Good Neighbor Podcast: Union
Bringing Together Local Businesses and Residents of Northern Kentucky! Based in Union, KY....The Good Neighbor Podcast helps the residents of Northern Kentucky get to know local business owners as people. We allow the business owners and influencers in NKY to tell the stories of how they started their business and why. We hear about their families, their personal interests and why they love living in and serving resident of Northern Kentucky!
Good Neighbor Podcast: Union
From Combat Medic to Window Cleaner: Chris Eckstein's Journey
Meet Chris Eckstein, a combat medic turned entrepreneur who's transforming the window cleaning industry in Northern Kentucky. After eight years of military service including two tours in Iraq, Chris discovered an unexpected passion that would become Freedom Window Cleaning.
The spark for his business came from disappointment. When hiring professionals to clean windows at his previous workplace, Chris was let down by streaky results and leftover tape. Taking matters into his own hands with just a bucket and squeegee, he discovered not only a natural talent but a genuine passion. Neighboring businesses started requesting his services, and a lightbulb moment occurred – this could be his calling.
What sets Freedom Window Cleaning apart isn't just technical expertise, but Chris's comprehensive approach to service. While many competitors focus solely on glass, he delivers a "full service package" including interior and exterior windows, tracks, screens, and frames. Using a specialized three-stage filtration system, he removes oxidation that causes windows to dirty quickly after rain. This attention to detail reflects the discipline and thoroughness instilled during his military service.
Beyond the business itself, we get to know Chris as a devoted family man married to Katie for nearly 19 years, and father to Wyatt and Reagan. His family story – from confidently telling his friend "I'm going to marry that girl" across a room to their enduring partnership – reveals the character behind the company. It's this same genuine care and commitment that customers experience when hiring Freedom Window Cleaning.
For those considering professional window cleaning, Chris offers valuable advice: stop spraying your windows with a hose (it causes hard water stains!), and please stay off ladders for your safety. Ready to experience the Freedom Window Cleaning difference? Contact Chris at 832-681-6489 or visit freedomwindowcleaning.net – and discover what truly clean windows can do for your home and view.
This is the Good Neighbor Podcast, the place where local businesses and neighbors come together. Here's your host, Mike Murphy.
Speaker 2:Thank you for that introduction, charlie. Yes, I am Mike Murphy, host of the Good Neighbor Podcast. We are a podcast that introduces local business owners and influencers to residents of Northern Kentucky. We want residents to know our local business owners as humans, as opposed to just a logo on a business car or the side of a truck. And so the human I have with me today he lives here in Triple Crown in Union, not too far from me, good friend of mine as of about a month ago, chris Eckstein, owner of Freedom Window Cleaning here in Union. So, without further ado, chris, let the people know what they need to know about you.
Speaker 3:Of course, thanks for having me. I really appreciate it and it's good to be here. So, yep, as he said, I am the human of the day, chris Eckstein, owner and operator of Freedom Window Cleaning, based right here out of Union, and primarily what I do is I clean windows. Right. If you've got dirty windows, I'm your guy. That is my specialty, it's what I love to do. I also do pressure washing, and we'll be adding more services as time goes on.
Speaker 2:Okay, Well, that's good to know. I know it had to be kind of rough just starting a window cleaning company and then boom, right away, winter, and nobody's cleaning their windows in winter, and they're not calling you to clean them either. So the good news, though, is it's a beautiful, sunny day. Spring seems to have sprung. Yes. And that means you're going to be a very, very busy person.
Speaker 3:Yes.
Speaker 2:The next few months, I would imagine.
Speaker 3:Yep, absolutely. Yeah, so far, so good. I mean, I started this back in July and left my full-time career in the middle of January, and then, yeah, we had three or four weeks of snow on the ground. I was still out there getting after it, though, believe it or not, I will work until I cannot feel my fingertips anymore, so don't let the weather bother you.
Speaker 2:You know Well, you're no stranger to hard work, I mean you're. You have a military background, correct? Yes, sir, okay, so how long were you in the military? When was that?
Speaker 3:I was eight years, so that was 2005 to 2013.
