less than £40.

I assume many window cleaners are paid in cash. Probably not all declared for tax reasons, hence lower charges maybe.

Calendargirl, My window cleaner has a business account and I pay directly into it. My daughter a different one - also paid online to a business account.
In fact, I don't have anyone paid in cash - not even the guy who cuts my hedge once a year.

Bigred18 the inside of my windows are (sadly) cleaned by me.

Was thinking of my 91 year old neighbour NotSpaghetti.

Am pretty sure he pays his window cleaner, cleaner and any other odd jobs he has done in cash.

But as you say, many will have business accounts you just zap the money straight into.

My window cleaner is paid directly into his business account.

Just realised that I missed 4 smaller windows in my count
( landing, cloakrooms, garage) and think his £50 price is very fair for 20+ odd windows.

Getting back to the original post I think £60 is good with a conservatory too.

Are you going to go ahead with the clean glammagran?

My 99 year old mother-in-law pays her gardener, window cleaner, domestic cleaner etc online but she does always have cash available (not sure what for... ). Tips? I know she gave my son's friend a tenner "for a drink" once when he popped over to help her with something because they both told me about it!

I've had the same window cleaning company for twelve years. My house is a three storey property. The company use the water fed pole method. They come every six weeks. I used to pay £22 but about six months ago the charge was increased to £24. They are a reliable firm, who notify us prior to coming the following day. I am about sixteen miles south of Oxford.

My window cleaner is paid by bank transfer.

I'm very lucky that I have my bungalow window cleaning/facia/window sills & doors all cleaned in the cost of my rent from my HA it also includes the trimming of 3 x garden hedges 3 x a year and cleaning out of the gutters.
The neighbours who have purchased their bungalows pay between £12-15 a month depending if they have a conservatory or not.They pay £10 for gutter cleaning as and when needed.

How long does it take to clean all these windows and sills etc? Maybe you can work out the hourly rate from that? If it'll take ages to clean really dirty windows and conservatory plus the use of ladders etc then it's only reasonable to charge accordingly.

Yes, initial clean price probably fair but the ongoing price is exorbitant. We have five bedrooms plus a conservatory like the one you describe, glammagran, and we pay the window cleaner £14. He only wanted £11 but I insisted on a wage rise a few cleans ago. I think I am getting a bargain.

Aldom

My window cleaner is paid by bank transfer.

Mine too.

Norah

We have 38 windows, some quite large.

Other posters must not count windows same to me, I think.

Are you counting individual panes?