Clean It Up
UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: slap bash on August 03, 2016, 06:17:05 pm
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AS its says on the tin. I love hearing what folk think of the word professional window cleaner. I will add my views as this thread proceeds.
Is it the van you drive?
Is its the system you have in it.
Is it good service?
Is it a good manner with customers
What do you think?
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The money you can get away with charging. As for the rest who cares what you have or do ;D ;D
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Capri 3.0S
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AS its says on the tin. I love hearing what folk think of the word professional window cleaner. I will add my views as this thread proceeds.
Is it the van you drive?
Is its the system you have in it.
Is it good service?
Is it a good manner with customers
What do you think?
I await with huge anticipation...
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Attitude.
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AS its says on the tin. I love hearing what folk think of the word professional window cleaner. I will add my views as this thread proceeds.
Is it the van you drive?
Is its the system you have in it.
Is it good service?
Is it a good manner with customers
What do you think?
I await with huge anticipation...
+1
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tidy,clean vinyl wrap/sign written van,logo d uniform,good business stationary(leaflets,business cards,invoices etc)
reliable,trustworthy,does a good job.offers various methods of payments/frequencies
round software and good wfp/trad equipment and hot water, ;)
works for me :)
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Very interesting. I should have said I will add the views of wiser men than me. I am not that smart.
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Not picking your nose and eating the contents in front of customers, not drying the sweat from under your armpits
with your scrim smelling it and then detailing the windows.
Not sticking the squeegee down the back of your trackies to scratch an itch.
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Thay made me laugh, Sean. I thought using a squeegee to scratch an itch in you jocks was what you would say.
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Can i answer a question with a question?
Whats your opinion of someone in trainers, dirty tracky bottoms. Either top off or a scruffy top on. Scrims either over neck/shoulder or tucked into pants. Carrying his mop n squeegee in his hands. A black bucket and carry bag full of scrims, whilst rattling/holding an old h frame ladder with plenty of give in it!! But hes a regular shiner tho!! Opinions slap bash
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Some people might equate being a professional with being employed as a window cleaner by a company. I've had that once.
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Can i answer a question with a question?
Whats your opinion of someone in trainers, dirty tracky bottoms. Either top off or a scruffy top on. Scrims either over neck/shoulder or tucked into pants. Carrying his mop n squeegee in his hands. A black bucket and carry bag full of scrims, whilst rattling/holding an old h frame ladder with plenty of give in it!! But hes a regular shiner tho!! Opinions slap bash
I'm sure that's not you Nathan, is it? ;D
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Can i answer a question with a question?
Whats your opinion of someone in trainers, dirty tracky bottoms. Either top off or a scruffy top on. Scrims either over neck/shoulder or tucked into pants. Carrying his mop n squeegee in his hands. A black bucket and carry bag full of scrims, whilst rattling/holding an old h frame ladder with plenty of give in it!! But hes a regular shiner tho!! Opinions slap bash
I'm sure that's not you Nathan, is it? ;D
Nah, i have a shaved head as well :o ;D lol
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For me it's to earn a living from your chosen profession. Mainly being a full time window cleaner as opposed to a weekend/part time beer money cleaner.
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Can i answer a question with a question?
Whats your opinion of someone in trainers, dirty tracky bottoms. Either top off or a scruffy top on. Scrims either over neck/shoulder or tucked into pants. Carrying his mop n squeegee in his hands. A black bucket and carry bag full of scrims, whilst rattling/holding an old h frame ladder with plenty of give in it!! But hes a regular shiner tho!! Opinions slap bash
There might be something unattractive about most of those things but a scrim over the shoulder isn't. Everyone needs tools in a trade.
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This sums up the word "professional" quite well I thought https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lnj2s1eG-Rw
It's very relevant to our industry as time & time again I win work because in the eyes of the customer I'm professional at what I do.
Oh and I almost forgot they are willing to pay more too. ;D ;D
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This sums up the word "professional" quite well I thought https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lnj2s1eG-Rw
I like that. It's often a line I use when discussing WFP with customers; "I want the windows to be 100% right even more than you do"
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This sums up the word "professional" quite well I thought https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lnj2s1eG-Rw
It's very relevant to our industry as time & time again I win work because in the eyes of the customer I'm professional at what I do.
