Start with the scope, not the price
Two quotes can look far apart simply because they cover different work. One might include gutter clearance, fascia washing and paths, while another covers walls alone. Before comparing figures, line up the scopes and check each lists the surfaces, the methods and any exclusions.
A written quote protects you both. OOR External provides free written quotes so the agreed work is clear before anything is booked, and that is a sensible standard to expect from any firm.
Ask how each surface will be cleaned
A competent cleaner changes method with the surface. Render, painted walls and coated cladding are normally soft washed at low pressure. Block paving can take pressure but needs resanding afterwards. Roofs are assessed for type and condition before anything is proposed. If a firm plans to pressure wash everything the same way, ask why.
It is fair to ask what happens to the run off, how nearby cars, plants and windows are protected, and what the finish should look like.
Look at real work
Stock images tell you nothing. Ask for photos of jobs the firm has done, ideally on surfaces like yours. Before and after pairs are most useful when they are taken from the same angle in similar light. The OOR External site shows real before and after photos of cladding, driveway, patio, gutter and conservatory work carried out by the team.
Reviews on an independent platform such as Google are another useful check, as they come from customers rather than the business itself.
Access and working at height
Ask how high areas will be reached. High reach equipment lets much gutter, roofline and cladding work be done from ground level, which avoids ladders against fragile gutters and conservatories. Where a building needs specialist access, a good firm will say so at the quote stage and include it in the price rather than adding it later.
What near me should really mean
Searching for a cleaner near me is a good start, but local only matters if the firm genuinely covers your area. Check the areas listed on their site and confirm with them directly. OOR External is based in Dover and works across Kent, including Deal, Folkestone, Canterbury, Ashford and the coastal towns listed on the areas page.
A local firm can often view a property more easily and return if anything needs looking at after the job.
- Confirm your town is within the firm's stated area
- Ask for a written scope listing every surface
- Check the method for render, cladding and paving
- Look at before and after photos of their own work
- Ask how access, run off and tidying up are handled
Red flags to avoid
Be cautious about cold callers offering a quick clean because they are working nearby, prices given without seeing the property or photos, and anyone who says every surface can be blasted clean with maximum pressure. Aggressive pressure can strip paint, scar coatings and blow out joint sand.
If you are in Kent and want a clear, written price, send OOR External some photos and ask for a free quote. Jordan can be reached on 07860 962107.