1st Job Done... 150ltrs and 3 hours : )

[Yogi1872]

Yeah I'm very aware of that and definitely don't want to be cheap. I've set my target at £35 to £40 per hour which is a hell of a lot more than the minimum wage I get at some of the work I do at the moment.

With regard to the first clean, well I was thinking about it last night, this house would have to be about a £20 house for a 30 minute 4 week clean, my first clean price would have been quoted at £25. If I had charged £40 maybe £50 for the first clean then I really don't think they would have agreed a clean. I'm thinking that the first clean needs to be discounted in order to get them on board and then it would be a case of you win some you lose some.

If the regular clean price would be £20 what would everybody else charge for the first clean price? It is a hell of a lot of work compared to say cleaning it again in 4 weeks, I can see it's a bit of a ball ache . I can imagine the regular cleaning being a lot faster, I'm going to clean my parents again to see how it compares.

Thanks again for the advice guys, now it's back out to the low paid stuff, hopefully not for too much longer : )

Tbh, at the moment, your not in a position where it's wise to loose out on a customer because your charging a one off double charge for the first time. You need that customer alot more than they need you at the moment. When your in a position where you have alot of customers and not really needing anymore, then you can dictate your terms more. No point loosing out in a customer who's going to pay you 12 times a year because they won't pay you double the first time. Not when you need work.

 

[Crystalalan]

Think in my hands it could be arthritis, it's only over the last 6 months but feels like the beginning of another thing that I need to get looked at.

I have other pains all over my mid section though, just under my ribs. I've seen the doctors many times over the last few years and they just are not interested, they do tests and the last gp appointment I had he just said 'some pains are unexplained but there's nothing wrong with you... and then said it's acid reflux... which it's definitely 100% not'

Just feels like I'm banging my head against a brick wall, if I had loads of money I'd have consultations with top specialists because I know something isn't right and need to be taken seriously. You read of these people who have had to go back to their doctors multiple times because they're not believed and eventually they end up in A&E with stage 4 cancer, well that's what feels like is happening.

I just don't feel confident that when they say I'm ok, that I actually am, because these pains gradually are spreading. During the night is worse by far, I'm in pain when I sleep on my front, like stinging stabbing pains across my stomach and on my right side. So I feel tired because I can't sleep properly due to being in discomfort all night, this then probably has a knock on effect because I'm not getting the restorative sleep needed for my body to repair itself.

I look fit and healthy and it's like the doctors look at me like I'm wasting their time and resources. It's ridiculous the way they treat you when you look ok on the outside and are operating somewhat normally with your life. But I know my own body like nobody else and these pains are not in my head. The way I see it is pain is a warning sign that something isn't right.

Could these pains be stress induced? Only I remember you saying a few months ago that your were going through a pretty terrible time with your family. Stress can manifest itself in many different ways.

 

[Crystalalan]

Also make sure you are drinking plenty of fluids as this can cause pains in the stomach.

 

[Richyconnett]

It’s tough starting out. Having so many first cleans takes it out of you. I handle the physical side of the job much better now 14 years later than I did in the beginning. I did have a 30 ft composite fibreglass pole back then that had a mind of its own though.
get through the first cleans, get lighter equipment, eat well, sleep well, don’t work more than 6 hrs a day( less if you can) work quicker, more efficiently and you’ll get over the hump and be sailing before you know it.
I would see a physio about your pains . Might need a simple massage or it might need treatment. I recommend taking cod liver oil/ glucosamine for arthritis . It could be just overworking . We all suffer from pains here and there comes with the territory

 

[spruce]

I'm 53 and been window cleaning for 32 years. The trick is to work short days and have decent equipment. Personally I think hot water,extreme poles and electric reels are a must for easier working days no matter what time of year.

I think this job has never been easier! No collecting and no ladders! What's not to like? Bluetooth earbuds with music/radio/audiobook,etc and crack on!

I don't find it physically tiring personally but I lift weights 3 times a week and play drums as a hobby which helps keep me fit....

Are you close to retirement age mate? Maybe that's why your suffering with aches and pains?

