Clean It Up
UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: james peters on June 16, 2012, 07:21:58 pm
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hi
so we all know the weather has been a little crazy this year.... I havn't lost a day to rain yet, and I always work to my schedule.....
admitedly...I have finished a little earlier than I would normally , but that is normally because I have been soaked through :o
1stly I am too busy to let rain stop play, but also I ned the money ;D
I do get comments from customers from time to time but I never react...... I feel that a reaction just tries to prove justification , when I know there is no need for one...
I have done many new cleans in the rain....if they ask, I just say it makes no difference with wfp....
I dont feel the need to justify it...as by just saying it makes no difference shows I am confident in my service.
anyhow.....just thought I wouls share this ;D
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im the same james ,if asked i sayim using water so rain makes no diffrence
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hi
so we all know the weather has been a little crazy this year.... I havn't lost a day to rain yet, and I always work to my schedule.....
admitedly...I have finished a little earlier than I would normally , but that is normally because I have been soaked through :o
1stly I am too busy to let rain stop play, but also I ned the money ;D
I do get comments from customers from time to time but I never react...... I feel that a reaction just tries to prove justification , when I know there is no need for one...
I have done many new cleans in the rain....if they ask, I just say it makes no difference with wfp....
I dont feel the need to justify it...as by just saying it makes no difference shows I am confident in my service.
anyhow.....just thought I wouls share this ;D
I agree with working in the rain and you don't need to justify it, but explaining WHY it makes no difference is needed sometimes. Confidence doing it is key, but just that one liner is imo not enough sometimes, explain it right and they will stay longer, just say it makes no difference is a lazy way which can lose customers that if educated correctly would stay.
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I'm going to work in the rain from now on. As it seems impossible to run a business if you have lots of void days. Thanks for the post.And if i LOSE A FEW it may be for the best if they stop you working fot the whole day.
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I don't work in anything heavier than light rain. The reason for this is:
1. I can afford not to, so I guess i'm luckier than most.
2. I price higher than most other WC's. I learnt NOT to under-price at the BWCA training course I did. It was the only worthwhile thing I learnt I think.
3. I leave free days in the month so I can catch up if it's pouring.
4. I don't like working in the rain; it makes me miserable and I feel a pratt.
5. Most importantly, i'm in the customer satisfaction business, not the window cleaning business. Even if people don't say anything many don't like you cleaning in the rain and begrudge paying for a service they see as a waste of money. I take the position that I want people to be delighted with me appearing when I do.
Rain can in some circumstances make windows dirty - if you live by a moderately busy road the microscopic dirt in the spray makes the windows dirty - apparent when they dry. Similarly if it rains just after there is dust in the upper atmosphere following a south wind cars and windows can be left dirty.
Price your work so you don't need to work in the rain is my advice.
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I don't work in anything heavier than light rain. The reason for this is:
1. I can afford not to, so I guess i'm luckier than most.
2. I price higher than most other WC's. I learnt NOT to under-price at the BWCA training course I did. It was the only worthwhile thing I learnt I think.
3. I leave free days in the month so I can catch up if it's pouring.
4. I don't like working in the rain; it makes me miserable and I feel a pratt.
5. Most importantly, i'm in the customer satisfaction business, not the window cleaning business. Even if people don't say anything many don't like you cleaning in the rain and begrudge paying for a service they see as a waste of money. I take the position that I want people to be delighted with me appearing when I do.
Rain can in some circumstances make windows dirty - if you live by a moderately busy road the microscopic dirt in the spray makes the windows dirty - apparent when they dry. Similarly if it rains just after there is dust in the upper atmosphere following a south wind cars and windows can be left dirty.
Price your work so you don't need to work in the rain is my advice.
I see the dragon.....you live in wales?
I understand your reasoning, all valid points, and yes you are lucky that you can afford not to :)
but this must mean you only work a 3 day week as its always tipping down here in wales :-[
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I don't work in anything heavier than light rain. The reason for this is:
1. I can afford not to, so I guess i'm luckier than most.
2. I price higher than most other WC's. I learnt NOT to under-price at the BWCA training course I did. It was the only worthwhile thing I learnt I think.