Oh and I almost forgot they are willing to pay more too. ;D ;D
Your semi retired, you put in a high price knowing it doesn't really matter if you win the work or not and every so often
somebody throws you a bone.
Because you only work now and again your in no hurry to get the job done so can faff about all day and make the job look more
complicated and harder work than it actually is.
Are you sure your not mixing up professional with cowboy yeeehaa. lol.
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A smurf isn't big enough to be a cowboy, unless someone lifts him onto his horse! 😂
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Can i answer a question with a question?
Whats your opinion of someone in trainers, dirty tracky bottoms. Either top off or a scruffy top on. Scrims either over neck/shoulder or tucked into pants. Carrying his mop n squeegee in his hands. A black bucket and carry bag full of scrims, whilst rattling/holding an old h frame ladder with plenty of give in it!! But hes a regular shiner tho!! Opinions slap bash
There might be something unattractive about most of those things but a scrim over the shoulder isn't. Everyone needs tools in a trade.
It isnt the fact its a scrim slack bladder, its the fact its flung over the shoulder. As in they cant be arsed to buy a descent set of pouches to keep it in.
Or is the term professional including anyone who simply uses a t bar with a sleeve (mop) / squeegee, a bucket, ladders and a scrim??
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A smurf isn't big enough to be a cowboy, unless someone lifts him onto his horse! 😂
(http://www.cleanitup.co.uk/smf/1470321445_ZZ40221Rocking-Horse-SchleichS-Wgermany-PeyoC-1981.JPG)
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A smurf isn't big enough to be a cowboy, unless someone lifts him onto his horse! 😂
(http://www.cleanitup.co.uk/smf/1470321445_ZZ40221Rocking-Horse-SchleichS-Wgermany-PeyoC-1981.JPG)
😂
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Can i answer a question with a question?
Whats your opinion of someone in trainers, dirty tracky bottoms. Either top off or a scruffy top on. Scrims either over neck/shoulder or tucked into pants. Carrying his mop n squeegee in his hands. A black bucket and carry bag full of scrims, whilst rattling/holding an old h frame ladder with plenty of give in it!! But hes a regular shiner tho!! Opinions slap bash
There might be something unattractive about most of those things but a scrim over the shoulder isn't. Everyone needs tools in a trade.
It isnt the fact its a scrim slack bladder, its the fact its flung over the shoulder. As in they cant be arsed to buy a descent set of pouches to keep it in.
Or is the term professional including anyone who simply uses a t bar with a sleeve (mop) / squeegee, a bucket, ladders and a scrim??
If you think that is what defines a window cleaner as being professional then 95% of the shiners in this country are cowboys.
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If the shoe fits lol
How can it be profesional to carry your equipment between houses etc in your hands (im talking about scrims, mops n squegees).
Isnt it more professional to have pouches to store/carry scrims and perhaps a bucket on belt for the mop n squegee.
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You're obviously a snob.
A scrim over the shoulder will stay drier longer compared to one stuffed in a pouch. Buying all the bits and pieces that are available in every cleaning store doesn't make you a professional, it makes you someone who wants to look the part which is not necessarily a pro.
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You're obviously a snob.
A scrim over the shoulder will stay drier longer compared to one stuffed in a pouch. Buying all the bits and pieces that are available in every cleaning store doesn't make you a professional, it makes you someone who wants to look the part which is not necessarily a pro.
Youve obviously taken this very personally mate.
The question was, what does professional mean to you.
Well for 14 yrs i did traditional work and started with the horrible but cheap plastic blue pouches. I couldnt wait to get sorted and so upgraded to unger ergotec pouches with an ergotec padded belt so they were comfy to wear. In one pouch i could carry three scrims which did me per day, i had very little detailing to do so scrims lasted. If your good at ur job, theres no need to soak your scrims. So the excuse that they stay dryer longer on the shoulder is in my opinion only, quite lame.
