Should you offer Exterior Window Cleaning as an add on?

Hey Racer. A water fed pole goes from 200 dollars to several thousand if you want the best… A DI tank is 250 to 500 depending on size if you have really bad water you would get a DI\RO tank to save costs in resign… Then your looking at 1400 and up depending in size…
Of course then it depends if you want a back pack sprayer or a pump. Or use the houses own water pressure to apply… That all depends on how large the building is and how much work you want to do… Call me I will walk ya through it. Pretty simple stuff. You could build your own system and save money. But usually with a sale you can buy a unit complete for under 2 grand that will clean all the exterior windows you want on a three story or less building

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His idea of just buying water as needed is a good one, in my opinion. You could easily add a filtration system later if you wanted, but to just “get your feet wet” you can EASILY setup a diy pole and backpack sprayer like he mentioned…Then, if you don’t like the add-on, you’re not out much; and, if you like it, you can easily upgrade.

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Our TDS is so low down here (24) that not sure really worth it. Heck most of ours look pretty good when we finish our house wash. Plus 75% of my customers don’t want to even bother taking off screens for the house wash.

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Our TDS is around 85. I really like to add on WFP to wash jobs. I already had the gear since I started window cleaning. A good WFP, DI tank, hoses, brush, etc and you are looking at $1000 to get started. A 3/4 cube Di tank will last a couple months with low TDS, then you are out about $100 for the recharge. I think it is a great add on for anyone. But like Racer said you have to convince them to remove the screens.
Joe

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I wasn’t sure if there was a market for it. A market for just exterior and the customer removes the screens. After a year my answer is yes there is. Now I like the hassle free part of it. My TDS isnt low like yours though. We are in the 200’s here.

Under $600 and your ready to go

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Most windows look good when your done, but when your inside looking through them when the sun is hitting them is a different story.

If you have a true TDS reading of 24 that is amazing…24 is low enough to use with a WFP and leave no streaks.

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At first I thought that convincing the customer to remove the screens would be difficult… but it has not turned out to be that way. I always sell the exterior window cleaning when giving the quote whether in person or through email. Only time i up sell it the day of service is if their screens are on the inside… With windows I tell them a price and that I clean the exterior glass only. If they say yes lets do it, then I say " Only thing we ask is that you have the screens removed prior to us showing up" I have never had a customer change their mind, or cancel with the window cleaning.

To me it’s the same concept when cleaning a deck or patio… You have the customer remove tables chairs, grills and other things.

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Exactly… that’s why I went that route in the first place. Now I like the convenience of it. A lot of “window guys” in other forums get mad when I mention that Distilled water has a zero TDS and is the same endstate as filtering water through an RO/DI system.

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Here is what you need to connect from the Hudson Electric backpack to WFP hose.

Here is the backpack.

https://www.amazon.com/Hudson-13854-Bak-Pak-Battery-Operated/dp/B000NOT7RA/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1516332158&sr=8-1&keywords=hudson+never+pump+backpack+sprayer

Here is the Pole

With Gardner your getting 22 ft actual pole length ( A lot of companies advertise working height) . I have done 3 stories up with no problem with this pole

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Roofs…the best add on there is

Concrete I try and stay away from.

THAT’S incredible. You probably don’t need any DI or flitration at all. When you spray water on your windows, do the drops even leave spots?

@Sharpe

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Good looking out! Thanks a million

Great thread! Surprised I missed it.

I love pw/wfp combo jobs. I think my all time best day was a few weeks ago. Huge house with a ton of windows: $850 for housewash, and $360 for exterior windows. Power washing took about 3.5 hours, and windows took right around 2 hours. Then the icing on the cake: they were so thrilled with the job, they gave a $222 tip.

This kind of job would’ve been difficult with a backpack sprayer and cheap pole, though. I think I used about 30 gallons of pure water. And some high windows would’ve been laborious with a floppy pole.


I occasionally get some pushback from customers who are unable or uncomfortable with removing their screens. But it’s pretty rare. I also don’t get many people asking for inside windows, the way I sell this add-on. Most people who call for power washing, never even thought about getting their windows done, too. So they’re thrilled that they can get the “hard part” of window cleaning done for a reasonable cost.

I also include washing the screens if the customers bring them outside to a central location. I’ll lean the whole stack against a garage door or something and spritz them one or two at a time with the housewash. I go through them real quick, and they come out better than any screenwasher could get them.

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Yah, I stay away from glass houses or large window jobs. Just try and upsell on standard 2 story cookie cutter subdivision homes.

What’s your process for the window washing?

I have a vehicle mounted tank system for waterfed pole work. Interiors and first time exteriors (without housewashing) is done with traditional squeegee & scrubber.

Here’s a vid of my previous vehicle. I gotta get a video of my new vehicle uploaded.

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That seems like a great idea. If you are doing a soft wash the windows will need to be cleaned any ways. I use the backpack sprayer as well for smaller jobs. I use a 12v pump and a 55 gal barrel or ibc tote for shopping centers or office buildings.

I couldn’t get away without cleaning the windows after a soft wash job in my area. Customers agree to pay for window cleaning, I have the equipment, who am I to argue with them?

I’ve had residents stick their head out the window as I was setting up in their corner and ask if all was well with me to proceed washing their windows. They had no idea I was washing the siding too… big LoL!!

It’s good on flatwork jobs as well. I did the sidewalks at a local movie theater this morning and picked up an extra $55. for 20 minutes work. I don’t have a wfp yet so I still use my scrubbers and good old fashioned Sorbo squeegee. But I believe that a wfp is a great investment if someone enjoys doing windows.