Clean It Up
UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: Ian101 on April 09, 2014, 04:21:30 pm
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Well after 4 years I have decided after a lot of thinking and debating that I would like to do something else so have advertised my whole round and equipment for sale.
Have enjoyed it but now time to do something else :)
Think I will still be around for a few more months though so your stuck with me for a while. :o :o :o :o (unless I find someone with a large bag of cash and don't think Richy due out for another 6 months ;D)
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How can you just give it up with nothing in the pipe line ? Havnt you got a mortgage and bills to pay Ian !!!! Been window cleaning now for 28 years only 7 years left and retire age the age of 52 mortgage paid by then !!! 😳👍
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yup got an offer to go back into Toyota and manage a dealership also proceeds from round sale will be going into something else
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He's got something in the pipeline. He's doing a Barry Mallett ;D.
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All the best Ian in your new ventures :)
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Enjoy dealing with stress!
a round of 4 years should be big enough to employ someone and still take a cut surely?
Or even just pay your cut into a saving account and just pay someone a decent wage to do almost everything !!
Or rent the round...
Never sell something thats taken 4 years to build
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yup got an offer to go back into Toyota and manage a dealership also proceeds from round sale will be going into something else
Ian,
I hope it goes well...
But, I remember when you first started window cleaning... You were so happy to have left the car sales behind.
What other venture are you looking into?
Andy
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Think seriously before you take the plunge, I sold up years ago, and it was a really bad mistake ! As has been said previously keep the work, and rent it out until you know for certain that paid employment is for you.
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Good luck Ian, however I think you will regret going back to work for 'the man'.
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my ten penneth for what its worth is that you right now are on the tipping point of employing fulltimers . this is where you need a leap of faith . i wouldnt sell now if was in your shoes as within the next year the physical load wont be on your shoulders no more,itll be on yer workers .
Allowing you to be the marketing guru and parttime windie !
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PLEASE STOP ENCOURAGING HIM TO STAY and i'm not saying that because i want some of his work or his 4040 or his van or his pole i just want to make that clear ;)
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Moving on to something new I could understand - I did that last year and I'm loving it,... but going back to being employed??? It'd have to be a huge pay cheque and some amazing conditions to even tempt me!
Seriously - after a few years of being your own boss, how can you go back to a 9 - 5 with some fat cat dictating your life??!
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And them pesky targets you have to meat monthly or you get your anus kicked!
At least now if we dont reach targets we can just try harder the month after
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i have in the last year done what robertphil has just said, he is very right
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however if they are to give you a hilux as part of the deal, i can see your point ;-)
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Well done Ian, takes a lot of balls to make a decision like this, sometimes being your own boss isn't all its made out to be, at the end of the day there is a hell of a lot of pressure on you to keep the pennies coming in, no holiday pay or sick pay. Enjoy what you have planned mate, at least you will go back to driving a normal car and having holidays and a pension.
If you decide to split your gear let me know as i may have some of it off you at the right price haha, oh and I'll also do the cleaning on your garage as well mate
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my ten penneth for what its worth is that you right now are on the tipping point of employing fulltimers . this is where you need a leap of faith . i wouldnt sell now if was in your shoes as within the next year the physical load wont be on your shoulders no more,itll be on yer workers .
Allowing you to be the marketing guru and parttime windie !
I hope you are right robertphil because I am finding the work hard right now. And although I am chasing more work, I have this feeling of dread that I have to do it all myself for now.
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yup got an offer to go back into Toyota and manage a dealership also proceeds from round sale will be going into something else
Plenty of recalls to keep you busy. ;D
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just in time for a TOYOTA recall ;D
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yup got an offer to go back into Toyota and manage a dealership also proceeds from round sale will be going into something else
Plenty of recalls to keep you busy. ;D
you beat me to it...just! ;D
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Good luck and all the best Ian
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Jesus! On the cards? I could NEVER do that. Ever. Not now. No way.
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Don't do it Ian
I had 20 years on a chemical complex, 15 years of it on shifts
I would rather chop my right arm off than work for the man again
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Sometimes it takes a decision in life like this, to really know what you want in life. Personally I wish him well in his new ventures. I'm sure that 4 years of running your own business will in itself bring much experience to the dealership you manage.
When the new Toyota Supra comes out, ill pop in and order one from you.
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my ten penneth for what its worth is that you right now are on the tipping point of employing fulltimers . this is where you need a leap of faith . i wouldnt sell now if was in your shoes as within the next year the physical load wont be on your shoulders no more,itll be on yer workers .