3. I leave free days in the month so I can catch up if it's pouring.
4. I don't like working in the rain; it makes me miserable and I feel a pratt.
5. Most importantly, i'm in the customer satisfaction business, not the window cleaning business. Even if people don't say anything many don't like you cleaning in the rain and begrudge paying for a service they see as a waste of money. I take the position that I want people to be delighted with me appearing when I do.
Rain can in some circumstances make windows dirty - if you live by a moderately busy road the microscopic dirt in the spray makes the windows dirty - apparent when they dry. Similarly if it rains just after there is dust in the upper atmosphere following a south wind cars and windows can be left dirty.
Price your work so you don't need to work in the rain is my advice.
I hope all take your advice, in a few years time I would like to see if this is still the case, I do not want free days, thatrs what weekends are there for.
least your honest and say you dont like it, just not all think like you, which I am very pleased to say as would have lost quite a few days of work each month had I am not wanted to get wet. I don't have to work in the rain I choose too.
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Yep, sounds good to me!
Wish it were true. I have no kids so can work Saturdays if need be. Also, I haven't taken a holiday since I started in April 2009 - my wet days are my holidays. Saying that I don't feel like I need one - i'm home by 4pm most days with an 8:30 start; today I was home by 3pm.
But you are right, we get a hell of a lot of rain here! Tomorrow is looking bleak!
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I'm not so young as I was, but not old at 48. I do feel the aches and strains though after doing some jobs. The work is physical and I want to carry on for years - well on into my 60's. Financially i'm not minted, but i'm not skint either - for me it's about quality of life.
I could work every day there is, earn loads and retire at 55, but I don't want to. I enjoy the work and the money is as good as I was earning in the SE of England, yet far fewer hours and zero stress. I'd rather poodle along earning a damn good living well into my sixties as I say. Slowly slowly catchee monkey...
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Yep, sounds good to me!
Wish it were true. I have no kids so can work Saturdays if need be. Also, I haven't taken a holiday since I started in April 2009 - my wet days are my holidays. Saying that I don't feel like I need one - i'm home by 4pm most days with an 8:30 start; today I was home by 3pm.
But you are right, we get a hell of a lot of rain here! Tomorrow is looking bleak!
hi carl....
yes more rain tomorrow...... I also work some saturdays even when I have worked everyday....
I have 3 kids and a big mortgage, but hey that was my choice so I suppose its my fault that I need to work in the rain :)
however because I have children this job gives me freedom to be with them after school.... and so I work everyday , but I start at 8-8.30 and finish by 1.30-2.00pm......
I get an hour peace before I pick the kids up from school ;)
but also I have a full round that is kept up to date, and carefully worked out ...... so my method of working needs to be consistent.....
my mortgage is going down next month by aprox £500 so this will give me a bit of a choice as to whether I will plod on in all weathers......but I think I will carry on the way I am ;D
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Ive had a stinking cold for a couple of days and i went out in POURING RAIN today for 5 hours.finished the work i wanted to get done.customers didnt bat an eyelid and just paid up as usual.they are used to me working in most types of weather as ive been doing this for a few years now.
im having 3 days off now.re scheduled for monday.it was pretty miserable working today but glad i did now.i also hammered it mon,tues,wed when is was dry.
tommorrow it forecast a washout with strong winds here in the north west so having a break.
the trick is not to have a round thats bursting at the seams so you dont have to work flat out all day every day so you have room to chill out and catch up because i tell you if you work flat out every day you ll get really fed up with window cleaning and think about jacking it in!!i know ive been there!!!
best wishes to you all
dazmond
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Ive had a stinking cold for a couple of days and i went out in POURING RAIN today for 5 hours.finished the work i wanted to get done.customers didnt bat an eyelid and just paid up as usual.they are used to me working in most types of weather as ive been doing this for a few years now.
