Brilliant Windows Member Forums

Window Cleaning Bidding Book ?

Brian_D — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 11:59:16 GMT

"To bid a job, use the window cleaning bidding book to estimate the number of hours it will take, then multiply that by your hourly rate and quote the result to the customer." http://www.detroitsponge.com/e-Course-u9.aspx

I have John Baxter's Book on the subject, "straight talk about window cleaning bidding" but I hav'nt come across anything about how many hours it will take to do x amount of windows, yet.

Am I missing something, or are we speaking of another book ?

Thanks

Brian

Forum: Window Cleaning Businesses

Windows problems

Finlay — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 12:47:43 GMT

I all,
I have a problem on my Windows Vista that began afetr the purchase of an external Hard Disk Freecom.
A few days afetr the purchase I disconnected it while it was writing and, since that moment, every time I connect and disconnect it, the PC go to freeze mode for 5 minutes.
The same thing happen even if the hard disk is disconnected: every time I start windows it go to freeze a little after the password, and every time I connect and disconnect a usb device.
I have looked for the solution everywhere, updated windows, unistalled and installed the hard disk from the device manager but I solved the problem only when I restored a recent backup.
Yesterday the Hard disk was writing a backup while Vista was installing the updates; at the end of the proceure windows restarted automatically and the problem began again!!!
The Pc go to freeze when it starts, every time I connect or disconnect the hard disk, an usb earphone that has always worked switch on but there is no audio and I don't know how many others usb devices will have problems.
Has anyone an idea to solve this problem before I throw out of the window Vista or the the hard disk?
Thank you

__________________
Never seen babies gift like these! (regali di laurea on italian or idee cadeau maman on french),

Forum: Window Cleaning Businesses

Need small size safety harness, not universal.

weatherup — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 02:04:08 GMT

    I've always used 'universal fit' harnesses, which , of course,
    in reality, fit few very well. Units which are off erred in small
    are either too expensive, designed for a different use, ie: climbing or
    mining or have the wrong configuration of D rings.

    I'm about to start cleaning the windows (and a few, ugh, screens)
    on a 7 story bldg. built in 1923. Although we all know that injury
    and even death (As the drug co. commercials tell us routinely)
    can occur on the lower mid rise bldgs., the prospect of slipping out
    of a too loose harness at 83 ft. kind of grabs your attention...I've
    never tested my rope -grab assembly, thank goodness, but I always
    rig as though a fall or failure of the working line can happen any
    time.

     Does anyone know of a mfg. or distributor who offers a small harness,
     reasonably priced with back and front D rings ? I prefer crossover and
     have recently ordered leg straps for suspension relief.

Forum: Window Cleaning Equipment

How to bill/get paid.

srwiley — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 13:04:33 GMT

Hi All,

How does one go about billing/getting paid. Do you bill once a month, have the customer mail check? go back to house when some-one is home to get paid?

What is the best method.

Same goes w/ commercial accounts. Bill them/wait for check?

Forum: Window Cleaning Businesses

Water marks?

srwiley — Thur, 24 Sep 2009 22:51:11 GMT

Hi All,

OK I'm completely new to this profession. Getting on in age my profession of concrete is too much for me (too much hard work,when I can get it, for too little money, and LOTS of head aches!)

Any hoo, done the windows at my house before I go out & try to get biz and I'm getting water marks around the outside of panes where I'm wiping w/ microfiber cloth after squeegeeing. Any clues as to what I'm doing wrong? That's my only fault, rest of pane looks good. Does cloth have to be bone dry? I am changing the spot of the cloth for every wipe.

Thanks in advance.

Forum: Window Cleaning Equipment

"Green" Cleaning

Kara — Thur, 21 May 2009 19:26:07 GMT

I would like my business to "green" or environmentally friendly. Any suggestions or references would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks!

Forum: Window Cleaning Businesses

what can i use as a sealant on glass

wndwgrl — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 18:24:10 GMT

what can i use in my solution as a sealant on glass for customers who arent interested in doing business monthly...want to have windows stay cleaner longer? want to use as an add on sale..thanks

Forum: Window Cleaning Equipment

Freezer Window Cleaning

majorcom — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 17:21:51 GMT

I have a super market client with many large window freezers for their shoppers to open for products.

Can anyone tell me how to window clean the INSIDE of those window freezers.

Any window cleaning product I have used, freezes immediately on the inside of the windows.

Thank you.

