andyM

  • Posts: 6100
Re: Starting Out
« Reply #20 on: June 11, 2019, 02:25:51 pm »
One guy came out of his house throwing it back at me telling me to get a proper job !!   is this normal, as I felt a little embarrassed, and with the rain, I just went home.


He was probably right in all honesty.
I sometimes wake up in the middle of the night in a cold sweat wondering where it all went wrong for me.
Years ago I really should of listened to the advice Teacher's gave me at School and tried harder.
I mean when i was a kid i assumed i would grow up to be an Astronaut, Professional Football Player or even James Bond but instead i've ended up as a poxy window cleaner scrubbing bird poop off of people's windows to earn a crust?!!       
 
One of the Plebs

Shrek

  • Posts: 3931
Re: Starting Out
« Reply #21 on: June 11, 2019, 02:29:53 pm »
well I gave out about 50 leaflets today, but it was  a but wet, so only did a few.


One guy came out of his house throwing it back at me telling me to get a proper job !!   is this normal, as I felt a little embarrassed, and with the rain, I just went home.

😂

Shrek

  • Posts: 3931
Re: Starting Out
« Reply #22 on: June 11, 2019, 02:31:39 pm »
I can’t believe your giving out leaflets for something you have no idea about, you’ve had no practice, no equipment, your offering ‘special deals’ yet you don’t even know how to clean a window and don’t know what TDS is  ???

How on earth are you even going to price a job up if you don’t know how long a job takes  ???

Dry Clean

  • Posts: 8518
Re: Starting Out
« Reply #23 on: June 11, 2019, 02:43:01 pm »
well I gave out about 50 leaflets today, but it was  a but wet, so only did a few.


One guy came out of his house throwing it back at me telling me to get a proper job !!   is this normal, as I felt a little embarrassed, and with the rain, I just went home.

Mike if it wasn't for having to deal with the public this would be a great job, just be thankful you're not a postie, you wouldn't believe some of the crap they have to take. at least when they get too rude we can give it back.

nathankaye

  • Posts: 5366
Re: Starting Out
« Reply #24 on: June 11, 2019, 03:04:42 pm »
Don’t tell me to give it a rest Nathan thank you.

Sorry Dave, did you take it personally.,,,,,its not nice is it! However you feel you can directly/indirectly attack other people's methods or thinking and it's OK?
What's good for the goose n all that......


Your advice is surely appreciated, as is everyone else's on here and that's why it's a good sounding board. However, some don't attack other people's approach and simply go in with their advice and leave the recipient to come to their own conclusion.

Sorry, moan is over

Huh?
Thats what I thought Dave had done

Yes and that's the point,, he doesn't like it when it's done against him, like so many on here  ::)roll
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deeege

  • Posts: 4957
Re: Starting Out
« Reply #25 on: June 11, 2019, 03:08:19 pm »
well I gave out about 50 leaflets today, but it was  a but wet, so only did a few.


One guy came out of his house throwing it back at me telling me to get a proper job !!   is this normal, as I felt a little embarrassed, and with the rain, I just went home.

Sounds like an encouraging first day 😂

Whereabouts are you based Mike?

It might be worth asking someone local to you that posts on here if you can tag along with them for a day. This may not be for you and you’d be better off finding out before you make any big purchases.
"....and it's lend me ten pounds, I'll buy you a drink, and mother wake me early in the morning."

nathankaye

  • Posts: 5366
Re: Starting Out
« Reply #26 on: June 11, 2019, 03:21:29 pm »
well I gave out about 50 leaflets today, but it was  a but wet, so only did a few.


One guy came out of his house throwing it back at me telling me to get a proper job !!   is this normal, as I felt a little embarrassed, and with the rain, I just went home.

Sounds like an encouraging first day 😂

Whereabouts are you based Mike?

It might be worth asking someone local to you that posts on here if you can tag along with them for a day. This may not be for you and you’d be better off finding out before you make any big purchases.