im having 3 days off now.re scheduled for monday.it was pretty miserable working today but glad i did now.i also hammered it mon,tues,wed when is was dry.
tommorrow it forecast a washout with strong winds here in the north west so having a break.
the trick is not to have a round thats bursting at the seams so you dont have to work flat out all day every day so you have room to chill out and catch up because i tell you if you work flat out every day you ll get really fed up with window cleaning and think about jacking it in!!i know ive been there!!!
best wishes to you all
dazmond
tell me about it .....its been 20 yrs for me......thats why I finish by 2 everyday......work hard and be regular.....but have time to play.........like in a porche911 lol ;D ;D...glad your still alive ;D
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Seems we are all sorted in our various ways! Happy days lads. Keep at it and enjoy life.
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bit unhappy with myself 2day went out this morning did 1 house then it rained so sat in van for a while,
then decided go for a drive to my favourite butty shop,bacon egg mushroom bagette ;)
sat and waited again still crappy weather so went home for a bit,then went out again did another house and weather wasnt much better so home agen :'(
by half 1 it cleared up but lost interest by this time but do wish id gone out for a few hour now tomorrow is looking even worse,was hopeing to get a few fascia/gutter jobs off my growing list
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Also soaked on first job of the day, carried on and did next 4 before I felt like I was drowning. Went back out after a bit of lunch and finished off in some sunshine. :) just wish I could find some decent waterproofs!
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i worked all day yesterday in the rain, as soon has i finished the sun came out ;D
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I have to say it's pouring here again and i've used all my spare days up. Maybe i'll have to break my own rule... :(
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Rains every day in N.Ireland, only difference between summer and winter is rain is wammer in summer. I only stop when it gets heavy! :)
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I don't work in anything heavier than light rain. The reason for this is:
1. I can afford not to, so I guess i'm luckier than most.
2. I price higher than most other WC's. I learnt NOT to under-price at the BWCA training course I did. It was the only worthwhile thing I learnt I think.
3. I leave free days in the month so I can catch up if it's pouring.
4. I don't like working in the rain; it makes me miserable and I feel a pratt.
5. Most importantly, i'm in the customer satisfaction business, not the window cleaning business. Even if people don't say anything many don't like you cleaning in the rain and begrudge paying for a service they see as a waste of money. I take the position that I want people to be delighted with me appearing when I do.
Rain can in some circumstances make windows dirty - if you live by a moderately busy road the microscopic dirt in the spray makes the windows dirty - apparent when they dry. Similarly if it rains just after there is dust in the upper atmosphere following a south wind cars and windows can be left dirty.
Price your work so you don't need to work in the rain is my advice.
Carl2009
I've read on here about a BWCA price guide with pictures of typical properties. Some say it is unrealistic is this what you use?
I am trying to get the best price but typically it goes something like "What! How much - I can get another window cleaner to do it for X." or "That's a lot more than the last cleaner / house we had." A 3 Window terrace front quoted £5 "I can get someone to do it for £3 - we settled for £4."
I know some will say Don't do it but when you're starting out It's hard to turn work down even if the price is not great.
Any tips on pricing on what you learned at the BWCA course?
Thanks
Granny
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I think it's a case of factors,
Intensity
Wind
Direction.
We work in moderate rain, but we also look at othe factors, H&S for one.
Rob.
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I've read on here about a BWCA price guide with pictures of typical properties. Some say it is unrealistic is this what you use?
Any one got a link to this guide? Thanks.
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I do what a lot of guys on here do, and estimate how long it's going to take me and what I want to earn as an hourly rate (taking into the fact that you can't work every day because of weather, sickness, holidays, bank holidays, van breakdowns/MOT, equipment failures etc etc.). Basically 20 min job is around £12. Poor access, call the night before, less regular than 4 or 8 weekly, position on a road (i.e. whether it gets filthy or just normally dirty), whether (in my patch) it's a farm (always very dirty, hose trailing through cow poop, grit inside pole that needs washing out etc) all adds to this basic figure.
