Clean It Up
UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: Tony dunmall on February 26, 2017, 07:06:35 pm
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Well i have been training someone up to help me out along with my daughter
And it's been 4 months and now I'm very pleased with his standard work, apart from struggling to find the houses I can't complain and never have had one complaint
It's not been without frustration as I've been using poles over way over 20 years and you forget how second nature it becomes
So it's time to start canvassing as he wants more work about 2 days a week
And Now I need to motivate myself, must be getting old as It's hard, so let's see how next three months go
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Good luck.
Hate canvassing that's why I never do it.
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Canvassing horrid. But it works
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I gave up with canvassing and bought established work, retention rate is poor and the first cleans are horrendous.
It quite often is people that have been fired off by other window cleaners for numerous reasons.
If you can buy good quality work for 4-5 times the monthly clean you will make it back in no time.
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I gave up with canvassing and bought established work, retention rate is poor and the first cleans are horrendous.
It quite often is people that have been fired off by other window cleaners for numerous reasons.
If you can buy good quality work for 4-5 times the monthly clean you will make it back in no time.
+1
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Out of the dozen rounds I've looked at none suited how I work. Either underpriced, trad or cash collection.
At least building yourself you build it to exactly how you want to work.
Buying work you are inheriting someone else's way of doing things.
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That's true but it's worked a treat for me.
I've bought 4 rounds over the years and adapted them to the way I work
Most were good payers and the rounds mushroom in size naturally with hardly any extra canvassing
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I quite like canvassing it keeps you sharp and in tune with how the market is going.
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I gave up with canvassing and bought established work, retention rate is poor and the first cleans are horrendous.
It quite often is people that have been fired off by other window cleaners for numerous reasons.
If you can buy good quality work for 4-5 times the monthly clean you will make it back in no time.
Been looking for 3 years. Nothing half decent at that price.
Ill keep on with flyers and the odd canvas now and again.
My friend has bought dozens of rounds over his 30 years doing it. Hes never paid more than X2. Those days are gone
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Update
Well the canvassing is going well, still don't like it
So far this month 30 enquiries and 15 new jobs
Best return is internet advertising and being seen whilst working
Bought a few rounds in my years some work some don't, this time will build to the completion of what we need
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A really easy way of picking up new work is to befriend as many window cleaners in your area as possible. Having these connections is a great way of passing each other work if you or they are to busy, or get enquiries from areas either of you may not cover.
Iv had one guy pass me a load of work that was to far for him but in an area i cover.
Another guy i helped set up wfp last year, he is in his late 50s and thinking of retirement over the next few years, he has already offered me all of his work when the time comes. For next to nothing might I add. Simply because i gave up some of my time to help him. Even now when he has problems he comes knocking on my door for advice.
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Well an update
As I'm quite pleased we started canvassing and advertising 1 march , its now end April
So two months on I'm really pleased we're now averaging 3-4 new clients a week all at the average £30-35 picked few larger £85 clients up
So in all Increased by £240 a week of 6 weekly clients over every weeks six weekly schedule so target is nearly there
Wanted by the summer to be £1600 weekly turnover which is just below VAT
And I think we may just be there, really surprised how much new work you can find when it seem to be so many cleaners out there
Must say we've had a large amount of one offs but people have been very honest and that's all they want so priced well and job done extra cash in which has helped pay for sign writing and advertising
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30-35 quidder and 85 quidders ;D
f***ing hell, ive only one 30 quidder on my books, 90% are 10-12 quidders
Different worlds some of us live in, hard to believe its the same country the way prices vary
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Well an update
As I'm quite pleased we started canvassing and advertising 1 march , its now end April
So two months on I'm really pleased we're now averaging 3-4 new clients a week all at the average £30-35 picked few larger £85 clients up
So in all Increased by £240 a week of 6 weekly clients over every weeks six weekly schedule so target is nearly there
Wanted by the summer to be £1600 weekly turnover which is just below VAT
And I think we may just be there, really surprised how much new work you can find when it seem to be so many cleaners out there
Must say we've had a large amount of one offs but people have been very honest and that's all they want so priced well and job done extra cash in which has helped pay for sign writing and advertising
mate im doing well too, havent even knocked a door in 3-4 weeks. Did loads of door knocking and it just gained momentum from there, had to stop as i couldnt keep up with it.