You forgot the heated seats, Daz.

 

[Chris34]

Tbh, at the moment, your not in a position where it's wise to loose out on a customer because your charging a one off double charge for the first time. You need that customer alot more than they need you at the moment. When your in a position where you have alot of customers and not really needing anymore, then you can dictate your terms more. No point loosing out in a customer who's going to pay you 12 times a year because they won't pay you double the first time. Not when you need work.

I beg to differ. I've charged pretty much double from the word go and it set the business well on its way. The reality is a first clean is more work and if the frames are really bad then it's at least double the time for a quick clean. To this day I charge double on a first unless they're either new windows or recently had a window cleaner.

Charging double on a first clean has never ever, in the whole 6 years of going, it's never lost me the quote. What's lost me the quote is the regular price, they openly tell you. They're very accepting of paying more on the first clean. I've got a quote to do tomorrow and he's already said he doesn't mind paying extra on the first clean and that's without me saying anything about paying more on the first.

 

[Chris34]

Could these pains be stress induced? Only I remember you saying a few months ago that your were going through a pretty terrible time with your family. Stress can manifest itself in many different ways.

I'd be surprised if it's that but you are right, the family has caused a lot of problems ever since I started window cleaning. I'd be surprised if it's that though.

I personally think it's something gone bad, like my appendix but the type where it slowly goes bad. My very first gp appointment (5 years ago) pressed where my appendix was and it was like he had stabbed me with a knife, the pain was excruciating but he just stared at me in shock, like I had overreacted and dismissed it even though I said surely that must be it.

Strange thing is when I'm working there isn't any pain. It's when I go to bed. Felt fine working today though, breezed through it with this warmer spell...

 

[Iron Giant]

Think in my hands it could be arthritis, it's only over the last 6 months but feels like the beginning of another thing that I need to get looked at.

I have other pains all over my mid section though, just under my ribs. I've seen the doctors many times over the last few years and they just are not interested, they do tests and the last gp appointment I had he just said 'some pains are unexplained but there's nothing wrong with you... and then said it's acid reflux... which it's definitely 100% not'

Just feels like I'm banging my head against a brick wall, if I had loads of money I'd have consultations with top specialists because I know something isn't right and need to be taken seriously. You read of these people who have had to go back to their doctors multiple times because they're not believed and eventually they end up in A&E with stage 4 cancer, well that's what feels like is happening.

I just don't feel confident that when they say I'm ok, that I actually am, because these pains gradually are spreading. During the night is worse by far, I'm in pain when I sleep on my front, like stinging stabbing pains across my stomach and on my right side. So I feel tired because I can't sleep properly due to being in discomfort all night, this then probably has a knock on effect because I'm not getting the restorative sleep needed for my body to repair itself.

I look fit and healthy and it's like the doctors look at me like I'm wasting their time and resources. It's ridiculous the way they treat you when you look ok on the outside and are operating somewhat normally with your life. But I know my own body like nobody else and these pains are not in my head. The way I see it is pain is a warning sign that something isn't right.

You need to kick your GP up the a$$ and demand for it to be taken further, I had to get a bit rowdy with mine a few years ago when I was getting spasms in my spine he was fine just giving me muscle relaxants that took 2-3 days to work and painkillers that were useless, I laid it on line that I was self employed and couldn't afford to be sitting at home for days losing money and he needed to get something sorted asap, in the end, I got an MRI scan which then led to a hospital appointment, thankfully it sorted itself out and I was given the all clear but at the hospital, they were initially quite concerned that I could have had a serious problem with my spine, this was a few years ago.

 

[Iron Giant]

Seems so long ago that now, my younger self seems like a nice chap, not like the older grumpy version


I'd say the hardest part of the job is keeping going. It's physically tiring and very boring. The business side is a doddle, there is always work if you're prepared to put in the effort to get it. The money is ok but you won't be rich in todays world of high house prices and high taxes, you won't starve and you'll be able to have a bit left over. It's just like having a good average job but you have to live with aches and pains all the time.