My advice would be: hide the tats and grow your hair if you are a skinhead - look smart and conventional; ditch jeans and a T shirt and get a 'uniform' (mine's black Dickies trousees and a white polo sirt; a black gilet; a black fleece). Say hello to everyone you see on the street, be reliable, do the best job you can every time, do the occassional easy freebie when you have time and the weather is with you - but always point it out to the custie, knock or ring on bungalows in case they are indisposed. Basically, fit in and be professional.
When pricing explain there's no limescale in the water you use if you are wfp and show them the indsides of your van - digital flow controllers are great as they look hi-tech. Explain you clean the frames every time. Explain you are insured and you pay tax where others doing it for tuppence may well be signing on or have second jobs or be retired and doing it to top up the pension.
There are a lot of lads running around doing a lot of windows and not earning a great deal. You can be busy but you want to be profitable. If you have fewer well priced jobs it leaves you with the same income and time to take on more of the same. The reverse is also true.
These are just my opinions.
Cheers
Stick to your guns
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I agree with all that Carl said. If someone wants to work for say £4 a house then good for them, but they will have a weak business in my opinion. Ignoring the tax free element, you take 30% off for tax and ni, then deduct expenses and it won't leave much profit. Leaving them forced to work in all weathers and struggling to meet enexpected bills.
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I agree with all that Carl said. If someone wants to work for say £4 a house then good for them, but they will have a weak business in my opinion. Ignoring the tax free element, you take 30% off for tax and ni, then deduct expenses and it won't leave much profit. Leaving them forced to work in all weathers and struggling to meet enexpected bills.
Just a thought, maybe some can clean in the rain because thiere business is strong enough to be able to.
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I agree with all that Carl said. If someone wants to work for say £4 a house then good for them, but they will have a weak business in my opinion. Ignoring the tax free element, you take 30% off for tax and ni, then deduct expenses and it won't leave much profit. Leaving them forced to work in all weathers and struggling to meet enexpected bills.
I totally agree but basically I think there is a load of c**p boosted on here at times.
Of course I want to clean for £10 not £4 do you think I'm stupid:? but when I am surrounded by other window cleaners who are prepared to do it for £3 - Well, market forces are market forces.
I certainly don't want to go canvassing for hours and hours turning down every job I have a chance for 'cos it don't pay enough until I get the magic 1 in 10 or 20 job that pays well, it's bad enough just getting enough jobs as it is.
g.
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had a good week earnings wise,obviously i work in all weathers,today been the worst
wind and rain worst combination when wfp used about 25% more water with extra rinsing
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had a good week earnings wise,obviously i work in all weathers,today been the worst
wind and rain worst combination when wfp used about 25% more water with extra rinsing
YEAH I USED MORE WATER TOO WITH THIS WEATHER!
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In recent years, I have worked in the rain a lot more than I used to. During those few years, I lost two customers over it. In recent months, I stopped working in heavier rain. I lost four customers fore taking too long between visits (none of them bothered phoning me either). Two of the jobs were pretty decent ones - the other two not so bothered about. I asked the ones that cancelled if they would have been OK with me working in heavy rain. Of course not they replied. I pointed out to all that they can't have it both ways (though I was more polite about it than that). Damned if I do. Damned if I don't. In future, I carry on working except in the very worst of it. Lesson learnt.
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In recent years, I have worked in the rain a lot more than I used to. During those few years, I lost two customers over it. In recent months, I stopped working in heavier rain. I lost four customers fore taking too long between visits (none of them bothered phoning me either). Two of the jobs were pretty decent ones - the other two not so bothered about. I asked the ones that cancelled if they would have been OK with me working in heavy rain. Of course not they replied. I pointed out to all that they can't have it both ways (though I was more polite about it than that). Damned if I do. Damned if I don't. In future, I carry on working except in the very worst of it. Lesson learnt.
good story! i work in ALL weather except HEAVY HEAvY HEAVY did i mention it has to be very very very heavy weather. oh and thunder 8)
top tip for thise dont like the rain.... water proofs and a peaked cap to keep the rain out for eyes when looking up!