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Danfire

Well-known member
Messages
702
Location
Petersfield
Probably like a lot of people on here, I've developed a decent round that pays me what I want with decent, reliable customers.

I live in a fairly expensive part of East Hampshire and all my work is within a ten minute drive of home. I do know that quite a few window cleaners commute to my area from a city about 20 miles south.

I think I've done about everything I can make my business as profitable as possible and I'm full up. The only option I can see to make things any better is to do what those others have done and head 20 miles north myself to develop a round closer to London in a more expensive area where I can hopefully push my rates higher.

For any cleaners that work around the Esher, Weighbridge, Cobham areas (especially those that commute there); is there a premium to be made in those very expensive, affluent areas?

I did wonder wether it would be worth really putting some miles in and trying my luck to develop a small round in Chelsea/Fulham area. A pain to drive to but if the numbers made it worthwhile it might be a good motivator.

 
We travel from Cornwall to Chelsea for  commercial work every 6 weeks and it’s certainly worth while ????

 
Sounds like you'd have an hour drive there and an hour drive back so you're working 25% longer, based on an 8 hour day. This means prices would have to be at least 40% higher to be worth your while
That's some sound, logical thinking; plus the extra diesel. Not the no brainer I thought it might be 

 
I know a guy that works around the Kensington area and he doesn’t have a job under £50. 
 

I found the streets, parking, building shapes and designs a king-size pain in the backside in London. I did a bit in North London around the Highbury area and boy was it a pain in the butt. And I found people in London wanted their windows cleaned once a year while those in the suburbs want monthlies. 
very strange since the windows in inner London get far more filthier quicker. 

 
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The only problem you have is travelling up and down the A3 during rush hour or thereabouts.  Maybe not so bad now but once things are back to normal, I wouldn't want to do it!  Passing through Guildford twice a day and turning off at the Cobham & Weybridge junction will be a nuisance.

I would also suspect there are multiple window cleaners from the surrounding areas heavily targeting those areas too.

 
I know a guy that works around the Kensington area and he doesn’t have a job under £50. 
 

I found the streets, parking, building shapes and designs a king-size pain in the backside in London. I did a bit in North London around the Highbury area and boy was it a pain in the butt. And I found people in London wanted their windows cleaned once a year while those in the suburbs want monthlies. 
very strange since the windows in inner London get far more filthier quicker. 
I quoted this Tuesday a job at £35 6wkly for a chap thats just moved here from London he nearly snapped my hand off.

Told me he'd moved up a few months ago and his old place was a ground floor 2bed apartment and he paid £120 4 times a year there for aboutb1/3 of the glass.

His wife said they were expecting over £100 6wkly, she asked if theyd been ripped off in London, i explained No it just different circumstances and id probably be able to clean her new place quicker and easier than her old windy on her old place

 
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the grass is not always greener......you have to factor in the extra travelling time,traffic jams,diesel costs,wear and tear on your van,congestion charges,parking charges,etc....

you sound like you have got it sorted as it is(a bit like me)..i travel 15-20 mins to most of my work,very little hassle..im happy and content with a little bit of refining here and there and working short days...

 
Hello. 

I can answer this question. I live in Woking, and the village I am based at is next to Chobham.where a large part of my round is. 

I can tell you now, these customers are very particular, and only use people they can trust, me and one other local guy who has been shining 40 years have pretty much the monopoly on those property's. You can't canvass these... your invited i'm afraid, as they only use people whom they have had some form of connection with and built up a profile on. 

---Added bit---

Actually, and I'll add a bit here.

There is very much a misconception that wealthy people will pay through the nose for higher rates. But again let me tell you, they might be wealthy, but they don't waste their money either and can see from a mile off someone trying to rip them off for their wealth, they have a derogatory name for these people..i won't repeat it here ??

I have an amusing story to tell you later on when I get home about a customer in Weybridge. (Not weighbridge) ?

 
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Hello. 

I can answer this question. I live in Woking, and the village I am based at is next to Chobham.where a large part of my round is. 

I can tell you now, these customers are very particular, and only use people they can trust, me and one other local guy who has been shining 40 years have pretty much the monopoly on those property's. You can't canvass these... your invited i'm afraid, as they only use people whom they have had some form of connection with and built up a profile on. 

