How To Reduce The Cost Of Commercial Window Cleaning
In the recession, many organisations are looking for ways to reduce their overheads. This applies to Facilities Managers, Private School Bursars, Hotel Managers, Scheme Managers for Housing Associations and Site Managers.
One possible area for cost reductions is Window Cleaning. The obvious way to do this is to put your window cleaning out to tender. If you select three or four other companies to quote, you can ensure that you’re paying no more than market rate for the work done.
This process will be extremely time consuming and you are probably happy with your existing window cleaner. If this is the case, what else can you do? Here are some suggestions:
Frequency – How regularly do you need your windows cleaning? Do you need them to be cleaned every month? It is worth thinking about whether the overall frequency can be adjusted. Missing out a couple of months, for example during popular holiday periods such as during the summer and around Christmas, could reduce your bill by 15%. If you are looking for bigger savings, consider stretching the interval to every six weeks rather than monthly and you could be saving 25%.
Prioritise – This of course, depends on the type of property you have and its usage. You may feel that it is not appropriate to reduce the frequency, because you cannot risk damaging the impression you create for visitors or customers, or those that use the building. If this applies to you, look carefully at which parts of the building are most important. Some windows or glass areas will be more important from a stakeholder perspective than others. You might be able to reduce the frequency of the less significant areas.
External vs internal windows – In some establishments, the inside of windows are cleaned as often as the outside. Since they are subjected much less to the elements, this may not be necessary. Internal windows could be washed half as often as external windows. In some office environments, you may even be able to do less than this. And remember the option of prioritising, when it comes to cleaning internal windows just as you would with external windows.
Access methods – Not all window cleaners charge the same rates for using different types of access equipment. It is worth getting your window cleaning contractor to break down their quote as much as possible for different parts of the building. If your contractor is charging different rates for different types of access equipment, then consider carefully whether the more expensive methods are necessary. If they are, then look at whether it is possible to reduce the frequency of cleaning for the more expensive areas.
Itemised costing – What you want to have is a proactive dialogue with your current contractor about cost reductions. To do this you will need detailed knowledge of how their prices have been calculated. Ask them to give you an itemised breakdown showing: each section of the property; internal vs external windows; difficult to access windows. Armed with this breakdown you can review the building looking at cost reduction opportunities.