My plan is to continue with it for the next few years whilst setting up a non related product based business. I don't feel comfortable relying on window cleaning anymore because once everyone is in the 40% tax bracket then things are going to get increasingly difficult to make it work when all other costs are rising fast. So I'm looking at a business that allows me to earn a lot more and is not charging for my time (hourly rate). I'm also investing my money. So it's a case of not having all my eggs in one basket.

Mate, you'll get grumpier when you hit 50 honestly if the business is all-consuming and you're not out on your bike or hiking or something then that's what you need, I listen to music all day every day and that definitely kills the boring with a bit of jump up,

Most of my jobs I'd say they're already in the 40% tax bracket so that doesn't bother me at all, you should be in a decent position now to be doing an easy 4-day week and making a very decent wedge whilst taking plenty of time for yourself, I get aches myself and my back isn't perfect also fatigued for some reason so taking some new vitamins,

Investing is good if you are on the ball with it I had a bit of a rollercoaster this past week or so with the Trump effect, I am leaving the stock market alone for a while and putting money into managed investment funds currently thinking of a Asian and an American fund with those being the two biggest economies and just forgetting about them unlike the day trading which I now only check my funds every week or two

 

[Crystalalan]

Could you just head down to casualty and bypass the docter?

 

[Iron Giant]

Could you just head down to casualty and bypass the docter?

Possibly better off trying to lay it on a bit via 111 service and getting an appointment with urgent care that will avoid spending countless hours waiting to be triaged

 

[Crystalalan]

yep thats a fair point! I was just thinking that theres a lot more equipment in hospitals such as x ray machines. I think Chris needs an x ray asap.

 

[Iron Giant]

yep thats a fair point! I was just thinking that theres a lot more equipment in hospitals such as x ray machines. I think Chris needs an x ray asap.

They'll push it in urgent care as my wife has attended urgent care in the past so things can be upscaled sharpish

 

[Chris34]

You need to kick your GP up the a$$ and demand for it to be taken further, I had to get a bit rowdy with mine a few years ago when I was getting spasms in my spine he was fine just giving me muscle relaxants that took 2-3 days to work and painkillers that were useless, I laid it on line that I was self employed and couldn't afford to be sitting at home for days losing money and he needed to get something sorted asap, in the end, I got an MRI scan which then led to a hospital appointment, thankfully it sorted itself out and I was given the all clear but at the hospital, they were initially quite concerned that I could have had a serious problem with my spine, this was a few years ago.

Yeah I need to get onto them again, last time it was about this time last year. I did switch practices and the new one is faster but the doctors are hit and miss, one saying 'sometimes pain is unexplained, just take pain killers' .

I have had lots of tests, the problem is it's like you have to tell the doctor what you want otherwise you don't get it. It shouldn't be like that, they're the 'experts' but it's like they're only interested if you're showing visible signs of distress.

I've had two ultrasounds, one MRI scan, a camera down my throat, a camera up my backside, psa test, blood test, urine test, faecal test. However although that sounds like a full service, I am not confident in the results. Like for instance the camera tests, they were horrid, wouldn't want to do it again and were done one after the other, wouldn't like to have either of them done ever again but the one up the backside, part way through it I heard the woman over seeing it on the monitor say along the lines of 'oh, it's gone off, then another woman say something like 'shall we call for another one' and she replied with no it'll be ok' and they just ended it. Now for me that rings alarm bells, it's not a full inspection if the monitor / camera failed part way through, there is no way of knowing the parts that she didn't see was ok. It's just life experience tells you that people in all disciplines can make poor decisions that are at best lazy and at worst negligent.

It's also like with the blood tests. You have to tell them what to test for. A blood test could be just testing for one thing when there are many things they 'could' be testing for.

It's ridiculous really but you have to be on the ball just like you were with your doctor and push them all the time. The psa test, I requested that two years ago and the doctor said he didn't think it was necessary and that they're not accurate. Well look at it on the news now, they're pushing for people to come forward to have them done. It's conflicting information all the time.

