Clean It Up
UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: VSP Home Care on January 21, 2012, 08:07:05 pm
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Had a few hours out in Bickley and Chislehurst today, I think we must have knocked on around 200 houses, got quite a few maybe's for lawns, a couple of I'll have a think about it's for the windows as well as lawns. So no new customers but hey if you know the area you'll know how amazing the properties are.
Some of them took two minutes to walk down the drive ;D
They have to be some of the most stunning properties I've ever seen, some of them must be at least 10 beds. It would certainly be a pleasure to work somewhere like that. Alas there are quite a few people working the area so we don't expect to pick up much work, and to be fair no one complained about their current chap and he looks to be doing a fine job over there.
Nice day out though dreaming of living in a place like that..
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I always feel a little downhearted by the maybe/I'll let you know brigade - I wish I had the patter to close the deal :)
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not being funny mate but asking people if they would like to have their lawn mowed in january is a non starter with people who own properties that size. they tend to be lottery winners or professional people. so no much chance of them falling for that trick ;D
after asking 200 people if they would like their windows cleaned as well as lawns cut and getting 200 people saying no then i would check my sales pitch.
on the bright side you must be a record holder on c i u. ;)
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;D ;D two hundred and no joy, oh dear, I would change my pitch or go else where, and lawns ???
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Well we only found about 8 that didn't already have someone, so the area is well covered and I'm not suprised really.
Lawn's we don't really start until March, that's why it's best to take bookings now ;) We had way more people say they would think about the lawns than we did windows :)
If I don't get the windows I'll certainly be a happy chap doing those huge lawns ;D
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Do many of your customers actually go for lawns and window cleaning do you invoice them one whole price
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i think ive seen you about cleaning windows and bin cleaning
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I Never done lawns before, but had 3 people ask the other day when I was canvassing for windows, I said yeah, 10£ a month with the windows, there all on new estate, nice level, tidy lawns already....reckon they'll take no more than 10 mins each with my petty mower :)
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Do many of your customers actually go for lawns and window cleaning do you invoice them one whole price
We have a few that pay a half or full day, large properties so we do what we can in the time we have. I also like the fact that if someone has a windy then they might just give you the lawn work, certainly better than no work ;)
Monday to Wednesday next week we are decorating, sealing some flooring and repairing a shed roof, then on to trimming a small garden back. I'm certainly not going to be doing her windows, I know her windy and he's a monster ;D
And a good pal ;)
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I Never done lawns before, but had 3 people ask the other day when I was canvassing for windows, I said yeah, 10£ a month with the windows, there all on new estate, nice level, tidy lawns already....reckon they'll take no more than 10 mins each with my petty mower :)
That's it TC, another string to the bow my friend. Just remember the edges! Do the lawn as a landscaper would, edge's first, then cross cut the lawn and not too short, then trim. Sure give's me a nice feeling when it's all looking tidy. Plus when a customer see's your work they are more likely to ask you to do other work.
There's more money in doing windows alone I'd think, but we love the mix if we can get it :)
I know a lady that only does gardening, she won't even touch a lawn. She's on around 150 a day out where she lives, we're hoping to connect up with her customers and do those lawns nicely for them... and the windows I'm sure ;)
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i think ive seen you about cleaning windows and bin cleaning
Not me Bumper, I leave the bins to braver men than me, and those with no sense of smell. Although as a Carp man I'm sure you have a strong hooter when it comes to bait making ;D
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Vsp i have loads in chislehurst. what area are you from??
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Glad it's not just me then .
I tried canvassing Chislehurst last year . Only covered about 70-80 houses but didn't get one job out of it ! I think the windies on that patch have got it well covered
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VSP -good to hear youre out there mate. your mix of jobs will stand u in good stead and you wont get bored neither. you could also offer lawn feeding as an add on
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yeah. you could offer dog walking and room decoration too. after school english lessons and hair colour classes as well. come on lads. lets concentrate on doing what we are good at and put some customers into our areas that we work in.
branching out into other things is great when you have too much of your main business full. try to be everything to everyone and you end up running around in circles and achieving nothing. its about doing what you are good at. not about being a jack of all trades and master of none.
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Vsp i have loads in chislehurst. what area are you from??
Itsthe ice cream van wars all over again ;)
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yeah. you could offer dog walking and room decoration too. after school english lessons and hair colour classes as well.
