Leaderboard

Evening all, I'm not sure if many of you remember but I asked for some help/advice from you all and tomorrow will be exactly 20 days since I first bought my system. So I have canvassed, dropped a couple of leaflets, updated my website, cleaned my own windows to within an inch of there life, practiced trad and wfp and cleaned families windows for free.for the extra practice. So where am I now? I have signed up to squegee and I've found it brilliant, If I'd used a pen and paper, my kids would have scribbled on the note pad, the dog would have eaten it, or I'd have spilt my brew over it. I've been out canvassing, just the once , and managed to bring 5 customers for 2 hours of walking, which was around £70 of work and I would have paid a canvasser around 3x to have found the work for me. So well worth sticking on a pair of comfy shoes and trying to look smart for a few hours. I've also hammered Facebook to death which among picking up a few walk ups. As of this evening I've now got 32 regular customers ranging from 4-8 weeks for now. I've had excellent feed back from all of my customers which has been a massive confidence boost. I'm not the quickest but I am thorough and speed will come with time, as is already becoming the case. In addition to the regulars I've also managed to pick up 2 conservatory roof cleans, both went brilliantly, a Gutter Clear out (I bought a Gutter vac) and gsf clean. I also have 2 more booked in for the week after next as I'm.away next week. All in all its been an extremely positive start I was hoping to have around 25 regular customers by Christmas, and between 50-75 for Christmas. Things may slow down but I've added at least 1 customer per day at an average price of £15.50 which the money was pretty much bang on the top end of what I hoped to average per clean (£12-£15). I have also revamped my website (I used to solely do oven cleaning) and geared it more towards my exterior cleaning. I Updated Google my business and My Facebook page and added an Instagram account because I think im cool . Excuse the long post, but thought it may be of use to some of you. I now have a list as long as my arm with things I want to do to make my life easier, but I'll save all that for another post haha. Thanks all that have helped, and previously asked the questions when they started out. The search bar has been incredibly useful!

Good to hear mate. Im the same for logging in and reading. However I only contribute if I can help or it’s a bit of fun. The threads where the same people are on constantly or the threads with the showing off I try to avoid now. As for the ‘work, balance’ subject, I’ve sold off a sizeable lump of my round and gone 4 days a week and love it. Currently laying in bed in Perranporth, Cornwall supping tea and scoffing custard creams! At 55, it’s lovely to have more time on your hands. Good to hear your doing well

He’s not ‘judging’, he is asking a question. Nothing wrong with that. As for ‘many women doing this job could run rings around most men’, very unlikely. Most men are stronger than most women, that just a plain fact whether you want to be woke about it or not. I’m sure there are some great women windies out there, but this is an open forum, so no Damo don’t be careful about asking a question that effects your business. Good to hear from you Damo, nice to see some of the longer term members still around

I don't have any hard & fast rules with regard to taking back ex-customers but will re-consider on a case by case basis.

If I've missed something today and replies have been deleted please let me know mate, from what I've read I don't see anything nasty, people have lost family through this and two members who maybe got a bit wound up have lost family to covid.

Hi @Damo, I’m a new female Windy - I only started 3 weeks ago & loving it so far! I was relatively active anyway & enjoy keeping fit, so finishing work & feeling like I’ve had a good workout is a bonus! Thanks to everyone who have provided me with advice so far, this forum is awesome & your wisdom much appreciated. I’m using an XLine cold water system with SLX Gardiner poles & an electric reel. I’m building up my clients at a steady pace too - so I agree with prior advice on this feed, that it’s the same as anyone, just be sensible & build up at a pace that works for you. I did a fascia & soffit clean the other day & was aching lots after that but a bit of Ibruprofen & rest worked a treat! I resigned as an Assistant Headteacher this summer, after 17 years in education, working 11-12 hour days regularly & struggling to find time to fit my fitness in. So really enjoying my career change so far! Hope it continues in the colder weather! Good on you @Damo for encouraging females into the profession! Watch out guys!

