Clean It Up

UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: JamesAJF on May 09, 2013, 11:51:46 pm

Title: who works in the rain
Post by: JamesAJF on May 09, 2013, 11:51:46 pm
is it ok to wash windows in the rain because i spoken to a lot off ppl and they all say different things who works in the rain.?
Title: Re: who works in the rain
Post by: Small but perfectley formed on May 10, 2013, 06:00:10 am
If its really heavy don't go , but if out cleaning I try to finish what I can would love to work any weather but it feels wrong when its windy and lashing it down.
Title: Re: who works in the rain
Post by: David Salkeld on May 10, 2013, 06:09:59 am
My Mother-in-law used to say....
"there's more water coming out your brush than the sky so wrap up and get on with it....Brush on glass sonny..."
I often use this quote......and most agree.
Mind you.....I hate getting wet......YUK!!

David
Title: Re: who works in the rain
Post by: Mike #1 on May 10, 2013, 06:19:58 am
Always work in rain if not to heavy , But was working in pouring rain last night in the dark till 10 pm on a builders clean . Mike
Title: Re: who works in the rain
Post by: dazmond on May 10, 2013, 07:47:15 am
if you have a busy cleaning schedule most days of the month then if you dont work in the rain sometimes then your gonna get behind with work which has a knock on affect at the end of the year leaving you with less money earnt.

obviously if its REALLY bad weather then i dont work and catch up on saturdays or when i can fit them in.

most of the time you can fit 4 or 5 hours work in even on wet days as the forecasts are always hit and miss.lots of customers are either at work or just tip up and pay without a fuss.

ive had to put a couple of large domestic jobs off until next week though as the wind is too strong to be waving a 40 ft pole about IMO!

I LIKE THE CHALLENGE! ;D ;D ;D

plus its better than sitting at home not earning looking out of the window isnt it?

you cant beat the satisfaction of coming home after 4 or 5 hours "on the glass" with a good wedge on a crappy wet day.feet up and a nice brew while your updating your records and filling up for the next days work. ;D ;D ;D ;D

good wet weather clothing and boots is a must and WFP!

WFP is king!!esp in wet weather!IT IS  A MAGIC WAND compared to struggling with the ladders like i did for many years! ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: who works in the rain
Post by: Ian101 on May 10, 2013, 08:04:37 am
Managed to get half a day in yesterday then too windy if just rain i would have carried on
Title: Re: who works in the rain
Post by: ben M on May 10, 2013, 08:05:30 am
If you live in Manchester like Dazmond, yo have not choice to work in the rain,otherwise you will be homeless  ;D ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: who works in the rain
Post by: dazmond on May 10, 2013, 08:12:29 am
ive got a holiday to pay for in a few weeks ben so windows are getting cleaned whether the customers like it or not!! ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: who works in the rain
Post by: lee_dewing on May 10, 2013, 08:25:28 am
I work in drizzle that's it, but still go out on wet days if it's on off and dodge about.

I understand some guys do work in the rain.

But I don't want to argue with customers over will or won't it be ok.

As said run your round over 4 days leaving 2 days to catch up (not sunday)

Mistake i've made is keep taking on work but not pushing the price of new work higher; so increasing overall average hourly rate.

I actually think now with the winters we've been having last few years 3.5 good days earning is more do able.

44 working weeks. (2 weeks off xmas; 2 weeks holidays; 2 weeks lost to bad weather, 1 week of bank hols
1 week sickness)

4 days work a week, 24 hrs on the glass.
96 hrs a month
1152 a year. (divide your annual turnover by 1152 (hrs a year to get hourly rate)

I'm trying to head towards this.
Rain won't be too much of an issue.
Title: Re: who works in the rain
Post by: home6442 on May 10, 2013, 08:35:24 am
Light to medium rain then you shouldn't have any problems.
Its when you get a windy day with rain then that's when the problems start.
Personally with the weather as bad as it is I don't think you have a choice.
Title: Re: who works in the rain
Post by: dazmond on May 10, 2013, 08:39:34 am
lee every time you get a new job price it slightly higher than other jobs even if they are right next to other lower priced jobs.if they talk to the neighbours just say "this is my new price for new work" then put up price of older work when you think its right. ;) ;D ;D

even if its just a quid higher your earning more for time taken then if you clean these even when its raining then your earning even more!

these little tweaks make all the difference to your earnings at the end of the year mate!! ;D ;D ;D


best wishes


dazmond
Title: Re: who works in the rain
Post by: ben M on May 10, 2013, 08:41:00 am
ive got a holiday to pay for in a few weeks ben so windows are getting cleaned whether the customers like it or not!! ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
yes expensive holiday with all your mistresses!  ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: who works in the rain
Post by: Ian101 on May 10, 2013, 08:43:01 am


Mistake i've made is keep taking on work but not pushing the price of new work higher; so increasing overall average hourly rate.


took me a while to catch onto this principle as well  ::)roll
Title: Re: who works in the rain
Post by: lee_dewing on May 10, 2013, 08:48:57 am
Thanks Daz.

