Please help! New career, new start....

[Smiffy]

:sweating:

Hi, I'm new to this forum and to the window cleaning game.

I'm just about to ditch my current job and start up as a window cleaner. The trouble is I'm a complete beginner - not even got a bucket

Ive spent a few days reading through the forums and found some excellent information, but feel like I'm going around in circles. So far I've made the following decisions/observations:

1. I need a van

2. I'm in a hard water area so need an RO system?

3. A van mounted system is best, but a trolley/backpack is also of value on some jobs

I'd be so grateful for any tips or advice anyone could offer. Size of van, best system etc. would be helpful. I'm thinking of a Merc VIto or similar so I can also use as family car?

What would you buy to get up and running with a £5k, £10k or £15k budget?

I'm in the South West.

Any help or advice would be very welcome - thanks in advance.

Smiffy

 

[Dave B]

I would buy a decent set of ladders and trad gear for a couple of hundred

Build up a customer base and make sure it is the right decision for you

Then if you want to go wfp and you are doing ok buy what you need to go wfp and keep the trad gear for insides and breakdowns etc

At least a couple hundred quid is a cheap layout to be working

And even wfp guys need ladders for awkward access windows and fsg jobs etc so it is an investment anyway

 

[SPCleaning]

Hi @Smiffy and welcome.

Where to in the South West are you?

 

[cheapncheerful]

This may be in the wrong section too......

only one piece of advice...dont jump straight in at the deep end until you can swim...

take your time and build up slowly see if its for you...and remember...

no holidays no sick pay and no fecker gives a toss if your fecked your fecked...

but dont let me put you off:rofl:

anyway welcome to the forum and keep us informed of your progress...

Id be tempted to look on ebay if you have the money..

GOOD LUCK

 

[SPCleaning]

This may be in the wrong section too......
only one piece of advice...dont jump straight in at the deep end until you can swim...

take your time and build up slowly see if its for you...and remember...

no holidays no sick pay and no fecker gives a toss if your fecked your fecked...

but dont let me put you off:rofl:

anyway welcome to the forum and keep us informed of your progress...

Id be tempted to look on ebay if you have the money..

GOOD LUCK

It was in the wrong section,......but all is well with the world now :thumbsup:

 

[Smiffy]

Hi @Smiffy and welcome.
Where to in the South West are you?

Wow, swift responses, thanks! I'm in Bath/Bristol - hope I'm not treading on your toes?! If I am, you need a skivvy?

Hi @Smiffy and welcome.
Where to in the South West are you?

I would buy a decent set of ladders and trad gear for a couple of hundredBuild up a customer base and make sure it is the right decision for you

Then if you want to go wfp and you are doing ok buy what you need to go wfp and keep the trad gear for insides and breakdowns etc

At least a couple hundred quid is a cheap layout to be working

And even wfp guys need ladders for awkward access windows and fsg jobs etc so it is an investment anyway

Thanks, great advice I'm sure - I'll get some ladders.

 

[Smiffy]

This may be in the wrong section too......
only one piece of advice...dont jump straight in at the deep end until you can swim...

take your time and build up slowly see if its for you...and remember...

no holidays no sick pay and no fecker gives a toss if your fecked your fecked...

but dont let me put you off:rofl:

anyway welcome to the forum and keep us informed of your progress...

Id be tempted to look on ebay if you have the money..

GOOD LUCK

Thanks I'll certainly keep you posted, and I'll have a look on ebay...

 

[MrBump]

Bristal and Bath eh. I'd go wfp as if I remember correctly there are alot of tall, terraced houses there, in bath especially. Although access to the rears might be an issue, personally I wouldn't take a hose through someones home. I can also imagine road side parking may be an issue. Anyone from london will be able to help out on that one surely! /emoticons/wink.png

 

[SPCleaning]

@Smiffy No I was not worried about you stepping on my toes. More so in the fact that I too am in the South West (Devon) and have very soft water. Was going to suggest you check the quality of the water before buying anything.

