Clean It Up
UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: dazmond on January 04, 2014, 08:52:39 pm
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business wise?
i am most definitely!i still need a few more pennies for my van and wrap.im cutting out the fancy restaurants and hotels and not booking any holidays until later on in the year.
im looking forward to the year.ive already made a good start in the last few days.
full steam ahead from monday onwards.i love this business!still room for improvement though but its defo going the right way!
i reckon im about 3 or 4 years behind some of you lads who ve not been going as long as me(20 years this year!).
its only the last few years since i went wfp (nearly 4 years ago)that ive took this business more seriously.my attitude is a lot better than its ever been.
biggest expense this year will be my van and getting it wrapped.dont really need any poles,brushes or other equipment though.a bigger tank and frame and a few other odds and ends should see me through.
i have a few ideas for getting more premium work.eg large posh houses at good prices on 2 or 3 monthly frequencies as there are literally hundreds of em where i work! :)
very best wishes to you all
dazmond
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Dazmond, do you get your happy pills on prescription or grow your own?
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dave im a reformed alcoholic mate,ive done plenty of drugs too in my youth! ;D ;D
BUT nothing now mate!
no alcohol,no drugs!most of the last 10 years ive been sober and clean.i tried drink again last year after 6 and a half years without a single drop.big mistake.soon gave it up again!
im just buzzing off life mate!!
ive got a lot to be thankful for dave! :) :)
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Success breeds happiness so fair play daz
Ive just switched to wfp and im very hopefull for year ahead. I just want to double current number of custies!
Confident it can be done and imo thats half the battle :)
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dave im a reformed alcoholic mate,ive done plenty of drugs too in my youth! ;D ;D
BUT nothing now mate!
no alcohol,no drugs!most of the last 10 years ive been sober and clean.i tried drink again last year after 6 and a half years without a single drop.big mistake.soon gave it up again!
im just buzzing off life mate!!
ive got a lot to be thankful for dave! :) :)
Do you mind me asking what happened when you got back on it bud?
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tom take your time and in a few months you ll get round quicker with the pole plus you ll get add on jobs like conny roofs and soffit,fascia cleans.dont price these too cheaply.aim to earn £50-£60 an hour on these jobs.
charge more for your existing customers if your cleaning the awkward windows that previously you couldnt clean with the ladders.
trust me work will come to you after a while if your do a good job.
best wishes
dazmond
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darren i was sneaking a few drinks here and there and not enjoying it really then one night i took my girlfriend out to an italian restaurant and drank a bottle of wine before she picked me up.then a few bottles of red in the restaurant and then hit the brandy! ::)roll
no control and i was VERY LOUD and obnoxious!my girlfriend was VERY shocked!!she had never seen me blind drunk before.she took me home and we never spoke for a week.
the next day i felt terrible and all my past came back to haunt me.anyone on here who is a recovering alcoholic will understand.
i was in a bad way 11 years ago when i stepped into my first AA meeting.i needed medication back then to stop the shakes.i was having panic attacks for months afterwards and its took me years and years to straighten my life out.
luckily this time it was a little blip. a "wake up" call if you like that no matter how long i go without a drink i can never touch the stuff for the rest of my life.
me and the girlfriend made up after a week and ive been sober ever since.she doesnt understand but accepts that i cant drink no matter what.
regards
dazmond
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Thanks for sharing Daz.
Always hear about alcoholics not being able to have 'just the one' but I do wonder...
All the best.
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This year is my tenth year trading...
Last year I put the business up for sale as I had enough, but buying a new van and installing a better DIY system has given me a motivation boost to push forward again.
The company is no longer up for sale and i'm back enjoying it :)
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Thanks for advice daz im sure il be looking for plenty more over coming weeks through this changover!
