If you've never had to choose a window cleaning contractor before, what are the steps that you should take? In many organisations there are formal p...
If you’ve never had to choose a window cleaning contractor before, what are the steps that you should take? In many organisations there are formal procedures already in place for this type of contract. If there are no procedures in place already, then here’s a checklist you can use:
Think About Your Requirements
Think About What You Require
Since access is the key factor affecting costs, think about this in particular. Can a contractor gain access to all parts? Is access going to be from the bottom or the top? What access methods might be suitable? (See Access Methods in section three).
If the contractor will be operating from the ground, working up, they will need access to all elevations. If the building is more than five levels high you may need a cherry picker, so you’ll need access to a road around the building clear of trees and overhead cables.
If they’ll be cleaning from the top down… You’ll need to check. Has the building got a flat roof? Is there access to the roof? Do you have a metal framework for attaching rope access instruments? This should be pre-tested before anyone makes use of it.
Make Up A Shortlist
At this moment it is worth creating a list of around 10 companies. Where should you go to find a list of possible companies? Speak to any contacts you have who are in similar roles in other similar buildings and ask them for recommendations Do a search on Yahoo for Commercial Window Cleaners Visit the Federation for Window Cleaners website ‘Find a Window Cleaner’ section at www.nfmwgc.com/find_wndowcleaner.htm Check your files for details of any companies that have contacted you (they have shown interest and have made the effort to provide you with some information)
If you are responsible for buying make sure you look at Marcus P Weeks excellent free of charge publication called ‘Everything you need to know about buying all window cleaner services’ or visit the MPW website
You are sitting in a large very tall building, someone has instructed you to get the windows cleaned! Where do you start? Are you situated amongst many other similar sized buildings? Ask them who thy use and ask if they’re happy. If not, then as always the answer will be a click away on the ever dependable Internet.
Type in Commercial high rise window cleaner along with the name of your city or location. You will usually find the best service providers will have the best and most professional looking websites. I say this because you will get untold companies getting themselves on say page one of Google through computer know how and not investing in a quality website, which denotes effort and a will to be successful by doing things correctly, which in turn one would have thought would be a general reflection on how they conduct their business.
I would select three or four companies, this is not as time consuming as you think because it will be the potential contractor that will putting in most of the spade work. When you have made your choice, call each company and give them a little bit of information about your requirements, for example the size of your building, how many floors, whether you had in mind external clean outside only, both sides, internal partitioning, special attention to the reception area, managing directors office, boardroom etc what sort of frequency you initially had in mind. This is something that you can both discuss at a later stage. A decent contractor will recommend a reasonable frequency, one that will be designed to suit your company and image requirements and not to get as much money out of you as possible. Ask them for feed back, you can usually get a positive feeling for the type of person or company your dealing with this initial chat. Remember, you have not commited to anything so try and get as much information as possible, this could save you a lot of time further on.
Ask how they treat Health and Safety, you can usually get a good idea from the type of response you receive. A company with an excellent Health and Safety record will be very vocal about this. You will then be looking to arrange for site visits. Now in my experience, this is the the most crucial part of the arrangement. From a contractors point of view, he cannot have enough information, especially if we are talking about a very large building. I know you don’t want to be spending lots of your valueble time on this but believe this is where you can save so much time by being precise in your instruction and requirements making sure your potential contractor has as much useful information as he needs. A real big aid is a computer graphic of all the elevations of the building or photos if this is possible, I know this is not always the case, I am just saying this makes everyone’s life so much easier. You can both refer to it at any stage and it’s there in black and white. Even an architects drawing, providing it has the windows included is just as useful.
Finally, all that remains is for the contractor to provide you with a price, comprehensive method statement and risk assessment and for you both to agree on frequency, terms and conditions and put a contract in place. Please be aware that if you agree to pay earlier you could be intitled to a discount. This is something I like to offer as cashflow is key. After all, if your contractor is offering you a top rate service and is doing everything in the timescale you have agreed then by paying on time or a little earlier could benefit both parties.
If you are responsible for purchasing make sure you peruse Marcus P Weeks excellent free leaflet called ‘Everything you need to know about buying allwindow cleaner services’ or visit the
You are sitting in a very large tall building, someone has instructed you to get the windows cleaned! Where do you start? Are you situated amongst several other similar sized buildings? Ask them who thy use and ask if they’re happy. If not, then as always the answer will be a click away on the ever dependable Internet.