Allowing you to be the marketing guru and parttime windie !
I hope you are right robertphil because I am finding the work hard right now. And although I am chasing more work, I have this feeling of dread that I have to do it all myself for now.
burnout is a real risk in this job. when you are gettin out of bed dreading the high workload cos you know its way high ,you MUST make a decision for the future ahead. dont bury your head in the sand.
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You seem to be the kind of fella that has things well squared away. So, good luck to you. I have enjoyed reading many of your posts. Particularly the one on the three 'C's of productive window cleaning.
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I spent 20 years in a office so would also chop my right hand off (and my balls) before going back to working for someone else.
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ian its a hard business to be in but imho its worth prevailing and change a few things. but stay with us lad as we cant loose another windy here. my mentality now is to class a customers in a ABC structure. but if its what you have decided good look on you lad. but whatever you do do it well.
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Ian, what happened to:
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Think I go stir crazy sitting back behind a desk talking to stoopid salemen and ever more stoopid customers all day every day.
...still happier than I was when I was employed in a Toyota Dealer as Sales Manager/ Auction Buyer .... 6 days a week, weekends , long long hours also felt like a Russian Prisoner on death row where u dont know when your last day is going to be - maybe today- maybe tomorrow - maybe next year .... they just open a hatch in your cell roof and shoot you -
sounds great job dont it .... but very very boring and couldnt please any of the sales managers as either wrong colour / spec / miles etc.
oh and great pay as well.
do i miss it ... nope cant beat being own boss and building a sucessful window cleaning business :)
Vin
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Ian take no notice of this lot............i will give you £10.000 for the lot
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I was 11 years in a factory before my job was shipped to China if the job was offered
back to me tomorrow I would jump at it.
Paid pension 7 weeks paid holidays, full sick pay if needed and to be honest half the work.
Work gear supplied and cleaned plus a subsidised cooked lunch and paid while your eating it.
Go in do your work, leave and switch off until the next day.
Good luck Ian.
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All the best Ian in your new ventures :)
cheers Paul ... :)
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Good luck Ian, however I think you will regret going back to work for 'the man'.
;D apart from 1 man I will be the "man"
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yup got an offer to go back into Toyota and manage a dealership also proceeds from round sale will be going into something else
Ian,
I hope it goes well...
But, I remember when you first started window cleaning... You were so happy to have left the car sales behind.
What other venture are you looking into?
Andy
Proceeds will be going into used car stock to go on a mates pitch
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Moving on to something new I could understand - I did that last year and I'm loving it,... but going back to being employed??? It'd have to be a huge pay cheque and some amazing conditions to even tempt me!
Seriously - after a few years of being your own boss, how can you go back to a 9 - 5 with some fat cat dictating your life??!
yup totally agree Nat ... basic is slightly more than my round turnover with a nice bonus on top and free car with as much fuel as I can burn thru ... ok taxman will want his slice but still better off financially plus income from my used cars on mates pitch :)
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PLEASE STOP ENCOURAGING HIM TO STAY and i'm not saying that because i want some of his work or his 4040 or his van or his pole i just want to make that clear ;)
;D ;D
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Well done Ian, takes a lot of balls to make a decision like this, sometimes being your own boss isn't all its made out to be, at the end of the day there is a hell of a lot of pressure on you to keep the pennies coming in, no holiday pay or sick pay. Enjoy what you have planned mate, at least you will go back to driving a normal car and having holidays and a pension.
If you decide to split your gear let me know as i may have some of it off you at the right price haha, oh and I'll also do the cleaning on your garage as well mate
all of the above ....... yup if any gear left after sell off will get ur number off andy and bell yer
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Good luck and all the best Ian
cheers :)
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Don't do it Ian
I had 20 years on a chemical complex, 15 years of it on shifts
I would rather chop my right arm off than work for the man again
lol I will be the man and will be able to take my frustrations from no longer cleaning windows on the sales team every morning meeting and all during the day ;) ;D ;D
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Sometimes it takes a decision in life like this, to really know what you want in life. Personally I wish him well in his new ventures. I'm sure that 4 years of running your own business will in itself bring much experience to the dealership you manage.
When the new Toyota Supra comes out, ill pop in and order one from you.
put you down for a 48 hour demo already mate !