Forum: Window Cleaning Equipment

bidding two story buildings

ChipBauman — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 17:22:24 GMT

I have been a window cleaner for six months and someone wanted me to cleaning a two story building. Does any one now how to bid this kind of job?

Forum: Window Cleaning Equipment

Hardwood Casements...

Karl — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 08:09:45 GMT

I have a few clients that have homes that are almost entirely made out of mahogany. I use pledge to shine up the the wood, and it seems to do a great job. It also will hold it's shine for a few months.

Does anyone have any suggestions on what to use to shine up hardwood casement or trim details besides pledge?

Forum: Window Cleaning Equipment

Strange occurrence with Ettore blades...

Karl — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 04:16:17 GMT

Last year I bought a 25 pack of Ettore blades. The first few I tried out worked, then I started to notice that they were sticking quite often. THEN I really saw the carnage! Looking through a huge set of sliding glass doors I noticed the worst streaking imaginable.

I tend change my water on the hour. And at the time, I was replacing blades weekly. I did find it strange that I'd never seen streaking like that before. It could have been from a damaged blade, but I was having the sticking problem before hand. After the incident I changed the blades to Ungers ErgoTec. I change the blades out daily now, and I haven't had the streaking since.

I was wondering though if heat or humidity has anything to do with blade rubber longevity. I live out in Hawaii, where we have lots of both, all year round.

Forum: Window Cleaning Equipment

Keeping My Straight Blade From Rusting?

washyourglass — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 03:53:01 GMT

I get rust quick on my Scrapemaster 4" straight blade. How do i avoid this from happening so damn quick?

Forum: Window Cleaning Equipment

Plan Your Work!

clb — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 12:23:07 GMT

Do you know where you want your business to be in 5 years? If not, then how do you expect to get there? Why are you in business anyway? Whats the goal of your business? To support your life? Profits? Savings?

Most new entrepreneurs never think about the ultimate goal of their business. Some figure theyll sell the business and have enough money to retire. Many dont draw salary but just live directly from business revenue.

These are all mistakes. To maximize what you get out of your business you need to know where you want it to go.

Do you want to build an empire, eventually to sell and retire? When? How?

Do you enjoy working the job and meeting people? Will you want to continue doing this? Forever?

Or, would you rather be doing something else?

One thing you absolutely must start doing is to take a salary from your window-cleaning business.

You can live directly from profits, but youll have trouble getting loans, getting credit and selling your business if you never take a salary.

Prospective buyers of your business will want to know how much money your business makes. That includes the time you put in and the profits you took out.

Even if you cant afford to pay yourself initially, put your salary on the books. When you can afford it, give yourself the back pay.

Decide early on what you want your business to look like in 5 years. Its much easier to get there if you know where youre going.

Many people find it easier to work backwards. Picture your business in 5 years and start putting into place the things you see.

A goal is a dream with a date on it. Start writing down your goals and put dates on them.

Commit yourselfand the money will follow.

Its been my pleasure to bring you this email course and I hope it has benefited you.

Mike Waroway, Owner
Detroit Sponge
http://www.detroitsponge.com

Forum: Window Cleaning Businesses

rounded windows

tomcooper — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 13:52:05 GMT

I 'm a new window cleaner and want to bid a job with circular windows. What is the best way to clean them. aprox 4 feet in diam.

Forum: Window Cleaning Equipment

Detroit Sponge has a free online e-course!

clb — Sun, 29 Jun 2008 16:10:01 GMT

Of course you want to do a good job, but you need to be efficient so that you can get great work done in less time.

So what is the best way to maximize efficiency?

One of the biggest is by having the right tools.

It starts with your squeegee. You need to make sure you use the right size squeegee/scrubber for the right job.

Then its a matter of using quality rubber. Quality rubber doesnt streak and it lasts for longer than the cheap stuff. When you start a big job, put a fresh rubber on your squeegee.

Another proven way to maximize efficiency is by having well planned job routes/times. Avoid driving 10 miles south for a morning job, then 15 miles north for a midday job, then 15 miles south again for an afternoon job.

Take a few moments to form a plan of attack for larger jobs and youll save far more time than it took to make that plan.

Lastly, dont forget about the importance of using good techniques.

Many more products are in stock and waiting to make your cleaning life easier at http://www.detroitsponge.com

click here to get the e-course http://www.detroitsponge.com/e-brilliantWinRegistration.aspx

Sincerely,
Detroit Sponge
http://www.detroitsponge.com

Forum: Window Cleaning Equipment