A swivel

Thank you for the advice @CMcB Definitely the gooseneck extension will help. Will start training and let you know how it goes. @Jimmy O It won't be possible with a scissor lift. It won't be able to fit into residential. @Pjj when I clean the outside the client realizes it's the inside is the problem. So they want me to come up with solution. I will definitely give a go with a trad pole and see how it goes. Thanks to everyone for the suggestions. Enjoy your weekend guys.

My top three irritations are. 3. Having to knock for gate to be unlocked. 2. Dog **** everywhere 1. Pulling all your hose out then the customer deciding they must go out in the car at that exact moment What's yours???

If it's a nasty letter I can only assume maybe they have already checked his finances under suspicion. A guy I know thought he was been clever putting money into families named savings accounts etc and was never an extravagant spender but clearly hmrc suspected something and he went and bought a house for cash, he tried to claim in his previous 15 years of trading or whatever it was he wasn't earning that much he was shocked when they turned around and said well how come you bought a house for cash and they had loads more on him, this was over 15 years ago, he had seriously defrauded them and paid the penalty, I'd sooner be 100% legit and sleep at night knowing I'm on the right side of the law.

I lost my 98 grandmother in January to covid and my 100 year old grandad in August of last year due to covid, Also my cousin is crippled due to long covid and doesn't have long of her life left. Forget all the political BS and scaremongering snowflake flat earth tin foil hat wearing 5G vegan brainwashed idiots and see what a massive difference proactive mass vaccination has had positivity on society and the global stage With respect, saying that your husband and lads carried on with internal cleans whilst we are all fighting a pandemic is quite irresponsible and shows lack of concern for your clients well-being That's just my opinion and tuppence worth to which I'm entitled to.....

@Iron Giant @HWCS you both and both and to the other guys for replying. Things are going far better than I expected and really over the moon with it. Enjoying it too (for now). I'm obviously still learning every day and every job as every job has been an experience whether that be access issues, window issues or even just how to price it issues. But every day is a school day and at the moment just taking it all in and finding my feet and what works/ doesn't work for me!

I don't move anything in the way. If I can't get access to any part of the window or door it doesn't get done.

I agree with @Jamesmarshall. But water over consumption is always a major issue with a backpack. When using my son's backpack ( it's mine but he insisted I buy one for him to use), I tend to use less water overall with a slightly higher flow rate. I don't use the backpack much btw. However, I still believe that you need more time to develop your cleaning technique @ched999ukbefore you start to think about speeding up and reducing your cleaning time. We had a Children's centre to clean over a weekend when there was no one about. I had keys to the outside security gates. We did it once a month for 12 years until the council decided to do it themselves to save money. There was a row of windows that always got the mid morning to afternoon sun even in winter (when the sun shone.) I used that row of windows to experiment on. I could try different cleaning methods on this row as the windows would dry while I was doing the rest of the building and I could inspect them. I would reclean them if necessary. Do I need to wash each window with 2 passes of the brush, or can I get away with one pass? Do I bother to do a separate rinse after scrubbing each window with a higher water flow? If I rinse, do I rinse with the brush off the glass, or can I rinse with the brush head on the glass? Pencil jets or fan jets? Flocked or monofilament brush? High, medium or low flow rate? What about a swivel? I found in our area on the North Sea Coast, I need 2 passes with the brush to ensure a good clean. I also need to rinse more to ensure I flush away any salt sea residue. I also found that I needed to inspect the glass of the window before I started to clean it. This saves me time as I don't waste time over cleaning. I pay attention to any bird strikes first working from the bottom of the glass upward before washing and rinsing. I still prefer pencil jets, and I'm not into swivels. I helped a fellow windie many years ago on his round which was well inland. His Vito van was off the road due to a broken fuel injector. His round wasn't affected by the salt sea air and was much easier to clean. What applies to me won't apply to every window cleaner. I still feel the biggest waste of time for me is getting rid of all the muck in the gap between the sill and the window frame. I carry around a claw brush to help me, but I reckon I spend more time on cleaning out the gap than on the whole window itself. The cleaner I helped didn't flush the gap out, he just wiped the sill with a towel at the end. I wasn't happy about doing that, but it certainly sped up my cleaning time. My suggestion @ched999ukis to count off the seconds as you clean and rinse a window (one thousand and one, one thousand and two, etc.) If it takes you 90 seconds to clean and rinse a window then try to reduce it to 75 seconds. Once you get comfortable with that then reduce the time a bit more. Just small chunks at a time. I have always believed that if you are new then taking longer to do a first, second and even a third clean will give the customer confidence that you are doing a good job. This is important for customer retention. When we started wfp we only had those heavy brick Vikan ovals with flocked bristles. We found that rinsing off the glass was the best way with those brushes. We haven't used them for years now, but I still find rinsing off the best way unless I'm at 35' to 40'.