Mate, you'll get grumpier when you hit 50 honestly if the business is all-consuming and you're not out on your bike or hiking or something then that's what you need, I listen to music all day every day and that definitely kills the boring with a bit of jump up,

I think for me it's a case of trying to make it more enjoyable. Yesterday worked really well. Basically on Monday I had to stop as the bullet proof machine that I've used for 6 years just stopped, no power at all on the controller. So called it a day and took everything home. On inspection the contacts on the lead connecting to the battery were ever so slighty furred, so I cleaned them up and put it back together and it all came to life again.

Anyway yesterday was the first time I was back out using it and it's like tonnes of power now. I always run it on 100 percent but I instantly noticed the sound of the pump was a lot more powerful, particularly on the upstairs windows. I was flying through the work, all the bits were just disappearing, it was a lot faster and easier and was a totally different cleaning experience.

I was wondering recently why I seemed to be slowing down compared to a few years ago and was reluctantly thinking maybe it's because I'm getting older but I'm now confident it must be the machine not have been working properly.

So I'm now going to look at improving all little areas of the kit to make it easier and faster. It's not something I've done as I thought any small gains probably don't make a big difference really, but after yesterday I can see that I would rather have the machine like it is now than like it was before... so there could be other things that are like that that make it a lot easier. So I'll be looking at things like extreme poles, maybe researching pumps and batteries to see if I can get a more powerful one... etc.

Investing is good if you are on the ball with it I had a bit of a rollercoaster this past week or so with the Trump effect, I am leaving the stock market alone for a while and putting money into managed investment funds currently thinking of a Asian and an American fund with those being the two biggest economies and just forgetting about them unlike the day trading which I now only check my funds every week or two

Yeah mine have taken a hit, not done too good so far this year. Last year I put £4k in and by Christmas it was around £10k and looking like it could be £14k to £15k by April. But all this stuff with Ukraine and also our government trying to kill off the North Sea oil industry has seen me take several hits of £1.5k and £2.5k and a few others. I've made gains as well but it means that unless something dramatically changes and the bad news keeps coming then my pot could be back down to £6k to £7k by April.

I've got a couple of high risk ones that could recover very well and put everything back on track but they could go either way.

The stock market is very unpredictable. Have a look at Just Group share price today. They released better than expected results and their share price plummeted by 14%. It never makes any sense.

 

[Redditch windy]

Nice one, you obviously took plenty of time to ensure the job was 100%, just to clarify a standard 4 bed on a first clean might take me 45 minutes or more depending on how bad they are as I promise a 100% job so charge double on a first clean set your stall out as you mean to go on, Also swap those 2mm pencil jets in your Gardiners brush for https://www.machinemart.co.uk/p/clarke-pack-of-5-1-0mm-welding-tips they give a more powerful rinse which means you can turn down the flow rate on your controller and reduce water usage by around a 1/3

do these screw straight in?

 

[spruce]

Yeah I need to get onto them again, last time it was about this time last year. I did switch practices and the new one is faster but the doctors are hit and miss, one saying 'sometimes pain is unexplained, just take pain killers' .

I have had lots of tests, the problem is it's like you have to tell the doctor what you want otherwise you don't get it. It shouldn't be like that, they're the 'experts' but it's like they're only interested if you're showing visible signs of distress.

I've had two ultrasounds, one MRI scan, a camera down my throat, a camera up my backside, psa test, blood test, urine test, faecal test. However although that sounds like a full service, I am not confident in the results. Like for instance the camera tests, they were horrid, wouldn't want to do it again and were done one after the other, wouldn't like to have either of them done ever again but the one up the backside, part way through it I heard the woman over seeing it on the monitor say along the lines of 'oh, it's gone off, then another woman say something like 'shall we call for another one' and she replied with no it'll be ok' and they just ended it. Now for me that rings alarm bells, it's not a full inspection if the monitor / camera failed part way through, there is no way of knowing the parts that she didn't see was ok. It's just life experience tells you that people in all disciplines can make poor decisions that are at best lazy and at worst negligent.

