Why You Shouldn’t Ignore Office Windows
Dirty windows are a threat to your business in a myriad of ways. Sure, as a business owner you have priorities ranging from marketing your products and services, retaining and growing your workforce, to making plays to hit those profit targets. However, having dirty windows can be pulling you back. Let’s delve into how this happens.
- The eyesore
Right off the bat, soiled windows paint you in a negative light. When customers are accessing your business premises, the windows will be some of the first things that they see, and their state will affect the kind of opinion that is formed about your establishment. You want them to trust your claim to professionalism, but that will be difficult when they see the environment in which the products and services are provided in is a dilapidated state. As is commonly stated, “Image is everything”. You want to impress your customers, not have them doubting what you have to offer, thus the need of regular building maintenance, which is inclusive of thorough window cleaning to maintain the curb appeal.
Windows covered in grime also affect the perception that your employees have about the business. Sure, they report to work daily, but how does the environment affect their morale? The workplace is essentially their second home, given the loads of hours spent in it every day. They won’t exactly be excited about showing up to a dirty workplace, and may even shy away from identifying with the business while out there. These are not factors that you want to find yourself being worried about – hence the need to ensure that the working environment has been properly maintained.
- Corrosive effects
While modern windows have been constructed using sturdy materials, they’re still under threat of chemical attack, especially when they are not properly maintained. Buildings in urban areas are more susceptible to this, due to the combined effect of acid rain, pollution, and the grime that has been building up on the windows. Structures with wooden frames and older glassing have a higher vulnerability to the effect. With the modem windows, allowing the grime to accumulate on the frames and sills will increase the chances of the windows getting damaged – and repairs are costly. These can eat into the profitability of the business, a situation that would have been avoided had regular window cleaning been carried out.
- Lighting costs
As more layers of dirt cover the glass panes, it translates to less natural light making its way into the rooms. This is one of the reasons why you find workspaces relying on artificial light even in the middle of the day. Sure, there are salutations that call for it especially depending on the design of the building and windows. However, if there is the opportunity to cut your costs by simply allowing for more natural light into the building, then you should maximise on it, not letting the dirt that is on the windows come in the way of this.
- Image
The state of the building exteriors is part of the factors that determine the kind of impression that persons coming over have about the brand. This cuts across the board, from the sidewalks, signage, windows to the cladding. You want customers coming over to have confidence in your products and services, not doubt you due to finding the place being poorly kempt. First impressions really matter, and you want to portray yourself in a positive light.
Remember that the condition of your premises also affects your neighbours – be it residential or commercial establishments. You don’t want to clash with your neighbours because of the grime that is casting a negative light on the region. This ranges from residents who simply want to have an appealing area for their homes, that realtor next door looking to attract tenants or buyers into the property whose business would actually be hit by the surrounding buildings not being well maintained, to businesses whose footfall are affected by the image that they portray to the persons walking into the premises. Thus, ensuring that the different aspects of your curb appeal are tended to is key, including the window cleaning.
Professional Care For Your Windows
Getting your staff away from their workstations and telling them to work on the windows puts their safety as well as the structural integrity of the windows at risk. The higher the windows are, the higher the levels of risk involved, especially without the right training or gear to handle the installations. Then there is also the additional issue of improper cleaning measures being put in place, which ruin the state of the windows. After all, window cleaning is not just about sloshing a soapy solution on it and hosing it down with water. In fact, this will most likely lead to residue remaining on the window surface – which attracts more soiling, or streaks and smears that look unsightly. Your goal is to restore the windows to their pristine sparkling state, not wind up with spots on the glass panes. What of the equipment? Sourcing for the right window cleaning gear can put a dent in your business’ operating budget. The machinery that the professional window cleaning companies use are quite pricy, and they also need to be well maintained to continue functioning optimally. Why take on the extra costs when you could simply hire out the task to a quality window cleaning service, and avoid the frustrations involved?
Safety is a key issue as well. After all, with the high number of customers and employees up and about in the premises, you don’t want accidents occurring. This is why the window cleaning companies come with additional safety gear, including warning signage to alert persons on the premises on the areas that they should avoid while the cleaning is being carried out. The personnel themselves, having been trained on the different environments and windows, are able to work on them without putting the structures at risk. This is from the specific equipment used, to the formulations that come in especially when tackling stubborn grime. Their experience also allows them to spot aspects in the premises that are putting the windows at risk. Alerting you of this allows you to put in place the required remedial measures, that way you can avoid having to make costly repairs and replacements later on.