(Other than the trad kit that I strongly advice you start with.)

Good luck Mate

 

[Dave B]

Us from london tend to park (abandon) the van where we can and be lively before we can get caught by the jobsworth wardens lol

 

[cheapncheerful]

so thats why your so fast daveyboy:rofl:

 

[Dave B]

I learnt the trade in west london whilst playing dodge the warden lol

Double yellows you get 20 minutes before they can ticket you

 

[TolishAPurd]

:sweating:Hi, I'm new to this forum and to the window cleaning game.

I'm just about to ditch my current job and start up as a window cleaner. The trouble is I'm a complete beginner - not even got a bucket

Ive spent a few days reading through the forums and found some excellent information, but feel like I'm going around in circles. So far I've made the following decisions/observations:

1. I need a van

2. I'm in a hard water area so need an RO system?

3. A van mounted system is best, but a trolley/backpack is also of value on some jobs

I'd be so grateful for any tips or advice anyone could offer. Size of van, best system etc. would be helpful. I'm thinking of a Merc VIto or similar so I can also use as family car?

What would you buy to get up and running with a £5k, £10k or £15k budget?

I'm in the South West.

Any help or advice would be very welcome - thanks in advance.

Smiffy

Welcome to the forum. With 15k you would be better off starting something that is lucrative from the get go IMO. This is a trade that needs to be built up, and a big investment like that will take a long time to earn back unless you buy a round. Window cleaners are 10 a penny in most parts so work is hard to come across in the early days. Follow daveyboys advice to the letter and go trad to start with, or you'll have a nice new system getting no use other then the scraps of work here and there. Being able to trad is a skill every windy should have IMHO regardless, so it will be good for the future if you cut your teeth on the ladders, even if its just for 6 months.

 

[SolarPanelCleaning]

Keep your money in the bank incase you don't like it.

You don't need a van yet.

Start canvassing today.

Good luck amigo!

 

[Jake]

I would buy a decent set of ladders and trad gear for a couple of hundredBuild up a customer base and make sure it is the right decision for you

Then if you want to go wfp and you are doing ok buy what you need to go wfp and keep the trad gear for insides and breakdowns etc

At least a couple hundred quid is a cheap layout to be working

And even wfp guys need ladders for awkward access windows and fsg jobs etc so it is an investment anyway

100% this ^

I stated out trad for years and years beifre going wfp and its, in my book, absolutely essential to know how to trad, then as said beifre, you can always upgrade to wfp if you like the Job, but you'll then have learnt trad which always has its place..

 

[Simply Business]

Welcome @Smiffy /emoticons/smile.png

 

[Smiffy]

Bristal and Bath eh. I'd go wfp as if I remember correctly there are alot of tall, terraced houses there, in bath especially. Although access to the rears might be an issue, personally I wouldn't take a hose through someones home. I can also imagine road side parking may be an issue. Anyone from london will be able to help out on that one surely! /emoticons/wink.png

Yes, plenty of narrow streets, poor parking and 3 floor properties :-(. You make a good point about dragging hoses through - I wouldn't want that happening to my home, so I'm definitely going to invest in some trad equipment. Any tips on where to shop anyone?

 

[Dave B]

Window cleaning warehouse or wintecs are good online

 

[Smiffy]

100% this ^
I stated out trad for years and years beifre going wfp and its, in my book, absolutely essential to know how to trad, then as said beifre, you can always upgrade to wfp if you like the Job, but you'll then have learnt trad which always has its place..

Thanks, I've taken this on board and just placed an order with WCW for a few trad bits and bobs. I need a ladder so that's next. I've seen a Titan triple mentioned on here for £116 with SupaGrip feet. Seems sensible, but I know nowt?

 

[Dave B]

Try ladderstore lyte trade ladders

I use them and very reasonable prices

 

[Dave B]

http://www.ladderstore.com/lyte-light-duty-trade-extension-ladders.html