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best wishes ian.window cleaning is hard work.micro managing all your accounts,chasing money,maintaining van and equipment etc,etc.
i love it though.
buying and selling cars?i can fully understand the buzz of making a sale.you ll make more money than window cleaning as well without working out in all weathers!! ;D
all the best
dazmond
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You seem to be the kind of fella that has things well squared away. So, good luck to you. I have enjoyed reading many of your posts. Particularly the one on the three 'C's of productive window cleaning.
yup was a classic that one ;D
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Ian, what happened to:
.....
Think I go stir crazy sitting back behind a desk talking to stoopid salemen and ever more stoopid customers all day every day.
...still happier than I was when I was employed in a Toyota Dealer as Sales Manager/ Auction Buyer .... 6 days a week, weekends , long long hours also felt like a Russian Prisoner on death row where u dont know when your last day is going to be - maybe today- maybe tomorrow - maybe next year .... they just open a hatch in your cell roof and shoot you -
sounds great job dont it .... but very very boring and couldnt please any of the sales managers as either wrong colour / spec / miles etc.
oh and great pay as well.
do i miss it ... nope cant beat being own boss and building a sucessful window cleaning business :)
Vin
Yup all still true ........... except last 6 months have found the windows to have been more negative than the above plus there's other stuff I cant go into on this forum ... but all above taken into account to come to a final decision :)
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best wishes ian.window cleaning is hard work.micro managing all your accounts,chasing money,maintaining van and equipment etc,etc.
i love it though.
buying and selling cars?i can fully understand the buzz of making a sale.you ll make more more than window cleaning as well without working out in all weathers!! ;D
all the best
dazmond
cheers Daz :)
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Cheers lads for the input .... still here for a bit longer.
Motor trade has changed pay wise during the last 4 years as its now on the up and a massive shortage of staff esp senior staff like I was. Decent sales mangers now earn £40k to £60k and General Managers not unusual to see basics of £60k with ote of £90k
Wasn't looking to go back but phone call from old boss changed things and made offer too good plus a mate will take used cars off me to sale or return on his pitch so some passive income there.
If it all goes tits up will just hire Mr Paul Dale to build me a half round .. jack in and recanvass back to capacity.
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Hi Ian101,
When you left the motor trade the 'credit crunch' was well established and the motor industry was not in a good state. It was a very stressful time for those left who weren't 'let go'.
Things have settled down and the motor industry seems quite boyant at the moment and has been for a few years, so I can see the draw back into it.
Self employment has its advantages, but also its disadvantages.
I also wish you all the best mate.
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All the best mate. You can always go back to window cleaning if you want. Good luck.
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Good luck Ian. We'll welcome you back come the next recession...
Vin
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which toyota garage is it ian?
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which toyota garage is it ian?
bit tricky to say as they need to make some staff changes first
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Enjoy dealing with stress!
a round of 4 years should be big enough to employ someone and still take a cut surely?
Or even just pay your cut into a saving account and just pay someone a decent wage to do almost everything !!
Or rent the round...
Never sell something thats taken 4 years to build
Good post .... if it dont sell then will probably employ a full timer
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Good luck Ian. We'll welcome you back come the next recession...
Vin
thanks Vin
..... like your dry humour lol
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Dont know you but might aswell get in the act.
So good luck ;D
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Good.
The rest of you should take a leaf out of Ian's book.
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One of the many things i love about my job is the fact it is recession proof... I have only every noticed increases in new customers since starting 3 years ago!
I also love the milfs, and their puppies but thats another story ::)roll
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Won't you miss the smell of hot scrim on a cold winters morning
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Tuns of window cleaners out there now and its only going to get worse with WFP unfortunately due to not needing to climb a ladder so anyone can give it ago! and there so cheap now £500 odd or so.
11 years back when i started even only like 7 years back everyone you seen on the road was the same old people with the same old cars/vans then one would get a new car and you'd be oh.. who is that.. then realize who it is when you see him.
These days i must see about 8 diffrent window cleaners a day at least and god knows who they are never seen them before... tuns and tuns of them popping up every week.
Maybe now is the time to get out before prices will be driven down in what may become a saturated market.
Good luck anyway Ian.
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You seem to be the kind of fella that has things well squared away. So, good luck to you. I have enjoyed reading many of your posts. Particularly the one on the three 'C's of productive window cleaning.
Anything to do with "cull carp customers"? :)
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Cheers lads for the input .... still here for a bit longer.
