⚔️ Module 1 of 7
"We Already Have a Guy" — The #1 Objection ⚔️
In premium neighbourhoods, 30-40% of homeowners already use a window cleaner. This is the objection you'll hear most. Master it and you unlock a massive chunk of the market.
⏱ 7 min⭐ 75 XP
🧠 Why This Objection Is Actually GOOD News
When someone says "we already have a guy," they're telling you:
- ✅ They already pay for window cleaning — no need to sell the concept
- ✅ They have budget allocated for this service
- ✅ They value clean windows enough to hire someone
You're not selling window cleaning to this person — you're selling switching to a better provider. That's often an easier sale than converting someone who's never paid for it.
📊
Industry stat: 25-35% of homeowners who "have a guy" are actually dissatisfied but haven't bothered finding someone new. You're the someone new showing up at their door.
🗣️ The 5 Responses That Work
1. The Comparison Play
"That's awesome — it's great you're already maintaining your windows. Out of curiosity, do they do interior and exterior, or just the outside? Do they get the tracks and screens too? ... Interesting. We do the full system — inside, outside, tracks, screens, and we check your gutters while we're up there. Want me to do a quick quote so you can compare? No pressure — just nice to have a benchmark."
Why it works: Most "guys" only do exterior. By asking questions, you reveal gaps in their current service without trash-talking the competitor. Then you position Mantle as the more complete option.
2. The Quality Check
"Nice! When was the last time they came by? ... [If it's been 6+ months] Ah okay, so it's been a while. I can see some mineral buildup starting on your second floor — that's the stuff that etches into glass if it sits too long. If you want, I can give you a quick quote for just the problem areas. That way your regular guy can maintain it and we handle the deep clean."
Why it works: You're not replacing their guy — you're supplementing. Less threatening. And once they see your quality, they'll switch.
3. The Price Anchor
"That's great. Mind if I ask what you typically pay? ... [Whatever they say] Okay, that's about average. We're usually competitive with that, sometimes less because we batch neighbourhoods. Want me to throw a number out? If it's less, you save money. If it's the same, at least you know you're getting a fair deal from your current guy."
Why it works: You frame the quote as a FREE price check. Everyone wants to know if they're overpaying. And if you come in lower — easy switch.
4. The Neighbour Chain
"Totally understand — loyalty is important. Just so you know, we just booked Mrs. Chen and Mr. Patel on this street. A few of your neighbours are switching over to us for the spring clean. If you ever want a second opinion or your guy can't make it, here's our card. We're at callmantle.ca."
Why it works: Social proof + no pressure. Planting the seed. When their current guy no-shows or does a bad job (and it happens), you'll be the card on their fridge.
5. The "I Respect That" Exit
"Hey I respect that — loyalty is rare these days. I won't try to steal you away. But just in case you ever need a backup or want to compare, I'll leave our info. We're local, insured, and we're on Google if you want to check our reviews. Have a great day!"
Why it works: Sometimes the best play is the graceful exit. You respected their loyalty (rare from salespeople), left your info, and mentioned reviews. They'll remember you.
🚫 What NOT to Do
- Never trash-talk the competitor. "Oh those guys suck" makes YOU look bad, not them. Even if they're terrible — let the homeowner figure that out
- Never say "but we're better." Instead, ask questions that let THEM realize you're better. "Do they do tracks? Screens? Interior? Gutters?"
- Never push after they've firmly said no twice. Leave the card, exit gracefully. Pushing = burning the door forever
- Never lie about your pricing. If their guy charges $200 and you charge $300, don't fake a lower price. Instead, justify the difference with your full-service offering
🎭 Scenario: "We've Used the Same Guy for 10 Years"
A woman in her 60s says warmly, "Oh that's sweet of you, but we've had Dave come for 10 years. He's great." She's not hostile — just loyal. What do you do?
A "10 years? He's probably gotten comfortable. We'd do a much better job."
B "That's amazing — loyalty like that is rare. Dave sounds great. I won't try to replace him, but just in case he's ever unavailable or you want a spring deep clean, here's our info. We're insured and local. Have a great day!"
C "Does Dave do interior, tracks, screens, and gutters? Because we do all of that for the same price."