It's also like with the blood tests. You have to tell them what to test for. A blood test could be just testing for one thing when there are many things they 'could' be testing for.

It's ridiculous really but you have to be on the ball just like you were with your doctor and push them all the time. The psa test, I requested that two years ago and the doctor said he didn't think it was necessary and that they're not accurate. Well look at it on the news now, they're pushing for people to come forward to have them done. It's conflicting information all the time.



I think for me it's a case of trying to make it more enjoyable. Yesterday worked really well. Basically on Monday I had to stop as the bullet proof machine that I've used for 6 years just stopped, no power at all on the controller. So called it a day and took everything home. On inspection the contacts on the lead connecting to the battery were ever so slighty furred, so I cleaned them up and put it back together and it all came to life again.

Anyway yesterday was the first time I was back out using it and it's like tonnes of power now. I always run it on 100 percent but I instantly noticed the sound of the pump was a lot more powerful, particularly on the upstairs windows. I was flying through the work, all the bits were just disappearing, it was a lot faster and easier and was a totally different cleaning experience.

I was wondering recently why I seemed to be slowing down compared to a few years ago and was reluctantly thinking maybe it's because I'm getting older but I'm now confident it must be the machine not have been working properly.

So I'm now going to look at improving all little areas of the kit to make it easier and faster. It's not something I've done as I thought any small gains probably don't make a big difference really, but after yesterday I can see that I would rather have the machine like it is now than like it was before... so there could be other things that are like that that make it a lot easier. So I'll be looking at things like extreme poles, maybe researching pumps and batteries to see if I can get a more powerful one... etc.



Yeah mine have taken a hit, not done too good so far this year. Last year I put £4k in and by Christmas it was around £10k and looking like it could be £14k to £15k by April. But all this stuff with Ukraine and also our government trying to kill off the North Sea oil industry has seen me take several hits of £1.5k and £2.5k and a few others. I've made gains as well but it means that unless something dramatically changes and the bad news keeps coming then my pot could be back down to £6k to £7k by April.

I've got a couple of high risk ones that could recover very well and put everything back on track but they could go either way.

The stock market is very unpredictable. Have a look at Just Group share price today. They released better than expected results and their share price plummeted by 14%. It never makes any sense.

A PSA test might not be accurate, but they do give an indication, a trend.

 

[Iron Giant]

Yeah I need to get onto them again, last time it was about this time last year. I did switch practices and the new one is faster but the doctors are hit and miss, one saying 'sometimes pain is unexplained, just take pain killers' .

I have had lots of tests, the problem is it's like you have to tell the doctor what you want otherwise you don't get it. It shouldn't be like that, they're the 'experts' but it's like they're only interested if you're showing visible signs of distress.

I've had two ultrasounds, one MRI scan, a camera down my throat, a camera up my backside, psa test, blood test, urine test, faecal test. However although that sounds like a full service, I am not confident in the results. Like for instance the camera tests, they were horrid, wouldn't want to do it again and were done one after the other, wouldn't like to have either of them done ever again but the one up the backside, part way through it I heard the woman over seeing it on the monitor say along the lines of 'oh, it's gone off, then another woman say something like 'shall we call for another one' and she replied with no it'll be ok' and they just ended it. Now for me that rings alarm bells, it's not a full inspection if the monitor / camera failed part way through, there is no way of knowing the parts that she didn't see was ok. It's just life experience tells you that people in all disciplines can make poor decisions that are at best lazy and at worst negligent.

It's also like with the blood tests. You have to tell them what to test for. A blood test could be just testing for one thing when there are many things they 'could' be testing for.

It's ridiculous really but you have to be on the ball just like you were with your doctor and push them all the time. The psa test, I requested that two years ago and the doctor said he didn't think it was necessary and that they're not accurate. Well look at it on the news now, they're pushing for people to come forward to have them done. It's conflicting information all the time.



I think for me it's a case of trying to make it more enjoyable. Yesterday worked really well. Basically on Monday I had to stop as the bullet proof machine that I've used for 6 years just stopped, no power at all on the controller. So called it a day and took everything home. On inspection the contacts on the lead connecting to the battery were ever so slighty furred, so I cleaned them up and put it back together and it all came to life again.