Motor trade has changed pay wise during the last 4 years as its now on the up and a massive shortage of staff esp senior staff like I was. Decent sales mangers now earn £40k to £60k and General Managers not unusual to see basics of £60k with ote of £90k
Wasn't looking to go back but phone call from old boss changed things and made offer too good plus a mate will take used cars off me to sale or return on his pitch so some passive income there.
If it all goes tits up will just hire Mr Paul Dale to build me a half round .. jack in and recanvass back to capacity.
I can see the temptation with those types of payouts. Want a quote for the showroom? :)
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What are the 3 C's?
And will the Supra be better than a GTR?
It's like the 90's all over again.
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It annoys me a little bit when people say "there is tons of windies now"
Not starting an argument but windows cleaners have been going since long before any of us, and there has been many recessions since then, when people have lost their jobs and started on the windows.
There will always be new vans and new business's You see, but the chances are they have bought some work ( either some man retiring or someone going back to old jobs)
There is a lot of people who start windows cleaning then quit aswell.
The truth is i am still picking up work as fast as when i first started.
More houses getting built, more jobs for us:)
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It annoys me a little bit when people say "there is tons of windies now"
Not starting an argument but windows cleaners have been going since long before any of us, and there has been many recessions since then, when people have lost their jobs and started on the windows.
There will always be new vans and new business's You see, but the chances are they have bought some work ( either some man retiring or someone going back to old jobs)
There is a lot of people who start windows cleaning then quit aswell.
The truth is i am still picking up work as fast as when i first started.
More houses getting built, more jobs for us:)
I'm 11 years cleaning bud, there's definitely loads more cleaners in my town now than even 5 years ago.
Glad I don't work here tbh.
Where I work there's a couple more but not too bad...
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My uncles 7 year and he still picks up loads Of work!
I was mainly meaning i have never Looked around and thought to myself " i cant believe how many window cleaners there is now"
It wi just be the old ladder monkeys converting to pure system 90% the time so we notice them more because they have a sign written van.
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It annoys me a little bit when people say "there is tons of windies now"
Not starting an argument but windows cleaners have been going since long before any of us, and there has been many recessions since then, when people have lost their jobs and started on the windows.
There will always be new vans and new business's You see, but the chances are they have bought some work ( either some man retiring or someone going back to old jobs)
There is a lot of people who start windows cleaning then quit aswell.
The truth is i am still picking up work as fast as when i first started.
More houses getting built, more jobs for us:
am taking that as a dig at my post.
I get what your saying but with window cleaning being around for years and years and theres been oher recessions and so on. But there are a lot of people out there that would never clean windows due to using ladders and didnt want to go up a ladder for fear of falling or other reasons.
Now there's another options to use with the water fed pole at first it was expensive ish to start but now its really really quite cheap.
Am not saying your not picking up work but there is a huge amount more window cleaners around over the last 4//5 years. In my post i didnt even say anything about recession basically blaming it on the water fed pole system and dont forget when some newbie goes to the likes of brodex for a system test which anyone looking to buy a machine can do.. or they willl come to you and there going to sell the job as you can earn £££ with this system for little work etc.
All someone has to do these days is type starting a window cleaning business into google and theres everyone saying i earn 50 quid a hour etc lol doing 3 bed semi's in 5 mins for £££ nonsense... so the internet doesn't help for that matter either since its got so big.
but whats going to happen in another 10 years when there is even more window cleaners on the street's? we may be fine.. but we may not be who knows.. but there DEFIANTLY is more window cleaners.
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It wasnt a dig, i swear i can only count on 2 hands the amount of window cleaners that cover the areas i cover.
And there is only 2 new ones since i have started? One that switched from ladders to pure system.
And one ex engineer who got made redundant and invested into a w/c round, but obviously he took the work off someone else?
My point is there isnt more windows cleaners in my area there is just less ladder work and more in vans.
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It wasnt a dig, i swear i can only count on 2 hands the amount of window cleaners that cover the areas i cover.
And there is only 2 new ones since i have started? One that switched from ladders to pure system.
And one ex engineer who got made redundant and invested into a w/c round, but obviously he took the work off someone else?
My point is there isnt more windows cleaners in my area there is just less ladder work and more in vans.
Maybe you just live in a good area? or lucky?
I know some have moved over to WFP in my area too! and i see the faces and i see them working. But there are a flipping lot of new vans poping up and random cars with a ladders on! seriously see loads every day and its not a exaggeration.
