Newbie from down south, hi to all.

[TolishAPurd]

mop and blade is only half of it. you have to organize getting to n fro, money handling, drumming up work ,a myriad other things . none of which you do in a regular job. the folk who smirk [often family members] couldnt do it all,they mock because theyre actually jealous of you having the bottle to do it

Exactly.^

 

[Dave B]

That's what I was getting at

All the other stuff as well as the cleaning

Also anyone can clean trad but not everyone can do it efficiently

 

[andy w]

Good luck Scottie, I bit the bullet in March and went self employed for the first time in my life and so far I have no regrets about doing it, in fact things are going better than I had planned.

 

[koopmaster]

Doing windows and gardens might be ok in the beginning but you will soon get too busy to do both.

 

[Smurf]

I think there is a big difference in being busy 3 days a week doing premium paid work than being busy 5 days a week on poorly paid jobs and having to work twice as hard for less.

 

[Scottie]

Awcs and Koopmaster - cheers for the support and info. I really hope I will get busy. I have had a ear bashing form family saying dont do this you have a nice office job, safe and pension. Ok I do, but its killing me and since my accident I look at life different and I have been under nhs for stress for the accident PTSD and also my job had me stressed and fed up with life. SO **** em I am going for it and I was recommended this site for its support and since coming here, hearing from pro's that it can work I am confident. It is nice to no there is a site that you can come and people actually give you sound advice and are helpful alot of sites are not like this for other jobs. The gardening thing if i can get 3 days window cleaning that would be perfect just haveing 2 days or so gardening, but i just feel I wont get 3 days a week work, maybe i need more faith.

 

[Scottie]

I get you smurf cheers.

 

[Smurf]

Also first and foremost you will be selling yourself to joe public and the hard bit is getting the pricing right that no one on here can teach you to do but you will learn as you go along./emoticons/wink.png

 

[rshandyman]

Like TolishaPurd mensioned earlier the only problem with gardening is cost of the proper tools.You need few of them and they are not cheap therefore for one day a week or two purchase cost might not be justified.

 

[rshandyman]

That is why I do not do it.

 

[Dave B]

I would just concentrate on the windows bit that is just my opinion

Tenner for a 3 bed terrace jobbie and 3 next to each other is 30 quid for an hours work or getting hourly paid to cut grass etc with big brother watching

 

[TolishAPurd]

Although one thing I will say about gardening work, is that it is very easy to get jobs. 1 advert brings in a whole lot of work as a lot of people are desperate for help.

 

[rshandyman]

But this also depends on your location and competition.

 

[Scottie]

Hi Guys,

Yes agree the tools are expensive, but I have a few already, and will build as I need more, but If I can get the window cleaning work coming in then I will fill more days doing this agree with you there.

Can I ask, I no there is no real answer to this, but if i flyer, knock on doors, and ad adverts in local mags, shops, churches etc etc what kinda rate will work come in or what woudl you expect to see form that. Probably a silly question, but remeber I am new lol.

I like gardening very much so this work will keep me happy to. just like being out doors and after being stuck in an office all my life this will be amazing.

 

[cheapncheerful]

i do both and you start the year hectic and i enjoy the challenge but what hasnt been mentioned is ....gardening is mainly a summer job and will start backing down soon...well...after the great leaves fall....and so...you can have a rest just doing windows...

it is a definite pain trying to fit all the gardening and windowcleaning tools in so..i have no intention of advertising for gardening but i dont mind doing it for my windowcleaning customers if you just mention it in chat you may get the job as i have...

and yes dave, i hate big brother watching but i am lucky as most of mine are out....money left and i can just get stuck in and turn up when i want...the only downside is...once you start doing it for them its kinda hard to stop...

as for work scottie...it comes in dribs and drabs ..some of it good..some of it not so...but do remember the tolish rule...charge extra for first cleans as they take lots longer.just mention the normal price too..dont worry at all about getting the work ...especially now..

as the spring /summer warm weather jokers who call themselves window cleaners disappear as it gets cold...ahhh..great time to pick up work..../emoticons/biggrin.png...and keep us informed of your progress..:thumbsup:

 

[Scottie]

i do both and you start the year hectic and i enjoy the challenge but what hasnt been mentioned is ....gardening is mainly a summer job and will start backing down soon...well...after the great leaves fall....and so...you can have a rest just doing windows...
it is a definite pain trying to fit all the gardening and windowcleaning tools in so..i have no intention of advertising for gardening but i dont mind doing it for my windowcleaning customers if you just mention it in chat you may get the job as i have...

and yes dave, i hate big brother watching but i am lucky as most of mine are out....money left and i can just get stuck in and turn up when i want...the only downside is...once you start doing it for them its kinda hard to stop...

as for work scottie...it comes in dribs and drabs ..some of it good..some of it not so...but do remember the tolish rule...charge extra for first cleans as they take lots longer.just mention the normal price too..dont worry at all about getting the work ...especially now..

as the spring /summer warm weather jokers who call themselves window cleaners disappear as it gets cold...ahhh..great time to pick up work..../emoticons/biggrin.png...and keep us informed of your progress..:thumbsup:

Thanks Cheapandcheerful.