Speaker 2:Okay, and what did you do in the military?
Speaker 3:I was a combat medic, all right.
Speaker 2:Interesting. Where were you? Where were you based?
Speaker 3:So my first duty station was Fort Lewis, washington. I spent a few years there, did two deployments to Iraq out of there, with the same company, same platoon, actually, so same guys. On both deployments was pretty, pretty special and unique, I'd say. Um really bonded with those guys over over, you know, two deployments overseas, uh. And then from there we um my wife was with me the whole time, by the way, um except for in iraq, obviously, she, she did not, they're not allowed to go over there, right, uh. But then next duty station, we went went to Camp Darby, italy. So my wife and I spent three years over there exploring all of Europe. I was incredible.
Speaker 2:Yeah, yeah, that's very cool. Wow, we could do an entire podcast just on your military experience alone.
Speaker 3:Okay.
Speaker 2:Well, maybe we will someday, but I think that military background, kind of I'd say everything we do serves us well for the next chapter, whatever that might be 100%. So you pull everything forward and it just makes you a better husband, a better business owner, a better father, a better whatever, a better neighbor, right. So, and you know, thank you for your service too. Thank you, I don't have a military background, so I'm always appreciative of those that you know took the time to protect all of us for sure. Yeah, well, that's um, that's a chapter that um has brought you to today.
Speaker 3:And, uh, window cleaning is a whole different experience from that military life you know it is, but there's, there's bits and pieces of it, you know that. That, that that correlate. So I mean, a big part of why I was a medic is, uh, I, I like helping people, you know, and that in that realm I had the opportunity to help people who you know, who were injured or had trauma. Um, they had a a physical need, right, they needed help in some way, shape or form. So I, I got the opportunity to help people that way, and then, when you flip that over to window cleaning, I mean this is a, this is a service that I provide for people who either want or need it, and so I could kind of tie those together. That way I'm still helping people at the end of the day, and that's what that makes me feel good, you know.
Speaker 2:Well, we've talked before about your approach to the business, and I know that you you you've had an experience in your past that got you to start thinking about this business. So tell us briefly what was that?
Speaker 3:For sure. I mean, first of all, I've always wanted to do my quote unquote own thing right. I've always wanted to have my own business and never really knew what it was going to be. Tried so many things, including selling solar panels, and I've just tried a lot of things over the years. But I was in multi-unit for eight years with a furniture company and during that time there were several times where I hired window cleaners.
Speaker 3:But specifically at the beginning of 2024, I hired a window cleaning service and was really intrigued by what they were doing. I was just watching them, I was excited to see the before and after and and, quite frankly, I was just disappointed with the results. There was streaks on the windows tape tape left up there. So I ended up just going to Home Depot getting a mop bucket and a squeegee and and doing it myself right, and uh, yeah, I mean I I somehow ended up being really good at it and spent a lot of time practicing. The neighboring businesses to that store started calling me asking if I would do theirs, and that's kind of when the light bulb went off and you know doing every job as though it were your own home.
Speaker 3:Hundred percent.
Speaker 2:Yeah, absolutely yeah. Treating every client like they're your mother or father, brother, sister, whatever, absolutely, it's a good way to approach it. So, one thing that we talked about before we started recording this was you're not just out there washing the outsides of the windows, you are also getting the window tracks. You're cleaning the interiors as well. Is that correct?
Speaker 3:getting the window tracks, you're cleaning the interiors as well, is that correct? Yes, sir, yep, um, do interior, exterior track screens, you know, and you know whichever combination of those that you want. But, um, yeah, what I call the the full service package is is the interior, exterior tracks and screens. That's what you want. To deep clean and a hard reset, get your windows looking good.
Speaker 2:Yeah, that's the way to go now somebody's going to pay to have their windows clean. You want them clean I know you, you want to almost uh, not be able to tell that there's glass. You know that you. You just want to, you want to see outside when you look outside.
Speaker 3:So oh yeah, absolutely, especially with this good weather coming and all I mean. We have beautiful sunrises and sunsets in kentucky, and why not enjoy it, you know?