Type in Commercial high rise window cleaner along with the name of your city or location. You will usually find the best service providers will have the best and most professional looking websites. I say this because you will get numerous companies getting themselves on say page one of Google through computer know how and not investing in a quality website, which denotes effort and a will to be successful by doing things correctly, which in turn one would have thought would be a general reflection on how they conduct their business.
If I were you, I would choose three or four companies, this is not as time consuming as you think because it will be the potential contractor that will putting in most of the spade work. When you have made your choice, call each company and give them a little bit of information about your requirements, for example the size of your building, how many floors, whether you had in mind external clean outside only, both sides, internal partitioning, special attention to the reception area, managing directors office, boardroom etc what sort of frequency you initially had in mind. This is something that you can both discuss at a later stage. A decent contractor will recommend a reasonable frequency, one that will be designed to suit your company and image requirements and not to get as much money out of you as possible.
Ask them for feed back, you can usually get a positive feeling for the type of person or company your dealing with this initial talk. Remember, you have not commited to anything so try and get as much information as possible, this could save you a lot of time further on. Ask how they treat Health and Safety, you can usually get a good idea from the type of response you receive. A company with an excellent Health and Safety record will be very vocal about this. You will then be looking to arrange for site visits. Now in my experience, this is the the most crucial part of the arrangement. From a contractors point of view, he cannot have enough information, especially if we are talking about a very large building. I know you don’t want to be spending lots of your valueble time on this but believe this is where you can save so much time by being precise in your instruction and requirements making sure your potential contractor has as much useful information as he needs. A real big aid is a computer graphic of all the elevations of the building or photos if this is possible, I know this is not always the case, I am just saying this makes everyone’s life so much easier. You can both refer to it at any stage and it’s there in black and white. Even an architects drawing, providing it has the windows included is just as useful.
Finally, all that remains is for your contractor to provide you with a price, comprehensive method statement and risk assessment and for you both to agree on frequency and terms and put a contract in place. Please be aware that if you agree to pay earlier you could be intitled to a discount. This is something I like to offer as cashflow is key. After all, if your contractor is offering you a top rate service and is doing everything in the timescale you have agreed then by paying on time or a little earlier could benefit both parties.
If you are responsible for buying make sure you look at Marcus P Weeks great free leaflet called ‘Everything you need to know about buying commercial window cleaner services’ or visit the
So what should you expect from your window cleaning contractor? Much will depend of course on the nature of your building and the constraints you’re under financially. The usage of the building can also play a large part in the extent to which you need your contractor to perform. To aid and assist you assess your current or potential contractor(s), here’s a checklist of the sort of standards you should consider to see if they are appropriate to your requirements:
Communication: Are all aspects of their business geared to providing you with the information you need, when you need it? Is that communication at the standard you would hope for? Publicity (literature, website etc.). Does it tell you clearly and professionally what you need to know? In particular, what sets them apart from other contractors? This is important, as companies that do this well, usually understand the importance of thinking about client needs, demonstrate their professionalism and are more likely to provide a good service. Proposals. Are they comprehensive? Do they include a clear statement of your organisation’s needs? Do they confirm contact details for those involved in the contract? Do they properly break down the cost, so you can see how it is derived? A good site assessment should cover the following topics: Access methods Timescales (how long will it take) Health & Safety Risk Assessment Method statement Summary of customer requirements Frequency of cleaning for each area A window plan – an elevation drawing showing what needs to be done Detailed costs COSHH report Staffing list Contact details (regular and emergency) Guarantees Complaints procedure Review policy
A really thorough proposal is a sign of a well-organised business that will be more likely to deliver on its promises. The cheapest price does not always mean the lowest cost. Invoicing. Is it detailed, timely and accurate? Availability. When you contact them, is the telephone answered promptly? Is there someone available to answer your questions? Do they call you back promptly or when they say they will? This all contributes to the cost of doing business with them. Resolving issues. When you raise a cause for concern, how do they react? Ideally, you want a company that takes responsibility, doesn’t get defensive and resolves issues quickly and satisfactorily. Do they send attendance sheets to show the work has been done?
