Clean It Up
UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: g.brookes on June 28, 2012, 01:57:24 pm
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chatting to one of the cleaners yesterday on an early morning commercial job and he asks me how my business is going. I said im mainly going for the big houses at the moment, he says whats your biggest house and i said 50 quid.
Then he said to me 'imagine if you did one of them a day, you'd be sorted!'. I really had to hide the laughter back.
I often find myself thinking its only a matter of time before the world realises just how much window cleaners earn.
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£50 a day?!? call the taxman!!
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Yawn,! More bs. ;D
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Stop showing off, just now the world will find out and you will be crying all the work you have lost.|Its a cheap way to be recognized for your brilliance..
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I'm not really sure where the bs is here, nor where the showing off is?
I was simply saying that our average earnings are a lot higher than the general public assume.
I didnt say this to the cleaner, nor did i laugh at him. This forum is the only place that i would post this issue because we all know we aim for 20-30 ph maybe more, so in that context, this was just meant to be a funny story about what some people think we earn, and what we actually earn
There's no need for your negative comments
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I know what you're gettin at mate. It was just a bit short and to the point. Don't matter though. Someone put a copy and paste up on here about some forum where Joe Public was on about how much a windie charges for their house etc. Anyway, one of these guys on the forum in question said he'd thought about becoming a windie and needed about 150 customers. Some of the people in the forum went nuts at the guy saying how could anyone get 150 customers!!?? that's impossible etc etc. Anyway, windies are low paid etc etc. Get a proper business...........
That's just the impression some jokers have of windies. So the guy was right, he thinks 50 nquid a day is great. That's because he has a JOB and not a business.
So at least some of us see the point you were making. ;)
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If they wanna think like that...let them init. I do :)
I prefer that they think like that.
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I like people to think Im just a window cleaner and must be skint,
I hide my wallet if i have to give some a note for change just incase they get the wrong idea ;)
best ones are offices workers thinking they're the dogs danglers and look at you like your a peasant makes me smile ;D
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hiding your wallet liam?how ridiculous!!! ;D ;D ;D
i couldnt give a flying f**k what my customers think whether im skint or flush!its none of their business!!!i work hard in all weathers and have invested in my equipment and van and provide a damn good service!!
if i want to go on holiday 4 times a year and buy a sports car then again its none of their business.i dont drink or smoke anymore and no kids/wife so im rolling in it!! ;) ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
dazmond
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! Hiding wallets? Rolling in it? Dear me.
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spose you could have a "paupers wallet" to bring out for show
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The reason why its BS is because there are plenty of blokes out there who will quite happily clean your £50 house for £20 and still feel they have got a result. When that bloke said "do one of them a day and you are sorted" do you not realise you put an idea in his head?
Money is like water it only runs downhill and eventually settles at the lowest level. Prices in this business are eventually going to tumble, don't think they won't. Everything conforms to market forces
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Money is like water it only runs downhill and eventually settles at the lowest level. Prices in this business are eventually going to tumble, don't think they won't. Everything conforms to market forces
thats true in a recession but i personally think Britain is coming out of it .i keep seeing on the news that we are making stuff now bigtime ,shipping to China /india where they are buying bigtime. i believe the peak of new people becoming windies has passed as theres other easier jobs on offer now
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ive had posher customers say to me "what do you do in the winter?sign on the dole?" even though ive been cleaning their windows for 5 years all year round!! ??? ??? ;D ;D ;D
just take a look around you!!most window cleaners are just getting by trying to scratch a living together!some sole traders are doing above average than most(like me!!)then there are guys who have 3-4 vans on the road making a lot more money,then you have bigger businesses who do all aspects of cleaning as well as window cleaning who are making serious money.
we are just one up from a wheelie bin cleaner and one below a gardener!!
talking of wallets i have my work wallet with around a £60 float and a change bag and a separate wallet with all my bank cards,photo driving licence thats used when not working.
regards
dazmond
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Money is like water it only runs downhill and eventually settles at the lowest level. Prices in this business are eventually going to tumble, don't think they won't. Everything conforms to market forces
thats true in a recession but i personally think Britain is coming out of it .i keep seeing on the news that we are making stuff now bigtime ,shipping to China /india where they are buying bigtime. i believe the peak of new people becoming windies has passed as theres other easier jobs on offer now
Wait till the EURO goes tits up and then tell me that you think we are coming out of it. We haven't even seen the start of it yet.
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i dont agree with vince s idea that prices for window cleaning will go down.they only go one way and that is up!! ;) ;D ;D ;D ;D
everything goes up in price so why do you think window clean prices will go down??? ??? ??? ??? ???
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i dont agree with vince s idea that prices for window cleaning will go down.they only go one way and that is up!! ;) ;D ;D ;D ;D
everything goes up in price so why do you think window clean prices will go down??? ??? ??? ??? ???
