How Long Can You Keep A Storefront Window Cleaning Account?

 Storefront window cleaner for life?

Keep your customers happy!         

Many window cleaners I know either personally or 'know' online say that storefront window cleaning is not worth pursuing as a part of one's business. They feel, perhaps from personal experience or simply from hearsay, that lowballers will always win out and this endeavor is a 'race to the bottom'. It may be the case for some contractors and more so where competiton is fierce. I have found that when you service areas that have some competition, but are not heavily saturated with window washers that you can retain customers for a very long time. I'll elaborate.

Be reasonable, flexible, and reliable

Storefront owners generally pay me to be their window cleaner as a way to make their customers' first impression a good one. Some owners love to look at their clean windows, but I would say most really want the windows cleaned so they don't have to spend time doing it themselves. For my part, I find that being reliable, and I mean RELIABLE, is extremely high on a business owner's priority list. One storefront owner in East Stroudsburg turned down a competitor of mine, because he said his current wndow cleaning service (Dan Wagner Window Cleaning), was like clockwork! The point is, don't leave your jobs to chance. Get them onto a regular schedule and stick to it yourself, like clockwork. There are times when as a window cleaner you need to be reasonable and flexible. While light rain or snow should rarely if ever affect the quality of your work, heavier precipitation and/or wind may force you to curtail the cleaning for the sake of consideration to the one paying. It has been a relatively rare need for me to do so, thankfully. At times, I have found that I need to alter the order of my daily itinerary a bit to get into restaurants early or at certain times of the day so as not to be a nuisance to a large amount of patrons. 

34 Years?

Yes, I have one storefront customer in the Stroudsburg area who has been using my services since 1988, ever since he opened. I've likely cleaned his windows between 850 and 900 times! Why? Because I have kept my pricing affordable for him,  and have been reliable and professional enough to hold my own against other window washing companies who might like to snag the account.

So, in closing, despite what some window cleaners have experienced or believe, it is possible to keep storefront window cleaning accounts for a long time. And I truly appreciate all those who have trusted me to be their window cleaner indefinitely!

Want the best window cleaning company in northeastern PA? Call or text us at 5706300326!

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When Is the Best Time of Year to Get Your Windows Cleaned?

 Is there a certain time, or times of the year, that are best to have your residential windows cleaned?

Residential window cleaning

 

Very good question and of course, that depends. It could depend on where you spend the most time inside looking out and what your favorite seasons are. Perhaps it's during or just prior to winter when you need a small reason to be cheery. Or if you don't have window cleaning done on a regular basis, the best time may be in preparation for an important event you are having at your residential location, such as a wedding, reception, graduation party, an aunt from Europe, etc. 

A key bit of advice is to endeavor to never let residential window cleaning go too long. Understandably, such will require your window cleaner, be it you or a window cleaning company, to expend more time and effort to make them look pristine again. Windows are also subject to a great variety of contaminants and things that dirty them sooner than you'd probably like. They can be what birds, trees, and bushes drop, dirty water or dust from nearby vehicle traffic, high winds, dripping water that may have organic matter from above, and dust or smoke from inside a home. For this reason many have decided to set up automatic cleanings for usually just the outsides every month or two. This assures them of never having to deal with the stress of getting filthy windows cleaned in time for something important. 

A special note: there are many homeowners who like to schedule a professional window cleaning shortly after the pollen season in their particular area comes to a close. I can say that for me, as professional window cleaner, this is prime time in my schedule and they openings are taken fast, sometimes a year in advance. 

Hopefully this has at least provided some valid factors to consider for when you feel it best to schedule a window cleaning. 

