Before you sign, ask exactly what is included, how high they can reach on your building, how often they will come, what they need from you, how they invoice and what happens if a clean is missed or the weather stops play.
The questions
Why a site survey matters
A quote given over the phone is a guess. A cleaner who walks round your building can see the height, count the panes, check access and spot anything that needs care, like old glass, film or fragile canopies. It is also the best way to judge whether they understand commercial work.
After the survey you should get a written quote with a fixed price per visit and a list of what is included. If two quotes are very different, compare the scopes before the prices.
Red flags to watch for
Be wary of a quote that does not say what is included, a cleaner who will not visit the site first, or pressure to sign a long contract straight away. Ask how they reach your upper windows. If the answer involves ladders on a building where a water-fed pole would do, ask why.
What a good answer sounds like
A good commercial window cleaner will answer most of these questions before you ask them. They will want to see the site, tell you plainly what they can and cannot reach, suggest a frequency based on your building rather than their round, and put it all in writing. They will give you a direct number and tell you how they handle missed cleans. If you get vague answers to simple questions, such as how high they can reach or what is included, keep looking.
1. What exactly is included?
Glass only, or frames and sills too? Inside glass? Signs and canopies? Get it written down.
2. How high can you reach on this building?
Not “in general”. A good cleaner will walk the site and tell you which windows they can and cannot reach.
3. How often, and on what day?
A fixed frequency and roughly the same day each time makes the service easy to check.
4. What do you need from us?
Parking, access to rear elevations, a key to a gate, sign-in at reception, time restrictions.
5. How do you invoice?
After each clean or monthly? Made out to which company? One invoice per site?
6. What happens if it rains or a clean is missed?
Light rain is usually fine for pure water cleaning. Ask how they rebook if the weather or access stops a visit.
7. Who do we call if there is a problem?
You want a direct number, not a general inbox.
8. What paperwork can you provide?
If your landlord, insurer or facilities team needs anything in writing, ask on day one.
Quick questions
Should I sign a long contract?
You do not need to. A fixed schedule that either side can change with notice is common for smaller sites.
Is the cheapest quote the best?
Only if it covers the same scope. Compare what is included, not just the price.
