Still struggling to get customers

[Dave B]

If you are on here posting this thread at 4pm then that is wrong.. you should be out there banging on doors still

Fb, canvassing, leaflets, freeindex etc etc it is all about lines in the water (you need as many as possible)

Obsession as spruce said is the key

If you don't like bad language don't watch this but he has the right idea 

https://youtu.be/5k8yUwarTdQ

 

[Dave B]

Showing them a TDS test is a good idea.

Why??

I just tell them I use pure water and it will dry fine

You are not there to explain your tools and methods

They want a windie or they don't

 

[Tuffers]

The only consistent method of getting work is to canvas, canvas and CANVAS. Make sure you systematically cover each road too and not waste your time. If a house looks like it has mint clean windows (frames are a great indicator), don't bother knocking just wasting time and will get frustrated. Knock only on dirty looking houses, if they are out drop a leaflet in and take a note of the house number in a pad. Then return at a peak time like after 5pm or on a weekend to all the dirty houses you noted down that were out. It's just about putting the hours on the pavement.

Canvassing will bring in new customers quicker especially if it's a new build estate. The one thing I've noticed from canvassed new builds is a larger drop off rate. I moved house 45 miles away from my patch about 18 months ago and wanted to get some work nearer to home to save traveling up the motorway every day. I've got about 100 houses on new build estates here but have lost about 30. Some thought it was a 'free' service and didn't want to pay, some messed around asking to skip cleans, some decided to cancel the service. I posted about 40 flyers on one of the new builds I work on last week. More people had moved in than I'd thought as I only clean the first few houses and never venture past them. I got an email asking for 8 weekly on a 4 bedroom house. I went round today and decided I wanted £15. Any less and it would have been too cheap IMO and any more and I'd probably not win it. I phoned the lady up and gave her the price. She didn't sound very enthusiastic about the price and said she'd speak to her husband. I'm not holding my breath, but if I were desperate I might have gone in at £10 and possibly secured it.

It's hard at first, but does get easier.

 

[Tuffers]

Why??

I just tell them I use pure water and it will dry fine

You are not there to explain your tools and methods

They want a windie or they don't

I think the fella who posted the idea could swing a few customers his way if any have doubts about the pure.

I wouldn't do it myself, but if it works for him, then ?

 

[scottish cleaning service]

5yrs ago my windy cleaner was retiring and asked me if I wanted to buy his run. I think he was looking for 8 grand. I asked him how much he made each week but he refused to tell me but it was more than £400 because he did the windows every 2 weeks wi a ladder and roof rack. Anyway he sold it to a company who wanted his care homes and rapped the rest. No one was doing our windows and cleaners came and went. I started doing my own and the neighbours thinking nothing of it. Slowly but surely I got the whole street and now round the corner and then got a licence. Can't believe how enjoyable it is (in summer) and getting paid cash. Sometimes one falls into something and it begins to take off and we don't know why until its too late. I'm trying to get into a new estate wi 600 houses on it and that's me made but i'm still to cheap, a pound a window should be our minimum.

 

[Cameronmalson1985]

Well just had a email and got to give a quote for regular window cleans and a one off gutter soffits f boards. Happy days 

 

[Skxawng]

The one thing I've noticed from canvassed new builds is a larger drop off rate. ... I've got about 100 houses on new build estates here but have lost about 30. Some thought it was a 'free' service and didn't want to pay, some messed around asking to skip cleans, some decided to cancel the service.

Agreed about drop off rate on new builds. 95% of my work is on new builds now as I like to canvass them to get compact work but they take a long time to settle. In addition to your points above there is also the fact that a lot of people buy them new and sell them on again 6 months later which is always annoying. Some get the houses at a reduced rate if they were involved in the build so buy them to make a profit.

I'd say I usually lose around 20% in the first year from new customers selling the house and new owners not wanting it doing. 

Naturally they'll try and stiff you for any outstanding payments too.

 

[adamangler]

Everyone will grow a different rate determine by how much effort they put in and also by how saturated the local area is.

There is no shortcut to a full round.

I have 350 plus customers but it's taken me 3 years to get there so it's not easy and it doesn't happen overnight.

Lots of hard work and setbacks.

There's only one secret to building a round and that's perseverance. Whether it takes a year or 10 you will get there if you simply refuse to quit.

Good luck

 

[chris clean]

The only consistent method of getting work is to canvas, canvas and CANVAS. Make sure you systematically cover each road too and not waste your time. If a house looks like it has mint clean windows (frames are a great indicator), don't bother knocking just wasting time and will get frustrated. Knock only on dirty looking houses, if they are out drop a leaflet in and take a note of the house number in a pad. Then return at a peak time like after 5pm or on a weekend to all the dirty houses you noted down that were out. It's just about putting the hours on the pavement.

Dont miss ones with clean Windows you may offer add ons there windy doesn't. They may have just bought house/ there cleaner could have just given up or become unreliable. Don't assume

 

[KWClean]

Eighteen years ago I lived in a house that had a lawn 110ft long.  I had a little poxy Flymo. The lawn looked great!

