Just some advice starting up

[ched999uk]

But alot of houses round here are 3 and 4 storey new builds so WFP is the only real way to go in my town. 

What length pole do you use?

 

[Bongofish]

What length pole do you use?

Slx 30 ?

 

[Teddington Window Cleaners]

if you got a head for heights, do a good quality Job  and like a challenge Trad is the way.  Much lower set up cost and quicker to get started. You just need the right tools and skills  for the job. 

All you need is puplic liability insurance and you are off. 

I started with a ladder and a bicycle ?

If you save up  and feel there is a market for it you can always go WFP, its not for me though 

 

[Teddington Window Cleaners]

Trad is too dangerous, probably illegal under H&S, too slow, doesn't clean frames nor pvc doors, in the end it has nothing going for it, Most times in life one has no choice but to move on or one just stays and their business enters a slow death. We have seen that on the high street yet across the road on the internet they are thriving. If you can't beat them then you have no choice but to join them. I have noticed this all my life. We joiners used to hammer in 4" nails and it would take 10 seconds and much effort, now a nail-gun does it in under a second. If you refused to use it then you would get flung off a building site or not make any money. We have all been to the circus but that doesn't mean we have to hang about with clowns. ? 

There will always be customers that want trad. Its just the way things are. 

 

[Joshyouare]

if you got a head for heights, do a good quality Job  and like a challenge Trad is the way.  Much lower set up cost and quicker to get started. You just need the right tools and skills  for the job. 

All you need is puplic liability insurance and you are off. 

I started with a ladder and a bicycle ?

If you save up  and feel there is a market for it you can always go WFP, its not for me though 

Trad is also a quicker way to fall off a ladder and seriously hurt yourself. I've done both methods myself (recently too), the investment in WFP pays off very quickly.

Trad in my case was used as a tool to get a backpack and pole. £25 for a set of used ladders, and a few quid for trad tools. I can't get my head around why people would choose to do something more dangerous, slower whilst still not being able to leave as good results.

 

[Teddington Window Cleaners]

Trad is also a quicker way to fall off a ladder and seriously hurt yourself. I've done both myself (trad and wfp), the investment in WFP pays off very quickly.

Trad in my case was used as a tool to get a backpack and pole. £25 for a set of used ladders, and a few quid for trad tools. I can't get my head around why people would choose to do something more dangerous, slower whilst still not being able to leave as good results.

Its only dangerous if you don't know how you use a ladder

Plus you get some awesome views and its really fun ?

 

[Pjj]

Its only dangerous if you don't know how you use a ladder

Plus you get some awesome views and its really fun ?

Very experienced people have accidents using ladders it’s not nessesarily anything to do with knowing how to use ladders , if your feet are on the ground there is far less likelihood of serious injuries and it’s impossible to fall from height , they obviously do have there place for access ,but the days are gone for  using them all day everyday for window cleaning . 

 

[Part Timer]

There will always be customers that want trad. Its just the way things are. 

Believe it or not anyone that allows someone to clean their windows using ladders, without securing them, is liable if they fall off and hurt themselves. You might think this is incorrect but it's the home owners responsibility that anyone working on their property does so safely  ignorance is no plea in law. H&S law is no one should use ladders if there is a safer way to do the job.

 

[Joshyouare]

Its only dangerous if you don't know how you use a ladder

Plus you get some awesome views and its really fun ?

I've definitely not forgot some of the views I saw at the top of a ladder I'll tell you that.

I get what you're saying but there's just some things you can't predict. Lots of experienced tradders have fallen off.

 

[Davy G]

if you got a head for heights, do a good quality Job  and like a challenge Trad is the way.  Much lower set up cost and quicker to get started. You just need the right tools and skills  for the job. 

All you need is puplic liability insurance and you are off. 

I started with a ladder and a bicycle ?

If you save up  and feel there is a market for it you can always go WFP, its not for me though 

"WFP, it's not for me". Heard that before. ? I give it two years to cop on, or a near miss with a ladder. Whichever is the sooner. ?

 

[Teddington Window Cleaners]

"WFP, it's not for me". Heard that before. ? I give it two years to cop on, or a near miss with a ladder. Whichever is the sooner. ?

Yes its not for me, it looks boring and expensive. Once I dominate my area as the best window cleaner in town, I am going to open a new part of the business specialising in High Access Cleaning. 

Ive fallen off the ladder many times and hurt myself, of course it will happen. But I like climbing ladders ?

Why would I want to compete against all the other people doing WFP, if you want to make money then you have to be different. 

Believe it or not anyone that allows someone to clean their windows using ladders, without securing them, is liable if they fall off and hurt themselves. You might think this is incorrect but it's the home owners responsibility that anyone working on their property does so safely  ignorance is no plea in law. H&S law is no one should use ladders if there is a safer way to do the job.

I would love to see the legislation around this. 

That being said lots of WFP guys tell their customers its illegal to climb ladders just so they get the work 

 

[Teddington Window Cleaners]

Very experienced people have accidents using ladders it’s not nessesarily anything to do with knowing how to use ladders , if your feet are on the ground there is far less likelihood of serious injuries and it’s impossible to fall from height , they obviously do have there place for access ,but the days are gone for  using them all day everyday for window cleaning . 

You are wrong, there is loads of money to be made climbing ladders ?

 

[Davy G]

You are wrong, there is loads of money to be made climbing ladders ?

No money at all in wfp, honest!?

 

[Teddington Window Cleaners]

No money at all in wfp, honest!?

I never said that,  of course there is if you are the only one. 

But when you have 20 window cleaners all doing WFP you would be a mug to try and make a business doing WFP ?

I am trying to give our noob here some other options 

 

[Davy G]

I never said that,  of course there is if you are the only one. 

But when you have 20 window cleaners all doing WFP you would be a mug to try and make a business doing WFP ?

I am trying to give our noob here some other options 

Yep. The benefit of your long experience in the trade. Remind us please. How long is your experience in the trade?

 

[Teddington Window Cleaners]

Yep. The benefit of your long experience in the trade. Remind us please. How long is your experience in the trade?

What is wrong about what I have said? 

you will never make money doing the same as everyone else, you will always be competing. 

If you are different then you stand out from the rest. 

Seems logical? 

 

[Davy G]

What is wrong about what I have said? 

you will never make money doing the same as everyone else, you will always be competing. 

If you are different then you stand out from the rest. 

Seems logical? 

And the answer to my question is?

 

[Teddington Window Cleaners]

And the answer to my question is?

Its irrelevant as my  advice is common sense not based on my experience.  

 

[Wind o kleen]

Should just set up a gofundme page and get everyone pay for your WFP since you ended up with a van by doing that ?

 

[Teddington Window Cleaners]

Should just set up a gofundme page and get everyone pay for your WFP since you ended up with a van by doing that ?

If you wanted to do WFP sure that would be a great idea to get the funding ?

 

[Davy G]

Its irrelevant as my  advice is common sense not based on my experience.  

So my question not answered. Like I said earlier. I give it two years max. If you're still in business you'll be joining the rest of us with wfp, even though we don't have common sense we make no money and we have to compete. Remember where you heard it first.

I can't speak for anyone else but I'm very happy with my quality of life, the house I live in and the vehicles my wife and I own.