Very true.

Making all these small changes.

Determined to make more this year than the last (8yrs) 4-5 yrs, which is since using GEORGE w/a

so can see figures.

Even if i just get £1000-£1500 more this year.

Gonna swicth back too fan jets at weekend and as you and others said turn up flow.

Better to finish day a bit earlier with probably same work/money done ;)
Title: Re: who works in the rain
Post by: Klean07 on May 10, 2013, 09:49:00 am
Depends what kind of rain it is! The last few lots here in West Mids have arrived via the Sahra desert! So in which case its a deffo no no!!
Title: Re: who works in the rain
Post by: WGB on May 10, 2013, 01:20:06 pm
I usually look at my own windows if its raining, if theres drips running of the wall above and blowing onto the window i leave it :)
Title: Re: who works in the rain
Post by: robertphil on May 10, 2013, 02:07:11 pm
crack on
Title: Re: who works in the rain
Post by: Diamond standard ltd on May 10, 2013, 05:22:03 pm
Grab the pole and keep going, the mortgage man is still going to want his money!!!
Title: Re: who works in the rain
Post by: GB Window Cleaning on May 10, 2013, 06:31:33 pm
Rain on its own wont effect the clean, RAin plus dust plus wind will!

If i see a custy smirk when i say this i go on to say..."rain actually cleans windows. Thats why the glass stays dirsty on the top where no rain hits the glass"" then if they still dont beleive me i pull on one of my tds meters and prove it with science my friends!!!  8) 8) 8)
Title: Re: who works in the rain
Post by: JamesAJF on May 11, 2013, 02:06:12 am
wow thanks for reply's i just wanted to no because i had a customer say to me the other day that they think its very unprofessional for a window cleaner to work in the rain and i didn't really no what to say as i do work in the rain but i don't no how we are meant to make a living if ppl say no because its raining what do u say?. is rain water quit pure then.?
Title: Re: who works in the rain
Post by: JamesAJF on May 11, 2013, 02:13:49 am
its quit interesting to see the voting its helped me make my mind up  i am not gonna stop working in the rain i just need to come up with some sort of good excuse to my customers i hate going to a job and being told they don't want them done because of the rain.
Title: Re: who works in the rain
Post by: robertphil on May 11, 2013, 08:21:56 am
iv used to get shirty in cases like this but it gets you nowhere . now if its raining i know which customers are ok with rain and i just miss out the funny beggar types

 often the funny beggars are perfectly sound 50% of the time and can be loyal too so not worth casting them adrift over the rain issue
Title: Re: who works in the rain
Post by: dazmond on May 11, 2013, 08:32:54 am
james you ll find very few customers will be funny with you unless its really coming down hard.

its easy to think "oh all my customers dont like me turning up when its raining" when in reality its only one or two customers who object.

the ones that do simply explain if their not happy with the clean that you ll come back tomorrow and re clean for free.IVE NEVER HAD A CALL BACK!! ;D ;D ;D ;D

failing that just say you will have to miss them out until next due date or you ll get behind with work.

make out your mad busy with lots of work(even if your not!).

that way you ll still get a big chunk of your work cleaned.

its better than sitting at home not earning right?? ;) :) :) :) :)
Title: Re: who works in the rain
Post by: home6442 on May 11, 2013, 11:09:51 am
wow thanks for reply's i just wanted to no because i had a customer say to me the other day that they think its very unprofessional for a window cleaner to work in the rain and i didn't really no what to say as i do work in the rain but i don't no how we are meant to make a living if ppl say no because its raining what do u say?. is rain water quit pure then.?