✅ Module 1 Quiz
1. "We already have a guy" is actually good because:
It means they're price-shopping
They already spend money on window cleaning — you just need to be better
Their current guy probably does bad work
2. Best way to position against a competitor:
Ask questions that reveal gaps in their current service
Point out problems the competitor missed
Offer a lower price to undercut them
3. After a firm "no thanks, we're happy," you should:
Push harder — they might flip
Mention your lower price one more time
Respect their decision, leave your card, mention Google reviews, exit
🍂 Module 2 of 7
Seasonal Selling — Different Season, Different Pitch 🍂
The same homeowner needs different reasons to buy in April vs August vs October. Match your pitch to the season and close rates jump 20-30%.
⏱ 7 min⭐ 75 XP
🌸 Spring (April–May) — "Fresh Start" Pitch
Spring is your BEST season. Homeowners are emerging from winter, seeing their dirty windows for the first time in months, and in "clean up" mode.
"Hey! Now that winter's finally over, we're helping homeowners on this street get their windows cleaned up from all the salt, grime, and road spray that built up over the season. A lot of people don't realize how much damage winter deposits do to glass — the salt especially etches over time. We're booking spring cleans this week. Want me to take a quick look?"
Spring hooks:
- "Winter damage" — salt spray, road grime, ice residue. Sounds urgent and seasonal
- "Spring cleaning" — they're already in cleaning mode. Windows are the next logical step
- "Pollen season is coming" — clean now before pollen coats everything in May
- "Curb appeal for summer" — BBQs, parties, guests coming over. Nobody wants dirty windows
💰
Spring close rate: 20-25% (highest of the year). Homeowners are motivated, budgets are fresh, and the visible winter grime is your sales tool. This is when you make the most money.
☀️ Summer (June–August) — "Curb Appeal" Pitch
"I noticed your landscaping looks amazing — clearly you put a lot of work into your yard. But have you noticed the windows? They're kind of the last piece of the puzzle. Clean windows make the whole house pop. We're doing a few on this street this week."
Summer hooks:
- "Complete the look" — yard is perfect, windows let it down. Point at the contrast
- "More sunlight" — clean windows let 20-30% more natural light in. Rooms literally look brighter
- "BBQ/party season" — guests are coming. First impression is the house exterior
- "Before family visits" — summer = visitors, holidays, relatives staying over
Summer challenge: People are busy, on vacation, less in "maintenance mode." Close rate drops to 12-18%. Compensate by knocking MORE doors and focusing on Saturday mornings when people are home doing yard work.
🍁 Fall (September–October) — "Pre-Winter" Pitch
"Before winter hits, this is your last window to get your glass cleaned and protected. The mineral deposits and grime from summer actually accelerate damage when they freeze. We're doing pre-winter cleans on this street — want me to add you to the list?"
Fall hooks:
- "Last chance before winter" — creates urgency. Once snow hits, nobody's cleaning windows for 5 months
- "Freeze damage prevention" — grime + freezing = etching. Real science, real urgency
- "Gutter season" — leaves are falling. Bundle windows + gutter cleaning. The #1 upsell of the year
- "Holiday prep" — Thanksgiving, Christmas. Clean windows + holiday lights = premium home
🍂
Fall secret weapon: "We also do gutter cleaning — your gutters are probably full of leaves right now. Want me to check while I'm quoting the windows?" Fall gutter + window bundles average $450-600. Your commission: $25 + $67-90 = $92-115 per door.
❄️ Pre-Winter (November) — "Holiday Lights" Upsell
"We're doing last-call window cleans before everything freezes. And if you're thinking about holiday lights this year — we install those too. A lot of people bundle: clean windows, clean gutters, and lights all in one visit. Want me to quote the package?"
November is your shortest but most profitable month per job. Average ticket with lights + gutters + windows: $800-1,500 per home.
