Estimate Questions…

The results are in and the relaunch of The Customer Factor has been a huge success!! Window cleaners are jumping on board and already benefiting from this software. Feedback is also coming in which is always welcome. This is how the program will grow and get even better.  And now let's get into a blog post….

Good evening, Steve,

I recently purchased your window washing package on how to start a window washing business and should have the necessary capital to get going in just the next week or so.  I had a few questions before I got rolling that I was hoping you might be able to help with.
 
1.  When you go out (typically on Fridays) to do your estimates, do you then go home put together the estimate, and return once again?  I wasn't too sure because in your manual you said you would go to do the estimate and they wouldn't have to be there, but then you'd personalize it and present it to them.  Did you accomplish all of that in one day when you had multiple estimates? 
 
2.  When toweling the window on the outside you are just wiping the frame and not the actual window itself; or are you getting the water that may have pulled up in the corner of the window where the frame/muntins meet?
 
3.  Do you have a specific preference for Ettore over Unger or do you find them comparable or one superior to the other - or does it even really matter that much?
  
Thanks in advance for your time!

Michael

My response:

Hi Michael:

Good to hear from you.

1.  What I generally did was do my estimating friday as I mention in manual, but they would be from callers who called me on other days of the week.  So if mrs. jones called me on monday for example, I'd set up an appointment with her on friday to do her estimate because that's when I preferred to do my estimating.  Now if I had no choice or felt she might bail and use someone else, then I might try and slide in to do her estimate sooner.  But I really did focus all my energies on estimating on fridays. 

So to answer your question, no I didn't return again after going home and putting together the estimates.  I did all my estimate prep work thursday night from callers who called during the week.  So friday morning when I hit the road I had my 12 to 15 personalized estimate packages all put together.

Again though…keep in mind that sometimes it didn't work that cleanly.  Sometimes a prospect would stop me at the store (after seeing my magnetic signs) or ask for an estimate when I'm doing their neighbor's home, etc etc.  So I always carried spare estimate packages (not personalized) with me that I could present on the spot if I needed to.

2.  Right…I'm toweling the frame around the outside and not the window. But if you have muntins,  then water will collect in there so you have to absorb that water also.  So it is really more than doing just the frames.  Usually if they're regular double hung windows, most of the time just wiping the frames will do the trick.  But if there are multiple muntins, then you have to wipe the frames, corners of muntins/frames, etc.  Needless to say doing windows with muntins can be time consuming due to this excess towelling that is needed.  Did that answer your question though?

3.  I didn't have any preference on rubber.  Rubber was rubber to me.  Some folks have told me they have their preferences, but frankly, I couldn't tell much difference.  With the right window washing solution, proper squeegee pressure, and the right window cleaning technique, the rubber will do a great job cleaning up and making the window shine.

If you have any more questions michael, please let me know. Take care for now.

Regards,

Steve  
256-546-2446