Clean It Up

UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: Dean Buckley on August 21, 2013, 07:54:13 pm

Title: Changing from tradititional to reach & wash
Post by: Dean Buckley on August 21, 2013, 07:54:13 pm
Thinking of changing from tradititional to Reach & Wash system!!! I've been cleaning for 15 years and got a good round but thinking of a change!!!! Any info would be great full! Thanks
Title: Re: Changing from tradititional to reach & wash
Post by: KS Cleaning on August 21, 2013, 08:02:34 pm
If you do decide to change over, on your last trad clean wipe all top frames and seals, this should give you instant results with WFP
Title: Re: Changing from tradititional to reach & wash
Post by: Archer on August 21, 2013, 08:06:28 pm


KS Cleaning - good advice
Title: Re: Changing from tradititional to reach & wash
Post by: tlwcs on August 21, 2013, 08:17:36 pm
What area of brum are you in?
tony
Title: Re: Changing from tradititional to reach & wash
Post by: Dean Buckley on August 21, 2013, 08:19:20 pm
Little Aston & Streetly
Title: Re: Changing from tradititional to reach & wash
Post by: bobplum on August 21, 2013, 08:23:20 pm
decide on your equipment supplier, imo gardiners and get the lightest and best
set a date
inform all your customers, by letter and verbally
explain it may take a couple of cleans for the system to get into its stride
explain they will get more for their money (frames doors etc)
offer a "rain guarantee", tell them you will be working in the rain, upto a point

explain this as come about because of HSE rules, working at height etc

And this part may be the hardest...............any customer who doesn't want to convert..........................DUMP

this will pay dividends in the long run, even if your business shrinks a little it will give you time to look for new customers to go straight on to WFP
Title: Re: Changing from tradititional to reach & wash
Post by: andyM on August 21, 2013, 08:39:49 pm
I would recommend you get yourself a van if you haven't already got one.
And be prepared to invest in equipment initially and then the on going costs of consumable items.
Title: Re: Changing from tradititional to reach & wash
Post by: ascjim on August 21, 2013, 08:48:40 pm
Defo don't muck about with buying cheap crappy poles. Took me years to discover Gardiners, my working life changed after buying my first pole from them.

Also take your time, you don't have to convert all your customers over at once.
Title: Re: Changing from tradititional to reach & wash
Post by: tlwcs on August 21, 2013, 09:04:58 pm
Little Aston & Streetly

Just down the road from me. Get in touch if you want to see any of the kit I use.
Tony
Title: Re: Changing from tradititional to reach & wash
Post by: DG Cleaning on August 21, 2013, 09:34:54 pm
I wouldn't go to the trouble of telling them.
If they're in and you see them tell them.
I lost 3 or 4 customers when I changed over but gained more.
Title: Re: Changing from tradititional to reach & wash
Post by: roundbuilder on August 21, 2013, 10:10:12 pm
I wouldn't go to the trouble of telling them.
If they're in and you see them tell them.
I lost 3 or 4 customers when I changed over but gained more.
Yea same here just go with it if anything charge them more as you will have to do there frames and seals from now on, thats what got my round all from £7 to £10 houses over night when i explained the change, i did lose a load(under10)but hey ho thats life and the extra charging made up and more for any losses.
End of the day the customer is paying you to clean and keep clean there windows..just dont worry about it too much all will be fine.
Title: Re: Changing from tradititional to reach & wash
Post by: Panorama on August 21, 2013, 10:30:39 pm
Also get organised , keep on top of water production, don't forget to charge battery and also take note of which windows don't take to wfp
Title: Re: Changing from tradititional to reach & wash
Post by: Michael Peterson on August 22, 2013, 10:21:33 am
ill write up a guide later on on exactly how i clean windows on first and then maintenance cleans
Title: Re: Changing from tradititional to reach & wash
Post by: P.C.S. on August 22, 2013, 10:44:58 am
I did as has already been mentioned on here...

Popped a letter through all my customers doors explaining all the hows & whys of the change over with a basic outline of how the system works.

Also gave the top edge of all the frames a good wipe down just before switching over.

Both of which saved me lots of time!!

Got lots of interest for previously inaccessible windows (mainly above connies) & connie roof cleans and only lost a couple of customers... all of them were blue-rinse-brigade that were a bit stuck in their ways & didn't like change. But the loss of income from them leaving was more than replaced by the extra I could charge for the windows I couldn't reach when I was trad!

11 months on... it's the best thing I ever did! ;D

More money in less time while keeping my feet firmly planted on the ground! Win! Win! Win!  ;D
Title: Re: Changing from tradititional to reach & wash
Post by: Rayleigh Window Cleaning Services on August 22, 2013, 03:01:10 pm
Get the biggest tank your vehicle can legally take when full.

Saves a lot of hassle later.

Steve
Title: Re: Changing from tradititional to reach & wash
Post by: Archer on August 22, 2013, 05:48:23 pm

Rayleigh,

agree totally.

The main area is making sure you have the right system for the vehicle, ie: weight, don't get the biggest tank you can, get the tank that when full will be ok weight wise for your payload.
Title: Re: Changing from tradititional to reach & wash
Post by: robbo333 on August 22, 2013, 06:21:33 pm
I always take the time to SHOW a new custy how good the windows look when they are dry. By the time you've finished the whole house, the first window you cleaned is usually starting to dry (and obviously looks good, even if it's only partly dry. Make sure you check first). Once you've shown them, it's job done. I also explain to them, but some never quite believe how pure water works, so I always finish with "come and have a look and make sure you're happy". After that, no issues whatsoever. Some of my old dears, I tell them it's a special cleaning solution, saves trying to explain about pure water!  ;)
Title: Re: Changing from tradititional to reach & wash
Post by: simon w on August 22, 2013, 07:22:51 pm

You've saved loads over the years with VERY low over heads, so don't scrimp on your WFP set up. You'll become more productive and get through your work quicker and will be able to quote for higher level window cleaning work you can't get off a ladder So speculate to accumulate :)

You'll not regret it
Title: Which Reach & Wash system is Best for 2 people cleaning 35-40 houses a day
Post by: Dean Buckley on August 22, 2013, 09:25:01 pm
Little Aston & Streetly

Just down the road from me. Get in touch if you want to see any of the kit I use.
Tony

Title: Re: Changing from tradititional to reach & wash
Post by: GB Window Cleaning on August 22, 2013, 09:37:58 pm
"reach and wash" is a trademarked name from "ionics"! the general term is "water fed pole"  :P

Sorry to keep banging on aboyut this but its one of my pet hates in the trad  ;D

Anyway to answer your question, just go for it. Life is too short to think about it too long. You wont regret the change. 99% of windies only regret not switching to wfp earlier

All the best
Title: Re: Changing from tradititional to reach & wash
Post by: robertphil on August 22, 2013, 09:45:50 pm
if your round is full of elderly customers i wouldnt bother- you will lose a lot of em as said above
Title: Re: Changing from tradititional to reach & wash
Post by: Frankybadboy on August 22, 2013, 10:01:34 pm
if your round is full of elderly customers i wouldnt bother- you will lose a lot of em as said above
how would you know.?????your trad and haven't changed over and got no figures to back this up


what a load of old crap,sorry but my old customer love it and in fact keep telling all they friends


its the way you sell it  ;)