I'd need a caculator to count the amount of window cleaners in this area probably a good 50 if not more than that in a 7 mile radius
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It wasnt a dig, i swear i can only count on 2 hands the amount of window cleaners that cover the areas i cover.
And there is only 2 new ones since i have started? One that switched from ladders to pure system.
And one ex engineer who got made redundant and invested into a w/c round, but obviously he took the work off someone else?
My point is there isnt more windows cleaners in my area there is just less ladder work and more in vans.
See, that's 13 just round your way. ;D
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It annoys me a little bit when people say "there is tons of windies now"
Not starting an argument but windows cleaners have been going since long before any of us, and there has been many recessions since then, when people have lost their jobs and started on the windows.
There will always be new vans and new business's You see, but the chances are they have bought some work ( either some man retiring or someone going back to old jobs)
There is a lot of people who start windows cleaning then quit aswell.
The truth is i am still picking up work as fast as when i first started.
More houses getting built, more jobs for us:
am taking that as a dig at my post.
I get what your saying but with window cleaning being around for years and years and theres been oher recessions and so on. But there are a lot of people out there that would never clean windows due to using ladders and didnt want to go up a ladder for fear of falling or other reasons.
Now there's another options to use with the water fed pole at first it was expensive ish to start but now its really really quite cheap.
Am not saying your not picking up work but there is a huge amount more window cleaners around over the last 4//5 years. In my post i didnt even say anything about recession basically blaming it on the water fed pole system and dont forget when some newbie goes to the likes of brodex for a system test which anyone looking to buy a machine can do.. or they willl come to you and there going to sell the job as you can earn £££ with this system for little work etc.
All someone has to do these days is type starting a window cleaning business into google and theres everyone saying i earn 50 quid a hour etc lol doing 3 bed semi's in 5 mins for £££ nonsense... so the internet doesn't help for that matter either since its got so big.
but whats going to happen in another 10 years when there is even more window cleaners on the street's? we may be fine.. but we may not be who knows.. but there DEFIANTLY is more window cleaners.
will add lads to this...
Window cleaning became really very lucrative when WFP first came on the scene back in 2004-06. We were quoting £600 per job for office blocks and flats that could be done in 4 hours and getting them in by the dozen sometimes im really (not joking GEM were sending me 3 quote requests a day at the peak), as to do them trad, you be looking at least a grand just to sign off the rope access equipment and have someone use the rigging gear. So we were on a winner there, it lasted 2 years and by 2006-07 the market became saturated with everyone and his dog going for commercial 'gold' doing wfp driving the price down..it was a bubble that was good while it lasted. I sold off my commercial work at just the right time.
At the end of the day, i dont care how many window cleaners are out there. Only thing i care about is keeping my customers happy, and not just staying ahead of my competition; im leading the market.
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Yeah but when you think about it i live near one of the biggest housing estates in Europe, and 10 was a little but less than what there actually is but there is no were near 50:o
But its extremely rare i ever see newbys! And like i say i usually get speaking to them and fine they bought work off a retiring windy!
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there was about 10-14 around here about 10 years ago 11 years ago something like that.
there is probably a lot more than 50 but these are the regular guys driving about, there is probably more covering the estates and so on and the odd few you don't realize there window cleaners.
And about 10 years ago the same people would speak to you and some wouldn't but you would see them driving about etc.. but now i just don't no all these others there seems to be more and more new faces as well as the old ones lol.
Thats all my point was! really. Im sure its down WFP and more than likely then recession hasn't helped either but mainly WFP.
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will add lads to this...
Window cleaning became really very lucrative when WFP first came on the scene back in 2004-06. We were quoting £600 per job for office blocks and flats that could be done in 4 hours and getting them in by the dozen sometimes im really (not joking GEM were sending me 3 quote requests a day at the peak), as to do them trad, you be looking at least a grand just to sign off the rope access equipment and have someone use the rigging gear. So we were on a winner there, it lasted 2 years and by 2006-07 the market became saturated with everyone and his dog going for commercial 'gold' doing wfp driving the price down..it was a bubble that was good while it lasted. I sold off my commercial work at just the right time.
At the end of the day, i dont care how many window cleaners are out there. Only thing i care about is keeping my customers happy, and not just staying ahead of my competition; im leading the market.
Yes i agree with this.. prices have been brought down from WFP. Even on small commercial such as flats back then you could price in "ladder time" length to clean the windows and it was great. But these days there are some silly silly prices out there where you go i can make more doing spaced out houses lol.