Clean It Up

UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: john63. on April 27, 2012, 03:48:51 pm

Title: gardening
Post by: john63. on April 27, 2012, 03:48:51 pm
Been asked if i do gardening by a couple of pensioners anyone do it i know it would be extra money but could clean more windows in the time it would take to do garden.
Title: Re: gardening
Post by: colin purewater on April 27, 2012, 04:07:23 pm
£20 an hour round here (Liverpool)
Pain in the arse + overheads+ seasonal= not worth it
Title: Re: gardening
Post by: richardlingard on April 27, 2012, 04:27:31 pm
its hard work, windows are easy:-)
Title: Re: gardening
Post by: Tomboler on April 27, 2012, 05:13:02 pm
Been asked if i do gardening by a couple of pensioners anyone do it i know it would be extra money but could clean more windows in the time it would take to do garden.
if you've got enough windows  to keep you going fair enough, if not get yer gardening hat on until you have.
Title: Re: gardening
Post by: VSP Home Care on April 27, 2012, 05:14:15 pm
Don't turn it down to quick.  Yes if you have a good round then gardening is less money than windows, but if the customer has their own mower that they are ok for you to use then you could add an extra £10-£15 to your monthly visit.

Worth a thought, but I'd only do the lawn if I were you don't get bogged down with the rest.
Title: Re: gardening
Post by: red star on April 27, 2012, 06:15:46 pm
ive always liked it and spent a small fortune on a pro set up last year mainly garden maintenance started by advertising in local shop windows
£20 / hr inclusive of waste removal
snowed under ive had to take someone else on who helps out a few days a week
the maintenance / grass cutting is a little seasonal april thro to last year nov as the weather was good but still keep going with hedge cutting light demo bases painting sheds decking etc during the winter
the two work really well together ive a lot of custies whom i do both windows and gardens and word soon spreads
its a good earner  but a cost me a bit to set up
Title: Re: gardening
Post by: petemg on April 27, 2012, 06:28:16 pm
hi ya thats why i do windows, bucket and a ladder your away, keep it simple no plant to break down, i did gardening in early days its hard work for the money, windows any day for me......pete
Title: Re: gardening
Post by: VSP Home Care on April 27, 2012, 06:28:57 pm
You sound like us Red Star, just invested in a tidy Sthil Kombi to get things into shape, great tool if you've never used one you should.  Don't bother with the pole saw though.

Then indoors when the weathers bad  ;D  Fencing seems to be rather popular, we've had 3 already this year and another 2 pricing as I type.
Title: Re: gardening
Post by: red star on April 27, 2012, 06:36:04 pm
i went for the echo but everything else i have is stihl even the mowers are viking
 ref the above post the upkeep and maintenance does cost
there are others round here that charge 8-10 hour but that wouldnt cover fuel disposal and maintenance and i think the customers except that
Title: Re: gardening
Post by: red star on April 27, 2012, 06:40:10 pm
i went for the echo but everything else i have is stihl even the mowers are viking
 ref the above post the upkeep and maintenance does cost
there are others round here that charge 8-10 hour but that wouldnt cover fuel disposal and maintenance and i think the customers except that

how do you find the strimmer attachment  with the multi tool the head unit is powerful as it need to run the chainsaw pruner etc  and can be to much for the strimmer
ive just brought a rotavator and moss removal attachment for the echo they are brilliant
biggest problem i have is space have to strip the van twice a week dependant on what im doing
looking for a caged trailer at the moment to make things easier
Title: Re: gardening
Post by: VSP Home Care on April 27, 2012, 08:39:58 pm
I find it ok, just adjust the throttle.  I have a tow hitch on my estate car but still haven't got round to a trailer, I'm holding out for a van  ;D

I honestly do love doing lawns, it's nice to get the windows as well mind  ;)
Title: Re: gardening
Post by: red star on April 27, 2012, 09:05:50 pm
same its a good mix especially in the summer months
Title: Re: gardening
Post by: bobby p on April 27, 2012, 09:08:59 pm
very easy to put your back out  doing gardening, then where will you be?
Title: Re: gardening
Post by: VSP Home Care on April 27, 2012, 09:14:48 pm
Hurting  ;D

I pulled a muscle in my chest pulling on a rope the other week and about a month back I pulled my back lifting the leisure battery out of the car.... Crap happens

Another reason why I'm giving up on barrels  ;D
Title: Re: gardening
Post by: john63. on April 28, 2012, 10:06:58 am
cheers for replies might do it if customer has own mower its all money.
Title: Re: gardening
Post by: A & J Owen Window Cleaning on April 28, 2012, 10:24:35 am
We do offer both gardening and window cleaning but to be honest window cleaning is a) much easier and b) more profitable.
Going rate round here for gardening is £15 per hour absolute tops and most are charging £8 - £10 per hour.
However, it can be a good add on for existing window cleaning customers especially if you can use their tools and it can make them more loyal to you because if they dump you they lose a gardener and a window cleaner!
Title: Re: gardening
Post by: VSP Home Care on April 28, 2012, 04:12:06 pm
We do offer both gardening and window cleaning but to be honest window cleaning is a) much easier and b) more profitable.
Going rate round here for gardening is £15 per hour absolute tops and most are charging £8 - £10 per hour.
However, it can be a good add on for existing window cleaning customers especially if you can use their tools and it can make them more loyal to you because if they dump you they lose a gardener and a window cleaner!

Good points there.  The way I see it is that we have more than one way to gain a customer, hopefully when your asked to do one there's the chance that in time you'll get the other as well.