If you would like a free assessment and proposal for your building, please call 08452 638910 or visit the MPW London Window Cleaners Limited website at www.mpwwindowcleaners.co.uk Why should you consider allowing MPW London Window Cleaners Ltd to provide you with a proposal? Are you one hundred per cent satisfied with your existing supplier’s quality, reliability and customer service? Would you like to benchmark their prices and service levels? Do you have any additional requirements and want to stop your existing supplier being complacent?
My company can offer you the following: Dependability: We turn up on the dot every time, without fail. Flexibility: We clean at specific times to suit you. Friendly staff: Who are fully trained, conscientious, courteous, considerate, punctual, smart and trustworthy. Capability: A range of cleaning which includes windows, framework, cladding and gutters on buildings of all shapes and sizes. A Property-friendly service: Using the proven “Reach & Wash” system which dispenses with ladders that can do so much damage to your property such as marking, chipping and scratching paintwork, cladding, gutters and damaging tiles and slates. A Fair price: We guarantee our prices for a minimum of THREE YEARS. This means no irritating annual increases and no artificially low first year prices just to win the business. Experience: You will be in good company. My company works with hundreds of commercial and public sector organisations such as: Morrison Supermarkets; ISS Mediclean; The Savoy Hotel, Panasonic, Fujitsu, Siemens, Odeon Cinema Complexes, the NHS Trust and Buckinghamshire County Council. Guarantee. When you select a window cleaning company, you want someone you can rely on. We are so confident in our service standards that we guarantee them, if youCall us on 08452 638910 for full details of our guarantees.
If you are responsible forbuyingmake sure youlook atMarcus P Weeks excellent free of charge leaflet called ‘Everything you need to know about buying allwindow cleaner services’ or visit the
If you are relatively new to the role of buying or managing window cleaning services then it might be useful for you to know in advance the sort of problems that might arise.
Being aware of the items listed below might enable you to think ahead about how you will handle them when they occur, or better still to have a dialogue with your window cleaning contractor to identify how they will handle them.
Window cleaners do not turn up on the agreed date(s) or time(s) Equipment failure (sometimes, but not always, caused by poor maintenance) Weather conditions preventing cleaning. This applies particularly to windy conditions where rope access is involved, but snow and ice can also be problematic.
Staff sickness. Bouts of flu/colds can hit any business, but the smaller the company, the more susceptible they are to having problems meeting schedules when members of staff are off sick
Quality problems. For many reasons, some windows may not be cleaned, or may be only partly cleaned, streaking and squeegee marks, bird lime, initial cleans with the ‘Reach & Wash’ system. The first couple of times Reach & Wash is used on buildings there may be some streaking and spotting on the windows. This is caused by detergent build up, even on new windows. After one or two cleans these are removed, and the problem disappears.
Damage to property. This could include Window sills/ledges (caused by heavy use of ladders or careless use of cherry pickers), Breeze Soleil, cladding (eg uPVC), guttering, TV aerials/satellite dishes/air conditioning, Latchway systems, roof tiles/slates, glass / windows (sometimes these are broken rather than cleaned!), cars/vehicles in car parks, flower beds (and other landscaping features), lawns/gardens, internal damage including desks, computers, water stains on carpets, items being moved and not put back or left in a mess, theft, accidents (to window cleaners and/or employees), to members of the public/visitors
If you are responsible for buying you shouldlook at Marcus P Weeks goodfree of charge leaflet called ‘Everything you need to know about buying all window cleaner services’ or visit the MPW website
As in most services, Health and Safety is an important issue when it comes to window cleaning. It may well be your responsibility to ensure that contractors on your site are working safely and complying with the relevant guidelines. Responsibility will certainly lay with the directors.
