Is using a car a disadvantage?

[Glasscleaner]

Restarting after a long break I will using the car in the short term, until I can afford a van of some description. However having done a couple of houses I got the feeling that the customers - one in particular - thought that I was presenting a less than professional image (although they were happy with the clean).

Just wondered what the general feeling is about using a car?

 

[norm]

i think if your driving the bat mobile and dont do a good job your going to be toast

 

[boarcity]

car is a real Advantage . on one side of the street is an old estate car with makeshift card sign in windows and tother side of street a big signwritten van -guess who the ladies run over to ask about window cleaning ?

iv had a van about 6 yrs now but i did my first couple of yrs using cars,they RAN to my car ,

in my van i still get enquiries on the street of course - but no running!

 

[norm]

car is a real Advantage . on one side of the street is an old estate car with makeshift card sign in windows and tother side of street a big signwritten van -guess who the ladies run over to ask about window cleaning ?
iv had a van about 6 yrs now but i did my first couple of yrs using cars,they RAN to my car ,

in my van i still get enquiries on the street of course - but no running!

were you in the boar mobile :laugh:

 

[Glasscleaner]

guess who the ladies run over to ask about window cleaning ?

Can't wait for that to happen :hehehe:

Although I haven't yet, I will be getting some natty signs to put on the car.

 

[Jake]

Opposite happened for me, car never looked professional, shiny sign written van has got me more customers, but I think it's dependant on area... Certainly where I am, people prefer a professional looking van...

Having said that, a car is brilliant if your trad only - cheaper to run!

 

[boarcity]

Can't wait for that to happen :hehehe:
Although I haven't yet, I will be getting some natty signs to put on the car.

be sure to put the signs on the Inside of the glass . greying cardboard that curls at the edges works well !

 

[SolarPanelCleaning]

Compromise, have a rough looking van. Works for me.

 

[MrBump]

Boarcity is that because the guy in the car was giving a free foot massage with every clean? /emoticons/wink.png Or was it just because they expected the car guy to be cheaper than the van..

 

[Jimroot]

I've got a rough looking small van, might try the card signs in the back window, can't be worse than the plain white paper I stuck there, and might help. Might test my areas, there's enough 'pro' vans floating about might look different.

Boarcitys flyer idea grew on me, I now think the honesty comes across in the handwritten diy marketing and pro can look generic off the shelf

 

[TolishAPurd]

I think in any other trade, a car looks naff...in fact very naff. But with window cleaning I agree with boar,rougher things look, the cheaper they'll think you are. There may be some that'll look down on you, but it depends who your target market are. The house I just finished at just now (worked till 7 tonight) was perfect for my nice shiney caddy. But in a council estate it always feels a bit out of place for a window cleaner. If you look too neat with your brand new sign writen van, I think many will assume you are ripping people off.

 

[Ant]

Always used a car, never been judged because of it. As long as you do a good job and don't take the p1ss innit!

Having said that I'm looking to get a small van now, get it sign written and that. More room for my ever growing hoard of window cleaning stuff.

 

[cheapncheerful]

no one ever sees cheapie as hes a bit ... so it doesnt matter but he does get ever so slightly jealous of some of the vans he spots around..

 

[Alien Human]

Personally - van all the way for the reasons already mentioned.......

But - if you are doing small commercial (coffee shops, newsagents, charity shops) then I think a car is absolutely fine as 'normally' your cleaning before everything opens.

The only thing with this is that these rounds take time to build as that market is saturated.

I can't make up my mind about whether to do residential, commercial or both????? Had a half day on commercial today and really enjoyed it.

 

[Glasscleaner]

Well it will certainlly be different from a white van! It's a bright red mondeo estate with the rear windows having a heavy tint. Playing around with a few sign designs, will stick pictures on here when I have decided which design to go with.

Just anoother thought, is a business name better than just a name, 'Fred Blogs window cleaning' as opposed to 'See clearly window cleaning' for example?

 

[Jimroot]

Small catchy name, ideally humorous and memorable :thumbsup:

 

[cheapncheerful]

wtf is wrong with glasscleaner....does it for me..:rofl:

 

[Glasscleaner]

wtf is wrong with glasscleaner....does it for me..

:rof:

 

[Alien Human]

Small catchy name, ideally humorous and memorable :thumbsup:

'Cows ******** window cleaning'

 

[boarcity]

"fred blogs" - now , thats very memorable ,id defo stay with that !

 

[boarcity]

Well it will certainlly be different from a white van! It's a bright red mondeo estate with the rear windows having a heavy tint. Playing around with a few sign designs, will stick pictures on here when I have decided which design to go with.
Just anoother thought, is a business name better than just a name, 'Fred Blogs window cleaning' as opposed to 'See clearly window cleaning' for example?

one idea might be a red sunstrip with fred blogs window cleaner in white