📅 The Seasonal Calendar
- April: Launch hard. "Spring clean" pitch. Knock 50+ doors/day. This is your money month
- May: Pollen angle. Start recurring schedule pitch. Book summer appointments
- June-July: Curb appeal. Saturday mornings are gold. Volume game
- August: "Back to school" energy. Families prepping for fall. Pre-book September
- September: Pre-winter urgency begins. Gutter upsell season starts
- October: Peak gutter month. Windows + gutters bundle is your highest-ticket combo
- November: Holiday lights + last-call cleans. Highest per-job revenue
✅ Module 2 Quiz
1. Which season has the highest close rate?
Spring (April-May)
Summer (June-August)
Fall (September-October)
2. The best season for gutter upsells is:
Spring — everything's melting
Summer — gutters dry out
Fall — leaves are falling, pre-winter urgency
3. The fall pitch works because:
People have more money in fall
Triple urgency: last chance, freeze damage, gutter leaves
Fall weather is better for knocking
🔔 Module 3 of 7
Ring Doorbells & No-Answers — The 50% You're Ignoring 🔔
Half or more of your knocks get no answer. And 30%+ of doors have smart doorbells watching you before you knock. Here's how to handle both.
⏱ 6 min⭐ 75 XP
📹 The Ring/Nest Doorbell Strategy
In premium GTA neighbourhoods, 30-50% of homes have video doorbells. The homeowner is watching you approach before you knock. Your sale starts in their driveway.
Before you press the button:
- Look professional from 20 feet away. Branded polo visible. Clipboard in hand. Walking with purpose — not skulking
- Smile at the camera. Not a creepy grin — a natural, warm smile. You know they're watching
- Don't stare into the camera. Glance at it naturally, then look at the windows. This shows you're actually here about the house, not just pressing buttons
When they answer through the speaker (not in person):
"Hey! I'm [Name] from Mantle Home Services — we're doing some work on the street today. I noticed your second-floor windows have some buildup I wanted to point out. Are you around for 30 seconds? I can show you from out here."
Key adjustments for Ring conversations:
- Speak louder and clearer — mic quality is often poor. Enunciate
- Keep it under 20 seconds. They're watching on their phone — attention span is even shorter than at the door
- Point at the problem. They can SEE you on camera. Point directly at the dirty windows. Visual proof
- Ask them to come out: "I can show you from right here" is better than pitching through a speaker
💡 If they say "just leave your info": Place a door hanger prominently on the door handle (they'll see you do it on camera). Say "I'll leave our card right here — callmantle.ca if you want to check us out. Have a great day!" and move on. Professional, not pushy.
🚪 No-Answer Strategy (The Forgotten 50%)
Out of 50 doors, 25-30 won't answer. Most reps just leave. That's 50% of your territory WASTED. Here's how to capture it:
Step 1: Leave a Door Hanger (always)
Every single no-answer gets a hanger. This is non-negotiable. Hang it on the door handle — not in the mail slot, not on the ground. Visible placement.
Step 2: Note the Time
In CRM, log the address and time. If nobody's home at 2 PM on Tuesday, they're probably at work. Come back at 5-6 PM.
Step 3: The "Second Pass" Strategy
Do your first pass in the early afternoon (1-4 PM). Then do a SECOND pass of no-answers between 5-7 PM when people are home from work. This second pass often converts at 2x the rate because:
- They already have your door hanger (awareness)
- They may have looked at your website
- You can say: "Hi! We stopped by earlier — I left a hanger. I noticed your windows have some buildup and wanted to catch you in person."
Step 4: The Callback System
Write the address + "no answer x1" or "no answer x2" in CRM. After 3 no-answers, drop the lead. Two visits + a hanger is enough — more than that looks stalky.
📊
Data: Door hangers convert at 1-3% — meaning for every 100 hangers left, 1-3 people will call or visit your website. That sounds low, but 100 hangers = 2-3 inbound leads = potential $600-900 in revenue. For the 30 seconds it takes to hang each one, that's incredible ROI.
📝 The Perfect Door Hanger Message
Your hanger should communicate in 3 seconds (most people glance, not read):
- WHO: Mantle Home Services (logo, professional)
- WHAT: "We noticed your windows could use a professional clean"
- WHY NOW: "Spring special: 10% off this week"
- HOW: Phone number + website (callmantle.ca)
That's it. No paragraphs. No price lists. Get them to call or visit the website — that's the hanger's ONLY job.