There is more information about these guidelines is available from the Health and Safety Executive and specifically at www.hse.gov.uk/falls/guidance.htm. “Each year more than 40 workers die following a fall from height and more than 3,000 are seriously injured. Reducing this unnecessary injury toll is a priority and Shattered Lives is the Health and Safety Executive’s latest campaign. Find out what happens when workers are put at risk and what you can do to stop falls from height in your workplace by visiting www.hse.gov.uk/shatteredlives” (c) HSE
“Every month over a thousand people suffer extremely serious injuries as a result of slips, trips or falls in the workplace. These shattering injuries can be avoided by sensible and proportionate management of the risks.” (c) Health and Safety Executive. For more information go to: Shattered Lives: www.hse.gov.uk/shatteredlives Make sure that you check carefully the safety record and procedures of any contractor you intend to use. Your contractor should provide you with a copy of their comprehensive Health … Safety Policy. This should be site specific to your requirements and not just a generic statement.
Cherry pickers / Hydraulic access platforms Definition: Wheeled-vehicle mounted hydraulic boom with a cage. Reason for use: Access from the ground up to thirty metres. Requirements: Sufficient space around the building and ground area strong enough to carry the weight. The operator will need confirmation of stress loading on the ground areas to be operated from. There needs to be a relatively clear approach ie no trees or cars parked adjacent to the building. Relatively even or flat terrain is also necessary. There should be no overhead cables for telephone or electricity. Always demand proof of qualification by asking for copies of certification etc to keep for your own records.
Latchways, Definition: A metal rope railway system on the roof attached to the building with solid mounts (mostly found on buildings built since 2004). There are two types: 1) Constant loading system – enabling abseiling. 2) Sudden impact system – not designed for constant loading, for example a fall. Designed for people working on the roof area. Reason for use: To access windows above flat roofed areas. Requirements: Systems need to be profesionally fitted to buildings and carry current test certification. People using it need to be latchway trained and certified.
If you are responsible for purchasing make sure you read Marcus P Weeks excellent free of charge leaflet called ‘Everything you need to know about buying all window cleaner services’ or visit the
Health and Safety is an important issue when it comes to window cleaning. It may well be your responsibility to ensure that contractors on your site are working safely and complying with the relevant guidelines. Responsibility will certainly lay with the directors.
More information about these guidelines is available from the Health … Safety Executive and specifically at www.hse.gov.uk/falls/guidance.htm. “Every year more than forty workers are fatally injured following a fall from height and more than three thousand are seriously injured.
Reducing this unnecessary injury toll is a priority and Shattered Lives is the HSE’s latest campaign. Find out what happens when workers are put at risk and what you can do to stop falls from height in your workplace by visiting www.hse.gov.uk/shatteredlives” (c) HSE “Every month over a thousand people suffer serious injuries as a result of slips, trips or falls in the workplace. These shattering injuries can be avoided by sensible and proportionate management of the risks.” (c) HSE For more information go to: Shattered Lives: www.hse.gov.uk/shatteredlives Make sure that you check carefully the safety record and procedures of any contractor you intend to use. Your contractor should provide you with a copy of their comprehensive Health … Safety Policy. This should be site specific to your requirements and not just a generic statement.
Abseiling: Definition: Rope access from the top of a building and working downwards. Reason for use: On buildings five plus storeys high that cannot be accessed by cherry pickers/platforms or cradles. Requirements: Access to a flat roof. Some form of fixed structure to which abseilers can attach themselves. Highly qualified and competant abseilers can test strength loadings before using fittings that are already in place and provide a certificate of conformity valid for six months. If no such fittings exist, abseilers can supply free-standing fittings. These are exceptionally heavy and need to be transported to the top of the building, ideally in a lift.
Please be aware that according to IRATA guidelines, abseilers should always work in teams of no less than two and no more than four of which one has to be of level THREE qualification. The rest of the team can be a combination of levels twos and or ones. Always demand proof of qualification by asking for copies of certification etc to keep for your own records.
If you are responsible for buying you shouldperuse Marcus P Weeks excellent free leaflet called ‘Everything you need to know about buying commercial window cleaner services’ or visit the
If you’ve never had to select a window cleaning contractor, what do you think are the steps that you should take? In many organisations there are formal procedures already in place for this type of contract. If there are not any procedures in place already, then here’s a special checklist you can use:
Think About Your Requirements
Think About What You Require
Since access is the key factor affecting costs, think about this in particular. Can a contractor gain access to all parts? Is access going to be from the bottom or the top? What access methods might be suitable? (See Access Methods in section three).
If the contractor will be operating from the ground, they will need access to all elevations. If the building is more than five storeys you may need a cherry picker, so you’ll need access to a road around the building clear of trees and overhead cables.