Speaker 2:Yeah, absolutely so. When you roll up to a house and you're going to clean the X number of windows I don't know what the average number of windows per home is around here, but I think some people assume you're just going to be up and down on a ladder. But that's not the case, is it?
Speaker 3:Right? Nope, Not the case. And in most cases I actually do not need to use a ladder. I mean, obviously, if you've got a gigantic house and you know, I mean that's going to happen. But no, I use a three-stage filtration system with a water fed pole for exteriors most of the time. Right, Occasionally I won't use that if it doesn't make sense. But that system is pretty, pretty incredible, Leaves the windows spotless, and benefit to the customer. With using a water fed pole is not only are you getting your windows clean, but I clean the frames. That's where you get. Especially on the sides of the house that are sitting in the sun all day. You get a lot of oxidation on the frames and if I clean your windows and then it rains, you're going to have dirty windows pretty soon. But with that water fed pole set up it, it just does an incredible job Scrub those frames, get all the oxidation off, so that way you can enjoy the clean windows for a lot longer.
Speaker 2:So the typical job, if there is such a thing, would take how long? There is no such thing as a typical job if there is such a thing would take how long.
Speaker 3:There is no such thing as a typical job, you're correct in that. But I mean I've had jobs go from anywhere to, you know, to an hour and a half to. I mean I've had some that took 10 hours at one house. It just really depends on you know, on the level of service that you want, right, and how many windows you have. You know that's really what it boils down to.
Speaker 2:So how do you quote your jobs? Is it per window, Like what? How do you approach that?
Speaker 3:Yeah, so I try not to overcomplicate it too much because I don't want to confuse people. But yeah, most window cleaners will count the number of panes and then do our math from there. That's typically how I do it, and then you know there's lots of factors that could go into it. But what I will say is that you know my pricing is extremely fair as far as industry standards. Given all my research and experience with it that I have done, I would say I'm on the low end of the industry standard as far as pricing, and that's simply just because it's fair. Right, I'm making money, You're getting a great service and I feel like it's just the right thing to do. I don't feel like there's any reason to overcharge people or take advantage of people. That's not what I'm in it for. I want to make a good living and I want to take care of the people in my community.
Speaker 2:Well, you're doing good work, high-quality work, and you're a good guy. That equals usually good word of mouth.
Speaker 3:Yep so far, so good.
Speaker 2:So I got to imagine with every job you're kind of producing almost a, a billboard brochure or whatever for people to showcase your talents and refer you to their neighbor next door or to their friends. So I'm looking forward to hiring you to clean my windows because you got it. I'm going to let you in on a little secret. We've been in this house for four years and I've never Our windows get cleaned by the rain.
Speaker 3:Right.
Speaker 2:Yeah, but if I look outside, I see cobwebs in the corner, I see leaves in the tracks. So I'm looking forward to that before and after effect.
Speaker 3:Oh yeah, I did one yesterday. They've been in that home for 22 years and never, never, had the windows professionally cleaned. Shout out to you. You know who you are. I'm not mentioning names, but they said that they typically would just rinse the windows off of the hose. Don't do that. That's how you get hard water stains on your glass, so that doesn't really get the result you're looking for. If you hire me to come out, I'll give you some trade secrets while I'm there, okay.
Speaker 2:Good to know.
Speaker 3:Got to leave a little bit up to the imagination.
Speaker 2:Well, my wife won't allow me to get up on a ladder, so I'm just putting the hose on high pressure and just spraying my windows down, and that's what I call it. Yes, I'm doing that. Yeah, so I mean, as you're saying that I'm like, oh geez, that's what I do.
Speaker 3:So okay.
Speaker 2:That's good to know. That's all right. So let's take a little departure from business and talk about family. So I believe your wife's name is Katie correct, correct? Yes, okay. So how did your wife's name is Katie correct, correct? Yeah, okay. So how did you and Katie meet?
Speaker 3:So we actually met after I got done with basic training. I was heading to do my advanced individual training, which is where I learned to become a medic. I met her at actually at a party at my house. She came with some friends and you know, we talked a little bit and then, a few months later, after graduating that I was getting ready to head to my first duty station and she, she was at a party at my best friend's house and I just I saw her from across the room, hadn't even approached her yet. I was nervous, you know, and I was like I told my buddy, sean, I was like you see that girl, I'm going to marry that girl.