;D ;D ;D
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yeah. you could offer dog walking and room decoration too. after school english lessons and hair colour classes as well. come on lads. lets concentrate on doing what we are good at and put some customers into our areas that we work in.
branching out into other things is great when you have too much of your main business full. try to be everything to everyone and you end up running around in circles and achieving nothing. its about doing what you are good at. not about being a jack of all trades and master of none.
Every post ive read from you Sir John F has been negative, and have yet seen you agree with anyone else.
Top bloke
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I`m from West Yorkshire and funnily enough got invited
To a `posh`birthday party where the party was held at a
Sports club in Chistlehurst.Stayed overnight in a pub
B and B in nearby Eltham.
Going from Eltham in the taxi to Chislehurst ( it was dark
Too 7.30 pm ish`) I thought gee some possibilities for some
Aspiring `windie`here !
Nothing much like them houses near to me.
Instead of lawns did ya think about gutter clearance at all?
A Clark 20 or 30 model or similier,don`t mean laddering.
I`m no salesman,but 5 or 6 jobs at least ya really was`nt being
Too ambitious.Might be ya sales pitch like others have said. ??? ;D
Lewis Doubtfire
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i really do think more affluent customers see you as a jack of all trades.desperate for work."ill cut your grass no problem!!and clean the windows as well when ive raked the grass up!!maaam!!!"
i know guys that do this.they are usually retired gentlemen and charge low and on council estates they do ok.
IMO you should just offer cleaning services if your a window cleaner.with the add on conservatory roof,fascia and soffit cleaning as extra add on work as and when.forget mowing the bloody grass as well!! ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
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yeah. you could offer dog walking and room decoration too. after school english lessons and hair colour classes as well. come on lads. lets concentrate on doing what we are good at and put some customers into our areas that we work in.
branching out into other things is great when you have too much of your main business full. try to be everything to everyone and you end up running around in circles and achieving nothing. its about doing what you are good at. not about being a jack of all trades and master of none.
Every post ive read from you Sir John F has been negative, and have yet seen you agree with anyone else.
Top bloke
i am gutted you feel that way.
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Guys I understand your comments about Jack's of all trades etc, but we are not window cleaners, that just happens to be one of the many services we offer. Between myself and my partner we cover a fair few trades, we refer to ourselves as property maintenance and improvements.
Almost anyone can cut a lawn, but knowing how to do it properly is a little different as I pointed out earlier to someone. It's certainly not something that you can't learn yourself ;)
Personally I'd rather spend one whole day at an amazing property cutting a gorgeous lawn, cleaning the window's and jet washing their drive etc, the feeling we get when we look at our work is worth the effort.
We intend to spend this year building a round up to no more than 2-3 flat out days a week, we are leaving the rest of the week for other work. Like I say, I'm sure there is more money in compact windows only work, but Money is not my primary objective. I recently left a 40k office job in IT that made me very ill, money does not make you happy ;)
When I'm on a nice lawn sweating away in the sun I think about nothing at all, apart from doing a nice job and that makes me a very happy chap :)
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Vsp i have loads in chislehurst. what area are you from??
Hi Mick, I was following your post the other day about new ash green with interest, I'm based in Greenhithe (Bluewater) And my colleague is based very close to where we were yesterday, we should chat Mick, if you're the man that's covering that area you're doing very well old chap. I had no complaints from any of the large properties, we even tried the few little estates and they said it was very well covered.
I have friends in Southborough road that live in a nice little place, they said it would be tough as they are always being canvassed.
We did have quite a few interested people regarding our lawn care work though, mainly the bigger houses off Southborough road turnings, and a few up those un tarmacked roads. Stunning properties, I've not been there in over 20 years, used to work in some huge nursing homes back then covering plumbing and electrics before the day's of the 17th edition qualification.
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VSP -good to hear youre out there mate. your mix of jobs will stand u in good stead and you wont get bored neither. you could also offer lawn feeding as an add on
We do Bobby, Scarifying at the start and end of the year, preceded by treatment to kill off the moss etc, then top dressing and re seeding ;)
Us English love a nice garden mate ;D
I like to see a nice clean house with sparkling windows, but a well kept garden does it for me. And there's no use in having a beautiful garden if your windows are so filthy you can't see it either ;)
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richy wilts... no ideas, i saw you asking a question... dont even think about lawns!!!! ;D
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Vsp i have loads in chislehurst. what area are you from??
Hi Mick, I was following your post the other day about new ash green with interest, I'm based in Greenhithe (Bluewater) And my colleague is based very close to where we were yesterday, we should chat Mick, if you're the man that's covering that area you're doing very well old chap. I had no complaints from any of the large properties, we even tried the few little estates and they said it was very well covered.