Sound advice!
Also Shreks advice is spot on, you have to learn how to walk before you can run! Then your in a much better position to shake such comments off from passive aggressive strangers, as it pro ably won't be the last.  Also you won't get embarrassed when they say things like that, because when you do eventually get established and with good prices you can laugh it off.  Sadly at the moment your not in that place, so bite the bullet, dig deep and soldier on,,,,,,,,, if this is something you do want to get into
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Mike Banks

  • Posts: 29
Re: Starting Out
« Reply #27 on: June 11, 2019, 03:55:39 pm »
I can’t believe your giving out leaflets for something you have no idea about, you’ve had no practice, no equipment, your offering ‘special deals’ yet you don’t even know how to clean a window and don’t know what TDS is  ???

How on earth are you even going to price a job up if you don’t know how long a job takes  ???


that because I spent many hours last night going through posts, and watching u tube like people suggested to me.   I need to test the market before i invest too much.   My biggest worry is finding out if its the right move for me.   Friends think I am being silly doing this, and after my experience today, I am wondering,

G Griffin

  • Posts: 40745
Re: Starting Out
« Reply #28 on: June 11, 2019, 03:59:00 pm »
I can’t believe your giving out leaflets for something you have no idea about, you’ve had no practice, no equipment, your offering ‘special deals’ yet you don’t even know how to clean a window and don’t know what TDS is  ???

How on earth are you even going to price a job up if you don’t know how long a job takes  ???


that because I spent many hours last night going through posts, and watching u tube like people suggested to me.   I need to test the market before i invest too much.   My biggest worry is finding out if its the right move for me.   Friends think I am being silly doing this, and after my experience today, I am wondering,
That's the spirit!
What did you do before, Mike?
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

nathankaye

  • Posts: 5366
Re: Starting Out
« Reply #29 on: June 11, 2019, 04:20:13 pm »
I can’t believe your giving out leaflets for something you have no idea about, you’ve had no practice, no equipment, your offering ‘special deals’ yet you don’t even know how to clean a window and don’t know what TDS is  ???

How on earth are you even going to price a job up if you don’t know how long a job takes  ???


that because I spent many hours last night going through posts, and watching u tube like people suggested to me.   I need to test the market before i invest too much.   My biggest worry is finding out if its the right move for me.   Friends think I am being silly doing this, and after my experience today, I am wondering,

If you Learn from the advice given, especially on pricing, then with determination your friends will be apologising. Keep focused on the end results and that will help you through the journey. Like we said before, it isn't an easy journey.
However let's say for argument sake you price a 3 bed basic semi at £15 (yes prices vary considerably throughout areas) and it takes you 20 minutes (it can be done quicker, but this is a journey) and 20mins for the next house.  That's £30 quid an hour to begin with, which may be more than your friends are on per hour!  Then as you progress it can improve, as you clean more houses per hour etc. Have that as your drive and you may over come many obstacles in your way.
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Smudger

  • Posts: 13219
Re: Starting Out
« Reply #30 on: June 11, 2019, 04:25:45 pm »
Sounds like your better off staying employed

You need to have a thick skin , as yet your only popping a leaflet through the door - how you going to actually handle customers ?

If you can't get out there now and deliver a few hundred leaflets then I don't think your going to make it self employed

Sorry - that's my opinion
Darran
A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty.

www.oddbodscleaning.co.uk

The Jester of Wibbly

  • Posts: 2089
Re: Starting Out
« Reply #31 on: June 11, 2019, 04:33:47 pm »
I would not worry about what friends think. If they are true friends they will support you in anything you do.    It's just a job at the end if the day and how you make your living has the same results... An income.