Theres tons of scope for work if your good at cleaning, im happy to admit im getting other cleaners custom. Always make sure im more expensive though, i tell em if you were happy to pay someone who misses windows, turns up when he likes and pes in the back garden x then if you want a proper service its naturaly gonna be more expensive. They then know its going to be a better service cos its dearer.
I knock em out with the best clean theyve ever had on the first 1, tell em how much i like em etc etc and next thing i know theyre passing my number round like a hot bag o chips. Its too easy if your running on the right lines.
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iv noticed that anyone who posts up look im going canvassing and then does the fantastic updates is faking it.
folk pat them on the back
but a month or 2 later theyre posting now im buying a pressure washer cos the real results were shoite
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I always get good results when i do a canvass campaign! Nothing hard to it, just drive and confidence with super thick skin.
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iv noticed that anyone who posts up look im going canvassing and then does the fantastic updates is faking it.
folk pat them on the back
but a month or 2 later theyre posting now im buying a pressure washer cos the real results were shoite
I I laughed at you when I read this.
You dont believe it can be done, because you dont believe you can do it.
Come to wales for 1 day and i'll show how its done son.
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Looks to me like some people just are not cut out for being self employed, self made, or successful!
Maybe look to working for someone who is??
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iv noticed that anyone who posts up look im going canvassing and then does the fantastic updates is faking it.
folk pat them on the back
but a month or 2 later theyre posting now im buying a pressure washer cos the real results were shoite
I I laughed at you when I read this.
You dont believe it can be done, because you dont believe you can do it.
Come to wales for 1 day and i'll show how its done son.
oh i know how to do it ,iv a full round . i spose youre another one who will say im getting only big bucks jobs when out cancassing,
thing is ,anyone whose been a windie any length of time knows whats what. big exaggerated claims impress nobody
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To be fair I'm really surprised how well it's gone, there a few big companies setting up franchises in our area so I thought would be really tough going
Internet defiantly brings in better results but it's a bigger monthly investment than i wanted to do
But I've been training someone to help from August /" September last year and there out by them selves from end February now and they want more income
I've not posted to show how well I've done, as I was very deflated by having to canvass after cleaning windows for over 30 years with a good round already established, but to see the progression I still don't like door knocking
But hopefully will come to an end by end summer and internet can do it's thing at it's own speed
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To be fair I'm really surprised how well it's gone, there a few big companies setting up franchises in our area so I thought would be really tough going
Internet defiantly brings in better results but it's a bigger monthly investment than i wanted to do
But I've been training someone to help from August /" September last year and there out by them selves from end February now and they want more income
I've not posted to show how well I've done, as I was very deflated by having to canvass after cleaning windows for over 30 years with a good round already established, but to see the progression I still don't like door knocking
But hopefully will come to an end by end summer and internet can do it's thing at it's own speed
Well done Tony your smashing it with your goals. I've also started with the online advertising and it's definitely worth paying for the investment, much cheaper than to pay a canvasser or traditional advertising anyway. Glad you have posted your results on here. I think more of us should be posting success stories, to motivate others who want or need to hit goals. I myself set a goal to hit a certain turnover figure by July/August, but the last 2 months i have already hit the targets already a mixture from online advertising, canvassing and the website working its magic to help bring the numbers up.
Next thing for me is to employ like you have done :o
;D ;D
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Well an update
As I'm quite pleased we started canvassing and advertising 1 march , its now end April
So two months on I'm really pleased we're now averaging 3-4 new clients a week all at the average £30-35 picked few larger £85 clients up
So in all Increased by £240 a week of 6 weekly clients over every weeks six weekly schedule so target is nearly there
Wanted by the summer to be £1600 weekly turnover which is just below VAT
And I think we may just be there, really surprised how much new work you can find when it seem to be so many cleaners out there
Must say we've had a large amount of one offs but people have been very honest and that's all they want so priced well and job done extra cash in which has helped pay for sign writing and advertising
mate im doing well too, havent even knocked a door in 3-4 weeks. Did loads of door knocking and it just gained momentum from there, had to stop as i couldnt keep up with it.
