Especially add ons with a WFP you can charge for what other can't reach/do/or at least in fraction of the time...the more cash you get in the more services you can do - gutter vac/pw/softwash… which means you're busier on more profitable work...
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Ladder climbs i don't think about
- Thread starter Exchef93
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Jjamie
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Teddington Window Cleaners
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- Traditional is the new WFP
I really want to tray and build it up from the ground.
I thought my USP was that I was traditional lol ?
Jjamie
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It doesn't matter weather your trad or not customers will choice what service is right for them
Teddington Window Cleaners
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Exactly! Teddington is very a very traditional English town, I’m trying to speak to a specific kind of customer ?
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I understand that , I was made redundant and started window cleaning over 20 years ago I bought a ladder bucket and bits and bobs and used the family car , just be careful and don’t take risks , try and put a bit of money aside and go wfp as soon as you can , you will do a better job , it’s much faster , and your income will increase by a huge amount , you will be able to do work that you couldn’t do trad and charge more for it , I was very reluctant to go wfp I had a couple of friends that had it and I po poed it said I could do a better job trad , I went out with them for a morning and then saw the light , got van and professionally fitted system and never looked back now have three vans and 5 guys , Ime not intrested in building the buisness any more in fact Ime looking at down sizing in the near future and working part time .
Honestly I thought the same when I started with regards to usp... then I tried wfp and never looked back, I even have customers that only wanted trad (at least 15) and once I explained wfp and did it for them they were more than happy! I had one that was absolutely adamant she didn’t want wfp as someone had done it badly before (which can also happen trad) So I said I’d do the windows and if she wasn’t happy she didn’t have to pay and we’d part ways... she gave me a tip and is still my customer a year later with add-one as well.
Ted sounds like you have few options - get flyers and canvass till you drop - far from ideal time - but go for it if that's your choice - its spring and this is the time you gain new custy's typically - do not let your head drop - canvass until you are sick of pressing another doorbell and being told no thanks. Also try online sounds like your young enough - with your kung fu / pilates /cage fighting or whatever it was - get website and promote yourself.
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Teddington Window Cleaners
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- Traditional is the new WFP
That looks awesome.. only ever done 2 tandem jumps for charity.
I love climbing but too old and fat now lol.
Did 175 foot abseil head first once.. that was good fun.
Wish I was as good as this guy but being such a big frame i never would have been.
Plus not brave enough to solo.
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Teddington Window Cleaners
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Lol I would love to do that , done a lot of absailing but that looks like fun ?????
Great period of my life, still miss it a lot sometimes, spent 4 years competing on the GB national team around the world, that was a brilliant time! Gave it all up to sit round a mess table talking **** and sometimes fighting fires and window clean on my days off... but I wouldn't change it for the world haha!
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Funnily enough the first place I ever lived was in Teddington, until I was 3 haha
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We have had other lads on here that had the same idea then 6 months later switched to wfp ?
Teddington Window Cleaners
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Who knows maybe if it takes off and I get back to steady income in 6 months, I might get a setup ?
Danfire
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I took over a traditional round in 2012 and worked it that way for a couple of years. After suffering from exhaustion (the round is on top of another full-time job and another part-time job) I bought myself a Gardiner CLX18, backpack and one 20 litre barrel.
I used this less than £250 setup to clean where the most dangerous climbs were and the windows I couldn't get to previously. It quickly became obvious this is the way to go. Bought a van and installed a tank. I still use the same backpack (and a spare). Everything upstairs gets poled apart from 2 houses who won't have it but pay a premium. Downstairs a mixture of trad or pole (whichever is quickest). The time saved on not climbing, and descending, moving ladders etc must put at least an additional £5 per hour to my earnings.
Ladders get used on first cleans, some gutter jobs where the vac isn't worth the set up time, gaining access over flat roofs to back gardens etc but they really need to be used as infrequently as possible. I knew it would only be a matter of time before an accident if I carried on as I started. If you climb a ladder thousands of times a year it's only a matter of when, not if.
I wouldn't be too quick to dismiss the option, by all means build the funds by traditional cleaning but change over when the bank balance allows and you'll quickly make that investment back and have more money in your pocket every week.
I used this less than £250 setup to clean where the most dangerous climbs were and the windows I couldn't get to previously. It quickly became obvious this is the way to go. Bought a van and installed a tank. I still use the same backpack (and a spare). Everything upstairs gets poled apart from 2 houses who won't have it but pay a premium. Downstairs a mixture of trad or pole (whichever is quickest). The time saved on not climbing, and descending, moving ladders etc must put at least an additional £5 per hour to my earnings.
Ladders get used on first cleans, some gutter jobs where the vac isn't worth the set up time, gaining access over flat roofs to back gardens etc but they really need to be used as infrequently as possible. I knew it would only be a matter of time before an accident if I carried on as I started. If you climb a ladder thousands of times a year it's only a matter of when, not if.
I wouldn't be too quick to dismiss the option, by all means build the funds by traditional cleaning but change over when the bank balance allows and you'll quickly make that investment back and have more money in your pocket every week.
