jeff1

  • Posts: 5855
How Long Have You Been a WC(452 years so far) New
« on: June 01, 2006, 07:59:34 pm »
Hi Guy's

Just Thought it would be nice to see how long, we have all been window cleaners?

It doesn't matter how long 1 day to 50 years let us know.
If its been a while tell us of the changes, if any, that you have witnessed.

Today is my business birthday 9 years today, (June 1st)over the years I have seen them come and seen them go, The once only wc, the beer brigade gang, the summer only guy, the wc who only does bungalows, the guy who's on the dole, The regular wc who packed up because he couldn't make enough money, I put this down to the fact that he wasn't all that regular? his customers comeing up to me saying they had not seen him for six months.
There is probably lots more that I have forgotten about, and no doubt you guy's will remind me.

So lets have your say on your time in the trade and any changes you have seen?

Don't just read this post, even if you reply only a week Let us know

S.A.J

  • Posts: 2162
Re: How Long Have You Been a WC
« Reply #1 on: June 01, 2006, 08:05:27 pm »
Im 22 and my business will have been going for 6 years this august.

Biggest change is not having to use a ladder day in day out. (a good change) 8)

Stuart

SAJ Window Cleaners Ltd

brett walker

  • Posts: 1943
Re: How Long Have You Been a WC
« Reply #2 on: June 01, 2006, 08:09:19 pm »
Hi jeff

happy birthday, ive been going 15yrs and ive seen them come and go and some of them are still going

all the window cleaners that you have mentioned are the best window cleaners as we pick their work up when theyve gone  ;)

Brett.

jeff1

  • Posts: 5855
Re: How Long Have You Been a WC
« Reply #3 on: June 01, 2006, 08:12:30 pm »
Thanks Brett

And how right you are  ;D ;D we do pick up there work, thats why I didn't knock them. ;D

Archy136

Re: How Long Have You Been a WC
« Reply #4 on: June 01, 2006, 08:27:35 pm »
Started in 87. Basically it was all pretty much the same until WFP came along about 18 months ago. If it hadn't I would of got out of window cleaning all together. As far as I can see i ll be a WC until I retire or the new system. Mind you that could be a while.

Sir Squeaky

  • Posts: 8341
Re: How Long Have You Been a WC
« Reply #5 on: June 01, 2006, 08:32:10 pm »
Nearly 4 years working for Ian Giles (poor me ;D), and 5 years for myself.

So coming up to 9 years.

P @ F

  • Posts: 6312
Re: How Long Have You Been a WC
« Reply #6 on: June 01, 2006, 08:47:39 pm »
Only 2 years , 6 months trad and 18 wfp

 Rich P @ F
I'm so lazy I'm getting tired of it !

brett walker

  • Posts: 1943
Re: How Long Have You Been a WC
« Reply #7 on: June 01, 2006, 09:03:35 pm »
Its a bit like on this forum window cleaners post for a while and then you dont hear from them again ???

Brett

pjulk

Re: How Long Have You Been a WC
« Reply #8 on: June 01, 2006, 09:06:16 pm »
First started in 1987 working for someone else.
In 1989 i bought a round with a freind of mine and did that for about 2 years but we split the round and decided to go our own ways.
Then doing it part time for about 9 years full time job was a milkman.
Sold my part time round

Then went into commercial cleaning full time for 4 years but damaged my back and ended up in hospital under the knife off work for three years with back problems.
Then started back up just over 2 years ago and have not looked back.

There was no microfibre when first started 20 years ago and used a shammy and scrim in those days and only charging £3 to £3.50 for the average house it was 50p a window then
I would not dream of working for that now.

51p per window now ;D

Paul

Helen

Re: How Long Have You Been a WC
« Reply #9 on: June 01, 2006, 09:30:54 pm »
4 years
And each year we say we're at the level we want to be but things move on another stage.

MNWC

  • Posts: 1549
Re: How Long Have You Been a WC
« Reply #10 on: June 01, 2006, 09:36:03 pm »
4 years this year and i have to say that this year ive finally got my round how i want it and just on the verge of taking someone on  :o

Re: How Long Have You Been a WC
« Reply #11 on: June 01, 2006, 09:47:49 pm »
About 9 years now ;D

Roy Harding

  • Posts: 1964
Re: How Long Have You Been a WC
« Reply #12 on: June 01, 2006, 09:51:34 pm »
Started 21yrs ago and loved every minute.

I have seen customers children grow up get married and have kids of there own.

Also 1 job I have been doing has paid me over £50,000 in that time ;D

But it would be a lot harder to start now as there are a lot more window cleaners out there.