🎭 Scenario: Ring Doorbell Talk
You press the Ring doorbell. After 10 seconds, a man's voice comes through the speaker: "Yeah?" He sounds busy/distracted. You have maybe 15 seconds of his attention. What do you say?
A Full pitch: company name, services, pricing, neighbourhood discount...
B "Hey! [Name] from Mantle — we're on your street today. Your second-floor windows have some heavy buildup I wanted to point out. Got 30 seconds? I can show you from right here." [Point at windows]
C "Hi sir, sorry to bother you. We're a window cleaning company. Would you be interested in getting your windows done?"
✅ Module 3 Quiz
1. When approaching a Ring doorbell, you should:
Cover the camera so they can't pre-judge you
Smile naturally, look professional, point at the windows (not the camera)
Wave at the camera and wait for them to come out
2. No answer at 2 PM. Best strategy:
Come back at 5-7 PM for a second pass
Leave a hanger and never come back
Knock harder next time
3. Door hangers are worth leaving because:
People read every word on them
They replace the need to come back
1-3% convert to calls/website visits — great ROI for 30 seconds of effort
🏢 Module 4 of 7
B2B Leads — Realtors, Property Managers & Businesses 🏢
Residential D2D is great. But B2B relationships create $5,000-20,000/year in recurring contracts with a single handshake.
⏱ 6 min⭐ 75 XP
🏠 Realtors — Your Best B2B Lead
Real estate agents in the GTA spend $500-2,000 per listing on staging and prep. Clean windows are part of that. One realtor relationship = 5-15 jobs per year.
How to find them:
- Every "For Sale" sign has the realtor's name and number. Text them.
- Open houses — walk in, introduce yourself, leave cards
- Real estate offices (Royal LePage, RE/MAX, Keller Williams) — drop off cards at the front desk
- Facebook groups: "Toronto Real Estate Agents" — offer a realtor-only rate
The realtor pitch (text or in person):
"Hi [Name]! I'm [You] from Mantle Home Services. We specialize in pre-listing window and exterior cleaning in [neighbourhood]. A lot of realtors use us to boost curb appeal before showings — clean windows photograph way better for MLS listings. We offer a realtor rate and same-week scheduling. Can I send you our pricing?"
Realtor math: Average realtor lists 6-12 homes/year. If they use you for 50% = 3-6 jobs × $300-500 = $900-3,000/year from ONE relationship.
🏗️ Property Managers
Property management companies manage 10-100+ rental properties. They need regular exterior maintenance. One contract = steady recurring revenue.
How to approach:
- Google "property management companies Toronto" — call or email the top 20
- Walk into property management offices with a portfolio (before/after photos, pricing sheet, insurance certificate)
- Focus on condo townhouse complexes — strata pays for exterior cleaning of all units
"Hi, I'm [Name] from Mantle Home Services. We do commercial window cleaning for property managers across the GTA. We're insured, we do quarterly schedules, and we handle everything — you just get an invoice. Can I send over our pricing for your portfolio?"
💰
Property manager math: One PM company with 20 properties × 2 cleans/year × $400 avg = $16,000/year from a single relationship. This is how window cleaning companies scale to $500K+.
🏪 Local Businesses
Storefronts, restaurants, offices — they all have windows that need cleaning. Walk in during off-peak hours.
"Hi! I noticed your storefront windows have some buildup. We clean commercial windows in the area — most businesses do a weekly or bi-weekly clean. Can I give you a quick quote? Usually runs $50-100 per visit for a storefront this size."
