How to choose a great window cleaner.

I’ve been in the window cleaning business since I was 17.  I worked for two different companies before I started my business.  During that time I learned a lot about the trade.  I also learned that the term “window cleaner” is not a one-size-fits-all job description.

There are actually lots of different kinds of window cleaners.  Some focus on commercial work like store fronts and restaurants.  Others do primarily residential work.  There are high-rise window cleaners and those who never set foot on a ladder.  Some, like Lake State Cleaning, specialize in post-construction window cleaning.  Others won’t touch a construction project.  Some window cleaners do a little of everything.

When you look at each of these categories you’ll find varying degrees of quality.  Some window cleaners try to work quickly and cheaply.  They may offer a low price, but often the quality of the work suffers.  Trying to do a job as cheaply as possible puts a window cleaner in the position of having to cut corners to make a profit.  Is that what you want out of a service contractor?

When you shop for a car or a computer or anything else, what are you looking for?  Something of quality at a reasonable price.  That’s called “value”.  Your window cleaning contractor should offer value, too.

A great window cleaner will put quality of work first.  My philosophy, and the one I stress to my workers, is one that centers on attention to detail.  We strive every day to be great window cleaners.  We try to offer value to our customers by providing high-quality service at a reasonable price.  We add value to the customer by offering multiple services like pressure washing and gutter cleaning.  We also add value by looking for potential issues and informing the customer.  We look to form a long-term relationship with each customer.

These are the kinds of things that separate an average window cleaning company from a great one.  Anybody can scrub and squeegee a window.  A great window cleaner will do that, but he will also add value to his service, show concern for the customer’s needs, and take extraordinary pride in his work.