On ur personal stuff great to see such honesty and great to see you doing well in business and I wish u continued success in 2014 :)
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nice one james! ;) ;D
buy the best lightest poles you can afford mate and dont be shy about putting up prices if you havent for a few years.you ll only lose one or two and be quids in which helps with motivation.
get organised with end of the day jobs if you dont already.invoices printed out,full tank and battery fully charged etc,etc.
all the best
dazmond
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darren i was sneaking a few drinks here and there and not enjoying it really then one night i took my girlfriend out to an italian restaurant and drank a bottle of wine before she picked me up.then a few bottles of red in the restaurant and then hit the brandy! ::)roll
no control and i was VERY LOUD and obnoxious!my girlfriend was VERY shocked!!she had never seen me blind drunk before.she took me home and we never spoke for a week.
the next day i felt terrible and all my past came back to haunt me.anyone on here who is a recovering alcoholic will understand.
i was in a bad way 11 years ago when i stepped into my first AA meeting.i needed medication back then to stop the shakes.i was having panic attacks for months afterwards and its took me years and years to straighten my life out.
luckily this time it was a little blip. a "wake up" call if you like that no matter how long i go without a drink i can never touch the stuff for the rest of my life.
me and the girlfriend made up after a week and ive been sober ever since.she doesnt understand but accepts that i cant drink no matter what.
regards
dazmond
Well done Dazmond,you can be proud of yourself now, i take my haf off to you :)
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Daz, really admire you for your honesty about your addiction. My brother is fighting this same disease and it is heart breaking . It's sounds like you have been to hell and back ! Wish you success in accomplishing your goals in life and business . Ed
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darren i was sneaking a few drinks here and there and not enjoying it really then one night i took my girlfriend out to an italian restaurant and drank a bottle of wine before she picked me up.then a few bottles of red in the restaurant and then hit the brandy! ::)roll
no control and i was VERY LOUD and obnoxious!my girlfriend was VERY shocked!!she had never seen me blind drunk before.she took me home and we never spoke for a week.
the next day i felt terrible and all my past came back to haunt me.anyone on here who is a recovering alcoholic will understand.
i was in a bad way 11 years ago when i stepped into my first AA meeting.i needed medication back then to stop the shakes.i was having panic attacks for months afterwards and its took me years and years to straighten my life out.
luckily this time it was a little blip. a "wake up" call if you like that no matter how long i go without a drink i can never touch the stuff for the rest of my life.
me and the girlfriend made up after a week and ive been sober ever since.she doesnt understand but accepts that i cant drink no matter what.
regards
dazmond
Well done Dazmond,you can be proud of yourself now, i take my haf off to you :)
+1 good on you m8
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Im feeling positive
Got the unit sorted.
Got my new van,getting it signwritten next weekend.
getting married in march after 4 days at the darts on the lash.
My phone is constantly ringing with people wanting quotes etc,im starting to clear a few odd ones out the way that I cant be bothered.
All my new work is all top prices.
Im not looking for much more work but what I do pick up is going to be all at top prices.
Lots of my new work is recommendations so im very happy and positive at the moment.
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Im feeling positive
Got the unit sorted.
Got my new van,getting it signwritten next weekend.
getting married in march after 4 days at the darts on the lash.
My phone is constantly ringing with people wanting quotes etc,im starting to clear a few odd ones out the way that I cant be bothered.
All my new work is all top prices.
Im not looking for much more work but what I do pick up is going to be all at top prices.
Lots of my new work is recommendations so im very happy and positive at the moment.
and getting chineses poles next month :-* ;D
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Im feeling positive
Got the unit sorted.
Got my new van,getting it signwritten next weekend.
getting married in march after 4 days at the darts on the lash.
My phone is constantly ringing with people wanting quotes etc,im starting to clear a few odd ones out the way that I cant be bothered.
All my new work is all top prices.
Im not looking for much more work but what I do pick up is going to be all at top prices.
Lots of my new work is recommendations so im very happy and positive at the moment.
and getting chineses poles next month :-* ;D
sure am ben ;D
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The only downside I'm now finding which has at times made me consider jacking it all in is the weather during this time of year.
I'm quite happy to work in the rain but these last few years, frequently it has been near on impossible. High winds and driving rain or rain that is frequently torrential seem to have become the normal sometimes for weeks and weeks on end. Last year it was high winds, torrential rain, snow and temperatures below freezing. So far this winter it's just been high winds and lots of heavy rain.