Theres tons of scope for work if your good at cleaning, im happy to admit im getting other cleaners custom. Always make sure im more expensive though, i tell em if you were happy to pay someone who misses windows, turns up when he likes and pes in the back garden x then if you want a proper service its naturaly gonna be more expensive. They then know its going to be a better service cos its dearer.
I knock em out with the best clean theyve ever had on the first 1, tell em how much i like em etc etc and next thing i know theyre passing my number round like a hot bag o chips. Its too easy if your running on the right lines.
Hey, good to hear things are good busy for you too and that you do the best first clean ever, must admit i have changed the way i do first cleans now and really take my time now that im mainly WFP. I wanted to canvas this month, as of yet haven't even had the chance i've been that busy with taking on new work! I have noticed though in Gele, it seems like there are lots of new window cleaners about?? Unless it's just me, i've seen atleast 4 new cleaners in the last few weeks who i haven't seen already, and that's on top of about the 4 or 5 regulars i see all the time. Saw one bloke today with a Peugeot 206 with a hose reel connected to 2 25L drums out the boot. Pretty cheap setup, but that's irrelevant if you do a good job ofcourse. Do you know many of the local shiners or the new ones for that matter?
;D ;D ;D ;D
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Well an update
As I'm quite pleased we started canvassing and advertising 1 march , its now end April
So two months on I'm really pleased we're now averaging 3-4 new clients a week all at the average £30-35 picked few larger £85 clients up
So in all Increased by £240 a week of 6 weekly clients over every weeks six weekly schedule so target is nearly there
Wanted by the summer to be £1600 weekly turnover which is just below VAT
And I think we may just be there, really surprised how much new work you can find when it seem to be so many cleaners out there
Must say we've had a large amount of one offs but people have been very honest and that's all they want so priced well and job done extra cash in which has helped pay for sign writing and advertising
mate im doing well too, havent even knocked a door in 3-4 weeks. Did loads of door knocking and it just gained momentum from there, had to stop as i couldnt keep up with it.
Theres tons of scope for work if your good at cleaning, im happy to admit im getting other cleaners custom. Always make sure im more expensive though, i tell em if you were happy to pay someone who misses windows, turns up when he likes and pes in the back garden x then if you want a proper service its naturaly gonna be more expensive. They then know its going to be a better service cos its dearer.
I knock em out with the best clean theyve ever had on the first 1, tell em how much i like em etc etc and next thing i know theyre passing my number round like a hot bag o chips. Its too easy if your running on the right lines.
Hey, good to hear things are good busy for you too and that you do the best first clean ever, must admit i have changed the way i do first cleans now and really take my time now that im mainly WFP. I wanted to canvas this month, as of yet haven't even had the chance i've been that busy with taking on new work! I have noticed though in Gele, it seems like there are lots of new window cleaners about?? Unless it's just me, i've seen atleast 4 new cleaners in the last few weeks who i haven't seen already, and that's on top of about the 4 or 5 regulars i see all the time. Saw one bloke today with a Peugeot 206 with a hose reel connected to 2 25L drums out the boot. Pretty cheap setup, but that's irrelevant if you do a good job ofcourse. Do you know many of the local shiners or the new ones for that matter?
;D ;D ;D ;D
HI josh yeah i see em all the time, was working in pensarn last week and saw a young ish lad walking round with a bucket n scrim. Took me right back to how i started, crazy! But still there is plenty of work up for grabs for good cleaners. I get approached all the time by people who are fed up with the current cleaner.
I think its harder to establish a round and i dont see much future for a lot of these new starts, unless theyre like us.
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Tony
Who are then franchise companies? I think we operate in the same areas
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Tony
Who are then franchise companies? I think we operate in the same areas
Hi Steve
bizarrely saw my first priors van today as well, that was in crowborough , East Sussex
I believe there's southern counties in the area and now priors there are about 8 other small operators with very large rounds
But I'm not sure what your company is called so you may well be in similar area, do you operate a franchise business or just employ
Tony
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I'm not going to mention what firm it was in East Sussex that quoted a job I do but I was asked to clean down all the most awkward facias and soffits you've ever seen on a house I've done the Windows on for years,they are turret shaped that are back to front so they are up and underneath the gutters. I looked round it and as it was 3ish stories it was a scaffold job really due to not being able to get any pressure with the brush,it was a 2 man easy 800 job, another firm sent a bloke round 1 Saturday with a fibreglass 30ft pole and sill brush it took him 10 hours and the firm got 200 poxy quid for it,not the bloke who attempted cleaning it overall lol. Even she took the p in her posh way after all that they tried to get the Windows off of me but failed.