My apinion having a good pair of pouches, one for wet scrim or spray n wet scrim and one for dry. Makes for a more professional look. Combined with many more factors.
Lol, never been called a snob before for saying that pouches add to profesionallism, but i will gladly take that ;D
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Originally the term professional was only used for the distinction between white collar jobs and blue collar.
Nowadays the term simply means that it is your means of income/business. So a professional boxer for example; simply means that it is his job and he gets paid.
It doesnt mean however that becouse he is a pro he is any good. He could be a pro, but a rookie in terms of abilities.
So for me the term 'Professional Window Cleaning ' is a simple description of what i do as business. In terms of abilites to cleab windows, well i have 14 years experience so in comparison to someone who is only been doing the job a few years/months i guess i would be an expert to him. However i know of some who have been window cleaners for 40 plus years and are millionaires, id say that in comparison id be a rookie.
Profesional has nothing to do with your abilities, what clothes you wear, or how you flick your scrim. Its simply a statement that it is your job to clean windows as you get paid to do it...thats it.
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Does it really matter what methods you use as long as you can earn a crust?
The term "professional" don't really mean jack to the likes of us but in the eyes of a potential customer it can mean the difference of you either get the job or you don't.
Any scallywag that can get hold of a ladder and a bucket can call themselves a window cleaner but that don't mean they can make a living at it if people don't like the look of them. How the hell did lance end up with 5 vans beats me ;D ;D
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Professional is not about how you dress or what equipment you have...it is about do you do a proper job and not cut corners and more importantly treat your customers property as if it were your own.
.and respect your customers without kow towing to them.
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I think one of lee's threads was asking if anyone cleans any famous peoples windows for his magazine. It would be interesting to hear his take on this thread and even tho the posts on here are correct as far as work ethic is concerned, combined with smurfs post, i wonder what type of shiners famous people employ. Im sure they would be professional but also what image does professional conjure up in your mind eye.
I answered the thread with what my apinion was, that image also plays a part, in my opinion. This really shouldnt upset people
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Ahhh.
What we are alluding to here gentlemen is a term called proposition relevance. You cant be more professional than someone else its impossible as you are either profesional or your not (paid or a volunteer)
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Professional is not about how you dress or what equipment you have...it is about do you do a proper job and not cut corners and more importantly treat your customers property as if it were your own.
.and respect your customers without kow towing to them.
Exactly, attitude.
Some people get mixed up, they think if they appear how they think a professional should look then they are professional; regardless of their quality of work, recommendations, attitude, courtesy, willingness to correct disagreements and honesty. The proof is in the pudding. If a punter asks if you're professional and you say in reply 'I must be because I use a pouch' then you're a mutt. ;D
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I think one of lee's threads was asking if anyone cleans any famous peoples windows for his magazine. It would be interesting to hear his take on this thread and even tho the posts on here are correct as far as work ethic is concerned, combined with smurfs post, i wonder what type of shiners famous people employ. Im sure they would be professional but also what image does professional conjure up in your mind eye.
I answered the thread with what my apinion was, that image also plays a part, in my opinion. This really shouldnt upset people
If you has seen the vid with the guy in Malibu he starts out buy undercutting another cleaner.
Now thats not very professional is it ;D ;D
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Waistcoats.
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i would view a professional as someone who has undertaken training and has particular knowledge on an area that would take soem time and experience to obtain.
I wouldnt view any window cleaner as a professional.
I might view a carpet cleaner as one
pressure washing? not really, driveway resoration including sealing and repairs etc probably
but who give a feck at the end of the day, you can have a professional approach without actually being one
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Professional is not about how you dress or what equipment you have...it is about do you do a proper job and not cut corners and more importantly treat your customers property as if it were your own.
.and respect your customers without kow towing to them.
Exactly, attitude.
Some people get mixed up, they think if they appear how they think a professional should look then they are professional; regardless of their quality of work, recommendations, attitude, courtesy, willingness to correct disagreements and honesty. The proof is in the pudding. If a punter asks if you're professional and you say in reply 'I must be because I use a pouch' then you're a mutt. ;D
Lol your really upstrung about this pouch comment arent you mate! Didnt take into account everything else that was mentioned, but its all about a pouch....you make me chuckle mate, obviously i take it you dont and thats your choice bud, no need for a hissy fit.
