At the risk of opening a can of worms.....

[mike007]

I think this is the mindset of some people in the old pit villages and now towns, because it's usually when the beer token boys go into hibernation, I was talking to a fellow windy earlier this week and he set up a few years ago and loads of people asked him what he was going to do in the winter and would he be stopping, this was all new to him and he told them I've got bills to pay I'll be calling year round.

The old outdated perception of window cleaners still lingers whilst there is still these ones out there doing what has been done for years and the modern age of window cleaning to a point passes them by, it's a decision they make which I feel it to be more down to the investment in money, I remember as clear as day 11 years ago a trad cleaner laughed in my face when I said I had spent over 1k on going wfp. also time has to be invested in been a wfp cleaner, you need cash and you need to keep up to date with knowledge and information on changes and developments in this industry or in @steve garwood words a sado, yes we have all got it in us,even you Mr Garwood ?

 

I disagree slightly, we all know,and see every year the beer token boys working then as you say going into hibernation..which is why we pick up a lot of new customers because " the last window cleaner just stopped coming". I have not experienced a customer asking what I do in winter, what I do get is some of them saying to me how hard it must be this time of year.......I agree with them and have a moan, but actually think working in slightly inclement weather much more preferable to working in height of summer.

 

[Iron Giant]

I disagree slightly, we all know,and see every year the beer token boys working then as you say going into hibernation..which is why we pick up a lot of new customers because " the last window cleaner just stopped coming". I have not experienced a customer asking what I do in winter, what I do get is some of them saying to me how hard it must be this time of year.......I agree with them and have a moan, but actually think working in slightly inclement weather much more preferable to working in height of summer.

Maybe you haven't been around as long as me, also me and  @Suhrly are up north you know, it's a different world up here and beyond ? I have had few in 19 years but not many, all depends on your work area even locally to me I won't cover certain areas that others do such as the beer boys and other year round cleaners 

 

[mike007]

Maybe you haven't been around as long as me, also me and  @Suhrly are up north you know, it's a different world up here and beyond ? I have had few in 19 years but not many, all depends on your work area even locally to me I won't cover certain areas that others do such as the beer boys and other year round cleaners 

We have had coal in the midlands, in fact a fantastic Mining heritage..and many pit villages, I live in one!!! Different world...I do not know.

 

[scottish cleaning service]

I have about 3,000 new homes getting built around me. New windies and customers will come and go till a reliable windy continues to clean on the estate. Some will start up and not get enough customers and never come back. Handy for me because I'm no more than a mile away so i can nip into the estate anytime. I'm the most expensive windy in the new river front estate and i still get new customers and i don't no why but it has nothing to do with the price.

 

[Part Timer]

Maybe you haven't been around as long as me, also me and  @Suhrly are up north you know, it's a different world up here and beyond ? I have had few in 19 years but not many, all depends on your work area even locally to me I won't cover certain areas that others do such as the beer boys and other year round cleaners 

If your living with the old pit yackers it is. Better in the suburban towns and cities like Sunderland ?

 

[steve garwood]

I think this is the mindset of some people in the old pit villages and now towns, because it's usually when the beer token boys go into hibernation, I was talking to a fellow windy earlier this week and he set up a few years ago and loads of people asked him what he was going to do in the winter and would he be stopping, this was all new to him and he told them I've got bills to pay I'll be calling year round.

The old outdated perception of window cleaners still lingers whilst there is still these ones out there doing what has been done for years and the modern age of window cleaning to a point passes them by, it's a decision they make which I feel it to be more down to the investment in money, I remember as clear as day 11 years ago a trad cleaner laughed in my face when I said I had spent over 1k on going wfp. also time has to be invested in been a wfp cleaner, you need cash and you need to keep up to date with knowledge and information on changes and developments in this industry or in @steve garwood words a sado, yes we have all got it in us,even you Mr Garwood ?

 

I agree you have to keep up with the times and equipment etc.

However I don’t let my job take over my life even after 26 years in the industry.

I’ll pop on here occasionally at weekends, but once Friday afternoon is done, I don’t really want to think about work.

The saddo reference was a tongue in cheek reference to a couple of corespondents that particular week.

One said he works every Saturday and Sunday, the other said he works Saturdays then spends all day Sunday preparing and looking forward to work Monday ??

 

[scottish cleaning service]

I'm out today again and i was out yesterday cleaning gutters and pricing jobs. I would love to drink all weekend but i'm alergic to alcohol and not interested in drugs. I'm finding its alot to do with ones dna and what makes one happy. If one is happy working then why bother about it. I just get on with my life and leave everyone to get on with there's because it doesn't bother me what other folk do. My brother in law is a MD of a drainage company and he was asking me where i get all my cleaning information because he knows i have only been at it 2yrs. I told him this forum has provided most of it and he was very surprised.

 

[mike007]

I'm out today again and i was out yesterday cleaning gutters and pricing jobs. I would love to drink all weekend but i'm alergic to alcohol and not interested in drugs. I'm finding its alot to do with ones dna and what makes one happy. If one is happy working then why bother about it. I just get on with my life and leave everyone to get on with there's because it doesn't bother me what other folk do. My brother in law is a MD of a drainage company and he was asking me where i get all my cleaning information because he knows i have only been at it 2yrs. I told him this forum has provided most of it and he was very surprised.