I would say to the OP that your doing ok as you ve only been trading for 5 years.....but all rounds(even mine)need little tweaks here and there.... All our rounds are built on shifting sand... Keep refining Prices rises every few years Charge slightly more for new work Charge even more for longer frequencies Work becomes more efficient over time which will bump up your hourly rate for sure All the best mate

I know I’m going slightly off topic here, But many people seem to think that earning good money is All about high prices. Although it’s important it’s not everything. As Davy G says you also need to work hard, in an efficient way to make top dollar. Looking at your phone every 10 mins, having numerous tea breaks and sneaking of to McDonalds for lunch will get you nowhere even in high paying areas.

You might be over thinking it on her behalf. You can prove what your Franchisees earn so it's up to her to decide if she is capable of doing what "the men" do. If she can't there is no comeback on you as long as you reiterate it's a very tiring physical job.

This forum.

Nicely answered without any boasting . Totally agree, the decision is made on a case by case scenario

In the past I have taken on ex customers, but over the years have found that most are the same the second time around ,si my policy now is if I have dumped them for what ever reason I will never take them back on . If they have canceled for a genuine reason like been made redundant,, or moving house or similar and have been ok before then yes I will take them back on , but the leave it today as they arnt dirty , or looks like it’s going to rain , we are going on holiday next week so give us a miss this time are never taken back on , Ime sure others will have different idears , but this works very well for us I have over 4,500 customers and if we get 5 a year cancel for a non genuine reason we have had a very bad year it’s very rare that this ever happens and I put that down to our strict policy on messers .

If you want to take them back then do but maybe with an increase in price! It all depends on how full you are. Do you need the work? Do they fit in on your routes? Add a few quid on and see if they still want you to clean the windows.

I used to do 8:30 to 4:30, then when I took the lad on it was 8-4. Now it’s just me again I start around 9 and finish around 2-3 To be honest I’m enjoying the work a lot more now. I’m spending a bit longer at home each morning but I’m getting a proper breakfast, preparing lunch & making sure the house is tidy so when I get home I’ve got next to nothing to do! It makes going to work more enjoyable, I find at least

A couple more, People who message me for a quote, I respond promptly and they don't reply also those bleedin year round wreaths on the doors that some people now have

I think my approach would be to speak directly with the customers. I'd tell it as it is, as you've shared it with us. You're family business, founded by your good self and you're now sadly deceased husband. Explain that you helped this guy out when he was in trouble and that you're shocked, hurt and saddened that he could do this after knowing you for all those years. I personally wouldn't have anything to do with him. I wouldn't give the b.....d the satisfaction. He's already shown his character so no point. I'd avoid the temptation to call him any insulting names when talking with customers. A friend of mine (in the legal profession) gave me similar advice years ago when I was going through a tough time with a family break up. "Be honest, tell it as it is. keep the moral high ground.

Hell yes, out of the box thinking and it works. The minute you search for specific items the price goes up

We all get a few teething problems when starting out don’t worry about it , Ime sure you will get enough customers you have a good manner with people several of mine commented that you were a friendly guy so just use that to your advantage. We carry loads of spares , all hose fittings , all size o clips spare brushes we been to be able to carry on working especially when hundreds of miles away from home , but it’s not cheap I guess I have around £1,000 of spares in each van but that will come with time , just keep canvassing and building once you get a few customers they will recommend you to friends/family then you will pick up work much faster , also speak to ones on the streets you are working in they might ask about you doing theirs if you are friendly. I enjoyed meeting you and wish you all the best building up your rounds anything I can do to help just ask/ phone if you want tk come down again any time you are more than welcome .