Because its become a unskilled job some will get angry now and say it is skilled but to be honest what im doing everyday is unskilled i picked it up in about 2 weeks then my quality and speed was up to scratch my point is more and more people are jumping on the wagon. well at least they are hear at the moment and prices are defo going down due to new cleaners. i went through a phace of cheap prices as i was at a desperate time. now i price how everyone should keeping the window cleaning industries value :) but there are lots of guys going less. only time will tell.
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i dont agree with vince s idea that prices for window cleaning will go down.they only go one way and that is up!! ;) ;D ;D ;D ;D
everything goes up in price so why do you think window clean prices will go down??? ??? ??? ??? ???
I would say prices are coming down round here. The established customers are still paying the same but the new quotes are way down.
There is a new build near here at a place called Lime Grove. A big development of 3 story town houses. You can get access to the back but you would have to move your van.
I would say the going rate for them is around £16-18. I am doing one for a property company. The rest were canvassed at £10 by somebody who looks like a new start.
Competition brings down prices. There was obviously somebody out there who would rather do them for £10 than not do them at all. Market forces, look up DUTCH AUCTION sometime when you have nothing better to do. Its the financial equivilent of last man standing
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its always been an unskilled job mate.the thing is there is a lot more to window cleaning than actually cleaning the windows!lots of people cant keep their motivation in this business and give it up after a few months/years due to the boring nature of the job,the weather or the sheer drudgery if they take too much work on.
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its always been an unskilled job mate.the thing is there is a lot more to window cleaning than actually cleaning the windows!lots of people cant keep their motivation in this business and give it up after a few months/years due to the boring nature of the job,the weather or the sheer drudgery if they take too much work on.
someone shout my name ;D ;D ;D
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There is a new build near here at a place called Lime Grove. A big development of 3 story town houses. You can get access to the back but you would have to move your van.
I would say the going rate for them is around £16-18. I am doing one for a property company. The rest were canvassed at £10 by somebody who looks like a new start.
An estate of 3 storey townhouses at a tenner a pop ... lots of em all close together ... no probs with that ... not many windows in a 3 storey townhouse ..... get big chunk at a tenner then stick em up £2 ... 30 a day easy ... sounds like a good operator to me.
My cup always half full if not overflowing ;D ;D ;D
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Makes me think if this row of 11 houses I'm wondering whether to do or not - £5.50 each 3 bed semis - I would think price wise should be at least £8 but would I rather do them or nothing at all?
g.
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The reason why its BS is because there are plenty of blokes out there who will quite happily clean your £50 house for £20 and still feel they have got a result. When that bloke said "do one of them a day and you are sorted" do you not realise you put an idea in his head?
Money is like water it only runs downhill and eventually settles at the lowest level. Prices in this business are eventually going to tumble, don't think they won't. Everything conforms to market forces
This isn't the first recession the economy has been through. Why didnt prices tumble in previous recessions then?
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I've got to the point were I've become more confident in pricing, picked up a £12 bungalow the other day ( with conny attached) the customer has gave me the number of her mother in law to price up, my starting prices start from £8 now . If this was last year I would of probably started around the £6 mark. The other thing about the area that she lives in is this, I've been told that the previous window cleaners ( gang of 4) burgled 6 properties in the same street. All my work comes from word of mouth.
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The only reason why prices tumble in this industry is a lack of understanding of business. How can you make a lower price than say 3 years back with costs going up daily.
There are a lot of fools who have no idea of there costs.
I HAVE A COMMERCIAL job were the owner asked why my prices were so higher than what he pays for windows at his other shops. He thought I should be 30% less. I ash him if he could sell me his product for 30% less. HE SAID HE COULD NOT DO THAT AS HIS MARGINS WERE TO SMALL AND COST WERE A PROBLEM. ALL I SAID WAS SNAP.
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To get into window cleaning 15 years ago, you had to learn to trad fast enough to earn a decent crust AND you had to go up ladders! Lots of people have a problem with working 10 foot off the ground so that put some people off. Others were useless at fanning and couldn't get a decent speed etc. All this trimmed the herd as it were.
Now, newbies go and buy a set up and a vehicle to put it in, and away they go. So really, because ANYONE can get into window cleaning, more and more will have a pop at it. The more cleaners around, the lower the prices go. It's basic market fact.
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My point was, since all my work comes from word of mouth, the potential customer already knows that I charge a higher rate . They are willing to pay that bit extra for a quality ,reliable and trustworthy service . Had one the other week, customer asks for quote, do you have a cleaner I ask, I did have but I scattered them as I caught them sunbathing in my back garden using my sun loungers she says, walked round property and says £9 , this includes frames and doors, fine she says , the previous cleaners( who she scattered ) charged me £6 she informed me .