Roy

master cleaner

  • Posts: 519
Re: How Long Have You Been a WC
« Reply #13 on: June 01, 2006, 09:53:26 pm »
Started in 87. Basically it was all pretty much the same until WFP came along about 18 months ago. If it hadn't I would of got out of window cleaning all together. As far as I can see i ll be a WC until I retire or the new system. Mind you that could be a while.

ive been wfp for 8 months wfp 11 yrs trad

archy what did you mean by the new system

gary

dougster

  • Posts: 251
Re: How Long Have You Been a WC
« Reply #14 on: June 01, 2006, 10:04:23 pm »
ive been going 6 glorious years know, and each year gets better and better. Started wfp six months ago and hoping that eventually ladders will be banned for good

H h20

Re: How Long Have You Been a WC
« Reply #15 on: June 01, 2006, 10:06:58 pm »
Hi Jeff,18 years for me and still loving it especially evolving,Gaz  ;)

rosskesava

Re: How Long Have You Been a WC
« Reply #16 on: June 01, 2006, 10:07:34 pm »
5 years or maybe a bit longer and year using wfp sometimes.

It started out as me and a mate, being unemployed, needing to earn some extra pennies.

Our first 'job' was a couple of quid and it was like Laurel and Hardy with a bent up ladder, one squeegie and a bucket.

Now it's a proffessionaly run outfit with all the headaches that go with it but I love every minute of it. It's the best job I've ever done and the strange thing is that during those 5 years, the only illness I've had is one dose of flu. Before that when I worked on the railways it seemed like as soon as one cold went, another would start.

It's a great proffession and at 47 I think I'll be happily doing this till I retire.


jeff1

  • Posts: 5855
Re: How Long Have You Been a WC
« Reply #17 on: June 01, 2006, 10:40:49 pm »
There some great replys, and thanks, Some of you guys have had to start from scratch and build up your rounds over the years, and it makes interesting reading.

for me it was very different, I was very Lucky in becomeing a wc. one evening nine years ago there was a knock on my front door, and it was my neigbour who himself was a wc, and had been for six years with his wc partner of some twenty years. they asked to come in for a chat.  30 minutes later I was a wc with all the equipment, and a full round of three hundred customers.icluding commercials,

I gave up my full time job as a security engineer after 15 years ,and spent the next six weeks, going around with these two old guy's, who showed me how to clean windows, and introduced me to all the customers,and showing me how to do all the paper work.

After that six weeks I was on my own, well me and the boss (wifey) The two guy's in question were very well off, each owning two and three houses each, I hasten to add this was nothing to do with window cleaning.

and just to let you know they would not accept any money, for the round or equipment, and after several attempts to give them money, they were becoming quite offended by my attempts to pay them, they are both happily retired, and told me last night they knew I would stick to it, and not let it go down the pan,
how right they are, I have never looked back, and think its the best job in the world.
So now you can see why I say I was very lucky on becoming a wc. I now salute those two guy's

Morph

Re: How Long Have You Been a WC
« Reply #18 on: June 01, 2006, 10:42:00 pm »
Well, we've done this before...but...

I have been self employed since 1982.  I am in my 27th year now!
I took up window cleaning as a stop gap November1987.  Still at it.
About 5 years ago my knees really started to pay me back for pushing 13 stone up a ladder all that time.  I had to just cut back on ladder work, it was becoming agony.
I was on pills, therapy and everything.  I kept going, because cleaning windows with difficulty, was better than alternatives that were offered me.
Just over 3 years ago, after a few busy days in march at 49 years old I had a heart attack!  Changed my life!  Off work for 4 months, deep depression followed.  Didn't think I'd get back to window cleaning.  Lost a lot of my round, sold some cheap, gave some away, let some go, managed to hang on to a bit, thanks to my family and a very good friend.
Persuaded by good friend to look in to wfp about a year ago, found this forum, started swatting up and got going wfp in October 2005.
New lease of life......

Who remembers "Graham (Gould)"?
He helped me step by step.  Good guy!  Graham was not his real name

jeff1

  • Posts: 5855
Re: How Long Have You Been a WC
« Reply #19 on: June 01, 2006, 10:48:15 pm »
Well done Pj

it just goes to show, its in your blood now, and that even a fighter like you  can make a come back, even after a heart attack, you don't have to end up on the scrap heap.

