Clean It Up
UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: cleanthrough on May 30, 2005, 10:11:18 pm
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Hello
I have heard about a local building company that also deals in scaffold.
I have it on good advice from a worker that they are looking for a window cleaner to give work too.
Now, this work is going to be high and big. I am only cleaning houses at present with some small commercial amounting to a small sum each month.
This could make us.
Could any of you please be kind enough to tell me what is the best way to go about obtaining this work.
I dont even pay tax at the moment.
John
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The best way is to go down and say hello and explain that you are a window cleaner.
As far as not paying tax is does not matter so long as you are registered with the tax man as a self employed person and pay your NI, a very good accountant can ensure that the tax you pay will be minimal when you first start up.
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john,to work on any building site you will need a cis card(construction industry)which is easy to get hold of ,take a couple of forms of id to your local tax office along with a couple of passport photos and you usually get it within a week.A word of caution though,if its building cleans your getting involved in,theres alot more to it than just cleaning glass
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have done window cleaning for builders dont need cis if your only doing outside but would never do ever again....take months to pay then they loose invoices not worth the hassle.Just as good to clean large mansion houses at £100 per time you know you get paid then.
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Hi John
If it is builders cleans then I would steer clear. Thats me and I bet that most on this forum would say the same. You may feel different about it and not mind that kind of work. You must remember that it involves a lot of scraping and you have to maintain that you dont scratch the glass. Trouble is, you have to remove all the dirt etc before you would even see certain scratches and by then you would get the blame as you've already touched it.
I have done jobs on b/sites and I had to provide all the saftey gear i.e toe tecter boots, hard hat and yellow jacket. I was fortunate to have worked for a company who provided me these to keep, however they are not that expensive.
Keep us informed. If you decide to take that kind of work on and you didnt like it, then at least you've tried it.
Steveyboy
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I think Gaza specialises in builder's cleans. You could try PMing him; if he doesn't reply to this thread. I think he calls him company 'ABC' (Always Builder's Cleans) or something.
Also, pricing a builder's clean is also very different from pricing a 'normal building'. I'd say as a guess, charge three or four times the amount of what you'd normally charge - as it'll take three or four times as long and cost you a commensurate amount of calories.
But I'm sure there's others who could help you out more with the pricing aspect.
Personally, I'd avoid this type of work. It'd be extremely strenous; always in different locations (therefore difficult to build up speed). You'll probably find with canvassing and leaflets that you'd get more normal 'repeat' business than you can handle anyway.
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John
I used to do loads of builders cleans.
And used to charge double my window cleaning rate the reason i charged double was it really hard work and then you have to send them an invoice in then hopefully you will get paid in a month or two.
Builders like stuff done ASAP but hang around with the payment.
I dont do them any more far more trouble than they are worth.
Paul
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Hello
I spoke to them today.
They dont want me to do work for them, they want me to work for them!
They are a huge national company and wish to take on a fulltime window cleaner to train others
I believe its so they no longer have the problem of giving the work away
Thankyou all very much for the input
Graham and I will talk this over
John
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WINDOWS CHEAP: I LIKE YOUR STYLE MATE VERY WITTY IN DEED :D Im even laughing at myself with that one 1ST-ABC.CO.UK stands for 1st advanced building clean.
These building cleans I dont do ever,I do a different service clean. Got you thinking now I bet?
The web site is still being built,so you carnt even have a peak,waiting for a launch date [sic]
To much hassle on sites for me even though I can write out a better risk assessment than the site h/s/officer[just bought a disc for 40 odd squid does it all for you] blew the councils mind when I presented it to them. [cus Im only a window cleaner} ;D
Just look at Spanish health and saftey next time you go
hard hat
=a bandana
protective clothing= tee shirt and cut offs
havent you seen their steel toe capped sandals
TAKE YOUR SHIRT OFF,AND YOUR FROGGED MARCHED OF SITE.
GAZA
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I can write out a better risk assessment than the site h/s/officer[just bought a disc for 40 odd squid does it all for you] blew the councils mind when I presented it to them.e]
Hi Gaza is the disk worthit then had a look at the link you posted, thought I,d wait for your report before I got myself a copy,
Alan
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1ST TIME I used it: it took me about 10 mins from start to finish and print it off.
looks very proffessional,even gives you a review date so you can keep check on it.
If it only gets you 1 decent job its an investment,but if I were
contract manager I would be impressed ,instead of scribbling it on the back of a fAg packet [if you know what I mean.]