If they’ll be cleaning from the top down… Has the building got a flat roof? Is there access to the roof? Do you have a solid framework for attaching rope access tools? This should be pre-tested before anyone makes use of it.
Draw Up A Shortlist
At this stage it is worth creating a list of around 10 companies. Where should you go to find a list of possible companies? Speak to any contacts you have who are in similar roles in other similar buildings and ask them for recommendations Do a search on Yahoo for Commercial Window Cleaners Visit the Federation for Window Cleaners website ‘Find a Window Cleaner’ section at www.nfmwgc.com/find_wndowcleaner.htm Check your files for details of any companies that have contacted you (they have shown interest and have made the effort to provide you with some information)
If you are responsible for buying you shouldread Marcus P Weeks good free leaflet called ‘Everything you need to know about buying commercial window cleaner services’ or visit the MPW website
When you are negotiating with your window cleaning contractor, as the buyer, you are already in a powerful position. Having said that, there may be elements of their offer that you would like to improve.
There are many elements of the contract that will be particularly important for your contractor. If you can be flexible on some of these, you may find they will be happier to agree to the elements you would like to improve.
Payment terms: Since the amounts involved may be relatively small to a large corporate client, paying promptly can be a powerful tool. For most small companies cashflow is king. So if you can agree to pay in say 15 days, or at the very least pay on time, this will be a major incentive for your contractor to agree to your requirements.
Stability: Having a regular job and not having to re-quote for it every year can be very valuable to a contractor. Fixing a longer contract (subject to performance of course) can help to keep the cost down. Even another six months might be enough to shave a percentage point or two off the cost.
Timing for special work: If you have special, one-off jobs that need doing, but are not time critical, see if there is a time when your window cleaning contractor is less busy. These periods occur less frequently these days, but each contractor may have, because of their particular mix of clients, a time of year that is less busy than others. It stands to reason that they might be more flexible over pricing during this time.
Time is the key factor: Since labour cost is the most significant part of your window cleaning contractor’s costs, the time taken is the critical factor when it comes to pricing. Anything you can do to help them reduce the time taken to carry out the work will reduce the cost.
Here are some examples: Access to some areas may be difficult because of cars being parked in the car park. If those cars can be moved to another part of the site on the days the window cleaner is due, this might reduce the cost. Get the windows cleaned at a time of day when the car park is empty. Ensure that internal window sills are cleared. Provide pre-arranged access for secured areas of the building. A ridiculous amount of time can be wasted trying to locate someone to unlock a door or gate! Provide the mobile telephone number of the person responsible for signing off work (or opening secured areas) and ensure they can make themselves available promptly.
If you are responsible for purchasingdo not miss Marcus P Weeks good free of charge publication called ‘Everything you need to know about buying commercial window cleaner services or visit the .
I have written a book to help those involved with selecting and managing commercial window cleaning contractors.
I have been in the window cleaning business for more than 30 years and have run my own successful business for more than 25 of those years. We have cleaned windows at most types of commercial premises including high rise office blocks, factories, warehouses, supermarkets, hotels, universities, historic buildings, schools, hospitals and residential units.
During that time I have, as you would expect, learnt a huge amount about this business. I have come across some very professional people and, in truth, some rogues
I have worked closely with a wide range of people who have been responsible for managing window cleaning on their sites. Some have been more experienced and knowledgeable than others, but they have all shared broadly the same objectives, keeping windows clean, preserving the safety of their people and protecting their property, keeping personal input to a minimum, keeping costs reasonably low.
If, as I do, you expect a good job for a fair price, then this booklet will help you to achieve all of these objectives.
So what should you expect from your window cleaning contractor? Much will depend of course on the nature of your building and the constraints you are under financially. The usage of the building can also play a large part in the amount to which you need your contractor to perform.
Communication. Are all aspects of their business geared to providing you with the information you need, when you need it? Is that communication to the standard you would hope for?
A really thorough proposal is an indication of a well organised business that will be more likely to deliver on its promises. The cheapest price does not always mean the lowest cost.
If you are responsible for buying all window cleaning you should read Marcus P Weeks excellent free leaflet called ‘Everything you need to know about buying services’ or visit the