 WELL DONE Pj

mark dew

  • Posts: 2901
Re: How Long Have You Been a WC
« Reply #20 on: June 01, 2006, 10:51:16 pm »
Only been cleaning windows for just over 2 years. Trad for 2 years and into 3rd month wfp now.
Biggest change i've noticed?
Feeling healthy almost everyday.  :D

mark


brett walker

  • Posts: 1943
Re: How Long Have You Been a WC
« Reply #21 on: June 01, 2006, 11:08:59 pm »
PJ
I remember Graham, he was quite a character. ;D What happened to him is he still window cleaning?

brett

macc

Re: How Long Have You Been a WC
« Reply #22 on: June 01, 2006, 11:12:03 pm »
Cant believe it, just worked it out, coming up 18 years. i was a builder & had a small round i built up to gauentee my mortgage was paid. It just grew from there.

What i liked about it if i got stitched up wc it was only a few quid & if you dont mind grafting there is money to be made.

Cant be that bad, im still going, a lot of mine have been on the books over 10 years.  ;D

macc

Sir Squeaky

  • Posts: 8341
Re: How Long Have You Been a WC
« Reply #23 on: June 01, 2006, 11:25:14 pm »
PJ
I remember Graham, he was quite a character. ;D What happened to him is he still window cleaning?

brett
Apparently so, according to Tosh...

Graham was a good laugh. :D
Deadpan humour, but a helpful chap too.

Pj, is that true Graham wasn't his real name?

rosskesava

Re: How Long Have You Been a WC
« Reply #24 on: June 01, 2006, 11:25:41 pm »
Graham Gould..... The one sentance giver of advice whether agreeable or not....

Quote
Who remembers "Graham (Gould)"?
He helped me step by step.  Good guy!  Graham was not his real name

I won't write anymore.  ::) Yup, he did help you didn't he. Great bloke.

Morph

Re: How Long Have You Been a WC
« Reply #25 on: June 01, 2006, 11:32:58 pm »
PJ
I remember Graham, he was quite a character. ;D What happened to him is he still window cleaning?

brett
Yes he is.  But He has other strings to his bow.
Quote from: Squeaky Clean. link=topic=20643.msg154372#msg154372 date=1149200714


Pj, is that true Graham wasn't his real name?
[quote

Yes it's true. His real name was on here for a while.

Graham Gould..... The one sentance giver of advice whether agreeable or not....

Quote
Who remembers "Graham (Gould)"?
He helped me step by step. Good guy! Graham was not his real name

I won't write anymore. ::) Yup, he did help you didn't he. Great bloke.

What are you on, Ross?

abacus

  • Posts: 229
Re: How Long Have You Been a WC
« Reply #26 on: June 01, 2006, 11:50:29 pm »
Hi Ive been wc 9 years 4wfp

Started after 2 years off work ill my brother got me into hes now had to give up he has a swisted spine nothing to do with wc brought my round and it just grews ome customers have been on the books 19 years My bother did it on and off since he left school says he can remember when the scrim would stand up on thier own whe they where new and had to be boiled to break them in.
wfp dont you just love em!

regards grant
A service you can count on
SAFEcontractor approved

Moderator David@stives

  • Posts: 8829
Re: How Long Have You Been a WC
« Reply #27 on: June 02, 2006, 12:13:20 am »
I started in May 98.

My Wife was asked at school of one of the other parents if she knew any window cleaners as she had been looking for weeks and could not find one.
It turns out she was the manageress of an holiday park with 134 units waiting to be cleaned, priced at £6.00 a unit plus the clubhouse at £150.

My wife told her "nah dont know any" after she told me of the conversation, i said give her a ring and tell her i could do it but i have never done it before.
So the wife phones her and she agrees i could start the next day, so off i went and bought a bucket and sponge (honest), started the next day and thought this aint right i need some different equipment, My mate told me his dad was a window cleaner so i asked him what do i need , he took me to the local diy and told me to buy an all in one plastic squeegie , which in did. I will tell the rest some other time.

Any way a week passed and i had cleaned every unit and had to wait for 3 months for the cheque to arrive and that was that.

about 3 months after that a local guy was selling a round for £500 and i knocked him down to £250 for £400 a months work.

6 months after that i bought another round for £3000 which was for £1400 worth of work per month, even at this big commitment i was still unsure of my skills with a squeegie but i got away with it, i have still got most of them customers.

Since that time i now employ 2 staff and have got 2 wfp and vans on the road.

Dave

Grafters Cleaning Services

  • Posts: 1287
Re: How Long Have You Been a WC
« Reply #28 on: June 02, 2006, 12:21:13 am »
i started back in about 1981 (makes me sound old)

had a break doing other things for many years then returned

the biggest change that i have seen over the years are
H&S regs and wfp

went over to wfp about 15months ago (best move i've ever made) and can now see myself staying this way until i retire as things are looking up and getting better as each week goes by, i have now taken on my 17 yr old son who hopefully will take over if and when i retire.