I had a few people stick their noses up at me when I started.   But these same people are now jealous of the holidays i take and the gadgets I buy.  All the nice things they can only dream of.   Yet I'm doing half the hours they do with half the stress.  Who's laughing now  ;D
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Ooooooog

  • Posts: 1083
Re: Starting Out
« Reply #32 on: June 11, 2019, 04:57:19 pm »
You can always get new friends,

tlwcs

  • Posts: 2058
Re: Starting Out
« Reply #33 on: June 11, 2019, 05:00:01 pm »
We’re your friends now 😁

G Griffin

  • Posts: 40745
Re: Starting Out
« Reply #34 on: June 11, 2019, 11:49:27 pm »
Did I see 8 Weekly's name?
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

James Styles

  • Posts: 377
Re: Starting Out
« Reply #35 on: June 12, 2019, 12:56:43 am »
I can’t believe your giving out leaflets for something you have no idea about, you’ve had no practice, no equipment, your offering ‘special deals’ yet you don’t even know how to clean a window and don’t know what TDS is  ???

How on earth are you even going to price a job up if you don’t know how long a job takes  ???


that because I spent many hours last night going through posts, and watching u tube like people suggested to me.   I need to test the market before i invest too much.   My biggest worry is finding out if its the right move for me.   Friends think I am being silly doing this, and after my experience today, I am wondering,

Fair play on doing some research but what I’m wondering is how can you book any customers in if you don’t have the equipment to clean the windows?

So if one of the residents at a house you knock on says yes I need a window cleaner, agrees to the price you quote and asked to be booked in this week what you gonna do? as you haven’t bought a pole, backpack or even know where you are going to get pure water?

Ooooooog

  • Posts: 1083
Re: Starting Out
« Reply #36 on: June 12, 2019, 06:34:12 pm »
Don’t listen to the haters. The most important thing is getting the work. Everything else is straightforward.
Good luck!

James Styles

  • Posts: 377
Re: Starting Out
« Reply #37 on: June 12, 2019, 07:46:33 pm »
Don’t listen to the haters. The most important thing is getting the work. Everything else is straightforward.
Good luck!

Don’t think anyone is hating, I just don’t get how he is going to book in work without the equipment to do the windows?
Hopefully he has already ordered a WFP, backpack and has somewhere to get pure water.

Smudger

  • Posts: 13219
Re: Starting Out
« Reply #38 on: June 12, 2019, 07:58:32 pm »
Don’t listen to the haters. The most important thing is getting the work. Everything else is straightforward.
Good luck!

Don’t think anyone is hating, I just don’t get how he is going to book in work without the equipment to do the windows?
Hopefully he has already ordered a WFP, backpack and has somewhere to get pure water.

I hope the ref. was regarding the idiot who came out with his flyer  ???

Darran
A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty.

www.oddbodscleaning.co.uk

dazmond

  • Posts: 23573
Re: Starting Out
« Reply #39 on: June 12, 2019, 10:40:35 pm »
Hello.  I am starting out in window washing and just started my research.

I think it will be a good move for me,  as it looks good, and hope to build a round up in a few months.  Is this possible?  I have some money set aside to buy a second hand van with a  system built in.  I have seen a few on ebay.  Would this be the right thing to do? or is it better to get the van some place else?

Thanks.

There's a search facility on this forum which holds a stack of answers to help you on your way.
In addition, don't take our answers in the wrong way, as we're not trying to discourage.
Yet, many have come into this field of work expecting to make big bucks fast, sadly this won't be the case and certainly not in the couple of months that you've asked.   There's  a new lad, who's started a thread further down the listing. You will do well to read his thread as he's put a lot of work into building a sustainable round over a number of months and so far has gained 40 customers, which shows its not as easy as you may think.

Be wary of special offers, the general public aren't stupid and will use you for the freebies or discounts which you offer and then dump you for the next newbie to come along.  That's why a huge amount don't use gimmicks or low prices to undercut. The 2nd reason is that customers wait a long time sometimes for a decent/reliable cleaner to come along and when they find one, regardless of how much they pay, they won't be in a hurry to change.

I've been in this trade a long time, started traditional cleaning and now I'm wfp, but before I made that jump, I did a lot of research into how it works, the equipment needed (of which there is a lot), water tds, reverse osmosis, double DI etc etc for a number of months before I made the jump and then it was a steep learning curve. Many find the same and that's people already in the game. So take it steady, research well, soak up the advice and don't expect smooth sailing.
All the best

post of the week!i couldnt have put it better myself nathan.........
price higher/work harder!