Just tell them the only way you can make a living without cleaning in the rain is by charging 3 times the price.
Also mention that you guarantee your work and if they are not happy with the clean
you will gladly clean them again.
Don't waste time going into the argument of does rain dirty windows or not they wont believe you anyway.
But there are certain weather conditions when you shouldn't be cleaning windows and good window
cleaner will know when not to clean. Price to allow for down days due to bad weather.
Title: Re: who works in the rain
Post by: DavidWright76 on May 11, 2013, 04:05:18 pm
Not me. Not only is it pointless, it is dangerous as i'm a ladder monkey. (Slippery/mud walked up steps etc.)
Title: Re: who works in the rain
Post by: dazmond on May 11, 2013, 04:14:41 pm
well you keep trying to scratch a living together mate while the rest of us crack on and earn a good living!! :D :D :D :D
Title: Re: who works in the rain
Post by: PoleKing on May 11, 2013, 04:33:03 pm
Daz-surely the most critical post of your CIU career!
Funny though.
Title: Re: who works in the rain
Post by: HampshireWindowCleaning on May 11, 2013, 04:37:15 pm
Yep I work whatever the weather, I didn't get into this game to sit around doing nothing, I'm in it to earn cash, if the customer doesn't like it they can lump it, i'm far too busy to worry about the odd fussy moron complaining about rain.
Title: Re: who works in the rain
Post by: JamesAJF on May 11, 2013, 11:05:46 pm
james you ll find very few customers will be funny with you unless its really coming down hard.

its easy to think "oh all my customers dont like me turning up when its raining" when in reality its only one or two customers who object.

the ones that do simply explain if their not happy with the clean that you ll come back tomorrow and re clean for free.IVE NEVER HAD A CALL BACK!! ;D ;D ;D ;D

failing that just say you will have to miss them out until next due date or you ll get behind with work.

make out your mad busy with lots of work(even if your not!).

that way you ll still get a big chunk of your work cleaned.

its better than sitting at home not earning right?? ;) :) :) :) :)
thanks dazmond  for the info, i don't ever have a day off in the rain unless it really hard. much rather be out there working then sitting at home doing nothing or doing house work lol i will put ford what u have said and see what happens thanks for all your info. ;D
Title: Re: who works in the rain
Post by: JamesAJF on May 11, 2013, 11:09:59 pm
wow thanks for reply's i just wanted to no because i had a customer say to me the other day that they think its very unprofessional for a window cleaner to work in the rain and i didn't really no what to say as i do work in the rain but i don't no how we are meant to make a living if ppl say no because its raining what do u say?. is rain water quit pure then.?




Just tell them the only way you can make a living without cleaning in the rain is by charging 3 times the price.
Also mention that you guarantee your work and if they are not happy with the clean
you will gladly clean them again.
Don't waste time going into the argument of does rain dirty windows or not they wont believe you anyway.
But there are certain weather conditions when you shouldn't be cleaning windows and good window
cleaner will know when not to clean. Price to allow for down days due to bad weather.
that's a very good point to john
Title: Re: who works in the rain
Post by: DavidWright76 on May 12, 2013, 07:08:51 pm
well you keep trying to scratch a living together mate while the rest of us crack on and earn a good living!! :D :D :D :D
...I don't just clean windows! ;) 8)
Title: Re: who works in the rain
Post by: ALF.LEVER on May 12, 2013, 07:38:45 pm
If u don't clean windows in rain when will u clean them ,it pes down all time uk weather is poope, anyone who carrys on moaning about rain is a crap customer get rid , if you don't work in rain be a j Kyle watcher with all the rest of toss pots sat on there arse just crack on with it.
Title: Re: who works in the rain
Post by: Mr.G on May 12, 2013, 09:23:52 pm
I only work in light rain, drizzle.
If it's really tipping down, or raining AND windy, I call it a day.
Title: Re: who works in the rain
Post by: one eyed window cleaning on May 12, 2013, 10:00:36 pm
Jim as I know your work system as well as you, I think if you started, work before midday you may just get your massive work load finished before it starts raining mate ;-)
Title: Re: who works in the rain
Post by: JamesAJF on May 12, 2013, 10:26:58 pm
Jim as I know your work system as well as you, I think if you started, work before midday you may just get your massive work load finished before it starts raining mate ;-)
haha very funny i do get up early i used to lay in a bit but now im very motavated
Title: Re: who works in the rain
Post by: steven ainger on May 12, 2013, 10:35:28 pm
Looks like you can try out your new working in the rain policy on Tuesday James, as its gonna pi55 down.
Bet i see your van parked up along the Walls at Adams mobile office ;D
Title: Re: who works in the rain
Post by: JamesAJF on May 12, 2013, 10:54:01 pm
hahaha love it got to have a lunch break  though cant work on empty.  ;D