Anyway yesterday was the first time I was back out using it and it's like tonnes of power now. I always run it on 100 percent but I instantly noticed the sound of the pump was a lot more powerful, particularly on the upstairs windows. I was flying through the work, all the bits were just disappearing, it was a lot faster and easier and was a totally different cleaning experience.

I was wondering recently why I seemed to be slowing down compared to a few years ago and was reluctantly thinking maybe it's because I'm getting older but I'm now confident it must be the machine not have been working properly.

So I'm now going to look at improving all little areas of the kit to make it easier and faster. It's not something I've done as I thought any small gains probably don't make a big difference really, but after yesterday I can see that I would rather have the machine like it is now than like it was before... so there could be other things that are like that that make it a lot easier. So I'll be looking at things like extreme poles, maybe researching pumps and batteries to see if I can get a more powerful one... etc.



Yeah mine have taken a hit, not done too good so far this year. Last year I put £4k in and by Christmas it was around £10k and looking like it could be £14k to £15k by April. But all this stuff with Ukraine and also our government trying to kill off the North Sea oil industry has seen me take several hits of £1.5k and £2.5k and a few others. I've made gains as well but it means that unless something dramatically changes and the bad news keeps coming then my pot could be back down to £6k to £7k by April.

I've got a couple of high risk ones that could recover very well and put everything back on track but they could go either way.

The stock market is very unpredictable. Have a look at Just Group share price today. They released better than expected results and their share price plummeted by 14%. It never makes any sense.

Really sorry to hear this, doesn't sound good at all, I hope they didn't use the same camera up your backside then down your throat I do hope you get sorted soon.

Its surprising how the little things cause so much of an issue, with everything you've got going on with your health that's a big mental impact as well, music helps me to almost completely switch off and does make the day go faster.

I have had similar gains to you with my shares but not the losses you've had, my biggest was 1k around 2 years ago but that was early on in my trading and it taught me a valuable lesson,

all of mine bar one is down which is Google aka Alphabet, I toyed with the idea of buying into Big Bear AI and wished I had a few weeks ago as they more than doubled but have crashed again but if I'd sold before the crash I'd have made a few thousand pounds 4 weeks.

My top trump has been Rolls Royce I started buying them when they were £0.50 a share and someone said to they didn’t think they'd be a good buy the closing price on Friday was £8.02

 

[mattybondi]

stress caused by family is awful. my own partner used to say to me,as i was leaving,"hmm another sheet day for you aye " and because i wasnt fully awake this really drilled into me ,really got to me! Then one day i thought why dont i get up a bit erlier than she does and slip out before she can say it.........and iv done that ever since. Had to adjust the round so we all start an hour erlier than previously which was easily done. Actually wev recently started even erlier so that we beat the traffic jams

 

[Chris34]

stress caused by family is awful. my own partner used to say to me,as i was leaving,"hmm another sheet day for you aye " and because i wasnt fully awake this really drilled into me ,really got to me! Then one day i thought why dont i get up a bit erlier than she does and slip out before she can say it.........and iv done that ever since. Had to adjust the round so we all start an hour erlier than previously which was easily done. Actually wev recently started even erlier so that we beat the traffic jams

That sounds like it might not be good but excuse me for my lack of understanding, what does a 'sheet day' mean? I've never heard it before and a search on google just seems to say it's a good money day. Do you mean she was having a pop at you for earning easy money or something?

Doesn't sound good though having to change how you live to avoid the problem, sounds abusive

 

[ched999uk]

what does a 'sheet day' mean?

I think he was spelling **** to avoid the naughty language filter but I could be wrong

 

[ched999uk]

my own partner used to say to me,as i was leaving,"hmm another sheet day for you aye " and because i wasnt fully awake this really drilled into me ,really got to me!

I know we tend not to talk about stuff but if your partner is saying something that gets you down every day have a word. Explain that while you know she means well what she is saying is getting you down so please stop.