Clean It Up
UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: windows_chepstow on October 28, 2005, 08:00:23 pm
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I've recently taken over around 25 terraced houses from a guy who used to be a WFP window cleaner. He dropped the street because he's now a locksmith!
Anyway, today was the first day I used my WFP on them, however the top two houses were a little bit out of the way, and due to my inexperience I assumed it would be quicker to use ladders on these two; (because I was unsure of water dropping from the top windows and contaminating the bottom windows).
So, I cleaned them as usual; using ladders. They weren't in, so I left a chit.
Later that day, Ian_Giles met up with me (to show of his brand-spanking new van; very nice) and clarified a few points and basically told me not to worry about water dropping on the windows underneath.
Not long after, the customers who live in the first two houses I used ladders for collared me and asked why I didn't use the WFP on their house. I explained my 'inexperience'.
They both asked that I clean them next month with my WFP.
I know this is a bit of a long-winded, empty post; but I wanted to make a point that a WFP clean; done correctly; is easier, safer, quicker AND also extremely customer-friendly.
Both these customers were senior citizens (read 'potential whingers'), but they felt ripped off because I used traditional methods to clean their house, but WFP on the rest of the street!
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He dropped the street because he's now a locksmith!
He's not too picky I hope.
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HI tosh'
Nice posting.
You've made me feel better allready.
I'm switching to wfp in december.Told 90% of my customers. Not lost a single one despite putting my prices up 20%.
But I keep on nearly having panic attacks on wheather I'm doing the right thing. A big Part of me does not want to change after doing it one way for 26 yrs.
The sun may still shine on the other side of the rainbow, after reading your post.
Many thanks, Nel.
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:)go for it neil and keep reading the wfp post on here there is plenty of infomation i was hesitant but took the plunge back in march was worried to start with lost no customers so going from strengh to strengh and and learning a lot from here ;D
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Neil - I started in February after 10 years traditional - I was as scared as a Bristolian crossing the Severn Bridge into sheepland - but it's been brilliant.
I have not lost a single customer and it's all down to reading on this site first. Ian Giles. Roy Harding and others have been really helpful with my Q's. Matt's self-build knowledge is excellent too.)
Send that letter explaining why - go big on health and safety.
Change your round in sections. E.g. a couple of days worth at a time. Get each section right and move on to the next. It took me three months to switch all of mine. (I still keep 20% as trad - "rabbit hutch easy access houses" mainly so I'm using different muscle groups from time to time.)
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Neil
just do it
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Convinced me Tosh, did you buy shares? ;)
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Tosh
I must thank you for your honest remarks and experiences with WFP...your posts have inspired me to take the leap and buy a wfp system (thanks Matt).
Best wishes
Mark
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Thanks, Neil and Mark for the compliments.
But any window cleaner that refuses to get a WFP on the grounds that 'their customers won't like it' needs to get their head checked.
Of course you've got to educate your customers. One of mine said that when Matt (her previous WFP window cleaner) cleaned the front of her terraced house, then started working his way down the street, she went out and dried her windows with a cloth.
Mad woman!
But she loves the pole now.
She thanked me for my leaflet (provided by David of St Ives) and said she knew the gist of how it works, but the leaflet explained it all better.
I think the key is to inform your customers how it works and why you use the system; from a health and safety angle.
From then on, any customer that wants you to risk your kneck, and the welfare of your family ('cos you're no use to them in a wheel chair), isn't worth being a human being, never mind a customer.
So drop them.
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Thanks a lot lads for that.
Hopefully it will help me sleep better tonight.
Most customers are looking forward to seeing the new system when i eventully decide which one to get.
Though I did get a customer the other day who did not seam happy That I was chainging my w/c system.So I asked "what is it exactly your not so keen on when I start useing the wfp?
Its going to make all the floor wet and look untidy compared to how your doing it now.
So I said "can you tell me how you have coped the last 3 days when it has not stopped raining"
Ummmmmmmmmmmmmm. was her reply.
When I was leaving she was cleaning her car. So I said " I thought you would of cleaned that at the garage. Your going to get your drive awfully wet and its going to look messy.
She looked at me and laughed,"point taken" she said.
Nel
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Dear CMS,
Being a Hereford United supporter, I am finding your Brighton avatar extremely offensive :P ;)
And yes, I am still bitter after all these years ;)
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sorry Jon lol, but hey we did get falmer, hmmm should i go back to an exposed mrs piggy?