Did I read it correctly..a Scotsman who is allergic to alcohol...or is it allergic to paying for alcohol? LOL

 

[P4dstar]

Great advice this mate. A customer I took on in early summer said to me last week. 'Do you clean through the winter?' 'Of course I said, my bills don't stop coming in through the winter'. 'Or, I was just gonna ask if you would leave the windows November, December and January..?' ?‍ I told him that's not how I work and he would potentially lose his place on my round if that was the case. Anyways he said, 'or OK just carry on then'. But now my confidence in this customer has gone and I'm expecting him to cancel now. My fault as I forgot to explain my working terms like you mentioned.

I do the same thing myself sometimes. There are also some customers that just don't listen. Try not to worry about it, what's the worst they will do, cancel ?‍. Theres a few areas I'm full in with a couple of suspect customers who have already started to waiver, if they go then I'll just fill the space I guess. That said I can think of a handful who asked this time last year and just carried on with no drama, you just can't tell.

i try and work as little as possible for max earnings .....ive got it down to around 25 hours a week(actually window cleaning) these days...?

This explains a lot. I was in Salford yesterday, lots of dirty windows everywhere, pull your finger out ???

 

[scottish cleaning service]

Did I read it correctly..a Scotsman who is allergic to alcohol...or is it allergic to paying for alcohol? LOL

Aye, comes from my gran. She used to make ginger wine but couldn't drink alcohol. I'm the only sibling with the anti-alcohol gene. So I'm the sensible one who makes all the important descisions and holds everything together. I read that Trump has never drunk alcohol in his life!

 

[dmw]

I've  occasionally been asked the question by a new sign up "do you work all year round?" Because its usually just a genuine question, if they are the younger end and when they lived with their parents they may have had the summer beer token boys clean them and presume it's a 8 month occupation 

I always say "yes, it's a year round service" and they are fine with it.

 

[steve garwood]

I'm out today again and i was out yesterday cleaning gutters and pricing jobs. I would love to drink all weekend but i'm alergic to alcohol and not interested in drugs. I'm finding its alot to do with ones dna and what makes one happy. If one is happy working then why bother about it. I just get on with my life and leave everyone to get on with there's because it doesn't bother me what other folk do. My brother in law is a MD of a drainage company and he was asking me where i get all my cleaning information because he knows i have only been at it 2yrs. I told him this forum has provided most of it and he was very surprised.

Who said anything about drinking all weekend?

This is an open forum so I’m just giving an opinion. I stick by what I say.

I understand those who work all weekend because they have no family or friends, actually feel a bit sorry for them.

No one on their deathbeds will look back and say ‘wish I’d worked more’ ?

 

[Clearview Lee]

I have about 3,000 new homes getting built around me. New windies and customers will come and go till a reliable windy continues to clean on the estate. Some will start up and not get enough customers and never come back. Handy for me because I'm no more than a mile away so i can nip into the estate anytime. I'm the most expensive windy in the new river front estate and i still get new customers and i don't no why but it has nothing to do with the price.

Some people just want 'that' certain person to clean their windows. I'm being totally honest, I clean a house for £50 that the previous indie was doing for £15. Big house, but still, they saw something in me and what I was saying/conveying that made them feel comfortable. Been doing it regularly for almost 2 years now.

Keep going my friend!

 

[harunh]

If a customer comes up to u and asks for a price and your scared to give a price because you may be "stepping on another window cleaners toes" then you are failing in business.

Concentrate on your own business and prices and stop worrying about upsetting other window cleaners

Dog eat dog

 

[scottish cleaning service]

Got rained off today but did most of them for free and it was worth it for the reaction i received. The hoppers were the worst because of the vents. I reckon wfp will be good on new estates because the vents will be nice and clean or new windows.

 

[Mx19]

Got rained off today but did most of them for free and it was worth it for the reaction i received. The hoppers were the worst because of the vents. I reckon wfp will be good on new estates because the vents will be nice and clean or new windows.

Why did you do most of them for free?! Can’t pay bills with reactions ??‍

 

[scottish cleaning service]

Why did you do most of them for free?! Can’t pay bills with reactions ??‍

Wasn't happy with my wfp results so why should they pay for poor result. Remember i have the gold standard fire service pension coming in each month. When you retire you will realise how worthwhile it was paying it every month.

 

[Mx19]

Wasn't happy with my wfp results so why should they pay for poor result. Remember i have the gold standard fire service pension coming in each month. When you retire you will realise how worthwhile it was paying it every month.

Haha assuming theres any pension left by the time I'm able to retire!!

 

[dmw]

Got rained off today but did most of them for free and it was worth it for the reaction i received. The hoppers were the worst because of the vents. I reckon wfp will be good on new estates because the vents will be nice and clean or new windows.

I'm a bit concerned that you have given up your Sunday to work for free on most of your jobs, personally for me a good "reaction" won't pay my bills. You're not that Euro millionaire are you Scottish?

 

[Don Logan]

I'm a bit concerned that you have given up your Sunday to work for free on most of your jobs, personally for me a good "reaction" won't pay my bills. You're not that Euro millionaire are you Scottish?

Totally agree, that's madness 

 

[Iron Giant]

Got rained off today but did most of them for free and it was worth it for the reaction i received. The hoppers were the worst because of the vents. I reckon wfp will be good on new estates because the vents will be nice and clean or new windows.

Not the case at all, working on a developing housing estate can be almost like doing first cleans every time depending on how close the construction is and on dry windy day they can be like sandstorms the dust gets every where, I have had jobs that looked like they hadn't been cleaned in months yet were only cleaned 4 weeks previously