That was my understanding too this will extend the life of ex electric car batteries for a while, They will reach a point where they are not able to hold the current and need to be scrapped/recycled. There will be a need for proper recycling facilities Lithium is highly combustible ( why they wont let you out laptops in the hold of a plane) Found this link that suggests there will be a shortage of materials to make batteries unless there is a series effort to recycle https://www.spglobal.com/marketintelligence/en/news-insights/latest-news-headlines/battery-recycling-efforts-pick-up-as-cobalt-lithium-face-potential-deficit-64847803 The Nickel is a rare metal that has to be mined as does the cobolt. There is a limited supply of these. In part its why so many companies are now looking at exploiting meteors and even the moon at some point. The battery packs for a car a quite large as there are multiple batteries connected together. Hydrogen fuel vehicles is well understood and as PJJ commented has been around for 40 years. It would have need a lot less investment and new infrastructure.

Sorry but it was her that listed illegal activity by her “ hubby” and staff so I don’t see how she is a victim , she also has a habit of creating controversial posts then everyone kicks off and she disappears and doesn’t comment further, I think she likes creating controversy .

Sorry to hear you’ve been upset, but coming on a public forum and announcing you’ve been doing internal cleaning whilst a world wide pandemic has been going on, what did you expect, a box of quality street?

I've popped on an advert selling one of my poles and in the description I mentioned the pole contains pole protectors I've fitted myself (to stop the pole sections banging together when bringing them down). Somebody messaged me to ask what exactly I'd fitted so thought I'd share it. A while ago I tried using O rings. But I found them not substantial or durable enough. And in the end didn't last long. So then I thought about using a thin piece of neoprene rubber. I was looking for a roll around 5mm wide and 3mm thick. The smallest I could find was 10mm wide and so I've cut it to the right length to wrap around each section of the poles then cut in half lengthways to make it 5mm wide. Then kept in place using a 4mm wide cable tie. Pull the cable tie as tight as possible then cut the excess (with a Stanley) completely and straight so nothing protrudes and its completely smooth. A little fiddly but once done it's lasted me a long time already and does a great job. I'll attach a picture... Also got the neoprene rubber strip from Ebay for a few quid.

Similar. Never really had an issue as I'm careful as you suggest. They're just there for reassurance to potentially prolong the life of my poles. Somebody asked the question about protecting poles. So said I'd reply on the forum rather than in private message in case any one else might find it useful.

We all have to start somewhere I started with a renault Clio and a couple of ladders and a bucket I look back now and find it hard to believe the progress and changes that have been made over the years , once you get a bit of experience and a bit of money and regular customers recommending you you will soon take off trust me , then when you get a van mount that will increase your productivity no end but by then you will have mastered the art of cleaning different types of windows and again your speed and earning potential will dramatically increase , I have been through what you are experiencing now and with drive and determination and setting realistic goals you will do well .

Not had an update since July so here it is, the next step in the HWCS journey. Juat ordered 2 sets (one for me and one for my oppo), Marshall Pro roof scrappers, brushes and double heads. Going live on the roof cleaning from the 1st of November, a mate thata a builder has scaffold towers i can use as and when as long as theyre not using them (they said they use the 6mt & 8mt ones about once every 2 years lol). Have done so many hours of youtube over the last week my eyes hurt lol. Have 5 to quote in the next cpl of weeks with 2 of them pretty much 100% in the bag already, tempted to buy a Marshall Pro sprayer for the roof, at £135 do you think its worth it @Pjj i know youve made your own, but im a buffoon so i couldnt make one. Next update will probably be before and after pics of my first job.