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A chill pill is what you need petal, not a pouch, and the ability to see the funny side of something. It's light hearted banter you amateur ;)
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i saw a van last summer in torquay with professional on the side wfping a front of house,i couldent help but think does this guy think he he beta than the likes of me with out professional on the side of mine lmfao any way went had my lunch and thault sod it lets drive past and c how good job he done as i was working in that area i was shocked to c lots of runs on every pain on the front bay ground flore ;D so u can probly ges what it means to me ,( just another donky trying to look good but cant back it with qualty of work ) ::)roll
check out this pro https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=INyIcpoXxkE
and this pro https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yd_FMM8FPAU
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i would view a professional as someone who has undertaken training and has particular knowledge on an area that would take soem time and experience to obtain.
I wouldnt view any window cleaner as a professional.
I might view a carpet cleaner as one
pressure washing? not really, driveway resoration including sealing and repairs etc probably
but who give a feck at the end of the day, you can have a professional approach without actually being one
So where does that leave the window cleaners who are I.P.A.F. - and I.O.S.H. qualified?
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a friend of mine got his safe contractor certificate lmfao he said it makes u a beta wc ;D despite seeing him clime on wet slimy tiles he slid down the roof and riped his trousers ;D all for a few sky lights when he had wfp and it was easy to do them from the ground (SMAS) up ur ars ;D ;D means jack all ::)roll
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i can see it now windows cleaners turning up with a sute tie and briefcase with a load of paper work just to do some stick wiggling ::)roll or some trad ;D
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i can see it now windows cleaners turning up with a sute tie and briefcase with a load of paper work just to do some stick wiggling ::)roll or some trad ;D
Dont know if the chap is still working. But i knew of one feller, late 40's ild say. He drove an old bmw and cleaned windows in trousers n shirt. Thing is tho he cleaned in old mining villages where theres not alot of income so cant charge overly high dispite wearing a suit. Made me chuckle every time i drove through village n say him
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You can't be professional, your punctuation leaves too much to be desired . :P
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lmfao im a professional bad speller ;D
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Attitude.
Dump. Replace. its what all Proffesionals do.
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You can't be professional, your punctuation leaves too much to be desired . :P
I think its his accent ? ;D
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Insurance!
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I didnt wish to use too many sentences, i know some only have a short attention span on here! ;D ;D
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Any scallywag that can get hold of a ladder and a bucket can call themselves a window cleaner but that don't mean they can make a living at it if people don't like the look of them. How the hell did lance end up with 5 vans beats me ;D ;D
Cheeky bugger!
Always do the best job you possibly can for the given timescale allocated to the job.
Smurf charges £1000 a gutter clean so can take all week doing one job :P
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Any scallywag that can get hold of a ladder and a bucket can call themselves a window cleaner but that don't mean they can make a living at it if people don't like the look of them. How the hell did lance end up with 5 vans beats me ;D ;D
Cheeky bugger!
Always do the best job you possibly can for the given timescale allocated to the job.
Smurf charges £1000 a gutter clean so can take all week doing one job :P
;D ;D
Well I thought that would grab your attention so now you can tell us what's it like being a true pro as the spurs on me boots need replacing soon :-*
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Any scallywag that can get hold of a ladder and a bucket can call themselves a window cleaner but that don't mean they can make a living at it if people don't like the look of them. How the hell did lance end up with 5 vans beats me ;D ;D
Cheeky bugger!
Always do the best job you possibly can for the given timescale allocated to the job.
Smurf charges £1000 a gutter clean so can take all week doing one job :P
;D ;D
Well I thought that would grab your attention so now you can tell us what's it like being a true pro ;)
Thats easy........a true pro charges £1000 plus VAT. ;D
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Indeed ;D
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You can be the best window cleaner in the world and make a living out of it. But without the right image. customer relations and most importantly a professional attitude towards the way you work, you'll struggle to build a successful business.