Until a few years ago in these parts, the weather was never like that so often during winter.
It's not the money side of things but the sitting indoors that gets to me as I get completely bored. I want to be out working as I enjoy working.
I keep thinking to add jet washing to my business as that can be done in any weather but living in a flat, I've no where to store the stuff. I gave up on the idea to rent a garage as not only are they expensive around here, they seem to come with so many terms and conditions as to what the garage can and cannot be used for and storage seems to be a big NO.
So yes, I'm feeling positive about the spring, summer and autumn but not when I think about the next few months.
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The only downside I'm now finding which has at times made me consider jacking it all in is the weather during this time of year.
I'm quite happy to work in the rain but these last few years, frequently it has been near on impossible. High winds and driving rain or rain that is frequently torrential seem to have become the normal sometimes for weeks and weeks on end. Last year it was high winds, torrential rain, snow and temperatures below freezing. So far this winter it's just been high winds and lots of heavy rain.
Until a few years ago in these parts, the weather was never like that so often during winter.
It's not the money side of things but the sitting indoors that gets to me as I get completely bored. I want to be out working as I enjoy working.
I keep thinking to add jet washing to my business as that can be done in any weather but living in a flat, I've no where to store the stuff. I gave up on the idea to rent a garage as not only are they expensive around here, they seem to come with so many terms and conditions as to what the garage can and cannot be used for and storage seems to be a big NO.
So yes, I'm feeling positive about the spring, summer and autumn but not when I think about the next few months.
Can you do anything internet based bud?
Quick typing?
There are loads of ad hoc jobs you can do if you wanna be cracking on...
Or, put yourself through uni or something...
OU courses are good if you fancy them...
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Darren. Quick typing ! I am one of those one finger typist .Ed
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darren i was sneaking a few drinks here and there and not enjoying it really then one night i took my girlfriend out to an italian restaurant and drank a bottle of wine before she picked me up.then a few bottles of red in the restaurant and then hit the brandy! ::)roll
no control and i was VERY LOUD and obnoxious!my girlfriend was VERY shocked!!she had never seen me blind drunk before.she took me home and we never spoke for a week.
the next day i felt terrible and all my past came back to haunt me.anyone on here who is a recovering alcoholic will understand.
i was in a bad way 11 years ago when i stepped into my first AA meeting.i needed medication back then to stop the shakes.i was having panic attacks for months afterwards and its took me years and years to straighten my life out.
luckily this time it was a little blip. a "wake up" call if you like that no matter how long i go without a drink i can never touch the stuff for the rest of my life.
me and the girlfriend made up after a week and ive been sober ever since.she doesnt understand but accepts that i cant drink no matter what.
regards
dazmond
It sounds like a good night out that Daz!
Just kidding of course. Having had a good few friends/family members that have had similar problems with the booze I know how hard it must have been to win that battle.
Personally I'm massively positively for 2014 onwards. We have picked up a good few well paying commercial jobs for the coming year which more than makes up for a big job that we have lost recently.
Onwards and upwards for 2014!
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Hi Guys, This is only a suggestion one I have mentioned before so don't go all loopy on it, why complain about the weather and the unworkable conditions there are plenty of options for window cleaners to work inside and actually make more money than cleaning outside. there is serious money to be made in detailing high end surfaces for retailers its clean easy work with spectacular results and the market is wide open to this added service and retailers especially are wide open to it. I wont go into the specifics as I will be accused of promoting our concepts in cleaning, if anyone wants information on how to offer this service to retailers and trust me they are wide open to it send me an email and I will share some ideas, and believe it or not the products required to carry out this detailing service can be purchased from suppliers other than ourselves. I will say once the retailer sees the finished results they will want you back on a regular basis to maintain their surfaces to optimum condition as they wont have seen these before or have the products,staff,or knowledge to achieve the amazing results.