---Added bit---

Actually, and I'll add a bit here.

There is very much a misconception that wealthy people will pay through the nose for higher rates. But again let me tell you, they might be wealthy, but they don't waste their money either and can see from a mile off someone trying to rip them off for their wealth, they have a derogatory name for these people..i won't repeat it here ??

I have an amusing story to tell you later on when I get home about a customer in Weybridge. (Not weighbridge) ?
‘Can’t canvass unless you’re invited’ 
Who’ going to stop him, or anyone else for that matter?

 
Hello. 

I can answer this question. I live in Woking, and the village I am based at is next to Chobham.where a large part of my round is. 

I can tell you now, these customers are very particular, and only use people they can trust, me and one other local guy who has been shining 40 years have pretty much the monopoly on those property's. You can't canvass these... your invited i'm afraid, as they only use people whom they have had some form of connection with and built up a profile on. 

---Added bit---

Actually, and I'll add a bit here.

There is very much a misconception that wealthy people will pay through the nose for higher rates. But again let me tell you, they might be wealthy, but they don't waste their money either and can see from a mile off someone trying to rip them off for their wealth, they have a derogatory name for these people..i won't repeat it here ??

I have an amusing story to tell you later on when I get home about a customer in Weybridge. (Not weighbridge) ?
Haven’t you said you charge an average of £38 for a standard 3 bed semi hence you getting much better pay than most of us can dream of? Surely value is subjective? 
 

I’d bet he could canvass it. Based on what you’ve said, you’d only need one person to take you up on it before you’re in. 

 
Haven’t you said you charge an average of £38 for a standard 3 bed semi hence you getting much better pay than most of us can dream of? Surely value is subjective? 
 

I’d bet he could canvass it. Based on what you’ve said, you’d only need one person to take you up on it before you’re in. 
I can tell you now, in Weybridge, Cobham, Ottershaw ect...their aren't many 3 bed semis about. ?????

Yes I do charge £38 for an average size house, most of that is for us normal plebs..? but then again yes it is subjective when you can pay anywhere from £1500-£2000 per month on rent for a house of the same type...

 
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I can tell you now, in Weybridge, Cobham, Ottershaw ect...their aren't many 3 bed semis about. ?????

Yes I do charge £38 for an average size house, most of that is for us normal plebs..? but then again yes it is subjective when you can pay anywhere from £1500-£2000 per month on rent for a house of the same type...
? So now you’ve a answered his question. There is a premium, and it could be worth him giving it a crack if he can establish a good run of couple of days work. Easiest route being, get in with one then ask for referrals.

 
I agree with cleaniac....I work some very wealthy areas too up in Cheshire and it takes years and years to build up the trust with the larger domestic jobs..its absolutely snowballed for me here now esp the last 10 years but I've been window cleaning for 28 years in this area.....

 
I agree with cleaniac....I work some very wealthy areas too up in Cheshire and it takes years and years to build up the trust with the larger domestic jobs..its absolutely snowballed for me here now esp the last 10 years but I've been window cleaning for 28 years in this area.....
Thanks Daz..??

Listen fellas do what you need to do, you are not understanding what I am saying. 

Good luck with expansion. Guess us old farts  with decades of experience are just out of touch eh? 

?

 
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I agree with cleaniac....I work some very wealthy areas too up in Cheshire and it takes years and years to build up the trust with the larger domestic jobs..its absolutely snowballed for me here now esp the last 10 years but I've been window cleaning for 28 years in this area.....
We have a lot in common. I too work in affluent areas, but on the Kent/London border and have been in the industry the same amount of time as you ?.

Only thing letting you down is you haven’t got the ginger hair ??‍???‍?

 
Haven’t you said you charge an average of £38 for a standard 3 bed semi hence you getting much better pay than most of us can dream of? Surely value is subjective? 
 

I’d bet he could canvass it. Based on what you’ve said, you’d only need one person to take you up on it before you’re in. 
You turn up at one of the estates like the Wentworth estate in Virginia Water, or St George's Hill, good luck trying to get in there without being escorted away briskly by ARMED security..

?

I need cheering up, let me know when you try and I'll wave at you as your escorted by black police vehicles. 

????

 
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