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I'm not going to mention what firm it was in East Sussex that quoted a job I do but I was asked to clean down all the most awkward facias and soffits you've ever seen on a house I've done the Windows on for years,they are turret shaped that are back to front so they are up and underneath the gutters. I looked round it and as it was 3ish stories it was a scaffold job really due to not being able to get any pressure with the brush,it was a 2 man easy 800 job, another firm sent a bloke round 1 Saturday with a fibreglass 30ft pole and sill brush it took him 10 hours and the firm got 200 poxy quid for it,not the bloke who attempted cleaning it overall lol. Even she took the p in her posh way after all that they tried to get the Windows off of me but failed.
£200 for that?! Busy fools spring to mind! Obviously trying to fill their time with any old work. I'd prefer to let companies take that work and waste time so we can carry on making high profits with decent paid work.
Madness.
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Tony
Who are then franchise companies? I think we operate in the same areas
Hi Steve
bizarrely saw my first priors van today as well, that was in crowborough , East Sussex
I believe there's southern counties in the area and now priors there are about 8 other small operators with very large rounds
But I'm not sure what your company is called so you may well be in similar area, do you operate a franchise business or just employ
Tony
Saw a Pryor's leaflet near where I live a little while ago. Very cheap. And they are 50 miles away round the M25. There's quite a few guys round here now.
I built my business on canvassing and will be coming off the tools completely in June so will be back out there. I prefer taking my time to build a quality, well priced business.
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Maybe Lees not in that position but a lot of big firms get big because they are cheap therefore undercutting the smaller operater,I've said this before window cleaning is a numbers game at all levels but with a company that big it's essential that they have a massive amount of work. I reckon with a lot of these so called big fish if I looked at 90% of there work it would be at a price most WCs couldn't compete with,you price work correctly when your cleaning it,if you think I'll just add that on his his and his worksheet you can end up doing work for turnover and not profit. Although saying that a what seemed like very successful busineesman said to me once business is all about leverage,how much leverage you have with the banks or borrowing power.
80% of businesses don't make a profit although all the directors still drive 60-70k cars.
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iv noticed that anyone who posts up look im going canvassing and then does the fantastic updates is faking it.
folk pat them on the back
but a month or 2 later theyre posting now im buying a pressure washer cos the real results were shoite
I I laughed at you when I read this.
You dont believe it can be done, because you dont believe you can do it.
Come to wales for 1 day and i'll show how its done son.
oh i know how to do it ,iv a full round . i spose youre another one who will say im getting only big bucks jobs when out cancassing,
thing is ,anyone whose been a windie any length of time knows whats what. big exaggerated claims impress nobody
ha......i get all kinds of prices when out canvassing it doesnt matter about individual prices just hourly rates(no idea what cancassing is) it tells me a lot about you by the way you find it hard to believe that anyone can be successful.
Im not making any exaggerated claims, Im saying its easy to do well at gaining new work if you know how.
So how did you get a full round if its impossible to be good at canvassing?
Is everyone that does well just a liar?
Is it your low self esteem that leads your limited self belief?
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Maybe Lees not in that position but a lot of big firms get big because they are cheap therefore undercutting the smaller operater,I've said this before window cleaning is a numbers game at all levels but with a company that big it's essential that they have a massive amount of work. I reckon with a lot of these so called big fish if I looked at 90% of there work it would be at a price most WCs couldn't compete with,you price work correctly when your cleaning it,if you think I'll just add that on his his and his worksheet you can end up doing work for turnover and not profit. Although saying that a what seemed like very successful busineesman said to me once business is all about leverage,how much leverage you have with the banks or borrowing power.
80% of businesses don't make a profit although all the directors still drive 60-70k cars.
Yeah, then try getting a mortgage!
It's basically all about the bottom line. Yes customer service is a big part of it but if it's a case of always always spending money on marketing you need a hell of a lot of work.