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hiding your wallet liam?how ridiculous!!! ;D ;D ;D
i couldnt give a flying f**k what my customers think whether im skint or flush!its none of their business!!!i work hard in all weathers and have invested in my equipment and van and provide a damn good service!!
if i want to go on holiday 4 times a year and buy a sports car then again its none of their business.i dont drink or smoke anymore and no kids/wife so im rolling in it!! ;) ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
dazmond
You thinking of trading the Cougar in for a sports car already?
;D ;D
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To get into window cleaning 15 years ago, you had to learn to trad fast enough to earn a decent crust AND you had to go up ladders! Lots of people have a problem with working 10 foot off the ground so that put some people off. Others were useless at fanning and couldn't get a decent speed etc. All this trimmed the herd as it were.
Now, newbies go and buy a set up and a vehicle to put it in, and away they go. So really, because ANYONE can get into window cleaning, more and more will have a pop at it. The more cleaners around, the lower the prices go. It's basic market fact.
And the flip-side of that is when you started out 10 years ago you needed a rust-heap of a motor, a set of ladders, a bucket and all the various paraphanalia that you'd need to blade windows; so you could start out for as little as £300 if you were in the right place at the right time.
To start out now in the manner to which you describe takes considerably more money. Therefore ANYONE
cannot get into window cleaning due to the financial restraints that come with the advances of modern-day window cleaning.
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If most people have a credit card, they can buy the kit and pay it off quickly. I'm not talking about Jeremy Kyle candidates with no money at all. They go into the drug trade, not window cleaning. ;D
No real (semi)skill involved in this game now. It's open to just about anyone.
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it is open to anyone but most people dont want to do it. thousands and thousands of homes are built every year, there is absolutely no point in worrying about people getting into the trade. the guy is was talking to is not suddenly gonna quit his job and price my mansion at £20.
most people dont like being self employed, they dont have the drive an theyre too worried about sickness and holidays.
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Makes me think if this row of 11 houses I'm wondering whether to do or not - £5.50 each 3 bed semis - I would think price wise should be at least £8 but would I rather do them or nothing at all?
g.
There is a lot of bs talked on here about pricing, if they fit within your hourly rate then do them. Better to have 11 in a row than 4 on separate streets at £8. I'm guessing 2 hours wfp max or bit less than 3 hours trad. Roughly £27 per hour ain't bad put them up a quid and your laughing. A lot on here don't have compact stuff so need to charge top money.
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! Hiding wallets? Rolling in it? Dear me.
my roll wont fit in my wallet so I use cash bags from Group 4 to keep my cash in ;D
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Why my £15 custies continue to use me and recommend me over the £10 canvasser ...
1. Trusted
2. Regular
3. Reliable
4. Consistent work standard.
5. Gorgeous looking
(OK mebbe not that last one!)
But there are plenty who won't use me and I won't clean for them.
I pitch about right I reckon.
Now if the prices are going to fall then I think if people become that price driven then window cleaning will drop off of their radar completely.
So I think there is more chance of the industry collapsing completely than prices dropping.
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Lots if comments on how this job is unskilled and I beg to differ as not everybody has the capabilities to be their own salesman, cleaner, administrator, employer and to run a business and constantly point it in the right direction whilst constantly striving to improve and overcome hurdles on a day to day basis takes a lot of skill and tenacity.
I have had various skilled jobs in the past and feel that only now by pooling all of my past experiences and skills that I am finally making something of myself..!
Please give yourselves a lot more credit
Graham
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Lots if comments on how this job is unskilled and I beg to differ as not everybody has the capabilities to be their own salesman, cleaner, administrator, employer and to run a business and constantly point it in the right direction whilst constantly striving to improve and overcome hurdles on a day to day basis takes a lot of skill and tenacity.
I have had various skilled jobs in the past and feel that only now by pooling all of my past experiences and skills that I am finally making something of myself..!
Please give yourselves a lot more credit
Graham
Great post Graham-spot on
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Pikeys do this too though :P
Exactly!!!!
"Pikeys" run rings round almost anyone when it comes to being their own salesman and getting business i.e. getting money out of people which is what any thriving business needs.
Never seen a poor Pikey.
G.
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The only thing you need to be a window cleaner is a pulse. My 16 year old son went into school gobbing off about how he can earn £100 on a Saturday cleaning windows. (Using my gear and me feeding him the work I might add)
Now there must be twenty kids at his school who are starting up, or reckon they are.
But while we are talking about prices lets look at the local taxis round here. Fifteen years ago it would cost £20-25 to go to the airport. There are firms advertising it now for £12.50. Fifteen years ago the chances were that the driver that took you was a local english man, born and bred in the area. Today it will be an Afgan or a Somali.
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gets me why some people boast how much they earn and post on forums like this where they may be moniterd they wouldent be so smug when they get a tug from hmrc and the books dont tally why dont they stay schtum and do us all a favour
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Pikeys do this too though :P
Never seen a poor Pikey.
G.
They Dont pay tax thats why .
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its gone quiet i think youve it a nerve