Best targets in the GTA:
- Restaurants with glass fronts — they need weekly cleaning. $50-80/week = $200-320/month = $2,400-3,800/year
- Retail stores on Bayview, Yonge, Queen — presentation matters, they'll pay
- Medical/dental offices — always look clean, consistent budgets
- Car dealerships — massive glass showrooms, high budgets, recurring need
📋 B2B vs Residential: Key Differences
- Decision cycle is longer — they may need to get approval from a manager/owner. Leave a quote in writing
- Invoice instead of payment on the spot — B2B customers pay net-15 or net-30. Factor this into cash flow
- Consistency matters more than price — businesses want reliable, scheduled service. Be punctual always
- One bad job = you lose the contract. Residential customers forgive a miss. Businesses don't
- Insurance certificate required — B2B clients will ask for proof of insurance before hiring you
✅ Module 4 Quiz
1. One realtor relationship can generate:
1-2 jobs per year
3-6 jobs per year ($900-3,000 revenue)
10+ jobs per year
2. The #1 thing B2B clients care about is:
Lowest price
Flashy marketing
Reliability and consistency
3. You see a "For Sale" sign. Best move:
Text the realtor and offer a pre-listing cleaning rate
Knock on the door and pitch the homeowner
Ignore it — they're moving anyway
🗺️ Module 5 of 7
Route Planning — Work Smarter, Not Harder 🗺️
Elite reps don't just knock random streets. They plan routes that maximize time in front of doors and minimize time driving.
⏱ 6 min⭐ 75 XP
🗺️ The GTA Neighbourhood Tier System
Not all neighbourhoods are equal. Rank them by probability of closing:
Tier 1 — Premium (Start Here) 🟢
- Leaside — Our #1 target. Large detached homes, established families, well-maintained. Avg home value $1.8M+
- Lawrence Park — Old money, beautiful homes, high maintenance budgets. Avg $2.5M+
- Bedford Park — Similar to Lawrence Park, slightly younger demographic. Great close rates
- Forest Hill — Luxury market. Larger homes = bigger quotes. May have housekeepers (see Module 6)
Tier 2 — Strong 🟡
- Rosedale — Ultra-premium but gated properties and full-time staff. Harder to access but huge quotes ($800+)
- The Danforth corridor — Mix of homes and businesses. Good for residential + storefront combo days
- Etobicoke South (Mimico, Long Branch) — Lakefront homes. Salt spray damage angle works here
- Willowdale / North York — Large suburban homes, growing demographic, less competition from window cleaners
Tier 3 — Volume Play 🔵
- Scarborough (Agincourt, Malvern) — More price-sensitive but higher volume. Lower per-job revenue but fast closes
- East York — Smaller homes but dense streets = efficient knocking. Good for building experience
⚠️ Avoid for D2D: Downtown condos (strata handles cleaning), high-rise zones, commercial-only districts, areas with "No Soliciting" community bylaws (check beforehand).
📋 Planning Your Shift
Before you leave the house:
- Pick ONE neighbourhood for the shift. Don't jump around. Focused territory = less driving, more knocking
- Google Maps satellite view: identify 3-4 streets with large detached homes. Screenshot them
- Check weather: If it's going to rain at 3 PM, front-load your knocking in the morning
- Load CRM: Check if you have any past no-answers in this area for second-pass visits
- Pack your car: Door hangers (50+), business cards (20+), water, protein bar, phone charger, pricing sheet
The ideal shift pattern:
- 10 AM – 12 PM: First neighbourhood. Start with retiree-heavy streets
- 12 – 1 PM: Lunch + drive to second area if needed. Check CRM. Plan afternoon streets
- 1 – 4 PM: Main knocking block. Focus on the greenest streets
- 4 – 7 PM: Second pass of no-answers + fresh streets where working professionals live
- 7 PM: Stop. Log everything in CRM. Text Shaw your scorecard
🔄 Territory Rotation
Don't knock the same streets every week. Rotate on a 3-4 week cycle:
- Week 1: Leaside
- Week 2: Lawrence Park / Bedford Park
- Week 3: Forest Hill / Rosedale
- Week 4: Return to Week 1 streets for follow-ups + second passes
Why rotate: Knocking the same street every week makes you "that door-to-door guy." Rotating keeps you fresh and gives door hangers time to work. By Week 4, the people who got hangers in Week 1 have had 3 weeks to think about it, check your website, and see their dirty windows every morning. Some will open the door and say "I was just about to call you!"
