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Hi Guys New Here And New To Window Cleaning

As Daveyboy says with the first cleans although I'm a little baffled how WFP could get a frame cleaner than when I do it manually with a hot soapy cloth (and scourer, UPVC restorer if necessary).

I've been using a Gardiner backpack and pole for the last couple of years, for my needs its been brilliant and for just over two hundred quid you can't go wrong, battery lasts forever and the lady I spoke to was brilliant, I didn't have a clue what I needed and she talked me through everything.

I've got to a size I can just about manage (with help), I considered going WFP but like you I only clean two days a week and the numbers didn't stack up (running second vehicle, set up costs etc), I did have a thought recently, if I could invest in a pool vehicle with cleaners from other watches we could get the van working seven days a week, could be a nightmare but if well managed could be a great benefit.

The earnings are realistic but I wouldn't describe them as easy, this is hard graft, you are going to have to work hard and knock on a lot of doors to build the round. Winters seem to knock a few out of the equation even though the last few have been pretty mild.

One downside is you only get so many days off and when the weathers good there is always cleaning to catch up on so the only leisure days you get are when its lashing it down.

 
Wfp gets the frames clean as in all the dirt is washed off everywhere including above vents and in the little gaps etc

I don't use upvc restorer etc as it is just a first clean on the windows and the frames are washed the same as the windows

If they wanted a upvc restoration job i would obviously be doing that by hand

 
Cheers dan

Sounds like I'm trying to get to where you are. I'm not interested in employing and pooling vehicles etc it will get messy.

I'm happy to have 80 to 90 odd customers and wfp tops trad bottoms. Possibly wfp the lot with back pack or trolley etc. If I can earn £1000 in 6 days ill be a happy lad.

Cheers dave

I suppose every house is different and will need a certain type of clean upon viewing it. I know it's graft this game but if I can get to where I'm aiming, as I say ill be very happy.

Shame it's the winter I reckon canvassing will be twice as hard convincing customers to get jobs.

 
Saying that i am doing the best i have all year at getting new customers at the moment..last 3 weeks has been non stop new work coming in..

Winter is ok for new work if you chap enough doors or deliver enough leaflets..you gotta get facebook working for you too

 
The free advert on yell.com brings in a few calls, usually from roads where there is no cleaner or one has retired...when I quote those I ask if they know which other houses used their previous cleaner...when I canvass those roads the strike rate is usually pretty good.

The cheap advert in the village shop has generated a few leads.

Most of the new work has come from being approached when out cleaning. Take a look through some of the old threads for ideas on getting the work in.

 
Also register on freeindex

Costs nothing

Only had a handfullof jobs from it but it all adds up

 
Time to start a riot /emoticons/tongue.png

Davey you keep recommending trollies and buying water which may work for you but if the funds are there then buy a van mounted system and save yourself in the long run.

Save the expense of buying water, the time running back and forth refilling barrels and so on.

No offence to trolley users but pulling your brush out of a nicely set up van does look more professional to customers than hauling a trolley system out the back of the old estate car.

In your shoes Reach, looking at smaller vans I would put a 350 / 400 liter tank in the van, and have your water production at home with a good RO unit and a 1000 liter IBC storage tank (these can be bought for about £60 on the web) Then simply refill each day when you get home. No need to carry a weeks supply all at once.

18 houses a day is easily doable with WFP and once your speed and organization are up I would expect that to take no more than 8am - 1pm. My current 'busy' day is 31 houses and I still manage to be home by 3.30.

Anyhow apologies Davey if it appears I am slagging off trollies, not at all, they have their place but if you have the resources then start out with the best you can afford otherwise in a month you'll just be looking to upgrade again.

Good luck with it Reach.

 
I recommend it at first rather than the initial set up cost then finding it is not for you and yet another person out of pocket

Once you are up and running and know it is right for you then yes van mount is definitely an advantage

Just look on ebay how many full setups are for sale from people where it obviously hasn't worked out

Surely a couple of hundred quid to test the water is worth it

If you are only 3 minutes from where you can fill up why not??

 
Same as the bankruptcy argument to me Davey, I can not conceive trying anything where there is the slightest doubt.

If I only had a couple of hundred invested I could have easily jacked in on some of the rough days, knowing everything I had was invested and I had to pay bills this week is what made the difference.

 
Cheers green I totally get it. Unfortunately I live in a terraced house so home production and storage is not an option for me.

I agree dave as I've never done it before a backpack or trolley with trad too is a simple way to see how I progress without larger setup costs.

 
I also live in a terraced house Reach, all my filtration is done in van I just run a hose down the 'alley' between the houses and plug it into my van. Simples.

Here is a thread about how I put my van together in case you are interested. http://windowcleaningforums.co.uk/threads/to-buy-or-not-to-buy-that-is-the-question.17011/page-3#post-261655

Here is a nice trolley / backpack if you choose to go that route instead.

http://www.thecleaningwarehouse.co.uk/new--water-genie-backpacktrolley-5616-p.asp

 
Cheers mate good looking van. How much does it cost in new resin etc my water is extremely hard in South London.

Any paticular poles you suggest.

Lengths , materials, brushes etc

Thanks

 
Resin use will be minimal if you have hard water as you will need to use an ro also which will clean it up a lot and go through the resin as the last stage

Last i looked it is about £75 a bag

 
Good info dave cheers.
Slummy south how very dare you yea I reckon you could be right. There's a hell of alot of money in london so £12 is a pittance to many really.

What about amount of cleans in a day?

Amount of cleans per day varies

If you get your pricing right it is a hell of a lot easier to get a good wage

I did 8 jobs today and wife had taken all my cash to pay in the bank this morning

This is from today lol

Did first job at 10 and just got in

View attachment 5363

Mind you it was a very good day

When the weather is bad..you're cold and damp and had enough days like this spur you on

 
Amount of cleans per day variesIf you get your pricing right it is a hell of a lot easier to get a good wage

I did 8 jobs today and wife had taken all my cash to pay in the bank this morning

This is from today lol

Did first job at 10 and just got in

View attachment 7870

Mind you it was a very good day

When the weather is bad..you're cold and damp and had enough days like this spur you on
Going on the jobs done thats a very high price per house, never get that sort of cash up north for 10 houses unless there all over 750k value which is big up north. Can you give a run down on what each job was in cost and the size.

 
It is village day today..all big houses in a secluded little village..money left in sheds etc for me so no collecting..the old posh folk don't like to faff with paypal or bacs

2x£40 jobs for a rich family who own lots of car garages..5 bed detached jobbies

A commercial unit and 5 decent houses

Around the 20 quid mark..or thereabouts

Sometimes it is nice like that..sometimes it is nice to park in one road and do 20+ normal 3 beds for 10-12 quid a pop and only move the car a few times

Variety is good but you need to price right

 
It is not often i have such a good day though to be fair

And when i am working in town i am forever waiting for paypal etc as they don't like to leave it out..don't know why as no one else would know it was there but me

 
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