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sorry tosh slightly of subject
:-X
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but hey we did get falmer
how is the new stadium campain going
i hear the cardiff fans joined in with the protest last game, which was jolly nice of us ;)
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i hear the cardiff fans joined in with the protest last game, which was jolly nice of us ;)
Matt - us Cardiff fans ??
Whats the connection there then ;D
Sarah
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HI tosh'
Nice posting.
You've made me feel better allready.
I'm switching to wfp in december.Told 90% of my customers. Not lost a single one despite putting my prices up 20%.
But I keep on nearly having panic attacks on wheather I'm doing the right thing. A big Part of me does not want to change after doing it one way for 26 yrs.
The sun may still shine on the other side of the rainbow, after reading your post.
Many thanks, Nel.
hi neil
you said you put up 20% was this because of change to wfp? how did you put it to them? and how did they react?
Andy
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hi neil
you said you put up 20% was this because of change to wfp? how did you put it to them? and how did they react?
Ok Andy,
Prices are going up 20% on average,some even 40% because of the cost of switching over to wfp, and the higher running costs involved.But the prices are kicking in December When the system should be up and running.
I decided to tell all my customers indivdually rather then just hand a letter over. The reason for this was :-
1, I prefferd to tell them because I belive Having a good personal realationship with your clients make it far harder for them to cancell when they view you as a freind.
2,You can gauge from their facial reacation if their concernd or worried, allowing you to deal with it in a positive way.
3, IF you just hand over a letter telling them about wfp without explaining it you may find the next time you go round that they have cancelld.
4,I started telling my customers in Sept{ Bit of kiddolgy here} that the price was going up,so each time I clean them they ask is it the knew price? No its the old,they know its the cost of setting wfp up that as meant the price is increasing.
5,I researched wfp intensly so I knew what I was talking about when I started telling them.
6.I told them of the knew health @ safety regs that have come in to force this year,and that I am often breaking them.I want to comply as best I can so have no alternative but to change to a safer system.
7, I've told them they have me cleaning the windows because they trust me and I do a good job.I will do a good job with the new system but be warned I will not master it straight away but within 3 months I garantee I will do as good a job as i do now but even better.
8, most cant wait for me to start with it,a few have reservations, but so do I.
In 6 months i will be wizzing along with feet on the ground,and the customers will be happy that they will have me for another 20 yrs.
Hope it helps,Nel.
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hi neil
you said you put up 20% was this because of change to wfp? how did you put it to them? and how did they react?
Ok Andy,
Prices are going up 20% on average,some even 40% because of the cost of switching over to wfp, and the higher running costs involved.But the prices are kicking in December When the system should be up and running.
I decided to tell all my customers indivdually rather then just hand a letter over. The reason for this was :-
1, I prefferd to tell them because I belive Having a good personal realationship with your clients make it far harder for them to cancell when they view you as a freind.
2,You can gauge from their facial reacation if their concernd or worried, allowing you to deal with it in a positive way.
3, IF you just hand over a letter telling them about wfp without explaining it you may find the next time you go round that they have cancelld.
4,I started telling my customers in Sept{ Bit of kiddolgy here} that the price was going up,so each time I clean them they ask is it the knew price? No its the old,they know its the cost of setting wfp up that as meant the price is increasing.
5,I researched wfp intensly so I knew what I was talking about when I started telling them.
6.I told them of the knew health @ safety regs that have come in to force this year,and that I am often breaking them.I want to comply as best I can so have no alternative but to change to a safer system.
7, I've told them they have me cleaning the windows because they trust me and I do a good job.I will do a good job with the new system but be warned I will not master it straight away but within 3 months I garantee I will do as good a job as i do now but even better.
8, most cant wait for me to start with it,a few have reservations, but so do I.
In 6 months i will be wizzing along with feet on the ground,and the customers will be happy that they will have me for another 20 yrs.
Hope it helps,Nel.
I need to see posts like this at the moment. I have WFP mostly set up now. There are just a couple of bits I need to get before I start in earnest. I am currently washing the traditional way but I stopped using fairy liquid several weeks ago as I understand that WFP doesn't work so well if preceded by fairy. I would like to complete the rest of my round the trad way before making the switchover - even though I am now equipped. This gives me the chance to wipe the frames manually in preparation. I don't really want to start WFPing properly until I've practised on my own windows and done the BWCA course on November 10.