✅ Module 5 Quiz
1. Our #1 target neighbourhood is:
Leaside
Rosedale
Downtown Toronto
2. How often should you return to the same streets?
Every day — persistence wins
Once a week
Every 3-4 weeks for follow-ups
3. Before leaving for a knocking shift, you should:
Just drive to the richest neighbourhood you can think of
Check weather, scout streets on Google Maps, load CRM, pack supplies
Wait for Shaw to assign you streets
🛡️ Module 6 of 7
Safety, Bylaws & Professionalism 🛡️
Toronto has specific bylaws for door-to-door canvassing. Breaking them = fines. Ignoring safety = injuries. Know the rules.
⏱ 6 min⭐ 75 XP
📜 Toronto Canvassing Bylaws
- No canvassing before 10:00 AM or after 9:00 PM (we stop at 7 PM — extra buffer)
- "No Soliciting" signs must be respected. If a home or community has a posted sign, do NOT knock. Leave a door hanger ONLY if the sign specifically says "no soliciting" but not "no flyers/advertising"
- You must identify yourself immediately — state your name and company within the first sentence
- You must leave when asked. If someone says "go away" or "leave" — leave. Immediately. No arguments. No "but just let me..."
- No entering the home. Ever. For any reason. Stay on the porch, on the walkway, on their property but OUTSIDE
- Carry ID. Keep your phone ready to show the Mantle website if anyone questions your legitimacy
⚠️ Fine for bylaw violations: Up to $5,000 in Toronto. Not worth it. One aggressive push past a "No Soliciting" sign can result in a complaint that costs you more than a week's commission.
🐕 Dog Safety
- If you hear aggressive barking BEFORE knocking — skip the house. Not worth the risk
- If a dog is loose in the front yard — do NOT enter. Wave from the sidewalk if the owner is visible. Otherwise move on
- If someone opens the door and their dog rushes out — stand still, don't run. Running triggers chase instinct. Let the owner get control. Slowly step back
- Never crouch down near an unknown dog — you're putting your face at bite level
- Carry dog treats? Some reps do. But honestly, just skip houses with aggressive dogs. Your safety > any sale
😠 Handling Hostile Homeowners
99% of people will be polite or neutral. But you WILL encounter angry people. Here's how to handle them:
The Angry Opener
"GET OFF MY PROPERTY!" or "CAN'T YOU READ THE SIGN?!"
"I'm sorry — I apologize. Have a good day." [Walk away immediately. No arguing. No explaining. Just leave.]
The Threatening Person
If anyone threatens you physically, makes you feel unsafe, or follows you:
- Walk (don't run) back to the sidewalk — public property
- Get in your car and lock the doors
- Text Shaw immediately with the address
- If they follow you or threaten you — call 911. You have every right to be on public property
The "I'm Calling the Police" Bluff
Some people threaten to call police. Calmly say:
"That's completely fine — we're a licensed local business. I apologize for the inconvenience. Have a good day."
Then leave. You're not doing anything illegal by knocking on a door (unless there's a No Soliciting sign). But don't escalate — ever.
💡 After any hostile encounter: Take 5 minutes. Sit in your car. Breathe. It's not personal — that person is probably having a terrible day and you were the outlet. Don't let 1 angry person in 50 ruin your energy for the other 49.
👔 Professional Appearance Checklist
- ✅ Mantle polo — clean, tucked in or neat
- ✅ Clean shoes — not muddy, not falling apart
- ✅ No headphones visible — take AirPods out before approaching
- ✅ Clipboard or phone visible — shows purpose, not loitering
- ✅ Door hangers in hand — ready to leave at every door
- ✅ Smile on before the door opens — always
- ❌ No smoking/vaping on anyone's property
- ❌ No music playing from your phone
- ❌ No food or drinks in hand (water bottle in car is fine)
✅ Module 6 Quiz
1. Toronto's canvassing hours are:
8 AM to 8 PM
10 AM to 9 PM (we stop at 7 PM)
No restrictions
2. A homeowner screams "GET OFF MY PROPERTY!" You should:
Apologize immediately and walk away — no arguments
Explain that you're a legitimate business
Stand your ground — you have a right to knock
3. Aggressive dog barking before you knock. You:
Knock quickly and step back
Throw a treat and knock while the dog is distracted
Skip the house entirely — safety over sales
⭐ Module 7 of 7
Reputation Building — Your Long Game ⭐
Door knocking gets you your first 50 customers. Reputation gets you the next 500. Build it from Day 1.