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Yes ............ every month a pay rise in 2014 :)
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Been back in the uk now for a year and a half after being away for 3 years
Came back not thro choice from a country I loved but you just have to get on with it and make the best of what you have left
spent the last year and half finding my feet trying a few different things buying and selling made a few mistakes a fair bit of mincing around still not used the cold hate the winter weather
Have now purchased a fairly good setup and got the cash together to buy a half decent van and will buy a 40 / 50 ft pole in the next few weeks which will hopefully turn my tin pot window cleaning business Into something a little better
New business seems to be rolling in and only concentrating on the glass seems to be working rather than juggling to many different pies
Working for myself i can't beat as I please myself what I do and most important it gives me time with my family and the financial rewards seem good at last
2014 i think will be a good year
this time next year I'll be a millionaire I can't wait to be a Billy big bollox
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darren i was sneaking a few drinks here and there and not enjoying it really then one night i took my girlfriend out to an italian restaurant and drank a bottle of wine before she picked me up.then a few bottles of red in the restaurant and then hit the brandy! ::)roll
no control and i was VERY LOUD and obnoxious!my girlfriend was VERY shocked!!she had never seen me blind drunk before.she took me home and we never spoke for a week.
the next day i felt terrible and all my past came back to haunt me.anyone on here who is a recovering alcoholic will understand.
i was in a bad way 11 years ago when i stepped into my first AA meeting.i needed medication back then to stop the shakes.i was having panic attacks for months afterwards and its took me years and years to straighten my life out.
luckily this time it was a little blip. a "wake up" call if you like that no matter how long i go without a drink i can never touch the stuff for the rest of my life.
me and the girlfriend made up after a week and ive been sober ever since.she doesnt understand but accepts that i cant drink no matter what.
regards
dazmond
Hi dazmond, just like to say well done and that i admire your positive thinking and strength. I completely understand where
your coming from as i had similar problems in the past.
Regards
lal
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Hi Guys, This is only a suggestion one I have mentioned before so don't go all loopy on it, why complain about the weather and the unworkable conditions there are plenty of options for window cleaners to work inside and actually make more money than cleaning outside. there is serious money to be made in detailing high end surfaces for retailers its clean easy work with spectacular results and the market is wide open to this added service and retailers especially are wide open to it. I wont go into the specifics as I will be accused of promoting our concepts in cleaning, if anyone wants information on how to offer this service to retailers and trust me they are wide open to it send me an email and I will share some ideas, and believe it or not the products required to carry out this detailing service can be purchased from suppliers other than ourselves. I will say once the retailer sees the finished results they will want you back on a regular basis to maintain their surfaces to optimum condition as they wont have seen these before or have the products,staff,or knowledge to achieve the amazing results.
Oh Jeepers.
I've been window cleaning for 12 years and others on here have been doing the job for longer and some a lot longer. I've run a business in a partnership and we had a huge TO running contracts and employing. Others on here currently run larger business's.
I admire your enthusiasm but in all honesty, it doesn't quite work like that and it's not that simple and please, please, use ordinary language and not that sales type jargon. Do you have to go away on a course to learn to write like that?
'maintain their surfaces to optimum condition' - oh lord help us.
'amazing results' - what do you honestly think most of us on here do already? Clean windows and glass and leave them smeared and dirty?
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I am having a great laugh here, i have been cleaning windows since 1982, you were the one complaining about the weather and outside conditions, if you read my post I said it was a suggestion that I had mentioned before and don't go all loopy on it, well need I say more, I know you guys go out every day and provide a service in all sorts of weather where you clean windows streak free if you need me to say it, I will say it again from having more experience in the cleaning industry, there is plenty of business to be developed from detailing surfaces inside premises rather than outside in the conditions you were complaining about, this is an added service that can generate extra revenue and it can be turned into on going revenue if one uses their head. as regards the language and fancy words these are things you pick up along the way when you have been in the industry for over 30 years.
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i refuse all inside work unless its a big posh house who s owners are clean freaks! ;D
i hate the hassle of booking the job in rather than just turn up and clean and i dont like walking around inside other peoples houses!i do relent for a few customers but the jobs are £70+ accounts.
i prefer to be outside even in winter!! ;D ;D