Jay
JAY "GRAFTERS"
From Southampton
www.high-shine.co.uk

rosskesava

Re: How Long Have You Been a WC
« Reply #29 on: June 02, 2006, 12:48:02 am »
Just before I go to bed, this topic has come up before but with less information. It's intersting to know how others started.

Mine, as I wrote was by accident. It seemed a good idea at the time. One ladder, one worn out squeegie that left lines all over the glass and not having a clue how to clean windows and no forums like this one.

Maybe it needs a new topic 'how did you begin'. I would start it but after working all day and sorting out tomorrow's work and the accounts and wages, I'm done in sitting here with a can of beer and relaxing.

Interesting stuff. What is more interesting though is that reading through posts over time is that most w/c's really enjoy their work.

For me, 5 years and still happy.

trevor perry

  • Posts: 2454
Re: How Long Have You Been a WC
« Reply #30 on: June 02, 2006, 02:31:13 pm »
i started in 1982 at the age 0f 15 but had helped my dad from much earllier i even went in a cradle at the age of 6 to push the buttons whilst my dad cleaned the windows i  can just see the health and safety officers face if you did that these days. 
     my dad has cleaned windows for 46 yrs now and at the age of 67 will still burn out most window cleaners on a days work.
     when i started it was common for us to use a 60ft ladder all day on your own no tying or people footing ladder, we also used to climb out on ledges alot then as people wouldnt pay for a cherry picker and this was easier than them big ladders.
     bigest change i have seen is health and safety laws  and wfp which i tried  8 yrs ago but found customers not happy with it  but due to said laws bought another system late last year and persevering with it. find it great on some jobs but lousy on others.
    p.s i just think health and safety does have its place and in all truth in the past i have took some silly risks just to clean windows but the new laws at the moment i feel have gone to far and as long as you know what your doing  ladders are safe so please leave us alone
better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove any doubt

Paul Coleman

Re: How Long Have You Been a WC
« Reply #31 on: June 02, 2006, 06:39:51 pm »
Started in 87. Basically it was all pretty much the same until WFP came along about 18 months ago. If it hadn't I would of got out of window cleaning all together. As far as I can see i ll be a WC until I retire or the new system. Mind you that could be a while.

I realise that most people won't have picked up on it Archy but this is not the place for debating of belief systems IMHO.  Or did you mean the successor of WFP when you said "new system"?  :)

Paul Coleman

Re: How Long Have You Been a WC
« Reply #32 on: June 02, 2006, 06:43:40 pm »
Started in 87. Basically it was all pretty much the same until WFP came along about 18 months ago. If it hadn't I would of got out of window cleaning all together. As far as I can see i ll be a WC until I retire or the new system. Mind you that could be a while.

ive been wfp for 8 months wfp 11 yrs trad

archy what did you mean by the new system

gary

If he told ya, his god would have to kill ya  :)

Re: How Long Have You Been a WC
« Reply #33 on: June 02, 2006, 06:47:09 pm »
Just over 3 years.  Still wet behind the ears!

ScrimShady

  • Posts: 647
Re: How Long Have You Been a WC
« Reply #34 on: June 02, 2006, 06:49:11 pm »
i have been doing it for 1 year 4 months
and been wfp for 2 months
love every minute of it

Paul Coleman

Re: How Long Have You Been a WC
« Reply #35 on: June 02, 2006, 06:54:07 pm »
Nearly forgot to say how long as I got wrapped up in other stuff  :)
1991 here.  It was rather forced on me as there were no jobs back then.  I went away driving an advertising wagon one week per month (only work I had and built a window cleaning round around it.  By the time Superdrug decided not to advertise that way any more, I had half a window cleaning round so I just carried on from there.

sair

  • Posts: 682
Re: How Long Have You Been a WC
« Reply #36 on: June 02, 2006, 08:08:24 pm »
1986 started part time started wfp in late 90s , then in 2003 started to manufacture wfp
still working the windows although round to big for just me there are three vans now , possibly another two this year ,
Essentially Pure Ltd

Alex Gardiner

  • Posts: 7740
Re: How Long Have You Been a WC
« Reply #37 on: June 02, 2006, 08:16:09 pm »
I have been WC for 21 years ever since I left school, went into it part time working for my Dad, he has been a WC for 27 years now and before that he was in the 'City' in banking.

We have been WFP for 5 years now.