I am basically looking to fill 2 days window cleaning and 3 days gardening a week, or if i get 3 days of windows thats better. Its been a huge jump for me to leave work and risk this, so many people are putting me off, but on here I get support and if you look at it, if it was a no go you guys would tell me and thats not whatI am hearing.

I am worrying like hell, I have flyers and cards nearly ready, website on the go and ads going in all the usual places and more. I just need to go ot and get customers, the garden thing I will get work as will do fence painting mowing, leaves, clearence and patios cleaning, all sorts and then the window and frame cleaning etc...I just hope work comes in, mates tell me i wont get any work at all as its august now, but I have to do this it is what I want to do and suits me and gets me out of my life of hell.

I will keep you guys updated and I have to say eveyone on here has been ******* briliant with advice, its a very helpful and close community feel on here unlike some the gardening places I been on.

Cheers.

 

[windowsurfer]

Hi all the best with your new venture. I left my secure job with the council last November, bought an established round of gumtree, so keep an eye on that for any work, the average going rate is paying 3 times the price of the monthly worth of the round e.g £500 per month you would pay £1500. But of course if you don't want to pay for a round n build up your own then it would be better. My family were supportive of me changing jobs n I have friends that are windys, not the richest guys in the world, but all good guys who keep their business above board The only problem I get with windy cleaning, sore arms from being a scrubber, get bored sometimes, could do with listening to some motivating music to enhance the day. The good things are not working for someone else, having an extra day off now n then. Take care

 

[Scottie]

Windowsurfe, Thanks for the message, its really encouraging, are you doing well still? I dotn have the money to buy a round due to the incident i had last year, its set me back somewhat.

I want to be an honest windy and follow the law, hence I will have publc liabilty cover, car insurance to cover business use and inform HMRC as well as waste licence lower tier for my gardening. I think thats all I need, oh and to keep my books, I will be able to do that myself.

I am deffo making this step now, I have been less supported than yourself, but hey ho, time to proves some peeps wrong. I just hope I build it up, I only really need 2-3 days work window cleaning, the rest gardening, so I assume 14 customers a day would that be right? 2 an hour with travel also. I will need 280 customers, oh my god that is scareing me......it will take me ages. I have now designed the flyers and cards on vista print, deciding what website to have and its nearly time to start.

I think I will flyer and promote hard then wait for it to come then register with HMRC and my insurnces etc, no point same time I start flyering, i wont be working.

Again cheers for your info mate and agian to eveyone else.

 

[windowsurfer]

Hi I'm getting by, my dad gave me the cash to buy my main round, which I will hopefully pay back, but will have to see what I have to pay in tax n give him what I have left over. I bought another couple of days work of another windy. I have also canvassed a bit not too much, but have always picked up a couple of jobs each time. My big tip is get a tidy haircut before canvassing, you feel better, you look better, which will give a clean n tidy look to the potential custy. What I say is,as you want to get straight to the point "Sorry to bother you. Do you require a window cleaner?" Along those lines.

 

[cheapncheerful]

it sounds to me that there is no point in being scared scottie as you have too much on the go to stop....so stop worrying ..your on the path of freedom and soon you will be very busy....and moaning like me ...because your own gardens overgrown and you cant get time to get in it..../emoticons/biggrin.png

 

[Scottie]

Ha ha cheapncheerful, Yeah your right, I have to committe to those PL and car insurance quotes and tell HMRC and jst go for it!

Just working it out whats the best way to do things, someone on the site gave a good post on what wya to do things when setting up, but I can not find the post.

I think I need to get the quotes and not start them yet but have them there ready and get my web site done asap and then get the flyers out and do some door knocking then when I get some bookings I will tell HMRC and then book my insurance quotes. thats all I need to do. Oh and equipment. I have a vast detialed map of all the bunglows around my way and beyond, its took me time to build it but have over now 1500 of them, so will hit these. I will be WFP I thinks, so need to find one and get that sorted. but I am thinking of going ladder training and confidence there. I also see on site some windys dont like heights lol and never use ladders, I was suprised how many.

I see soem houses have like extensions on a slope roof so getting to windows is impossible trad way unless you wlak on the slates, not sure insurance would cover that, alot to think about still, BUT I am well on it! flyers are all designed and ready to print Thanks agian for the support, in your face friends and family, here I go, FREEEEDOM!!