However, I have to acknowledge that I have some fear of making the switch too so I am dragging my heels a bit. Another part of me is really looking forward to it. Mixed feelings I guess. I am working very hard to hide those mixed feelings from my customers. I know it will be OK in the end even if I do make a few screw-ups in my learning curve.
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Andy,
Its good to hear someone else as got mixed feelings, and that I,m not the only one.
Heard Paul Jewell,The manager of Wigan football Club speaking the other day, Half the time he says hes bluffing it because he has not got a clue what to do. He convinces his players he Knows what hes doing most of the time while hes clueless.
And Wigan are doing great.If you can do that with a premeire League club, Should be a breeze switching to wfp.
6 months from now we will be offering support to wfp newibes and telling them not to worry.
At least your further ahead then me.Just rubbed down the van floor so it can be sprayed with protecote on friday, 2 more demos this week then I will decide on tank.Or weather to lease or buy.
All the best and go kick some butt with your wfp. Nel.
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6 months from now we will be offering support to wfp newibes and telling them not to worry.
Nel & Andy,
With the exception of mastering the technique, you will quickly become very familiar with the construction, set-up and maintenance of the system you buy. By the time you buy it you will have asked most of the questions around and been given the best answers possible - whether its from the pro retailers or from the guys at the coal face.
6 months - no. You'll be answering others questions within a few months cos you'll' have aquired a real knowledge on the system operating spec and what can go wrong on installation and how to fix it quickly.
Some of the wfp users on site have only been fully wfp for a few months. We only started full residential in July, David @ St Ives at about the same time and Malc (G)old earlier in the year to mention a few.
Keep asking about the techniques and application methods though - we are still picking up valuable tips.
Go for it - and whilst I dont want to seem like a wfp basher - you will never look back. Safer, quicker, more £'s and the pole means you can use it for other applications if you wanted to.
Good luck both, any questions please ask away.
Regards,
Sarah
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I too have already or am about to increase my prices. I put the price up 50% on two estates. I explained to my clients that it was no longer economically viable for me to continue at my present prices. The cost of investing in WFP in order to comply with new regs, the cost of DI water. I tell them it's the same water you buy at Halfords to put in car batteries. I have explained that I only have three options. Pack the job in,
dump their estate and find new higher priced work, or substantually increase my prices. I did offer to clean their windows every other month, so that their overall window cleaning cost came down. some went for this option but the majority said do them monthly and we'll pay the extra. I'v only lost one client up to now. If your honest and sincere people will pay the extra. DAI
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Thanks again Sarah,
I'm allready lineing up extra work,ie con roofs,facias etc.But wonderd what would you charge For cleaning Facia boards and under the eves?
I know some charge £40 to £50 for con roofs.
I clean gutters out as well, but do that traditonally as a rule,
Regards Nel
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cheers guys
very helpful comments food for thought as they say, given me the push i need and will put into to play all your good ideas. ta
Andy
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More superior than Toshs squeeging skills at least ;D
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Thanks again Sarah,
I'm allready lineing up extra work,ie con roofs,facias etc.But wonderd what would you charge For cleaning Facia boards and under the eves?
I know some charge £40 to £50 for con roofs.
I clean gutters out as well, but do that traditonally as a rule,
Regards Nel
Nel,
With regard to pricing - its really about what your local market dictates and what figure makes it worth your while.
I have seen many posting about people saying they charge £50 per side for guttering - great money if you can get work at that price. Locally there are w/c who charge £10 per side. We dont want work that cheap but it has forced us to keep our prices a little lower than elsewhere. We get £25 per side and that good going. Research your market, ring your competitors and ask for prices over the phone (in disguise obviously). The work out what to charge. We plan to start a rate per foot as many new houses in our area have gutters over porches etc so we are really doing them for nothing when charging a per side rate.
Soffits and Eaves - well thats another story. In our eyes you have already gor the pole out to clean the windows so with the exception of a brush change (eves can be really dirty) its got a low set up time. We only charge an additional £20 per house IF they are having their windows done at the same time.
Our structure may be slated by other w/c as being too cheap or indeed unrealistically high but aim higher than you need, do a good job and the word will get around.
We plan to have an Onmi gutter Vac by this time next year - all paid for by these add-on jobs !! ;D ;D
Regards
Sarah
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I charge £20 a side for exterior gutter cleaning which includes soffits and fascias
Dave
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More superior than Toshs squeeging skills at least ;D
Hey; I'm not bad! >:(
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Thanks i feel better now.