 

[Iron Giant]

Canvassing will bring in new customers quicker especially if it's a new build estate. The one thing I've noticed from canvassed new builds is a larger drop off rate. I moved house 45 miles away from my patch about 18 months ago and wanted to get some work nearer to home to save traveling up the motorway every day. I've got about 100 houses on new build estates here but have lost about 30. Some thought it was a 'free' service and didn't want to pay, some messed around asking to skip cleans, some decided to cancel the service. I posted about 40 flyers on one of the new builds I work on last week. More people had moved in than I'd thought as I only clean the first few houses and never venture past them. I got an email asking for 8 weekly on a 4 bedroom house. I went round today and decided I wanted £15. Any less and it would have been too cheap IMO and any more and I'd probably not win it. I phoned the lady up and gave her the price. She didn't sound very enthusiastic about the price and said she'd speak to her husband. I'm not holding my breath, but if I were desperate I might have gone in at £10 and possibly secured it.

It's hard at first, but does get easier.

I agree new builds ain't easy at times people have moved in and can have a tight budget, You have those that want a windy but don't care about quality of service as long as they are cheap,  those that want a quality service and are willing to pay for a top service and finally you got those that 6-7 years later still ain't had their windows cleaned 

 

[Iron Giant]

5yrs ago my windy cleaner was retiring and asked me if I wanted to buy his run. I think he was looking for 8 grand. I asked him how much he made each week but he refused to tell me but it was more than £400 because he did the windows every 2 weeks wi a ladder and roof rack. Anyway he sold it to a company who wanted his care homes and rapped the rest. No one was doing our windows and cleaners came and went. I started doing my own and the neighbours thinking nothing of it. Slowly but surely I got the whole street and now round the corner and then got a licence. Can't believe how enjoyable it is (in summer) and getting paid cash. Sometimes one falls into something and it begins to take off and we don't know why until its too late. I'm trying to get into a new estate wi 600 houses on it and that's me made but i'm still to cheap, a pound a window should be our minimum.

8k and he was turning over £400 a week think he might have had his selling price totally wrong as he must have wanted nearly 8x the rounds worth 

 

[Iron Giant]

Dont miss ones with clean Windows you may offer add ons there windy doesn't. They may have just bought house/ there cleaner could have just given up or become unreliable. Don't assume

Agreed from a distance windows can look clean, a quick walk up the garden path can reveal more such as dirty frames, front door not fully cleaned etc.

 

[dmw]

The trouble with new builds is they move in their new sparkly house, have 2 mercs on the drive and an empty fridge. So they either have dirty windows or the beer token boys clean them.

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[paul alan]

Why??

I just tell them I use pure water and it will dry fine

You are not there to explain your tools and methods

They want a windie or they don't

You run the risk of looking like some kind of con man to the sceptical.

 

[paul alan]

Agreed from a distance windows can look clean, a quick walk up the garden path can reveal more such as dirty frames, front door not fully cleaned etc.

For sure, I say leave no stone unturned in your quest for custom. I have picked plenty of work from people who clean their own windows but now CBA/ or cant.

 

[Dave Shaw]

8k and he was turning over £400 a week think he might have had his selling price totally wrong as he must have wanted nearly 8x the rounds worth 

The going rate for good work round here is up to 10 cleans for fortnightly and up to 5 cleans for monthly. Fortnightlys are worth more cos the same house brings in twice as much coin as the same monthly.


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[Dave Shaw]

I have delivered loads of flyers and knocked houses and still struggling to get customers. What’s the trick as it’s doing my head in now. Thanks 

Have you not tried buying some work. That’s what I did and I’ve never knocked a single door or delivered a leaflet. It’s a big outlay to start with but I started 100% trad and worked out of a ford escort so didn’t have to pay for an expensive van or wfp system. Even if you have to get a loan(that’s what I did) you will be earning good money even after your repayments which by the sounds of it that’s exactly what you need. You can even look into renting some work. Round my way it goes for 75/25 so pay 25 rent out of every 100 you clean. It might get not be ideal but its better than earning nothin at all and when youve enough work of your own you can give it back. My old boss used to buy delapadated rounds on the cheap, canvass em up to nice compact established rounds and then sell em on with a tidy profit.


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[Sewell8996]

I'm no expert but present yourself well.. branded uniform and look as professional as possible when knocking doors. People will make a decision in 10 seconds. If you look the part that's half the battle. Just a simple "sorry to bother you I just wondered if you had a window cleaner?" is all that's needed. If they say yes just offer to give them a quote. Make sure your insured and mention this to them. If you can afford it DBS check yourself then you can reassure them your "police checked" doesn't need more than that to be fair.... good luck

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[ECS Windows]

You run the risk of looking like some kind of con man to the sceptical.

Would you not look more like a con man whipping out an electrical wand and talking about a unit of measurement most people won't have come across?

On topic, I think it's important to relax. Getting you foot in the door is the hardest part and I've definitely felt my confidence wavering several times, but if you do a good job it will happen organically. I've just picked up three jobs miles from where I leafleted (although conveniently in the same road I live) because a woman passed on my number to her cousin. I then got approached by her neighbours. Sure, cover your bases but a lot of it seems to be doing a thorough job an a bit of luck with timing

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[mike007]

I have a habit of when travelling locally to glance at upstairs windows(no, I am not a perv)...and if I see the odd dirty window or window surround, I make a mental note to do some canvassing and leaflet drops on that street.