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Good answer ;)
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You can be the best window cleaner in the world and make a living out of it. But without the right image. customer relations and most importantly a professional attitude towards the way you work, you'll struggle to build a successful business.
I know an old guy, he's got a beat up old van, wears jeans, and often sports a beard.
He's got loads of work; his customers love him too.
He's just a really nice hard working guy; he's not struggled to build his business.
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Exactly Tosh, the most successful guy in my area would have less people skills than Doc Martin, he employees about
20 full time and around 5 part time which is forever changing as he's a real pain to work for,scruffiest bunch you have ever seen
and the quality of work is far from perfect.
I thought how could I go wrong if this is who I'm up against, all those customers waiting for somebody to offer a decent service.
I couldn't have been more wrong as I wouldn't have taken more than a dozen of his customers, most people take on a shiner and as long as he/she doesn't get too greedy does a decent enough job x amount of times a year then that's all they care about.
Like I have said before its only shiners who make this job complicated.
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Exactly Tosh, he's a nice guy and probably conducts himself in a manner that is professional and respectful to his customers.
The uniform, image and sign writing isn't the be all and end all. I do think it helps to build brand awareness in your area though and will attract a certain type of customer you wouldn't necessarily attract without it.
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AS its says on the tin. I love hearing what folk think of the word professional window cleaner. I will add my views as this thread proceeds.
Is it the van you drive?
Is its the system you have in it.
Is it good service?
Is it a good manner with customers
What do you think?
For me it's the attitude. Other things can help promote a professional image but it's the attitude towards the work that makes the difference.
Just because you have a new van, an overpriced system and a badge on you t-shirt, doesn't stop you being a pleb. There seems to be a few on here with all the gear and no idea.
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Like I have said before its only shiners who make this job complicated.
too true .... so very true
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I thincuk 80% off domestic customers dont give a toss about how you look or about a certificate, as long as they get their windows cleaned, in thirty years of cleaning windows i have never been asked if i have any certificate s for cleaning windows .i think some people go over the top to impress customers .i once got asked for a quote for windows doing when i gave her the quote she was surprised at how much it was as she thought i was gonna be more expensive because i had a sign written van ,people that go out and spend thousands on vans and equipment have to charge alot more to recoup the money back they have spent .what ever way you dress or what ever equipment you use doesn't mean you are a professional cleaner
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Thats because there's a difference between professional and image. To a lot of people that counts for something.
I picked up a job yesterday, having priced it a couple of weeks ago. Its a new build clean, so pretty much a builders clean. I quoted her £995.00. When she called yesterday and asked if we could make a start at some point soon I thought I'd ask what the others quoted. We were the most expensive it turns out by £100.00. The reason she said when I asked her why she went with us was that 'she liked us'. Why that is, make your own minds up. But I conduct myself professionally in front of customers, we look the part, the van is smart, clean and is sign written. I don't think some scaly wag would've got the job or even asked in the first place. Pouch or no pouch. Image counts as well as being professional.
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Might do down south where all the the rich people live but trust me in Yorkshire its a different ball game
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Thats because there's a difference between professional and image. To a lot of people that counts for something.
I picked up a job yesterday, having priced it a couple of weeks ago. Its a new build clean, so pretty much a builders clean. I quoted her £995.00. When she called yesterday and asked if we could make a start at some point soon I thought I'd ask what the others quoted. We were the most expensive it turns out by £100.00. The reason she said when I asked her why she went with us was that 'she liked us'. Why that is, make your own minds up. But I conduct myself professionally in front of customers, we look the part, the van is smart, clean and is sign written. I don't think some scaly wag would've got the job or even asked in the first place. Pouch or no pouch. Image counts as well as being professional.
. New council house?
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Thats because there's a difference between professional and image. To a lot of people that counts for something.