There's different ways to run the type of business we do. It's about what makes each person happy I suppose.
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iv noticed that anyone who posts up look im going canvassing and then does the fantastic updates is faking it.
folk pat them on the back
but a month or 2 later theyre posting now im buying a pressure washer cos the real results were shoite
I I laughed at you when I read this.
You dont believe it can be done, because you dont believe you can do it.
Come to wales for 1 day and i'll show how its done son.
oh i know how to do it ,iv a full round . i spose youre another one who will say im getting only big bucks jobs when out cancassing,
thing is ,anyone whose been a windie any length of time knows whats what. big exaggerated claims impress nobody
ha......i get all kinds of prices when out canvassing it doesnt matter about individual prices just hourly rates(no idea what cancassing is) it tells me a lot about you by the way you find it hard to believe that anyone can be successful.
Im not making any exaggerated claims, Im saying its easy to do well at gaining new work if you know how.
So how did you get a full round if its impossible to be good at canvassing?
Is everyone that does well just a liar?
Is it your low self esteem that leads your limited self belief?
will come to wales if
youll sing "the green green grass of home" as you set off - is that a deal boyo
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iv noticed that anyone who posts up look im going canvassing and then does the fantastic updates is faking it.
folk pat them on the back
but a month or 2 later theyre posting now im buying a pressure washer cos the real results were shoite
I I laughed at you when I read this.
You dont believe it can be done, because you dont believe you can do it.
Come to wales for 1 day and i'll show how its done son.
oh i know how to do it ,iv a full round . i spose youre another one who will say im getting only big bucks jobs when out cancassing,
thing is ,anyone whose been a windie any length of time knows whats what. big exaggerated claims impress nobody
ha......i get all kinds of prices when out canvassing it doesnt matter about individual prices just hourly rates(no idea what cancassing is) it tells me a lot about you by the way you find it hard to believe that anyone can be successful.
Im not making any exaggerated claims, Im saying its easy to do well at gaining new work if you know how.
So how did you get a full round if its impossible to be good at canvassing?
Is everyone that does well just a liar?
Is it your low self esteem that leads your limited self belief?
i will come down to wales and check you out in action , if
youll sing "the green green grass of home" is that a deal boyo
heres a deal for you "muff diver" if you come to wales i'll show you me in action!
and you'll be singing"please have mercy on me" u cocky little belter
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ok paul you dont much look like jonesy , still lets be off
dont you go giving me no crappy results, top hourly rate is what you promised me iv driven a longgg way to see this
"the old town looks the same.....
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ok paul you dont much look like jonesy , still lets be off
dont you go giving me no crappy results, top hourly rate is what you promised me iv driven a longgg way to see this
"the old town looks the same.....
your assuming im welsh because i live in wales??? your welsh jibes have fallen on an englishman.
a bit pointless realy....just like you.
i can teach you 2 lessons
1 how to canvass( not cancass-no wander your shxt at it)
2 not to mess around with someone that'll kick your arse
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no good then.
you assume im no good at cancassing,and i had assumed you were the welsh boy .iv employees but you wanted me to be a failure
we are both wrong and i bid you farewell
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Tony
My company is Southern window cleaning, not to be confused with southern counties window cleaning who have recently started up in the area (I Trademarked my company name in the event of this situation but thats another story)
we don't operate in Crowborough at present, I can pass on any enquiries we get if you want them?
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Hi Steve
Yes I have seen your vans around, and your right I assumed same company , but now I know differently sorry about that
Yes that would be good about crowborough, thanks
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That company you've seen round crowborough is the same one I'm on about there cleaning stuff for peanuts 🥜,let em so called big company with little work if you ask me.
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NWH
I think he's a small operation, 2 or 3 of vans running, you might be confusing the companies also?
our prices are pretty average
I thought his prices would be average to on the high side considering he runs wildfire marketing
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Hi Steve his prices are toilet he did an 800+ job for 200 if he has plenty of work he would not be charging those prices,a 1 off 3 story very awkward job for 200 that took a whole day to clean. I do the Windows on that property for £70 and it takes me 45-50 minutes to clean it,she thought all her christmases had come at once when they said they'd do it for that.