I have friends in Southborough road that live in a nice little place, they said it would be tough as they are always being canvassed.
We did have quite a few interested people regarding our lawn care work though, mainly the bigger houses off Southborough road turnings, and a few up those un tarmacked roads. Stunning properties, I've not been there in over 20 years, used to work in some huge nursing homes back then covering plumbing and electrics before the day's of the 17th edition qualification.
I do loads on that estate by Bluewater too, all off Sanderling way if thats where you are on about, a nice little area that, just a lot of rear access issues there. yea be good to have a chat i go to the asda cafe about 3 times a week up your way if you fancy breaky 1 morning.
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Drop me an e-mail Mick and I'll try and pop in one day for a cuppa, I'm not in my area all next week though :(
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VSP -good to hear youre out there mate. your mix of jobs will stand u in good stead and you wont get bored neither. you could also offer lawn feeding as an add on
We do Bobby, Scarifying at the start and end of the year, preceded by treatment to kill off the moss etc, then top dressing and re seeding ;)
Us English love a nice garden mate ;D
I like to see a nice clean house with sparkling windows, but a well kept garden does it for me. And there's no use in having a beautiful garden if your windows are so filthy you can't see it either ;)
:-X ;D
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Well it looks like it might have been a good idea after all ;D Got one and that's a start I suppose, has to be a £30 job so it's worth having.
Never give up ;D
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Another dog muck dangerzone is a lawn,you wait til you put your strimmer through a big steamer,not good lol
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I think you have got your foot in the door. I would just keep leafleting all the time offering all my services and give them some detail of what the service can achieve.If its a good area do a glossy leaflet.and drop it every month I have this this with good results.Keep bombing the same area they will give in. Area like this are worry about trust so use your one customer as a example to others but don't use names only address in passing not on leaflet.
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Cheers Wiz :) We will have to get back out there and hit the streets we missed now, see if a couple more will come our way.
How you getting on with project x?
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A lot of those people in houses have got those houses because they know the value of money.
I have large houses and small ones and frankly the small ones are more profitable per hour.
I know where you mean I used to have work on the Farnborough Park estate, beautiful place but tight so and sos most of them, and they have people knocking every week.
That of course is for window cleaning, the other services I don't know about.
But a big house is an obvious draw for people canvassing
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That's very true Sparklebright, like moths to a lamp I'd think. Hopefully we will pick up some Lawn work as well and that should make it worth our while :)
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From a canvassing point of view I would much rather hit an estate with average houses, you can get round more. Its all about speaking to as many people as possible in the time available. And as someone else said good dense work can achieve much higher hourly rates than the so called big jobs....
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Yes I agree with you on that, although we are going in a slightly different direction hopefully. We are aiming for 4-5 customers a day including lawn and garden work. £50 minimum is our target per customer. In that area 50 for your windows and lawn can be good value for the customer and ok for us as well. I know people that live there and they have a tiny garden really and a small 4 bed detached and they pay 50 for the two and consider it cheep ;D
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The only flaw is if they have a window cleaner already and they are happy with them its unlikely they will dump them to let you do both....
I have no idea on this so just asking but do people really pay a gardener all year?
100 customers a month sounds achievable though if there are plenty of houses that size in the area...
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I think the biggest challenge is dealing with customers of means.AS one can feel a little intimidated. One needs to feel comfortable working with them.
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It can be tough dealing with money, I would never feel inferior in any company but its how they treat you. I wouldnt work for anyone who looked down on me, but thats just a personal thing.
That said they are not all like that....
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Only thing with the posh folks they dont want to pay the money there tight thats why there loaded lol
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True enough, you don't get a nice big house by giving your money away ;D Gardening is obviously not all year round, we start in late Feb early March and go until the weather stops us, normally around Oct.
The area is very well covered as others have said, so it does suit us to pick up Lawn work if they already have a windy. One out of two ain't bad as they say, that's why we are trying to build up 2 full days a week for window work only so we have something else to do when the Lawn work is slack.
There's certainly no point in undercutting their current man, we don't work like that ;) We all have our own business model and desired direction, our's is to have as little regular customers as possible but try to achieve the maximum work/income from them by offering a wider range of services year round.
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Another dog muck dangerzone is a lawn,you wait til you put your strimmer through a big steamer,not good lol
i got to this comment and had read all i need to about lawn cutting ;D