I picked up a job yesterday, having priced it a couple of weeks ago. Its a new build clean, so pretty much a builders clean. I quoted her £995.00. When she called yesterday and asked if we could make a start at some point soon I thought I'd ask what the others quoted. We were the most expensive it turns out by £100.00. The reason she said when I asked her why she went with us was that 'she liked us'. Why that is, make your own minds up. But I conduct myself professionally in front of customers, we look the part, the van is smart, clean and is sign written. I don't think some scaly wag would've got the job or even asked in the first place. Pouch or no pouch. Image counts as well as being professional.
People buy people, if they like you price is not an issue
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Thats because there's a difference between professional and image. To a lot of people that counts for something.
I picked up a job yesterday, having priced it a couple of weeks ago. Its a new build clean, so pretty much a builders clean. I quoted her £995.00. When she called yesterday and asked if we could make a start at some point soon I thought I'd ask what the others quoted. We were the most expensive it turns out by £100.00. The reason she said when I asked her why she went with us was that 'she liked us'. Why that is, make your own minds up. But I conduct myself professionally in front of customers, we look the part, the van is smart, clean and is sign written. I don't think some scaly wag would've got the job or even asked in the first place. Pouch or no pouch. Image counts as well as being professional.
People buy people, if they like you price is not an issue
Big part of their decision making (first impressions) it helps if you come across being professional at what you do. They may like you as a person but if you come across a cowboy and don't know what you are talking about you still won't get the work.
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So in conclusion, there are many factors which makes one to be considered as a professional window cleaner from the view point of where it matters the most.
Some have alluded that image doesnt play a part in this, where others do. However i would suspect that for the customers who dont care ie employ the rough looking dodgey cleaners, that if anything should happen to go missing, the first person/persons on the hit list would be the window cleaner.
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Being professional is all of the above as well as the State we see ourselves in. Are we an Individual thinking of only ourselves and a own success or do we realize we will be great in a crap industry. Sometimes to be professional is what we are prepared to put back into our industry so we are all better at what we do and have some consistency in what we do. Being good at what you do within that type of industry with high standards would be an even greater achievement of the top order. Being the best of nothing is nothing. Being the best of an organized industry with solid standards to which you prescribe and add to from time to time, is a true professional
Many have are moving in this direction and I applaud you for your contributions to a move to professionalism .
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Jesus ::)roll
Don't know about you but my job is removing dirt from a window.
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I do hope you do it in professional manner ;D ;D
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Not particularly to be honest, never found the need.
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Well you must be doing something right Dave.
You obviously have not thought about it much unlike some.
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So in conclusion, there are many factors which makes one to be considered as a professional window cleaner from the view point of where it matters the most.
Some have alluded that image doesnt play a part in this, where others do. However i would suspect that for the customers who dont care ie employ the rough looking dodgey cleaners, that if anything should happen to go missing, the first person/persons on the hit list would be the window cleaner.
So do you think by wearing a nice pair of work trousers and a T shirt with a name badge that will remove you from the
suspect list ?
Or that somebody with the intention of robbing the joint will turn up in a scruffy outfit and draw attention to themselves ?
Your there to work and as long as you don't turn up looking like a homeless person then most customers wont care, that and
the fact most will have already sussed out who you are before hiring you.
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So in conclusion, there are many factors which makes one to be considered as a professional window cleaner from the view point of where it matters the most.
Some have alluded that image doesnt play a part in this, where others do. However i would suspect that for the customers who dont care ie employ the rough looking dodgey cleaners, that if anything should happen to go missing, the first person/persons on the hit list would be the window cleaner.
So do you think by wearing a nice pair of work trousers and a T shirt with a name badge that will remove you from the
suspect list ?
Or that somebody with the intention of robbing the joint will turn up in a scruffy outfit and draw attention to themselves ?
Your there to work and as long as you don't turn up looking like a homeless person then most customers wont care, that and
the fact most will have already sussed out who you are before hiring you.
Sorry buddy, i guess you dont judge people by the first appearance in life. Well done, very commendable.
However in the statement you pasted, where did it say about a uniform? Simply stating that image to me plays a part. The statement also said, dodgey rough looking characters, now hand on heart, you telling me youve not seen any shiners or other tradesman and thought they look a dodgey chap, wouldnt employ them.....
If you dont, well done for not judging a book by its cover.