Window Cleaning – Ask These Before Hiring
Window cleaning is one of those jobs where going the DIY route can be costly. From the risks involved while climbing up and down ladders, the frustrations that come when the results are subpar, to cases of scratches when the wrong equipment is used for the process – it’s easy to see why hiring professionals for the task is much more popular. However, since the market is flooded with contractors offering the service, how do you sift them out, and find the right company for your situation? Here are some of the questions that you should ask:
- Are they licensed and insured?
At the bare minimum, you should be engaging with a company that has been licensed to carry out the task. Failing to have a licence is a red flag. The last thing you want is to invite frauds to your home or business and end up putting the premises and its occupants at risk.
With regards to the insurance, this is necessary to provide coverage in case of any accidents while on your property. Yes, professional window cleaning companies are required to put in place safety measures when carrying out the task, to protect your property and themselves from harm. However, the very nature of accidents is that they are unpredictable – even for the most experienced and well-equipped window cleaners. For this reason, they should have adequate insurance coverage to cater to the liabilities that would result in the event of an accident – from dealing with the healthcare bill in case of bodily harm, or fixing damages meted out to the property. Some companies choose to skip out the insurance in order to avoid paying premiums so that they can squeeze out more profit from the margins they make – but this puts you at risk. Ask for proof of the licence and insurance, including if they have worker’s compensation, before proceeding to hire them for the task.
- What kind of services are offered?
Sure, you want window cleaning – but what are the intricacies of the job? What kind of approaches and equipment will be used? From pure water window cleaning to power washing methods, companies have different modes of working on the windows, and you’ll need to get clarity on the measures that will be carried out, and any preparations that will be required on your part on the day the cleaning is carried out. For instance, some come with truck-mounted gear, so it’s preferred to get the parking space close to the building cleared on the day of the cleaning. The more detailed the company is, the more you can see what you’re getting out of the services you’re paying for.
Then there are the window cleaning services that offer additional services, such as gutter cleaning. You may be interested in the service to add to the building maintenance measures that will be carried out in the premises.
- Do they have references?
What of their current and previous customers have to say? A reliable window cleaning company should have a list of testimonials that you can follow up on to ask how their services were. This is in addition to the reviews on the directory listings like “Google My Business”.
- How long has the company been in business?
Generally, the longer that a company has been in operation and the broader the scope of services, the safer you will feel. This is not to discount for the start-ups. After all, each business needs to start somewhere. However, a business that has been in operation for years and remains profitable is a pointer that it’s successful in its jobs and can handle different working conditions. You can still go for the newer companies that are yet to prove themselves as much, but this comes with some more risk – and it will really be up to you to decide if you’re comfortable with it.
- What kinds of safety training is involved?
While accidents can happen to anyone, a company that takes proactive steps in training its staff on proper safety measures will be better equipped to deal with the situations as they occur. You want to be sure that the company that you’re hiring for the window cleaning job is serious about the safety of both their personnel and your property. This will minimise the chances of unfortunate incidents occurring. So, ask the company representative to walk you through the measures that they take to keep your premises and their employees safe. In fact, a company that prioritises this will welcome that conversation.
- What about background checks on the window cleaning personnel?
Since you’re letting them onto your property, you want to be sure that you can trust them. Bringing strangers into your home is a big deal, one where security shouldn’t be taken lightly. You want your family to feel safe with the window cleaning crew being sent to carry out the task. You don’t want a situation where the staff who come over become a security risk. Ask such, speak with the cleaning company about the background checks that they do on their crew. This will help in easing your mind.
- Timing – When are they ready to come over?
A forewarning here – professional window cleaning companies usually have busy schedules, with all the residential and commercial clients who have booked their services. However, this does not mean they are inflexible. Ask them when they can start, working with a schedule that suits your particular situation. Most also leave some room for emergency window cleaning services. Basically, the goal here is checking to see if there will be a suitable schedule in which you can have your windows worked on at a time that will be convenient for you.