I think if it were me I'd get a quote or two from reputable local roofers and be done with it. Whether you use one of them or the one she spoke to, I'd try to fund it myself outside of the insurance. The work would be guaranteed and you could move on with your reputation intact. Damage occurred... that can happen, you had it put right promptly and professionally. What more can anyone ask for? You will have to find the money once. Not nice I know but you can offset the cost to your tax bill and move on with a clean no claims on your insurance. If you claim from your insurance you will be paying a higher premium possibly for ever more. I don't know for sure that I'm right on this but that's my super reliable gut feeling. I broke a poly roof panel on an old conservatory in my first week. I did as I suggested above even though it was very tough to find the £300 or so I think it cost from memory. My son cracked a window by dwelling too long with the hot water while talking with a customer on a frosty day. We paid our local "Doctor Glass" to fit a new glass. I think from memory he charged £40 but we gave him £50. I'll avoid making an insurance claim if at all possible. I'll hope to offset against the tax bill instead. Rather than having to pay increased insurance costs for at least a few years. I'd get to know good local tradesmen in different fields of work who hopefully won't do you or your customers wrong. I try and have a bank of tradesmen that I can recommend to customers and they in turn can confidently recommend me. Old style standards of neighbourly service. Good luck. You could have done without this hassle and expense but no one is in hospital.

I am not good with technology so would struggle to post a video but Ime sure @rigmarole will confirm what I have said as he came out with me the other week when one of my guys was in holiday . Compact work is key tk good earnings , it’s your business not the customers you set the rules not them , I understand and know what it’s like building a round but if you take in ones that hesitate you are just perpetuating the problems you are experiencing you will always get ones cancelling as they only want a one off clean , that’s fine if that’s what they want but charge accordingly. Speed per job is also down to experience , and kit set up from pulling up we have poles on the glass in less than 15 seconds on estate type work , 4 weekly work is a maintenance clean , an initial first clean will take longer 2-3 times on average . What set up are you using ? Van mount or back pack trolly ??? You are very welcome to come out with us for a day or two if you would like to see how we work .

I don't really like discussing income. However I generally will answer a straight question that's been asked of me. My honest and accurate answer is; around double your figures, per person in a fast, efficient, high quality two man team on almost entirely domestic work. This is in North Wiltshire and the Cotswolds and is a mix of working class, middle class and a few executive class properties. I didn't wait for the well paid work to come to me. I saught it out by trying different areas within a reasonable distance and I made sure I wasn't too timid with the pricing. I cant speak for pricing in other areas of course as it's out of my experience. My gut feeling is that often it's there to be found fairly locally with a little travelling, imagination and courage.

Yes all three are legal to carry. They are slipjoints so don’t lock. I usually carry a SAK (Swiss army knife) to work, the ones above are too valuable. The law is you can carry any knife as long as the blade is less than 3 inches long and doesn’t lock. You can carry a locking or fixed blade knife with a longer blade, if you have a good reason, like if your camping etc. It’s also legal to own them , as long as you don’t take them outside. You are correct though, Flick Knives are illegal to own.

I have this problem with some areas, mostly dodgy council estates. It was surprisingly predictable. Fine for a while at first then late or missing payments for a few months then either cancel or just ignore payment reminders and not answer the door. I lost most of the houses in those estates in less than a year. Instead I canvass nicer estates with more expensive houses, on new estates mainly, and I rarely ever lose any except for when they sell the house.

Hi mate, as regards your pricing it wouldn't be expensive whatever part of the country you're in. If anything you seem cheap. We've all got jobs that are too cheap. I feel like the world is collapsing round me when I lose one, sometimes when I'm driving past I check to see if the windows are dirty or not, did it last week and the 2 I checked were minging. I find as one door closes another one opens. Get out and canvass until you're at saturation point. I'm mainly 4 weekly but it takes me 5/6 weeks to get round. The only thing I can think of why you're losing customers is quality? Scrub and rinse plenty! @steve garwoodgot a Ducati Scrambler now

Thanks for your replies, it seems okay now all I did was tighten jubilee clips around pump & it seems fine now just had to blow it out in the morning 1sy thing. Hopefully be okay now.

Good evening, Analogue and digital controllers do not alter the pressure it's only flow rate. An Analogue controller is the most basic so in theory should be less problematic. I'm guessing you are meaning that you have an issue with the lack of constant flow rate ? With any issue like this it's good to inspect your system plumbing. Check the tank and it's outlet for any obstructions such as plastic shavings or debris Check all pipe work from the tank through to the reel hose and pole hose then checking brush head jets for deris or grit You also need to be 100% satisfied that all your plumbing connections are tight and not drawing in air as air locks and water cavitation can dramatically affect your systems performance. Do you have an inline strainer / filter before your pump that could be blocked Is your battery in a good serviceable state with frequent charging and capacity. If you have an airlock it's best to turn your controllers flow to maximum and allow the water to flow for a few minutes without the pole being attached to the reel, then add the pole and do the same again.