Speaker 3:He's like whatever you know and it's kind of funny because you know it didn't I went over there, I approached her, I was showing her all these pictures she's going to laugh when she sees this but I was showing her these pictures of these vehicles I was going to be in. You know, I was brand new. You know, setting uh, just reeling her in a little bit, and uh, and the rest is history. I mean, we've been married for almost, almost 19 years and November will be 19 years.
Speaker 2:So so how long was it from the time you told Sean and the girl to you actually told Katie that you said that?
Speaker 3:Yeah, so not long. I mean, we we dated for, you know, for less than a year before we decided that we were going to get married, and most of that was long distance. At that time she was still back home in Texas and I was stationed at Fort Louis Washington, living in the barracks and we were talking through Skype on our laptops, you know. And yes, I saved up every penny I possibly could bought her a ring. You know, I flew her out to Washington, showed her Seattle and, you know, just showed her around Awesome time, you know, three-course dinner in the space needle, nice hotel, all that stuff, and and yeah, and then, uh, we got married and she's been by my side ever since.
Speaker 2:She's my rock, I could not function without her wow, well, I've not, I've not had the pleasure of meeting her yet, but now I have to. Yeah, I can't wait to see this girl.
Speaker 3:She's awesome.
Speaker 2:She's the best From the get go that you were going to be Love you, babe, looking forward to meeting you, katie. So do you have kids?
Speaker 3:I do. I've got two kids, my son Wyatt and daughter Reagan, okay, and my son's 10 and my daughter's almost nine, okay.
Speaker 2:Well, that's cool. Where do they go to school at?
Speaker 3:They both go to New Haven. Okay, yep, so right down the road.
Speaker 2:I imagine you've got to be proud of your kids. I mean, you're a quality dude, and quality dudes usually produce quality kids. So what are they into?
Speaker 3:You know, I think a lot of those genes come from my wife, but yes, they at least got her brains, so she's super smart. But yeah, wyatt, he's a great student. He's in the Gifted and Talented program, he's on the academic team and that's been a lot of fun for him. He's a super competitive person. Hates to lose, but I guess don't we all in one way shape or form, but he is also they're both in jujitsu. And then my daughter is also on the competition dance team through Bella Dance and they they have a fantastic program there and she's been dancing with them since she was two years old. So you know there's definitely some competition in the in the family as far as those things go. So it's it's a lot of fun to see super proud of those kids. Well, that's good and they're they're really well behaved too.
Speaker 3:You know you sometimes, um no offense to anybody listening but sometimes you know people's kids are just crazy and rambunctious and out of control. Don't listen. Like my kids, they say yeah, too much. You know I'd like them to say yes, sir and yes, ma'am, but um, choose your battles. You know they're super good kids, really respectful Um, and that they they like to help. You know they like to. My son's gone with me on a couple of window cleaning jobs. He a couple of weeks ago we cleaned um his grandparents' house, you know, just wanted to help them out and get their windows looking good for them and and yeah, he was a big help on that job. He, he's really interested. I think he's going to be a. He's going to be super, super successful and so is my daughter, you know.
Speaker 2:Well, you sound like a great father, so kids are lucky to have you.
Speaker 3:That's right. You know I there's always things that I can work on as well, of course. You know I, I find so many times I find myself giving them advice, especially when it's in front of my wife. I'm like giving them advice on something and and I like I walk away and talking to Kate, like I should really take my own advice on that, you know, cause that was solid advice, I need to take it I I do that a lot. So, yeah, I'm a work in progress too.
Speaker 2:We all are. Yeah, I'm 62 and I'm still learning stuff Right, and you know making a lot of the same mistakes over and over, so I don't know if that ever really goes away. That's all right.
Speaker 3:You know, if you stop learning stuff, then what's the point? You know?
Speaker 2:this is no longer a business podcast.
Speaker 3:This is a life coaches here.