Alex

geoffreyspecht

  • Posts: 485
Re: How Long Have You Been a WC
« Reply #38 on: June 02, 2006, 09:12:46 pm »
started cleaning windows in 1976 thats 30 years.clean windows partime now l

jeff1

  • Posts: 5855
Re: How Long Have You Been a WC (424 years so far)
« Reply #39 on: June 02, 2006, 10:38:19 pm »
Hi Guy's

Just done a quike tot up, and out of the 34 replys for the length of service,

It works our that between 34 of us, we have a total of 443 years service.

as and when we get more reply's, I will do another tot up and post the Totals again.

Thank  you for all your replys so far.

Last edited 4 june

chris@c.m.s

  • Posts: 1556
Re: How Long Have You Been a WC
« Reply #40 on: June 02, 2006, 11:10:43 pm »
Nearly 4 years working for Ian Giles (poor me ;D), and 5 years for myself.

So coming up to 9 years.
Out of interest Squeaks did Ian have you doing the tops or bottoms
Sussex by the sea

Sir Squeaky

  • Posts: 8341
Re: How Long Have You Been a WC(363 years so far)
« Reply #41 on: June 02, 2006, 11:57:19 pm »
Tops generally. Ian likes bottoms. ;D

Nah, I was on my own.
He'd send me out miles away to fend for myself.
On the high stuff too.
25ft+ up on his ropey ladders with no rubber feet.
Might as well have had wheels on....

He'll love me telling you all this. ;D

Apparently working together wasn't "effecient"
That was Ian's key word.

Hope this post was "efficient" Ian. ;D ;)

macc

Re: How Long Have You Been a WC(363 years so far)
« Reply #42 on: June 03, 2006, 12:42:25 am »
Tops generally. Ian likes bottoms. ;D

Nah, I was on my own.
He'd send me out miles away to fend for myself.
On the high stuff too.
25ft+ up on his ropey ladders with no rubber feet.
Might as well have had wheels on....



Bet you wished you had a wfp then a Squeaky.  ;)

Macc

JM123

  • Posts: 2095
Re: How Long Have You Been a WC(363 years so far)
« Reply #43 on: June 03, 2006, 06:00:08 pm »
bout 5 years but i still clean windows in my sleep so thats 10 years.
Live life in the fast lane.......if you break down you'll freewheel further

Ballymena N.I

Tim Morton

  • Posts: 201
Re: How Long Have You Been a WC(368 years so far)
« Reply #44 on: June 03, 2006, 09:10:15 pm »
15 yrs trad, 3 months wfp except for 1 day a week that is all shops.

Tim
Measure with a micrometer, mark with chalk, cut with an axe!!
Craigavon, N.Ireland

Richy L

  • Posts: 2257
Re: How Long Have You Been a WC(383 years so far)
« Reply #45 on: June 04, 2006, 10:11:35 am »
i started my own round when i was 14, just doing bunglows, cleaning on a Saturday. I'm 22 now, so thats 8 years.

I started off from school working with my dad. But i have been on my own for about 8 months or so now. Still in the process of changing to WFP

www.mrgutters.co.uk

  • Posts: 871
Re: How Long Have You Been a WC(401 years so far)
« Reply #46 on: June 04, 2006, 01:05:42 pm »
hi all

i am 23 and i started up in nov of 2004 ,, started with £16 a months worth of work ... then within a few months it picked up now i am pn 1500 a month ... so getting there .. got 61 customers now..

shawn
If a job's worth doing, it's worth doing well.

jeff1

  • Posts: 5855
Re: How Long Have You Been a WC(452 years so far) New
« Reply #47 on: June 04, 2006, 01:59:49 pm »
Between 34 of us who have given dates so far, we have 452 years experiance between us. ;D

Moderator David@stives

  • Posts: 8829
Re: How Long Have You Been a WC(424 years so far)
« Reply #48 on: June 04, 2006, 02:03:07 pm »
22,048 weeks at an average 100 jobs a week ,that is

2,2048,000 houses cleaned at an average of £10 an house that is

£ 22,048,000

jeff1

  • Posts: 5855
Re: How Long Have You Been a WC(424 years so far)
« Reply #49 on: June 04, 2006, 03:01:45 pm »
David

22,048 weeks,makes you 425 years old, whats your secret ;D

D.Salkeld_Ltd

  • Posts: 951
Re: How Long Have You Been a WC(424 years so far)
« Reply #50 on: June 04, 2006, 06:51:36 pm »
19 years Trad,
2 months WFP

David Sakeld
Not Perfect - But Honest

ronaldo

  • Posts: 840
Re: How Long Have You Been a WC(443 years so far)
« Reply #51 on: June 04, 2006, 08:33:21 pm »
9 and half years trad.

4 months wfp.
A bad days fishing is better than a good days work !