I have a meeting with her tomorrow and the first question will be “how much do you want to earn?” if she quotes sky high figures then I will explain my concerns. I have no doubt she can do it and will probably match my guys but I’m not going to sell a lie.

I do still log in and have a read but the business has taken off massively since lockdown so struggling with work/life balance at the moment. As for equality and value if your saw my team you’d understand I’m happy to take on any person whether they’re female/male/black/*** or disabled.

20210905_110651_1_1.mp4 Quick update got it all back together and working, seems alot smoother than it was before maybe greasing up the bearings helped that. Thanks all for you help and advice and hopefully this can be a goto for anybody else that is a rough **** and splits belts

wheely bin wheels

Hey mate, just called them I've paid for x2 new belts and I will keep on as a spare. I think my reel is around 15 months old. To be honest it's the first major break down in all my time of having it so as long as I can fix it I'm happy Four bolts x2 on each corner, I but tight 10 mm bolts also. Unscrew the hose part of the water outlet and it simply pulls off. 10 minute job. New belts should be here tomorrow so fingers

1. Having to knock due to locked gate 2. Dog **** 3. Winter First two I’ve managed to all but solve by texting the night before. Last one I’m working on

What works for the self employed, will maybe not work once you have an employee. For example, your prices may not count for the cost of, sick pay, accountany fees, payroll systems, employers liability insurance, employers pension contributions, lower productivity, less flexible attitude, and time for you to deal with the staff, time to deal with the additional customers etc. So whether it is worth doing really depends on your business, but for mine I would say yes, but its allot of responsibility and hassle at times tbh. I have had staff doing less work than I was paying them, theft, staff swearing at me, broken equipment, damaged vans to name but few issues. My best advice would be to ensure your business model supports the costs and time invloved, have systems in place to deal with productivity(I have daily targets), and good cash controls in place(floats, weekly cash up of cash bags, ensure only one person deals with the cash etc). Get a contract, and training plan drawn up, and an accountant involved also, they should be able to give you a price for managing your payroll. Have clear expectations and reasonable goals you expect your staff to meet, and stick to them, start disaplinary procedures straight away if they aren't up to par. You can also call ACAS if you have any issues, or need advise. Another thought which you may want to concider, is put your prices up. Stay a one man band for a while, and just turn away the jobs you don't want. Work on consolidating your work with nice easy, well priced jobs. You may be able to add the same amount of profits to your business, as you would employing, by pushing your pricing and honing your rounds, without any of the extra hassle.

I use a simple 1" non-submersible water transfer pump. It just sits on the top of the IBC tank. I cut a hole through the tank lid with a hole saw and the suction pipe fits nice and snugly through it without having to damage the tank. I fitted a filter on the suction end. It couldn't be more simple or economical. I don't see the advantage or need for a submersible pump. I'm also more confident in the reliability of not connecting to the tank outlet as I have absolutely no worries about potential leaks or trip hazards as everything is above the water level. My 1" pump (Clarke) transfers at the rate of 40 litres per minute through 1" reinforced transparent hose. This suits me perfectly as it gives me just the right amount of time to prepare for the next day's work ie : double check the wfp pumps are both switched off, check the TDS, switch on the processing system in the shed starting with a short backflush before switching over to processing, plug in the immersion having first ensured that the water level is above it. All done while the van tank is filling. Our checks, filling and preps for the next day are usually completed in no more than 15 minutes unless we have repairs or maintenance to do. I don't use a trigger on the hose as the van tank is only five or six paces from the pump switch. I just have to make sure I keep an eye on it for the last six or seven inches. I failed on a couple of occasions in the past and flooded the van but very rarely now. We all have our own ways of doing things, that's what keeps things interesting. It would be a boring and probably short lived forum if we all did things exactly the same.

All of this very much depends how much you need to earn money. All fine and dandy for the established to say no nay never, far harder for those struggling to pay bills. Your business your call.