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My Best Customers

Professional Window Cleaners Need A Solid Customer Base

Wow, expounding on that theme could get a person in big trouble!
I am wisely not going to list my favorite customers or even 'best' by a quantifiable rating standard. Some like to talk about sports, food, or travel. Some stay out of our way so we can get the work done asap. There are all kinds of people we clean windows for. 
I will describe what I consider to be the best fit for me as a service business owner. Here are some attributes I highly value:
1. Automatic service- These are the customers who have agreed to have me clean windows or power-wash their business locations or homes. The benefits to me are reliable income, the ability to schedule other jobs based on where I know I'll be on what day, and eliminating the need to confirm appointments or walk into a shop and find out whether they would like window cleaning that day or not. One possible downside is when a business fails to pay in a timely fashion. I've actually had to give up some accounts because of this.
2. Loyalty- Loyalty to my window cleaning company is definitely nice and I suppose flattering, but I perceive that loyalty is based on my reliability and honesty, not just my name. Additionally, customer service is a necessity in my opinion, not a "bonus". As of 2022, I have a storefront window cleaning customer in East Stroudsburg who has continually used my service since the late 1980s and one residential window cleaning customer in Lake Arielwho has had me since 1999 for 46 visits!
3. Honesty- Speaking from a service person's standpoint, there are few worse feelings than believing I have a completely happy client and then losing him or her. Even though the impulse is to ask "what's wrong with them"? a better question is "what did I do wrong" or "what did someone else do better"? Good communication certainly helps here, but having an honest appraisal from a client is good for both parties; for the client to receive even better service and for the contractor to make necessary adjustments for the future. This highlights the need to keep the door of communication open.

Best Customers Spring From Great Customer Service

My motto is "You'll like what you see."  That saying entails more than how the windows look after I'm finished cleaning them. It includes the experience and good feeling I promise as a result of being efficient, courteous, and thorough. The complete package. I want my clients to feel there is no reason to look elsewhere and have solid reasons to feel that way.

I'm always open to gaining more 'best customers'! Call or text me at 570-630-0326
Professional Window Cleaning in Honesdale, Carbondale, and Scranton
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The Competition- Friends or Foes?

Are There Window Cleaning 'Turf Wars' in Scranton, PA

Losing Accounts Happens

Very few people involved in a service or sales business enjoy the luxury of having no competition.

For those who may have cruised through the years with very little competition, they'll likely find out over time that someone is catching enough attention from their target market to make them take notice as well. Yes, all of us who are professional window cleaners, or professional anything for that matter, can get protective of what currently belongs to us. I'm not aware of any turf wars in Scranton, at least not in the service field! For sure, it's never pleasant to find out you lost an account to another company. Does that make the window cleaners who are now servicing what you had 'thieves'? Did they steal your account? Some may see it that way, but since we likely don't have a legal right to the account, we either lost it because of a real or perceived deficiency from the standpoint of the business manager or because our competition convinced the manager to make the switch. So does that make this company a foe?

Knowing Your Competition Is Not a Bad Thing

How does one deal with the potential of losing market share or having to work harder to maintain the desired customer base? 
There are many different ways business owners react to competition. They range from hatred and outright hostility to striking up a conversation, talking shop, passing along leads, and networking. It all comes down to how you view others who offer the same or similar goods/services as you. Do they pose a true threat to your livelihood or just to your ego? Or are they potential peers that you can coexist with and develop a mutually beneficial relationship with? I've been the recipient of treatment toward both ends of the spectrum. I've found that worrying and stewing over ill-treatment or someone 'invading your turf' (as if anyone owns the 'turf') is a waste of time and energy.
Here's my take. I do agree that there is plenty of work to go around for everyone. In my main service offering, which is window cleaning in Carbondale, Scranton, and surrounding towns, there are different types of customers. I'd like good ones of course, but I realize that I need to focus on how good I am or how good I present myself to those that I'd like to have as customers. Oft-quoted Jim Rohn said "Don't wish it were easier. Wish you were better." I try not to worry about who has what account and how much he's charging. I endeavor to move forward and stay ahead of the curve. I like to be real good at a few things: window cleaning, power washing, and roof cleaning,  and leverage my time in one location by offering multiple services. And as long as I believe that other companies are running things legally and offer a good level of customer service and also don't want to cut me down, I'm fine with being friends and networking where it is plausible. 

At Dan Wagner Window Cleaning, we keep on keeping on. And we get along with just about all of our colleagues! 

Call or text us at 5706300326  You'll like what you see!

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What's Included in Window Cleaning Prices

What goes into residential window cleaning pricing?