Speaker 2:All right, so back to the business part of things. If there was one thing that you want anybody listening to this to know about you and your business, what would that be?
Speaker 3:Man. Well, that would just be that. I, I care, you know. You know, that's the big thing for me. You know, obviously I'm providing a service, but I genuinely am passionate about it. Right, I love it. I feel like I've searched my whole life for that one thing. You always hear people say you know, once you find that one thing you really enjoy doing, find a way to turn it into a career, and you'll be great. Right, I truly feel like I found that thing. You is a big part of why it's called freedom window cleaning. I'm a super patriotic person as well, but I feel like this is my freedom, this is what I think. This is what I was meant to do.
Speaker 2:So you're having fun doing it.
Speaker 3:I'm having a blast. I love every moment of it. It's fun meeting new people, having awesome interactions, seeing their reaction when they go from having, you know, dirty windows to clean windows. I know it sounds like such a simple thing, right, and I guess it is, but you know, versus like a corporate job or career where you've got you know goals and you know all these different quotas you have to meet and and doing all these things right, like I, to get your results. You have to, you know, push really hard to drive those results. I get to make the results immediately in front of your eyes. You know what I mean.
Speaker 2:So, to that point, if you're going to do a good job that ties to the proper equipment, is there anything that was a surprise to you in terms of investments that you had to make into the business to be able to do the type of job you want to do for your clients?
Speaker 3:Oh yeah, I mean it's, there's a lot. There's a lot to it for sure. I mean, I've got thousands of dollars of equipment. At this point it's actually fortunate enough that Waterfed poll we talked about earlier I won on a contest from one of the window cleaning websites. They had a three day contest and I won this. You know, $4,000 piece of equipment, and if that's not a sign from God, I don't know what it is. That was like the final push. It's like just go do this thing. You know. And yeah, I guess short answer to that question is there's no substitute for a fresh squeegee, you know.
Speaker 1:If you got an old one.
Speaker 3:just ditch that thing, Put a brand new one on. It makes a big difference.
Speaker 2:Yeah, and we talked about ladders earlier, and I'm talking to all the, especially the dads out there Do not go climbing on ladders to wash your own windows. If you can help it, stay off the ladders. Stay off your roofs, if you can help it.
Speaker 3:Hire to have that done by a professional.
Speaker 2:Absolutely, I'll take care of you. Let's keep you grounded. Yeah, call Chris. All right? So if somebody wants to hire you, how do they reach you?
Speaker 3:All right, so a few different ways. My cell phone is the same number I had since I was 14. So it's still a Texas area code. Don't be freaked out by the out-of-state area code. I grew up in Texas. That's where I'm keeping that number forever. So that's 832-681-6489. You can also visit my Facebook page. It's Freedom Window Cleaning LLC. Or just go to freedomwindowcleaningnet. So freedomwindowcleaningnet is my website, built by somebody in this community, by the way as well. It's a fantastic website. I feel like they did an awesome job. Shout out to N2. And you can reach me through any of those. Perfect.
Speaker 2:Yep, all right. Well, we've covered a lot today Gosh, it always goes quick, for sure and we touched on a subject the military background that really has me intrigued. There's a lot of story there and we'll meet up again and we'll talk about that. But, chris, you're a great guy. You're somebody who I'm glad we got to meet, I'm glad we got to sit down today and I'm glad I get to introduce you to the community at large. So I expect to see you all around the neighborhood. I'll do all that I can to support you. I just won't go out there and clean windows with you. I'm sorry yeah, no worries no worries.
Speaker 2:I've got my own stuff to worry about, but that's exactly why I'm going to hire you. So there you go. All right, brother. Well, that does it for this episode of the Good Neighbor Podcast. Everybody out there, be good to your neighbor. All right, brother. Well, that does it for this episode of the Good Neighbor Podcast.
Speaker 1:Everybody out there, be good to your neighbor and until next time see everybody Bye-bye. Thanks for listening to the Good Neighbor Podcast Union. To nominate your favorite local businesses to be featured on the show, go to GNPUnioncom. That's GNPUnioncom. Or call us at 859-651-8330.