⏱ 6 min⭐ 100 XP
⭐ The Google Review Engine
In home services, Google reviews are EVERYTHING. Here's why:
87%Check reviews before hiring
4.5+Star rating = trusted
10xMore leads with 20+ reviews
Your goal: 20 Google reviews within the first 2 months. After 20 reviews with 4.5+ stars, Google starts showing you in local search results for "window cleaning near me" — free leads forever.
How to get reviews:
- Ask EVERY customer. Not "if you get a chance" — directly: "Could you leave us a quick Google review? It takes 30 seconds and helps our small business a lot."
- Text the link. Don't ask them to find you on Google. Text them the DIRECT review link. One tap → they're writing
- Timing: Same day as the job. While they're still looking at clean windows. Next-day follow-ups get 50% fewer reviews
- Make it personal: "Mrs. Patel, it was great meeting you today. If you have 30 seconds, a Google review would mean the world to us as a new local business."
📸 Before/After Photos
Every. Single. Job. Take before and after photos. This builds:
- Social media content — post to Instagram/Facebook. Real results sell better than any ad
- Sales proof at the door — "Here's what we did yesterday for your neighbour" [show phone]
- Website portfolio — builds credibility for anyone who checks callmantle.ca
- Google Business Profile posts — photos rank higher in local search
Photo tips:
- Take the "before" from the SAME angle as the "after" — consistency makes the difference obvious
- Include the house/street context — shows it's a real local job, not stock photos
- Get sun hitting the clean windows — the gleam is the money shot
- Ask permission before posting: "Mind if we share this on our social media? No addresses or faces." 99% say yes
🤝 The Referral Machine
Referrals close at 4x the rate of cold knocks. Here's the system:
- After every completed job: "Do you know any neighbours or friends who might want their windows done? We're offering $25 off your next clean for every referral."
- Leave 3 extra business cards: "Here's a few cards — if anyone asks who did your windows, pass one along."
- The 1-week follow-up text: "Hi [Name]! Hope you're enjoying those windows. Quick question — any friends or neighbours who might want a clean? $25 off for each referral!"
- Track referrals in CRM: When a new lead calls and says "Sarah recommended you" — log it, credit Sarah, and apply her discount
💰
Referral math: 1 customer → 1 referral → 1 more referral → chain. If each customer refers 1 person, your customer base DOUBLES without any door knocking. This is how $500K window cleaning companies grow — they stop knocking and start getting referred.
🏆 Building Your Personal Brand as a Knocker
The best door knockers aren't salespeople — they're known as "the window guy" in their neighbourhoods. How to get there:
- Remember names. Log them in CRM. "Hi Mrs. Chen! Last time I was here you mentioned your gutters — want me to take a look?" = GOLD
- Be consistent. Same neighbourhoods, same quality, same professionalism. People start recognizing you
- Follow through. If you said you'd text a quote, text it within 1 hour. If you said Thursday, show up Thursday. Reliability = reputation
- Handle complaints immediately. Something missed? Go back and fix it same day. No charge. A handled complaint turns into a 5-star review 80% of the time
- Be generous. If you see their garden hose is on or their garage is open — mention it. "Hey, just a heads up — your hose is running." Costs you nothing. Builds massive goodwill
🎭 Scenario: The Complaint
A customer texts: "Hey, you missed the side window in the kitchen and there are streaks on the front door glass." The job was completed yesterday. What do you do?
A "Those windows weren't included in the quote. I can come fix them for an extra $40."
B "So sorry about that! I'll come by today to fix both — no charge. What time works for you? I want to make sure you're 100% happy."
C "I'll make sure to get those next time we come."
✅ Module 7 — Final Quiz
1. Your first Google review milestone target is:
5 reviews
20 reviews within 2 months
50 reviews within 6 months
2. Best time to ask for a Google review:
Same day as the job — text the direct link
One week later with a follow-up
Only if they mention being happy
3. A customer complains about a missed window. You:
Explain it wasn't in the original quote
Offer a discount on the next visit
Fix it same day, no charge, apologize sincerely