Some may assume that the price of a service, the end product brought to their door, simply includes parts and labor, so to speak.
While that is part of the story, there is a whole lot more involved in the prices that professional cleaning companies- window cleaning included- quote a homeowner or business owner. Here are some factors beyond simply performing the function of window cleaning that make up professional pricing:

  Quality results call for quality tools. Someone with enough time and determination can do a great job with a store-bought cleaning spray and paper towels, but more appropriate tools save time and energy.
 Vehicles, whether modest or flashy need to get a contractor who provides all necessary equipment where he needs to be on a consistent basis. This requires maintenance and good 'ol fuel and oil.
 Is the assurance that you will have the owner or well-trained employees at your property important to you? It costs money to operate a business legally and conscientiously. Insurance to protect your property from damage caused by accidents, taxes, and expenses associated with operating 'above-table', advertising, pleasant attire for those who are working in public or your precious home- these all incur an expense, month after month, year after year.
Also included is enough profit for the business owner to continue providing good service and retaining a good staff, and also having reason to stay in the window cleaning business!

So, when you are looking for a window cleaner near Honesdale, Scranton, Carbondale, Lake Ariel, or the like please remember that peace of mind and a superb choice carry some cost, but the experience is worth it.

Dan Wagner Window Cleaning brings you the complete package!  Call or text us at 5706300326                                                              
                                               Project from September 2013- Honesdale, PA

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What's Included in Window Cleaning?

What is included in window cleaning? This is a question that may have as many answers as respondents.
And I've found, as a professional window cleaner in the Scranton area since 1986, that what my customers expect varies to the point where I am wise to explain beforehand what my standard service includes.
Among residential window cleaning contractors, I find from speaking and connecting online with them, that some focus mainly on the glass itself, and a good cleaning of frames, sills, and screens demands an extra charge. This can be a good customer option for the budget-conscious or downright confusing and disappointing to others. Again, it all depends on what each customer wants or expects. Other companies include more of the window area as standard service and charge extra for screen cleaning, or just include screens along with everything else.

Pros and Cons of Selected Services                                                                                                            It is a smart strategy to compare the advantage of saving money with an 'a la carte' window cleaning order with saving time and potential frustration by getting the whole spectrum of luxury window cleaning. You may potentially cut your costs considerably by getting glass cleaning only. This would be where you pay extra for sills, frames, and screens to be cleaned. Still, these 'upcharges' as some companies define them, may be quite reasonable in the big picture. Something to think about is how you will feel if you know the glass is perfectly cleaned,  but the screens are dirty enough that you still are not getting the clear view you had hoped for. Or what about when you open your windows and there are spiders, grime, and dirt in the openings? If this is something you don't mind handling yourself, you've saved yourself some money! If you know you won't or really can't take the time to do it, the 'full service' is probably the best option.                                                                                                         My company decision, after many years of cleaning windows for residential clients, is to provide all features listed above as my standard offering. I feel that I want a lasting reputation for homeowners and their visitors to be a contractor who leaves things looking amazing automatically.

If you'd like all-in-one pricing for window cleaning in Honesdale, Hawley, Carbondale, Scranton, or anywhere nearby call or text us!     570-630-0326

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Does Personal Appearance Really Matter?

The times are changing

We are now well into the 21st century and there is greater diversity in personal appearance almost everywhere every year. So when I ask the question "does personal appearance really matter?" I know I need to be specific: does it matter period? Does it matter to me? Does it matter to the people I clean windows and provide other services for?

Of course, I have my personal opinions. However, in this installation, I am most concerned with both the deepest impressions that are left upon my customers and the way I or any employees that I may have fit into the 'culture' I endeavor to bring to residential and storefront doors. 

Business owners need to care about their team's appearance

I really liked this post from a thread in a forum I often visit- Window Cleaning Resource "The customer sets the bar for acceptable appearance....." That really represents something I take seriously. And while I admittedly operate partly on assumptions of what my customers care about, I truly do believe that my target market appreciates neat, clean-cut, and conservative. Short of conducting a survey after the service, I think the true perceptions of my clients are reflected in their readiness to have me back again to walk from room to room in their homes to get to their windows, and their willingness to refer me to their friends. This is providing that the quality was top-notch. I guarantee quality and become very concerned when it comes into question.

So, I'll reveal this: I don't really think that neatly-groomed, uniformed service persons without tattoos and body piercings are necessarily more capable of providing quality results than those with less conservative appearances. However, I choose to present myself and my crew on the conservative side. I think over time it gives me a bit of an edge, even if it can't be put into words, over service companies with a more 'relaxed' approach.

If you appreciate traditional-looking workers on your property along with superior quality, check us out- Window Cleaning in Honesdale, Scranton, and Carbondale

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