Clean It Up
UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: no way Jose on August 31, 2016, 08:51:01 pm
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Hi everyone
I would really really appreciate all opinions from anyone.
I have a solid round and plenty of work cleaning windows only in london.
I'm seriously thinking of moving out somewhere on the coast round Suffolk .
I'm just looking for a quality of life which I believe would be better than in london!
I'm just wondering whether it would be possible to start from scratch all over again living in the countryside?
I suppose the demand for window cleaners might be limited and windies who have been around for a long time have the monopoly? Or might turn on me?
Would adding guttering ( using a vacuum cleaner) be an option?
Any advices would be greatly appreciated.
Many thanks
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There's a risk to everything in life, but I would expect that other window cleaners wouldn't 'turn on you'.
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There's plenty of windows out there -
I would suggest you go for it! Is there any way you could keep a couple of days work in London whilst you build up your round in Suffolk?
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Hi everyone
I would really really appreciate all opinions from anyone.
I have a solid round and plenty of work cleaning windows only in london.
I'm seriously thinking of moving out somewhere on the coast round Suffolk .
I'm just looking for a quality of life which I believe would be better than in london!
I'm just wondering whether it would be possible to start from scratch all over again living in the countryside?
I suppose the demand for window cleaners might be limited and windies who have been around for a long time have the monopoly? Or might turn on me?
Would adding guttering ( using a vacuum cleaner) be an option?
Any advices would be greatly appreciated.
Many thanks
Its called Due Diligence. Although it is used mainly in the case of business purchases, the same principles apply.
You firstly have to choose an area you want to live in and then research it. It may mean knocking on doors over a period of time to identify if there is a need for your services in that area. Availability of accomodation, schooling, shopping centers etc are all important aspects of your DD study.
I bought a diesel heater from a window cleaner on the south coast (Newhaven area.) A portion of his work was in London (south and east) and he felt it paid him to travel that distance. Whilst that may not be the long term goal, at least your work in London could keep you going whilst you build a round where you choose to move to.
Window cleaning is at least regular work. Gutter cleaning isn't, so you would need a much bigger customer base. I personally would stick to one thing, your core business, and put your energies into that.
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I was thinking of relocating to sandbanks but then again maybe not ;D
http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/Sandbanks.html
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Its called Due Diligence. Although it is used mainly in the case of business purchases, the same principles apply.
You firstly have to choose an area you want to live it and then research it. It may mean knocking on doors over a period of time to identify if there is a need for your services in that area. Availability of accomodation, schooling, shopping centers etc are all important aspects of your DD study.
I bought a diesel heater from a window cleaner on the south coast (Newhaven area.) A portion of his work was in London (south and east) and he felt it paid him to travel that distance. Whilst that may not be the long term goal, at least your work in London could keep you going whilst you build a round where you choose to move to.
Window cleaning is at least regular work. Gutter cleaning isn't, so you would need a much bigger customer base. I personally would stick to one thing, your core business, and put your energies into that.
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Forget all that research stuff and studying the area and all that. Sorry Spruce, that may apply to other business's but window cleaning? It's over complicating what is in essence very simple.
Get out of London because it's one big dump and when you move, just go door knocking.
The window cleaner in Newhaven. I live in Brighton and have lots of work in Peacehaven, 5 or 6 miles from Brighton where I live, and Newhaven is next door to Peacehaven. The amount of times I've been asked if I cover Newhaven is ridiculous.
Not only that, when doing the 8 days work I have in Peacehaven (next door to Newhaven), I often get asked to give quotes etc, which I turn down because I have enough work already.
If that window cleaner from Newhaven needs to travel to other areas to get work then he is doing something seriously wrong.
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Its called Due Diligence. Although it is used mainly in the case of business purchases, the same principles apply.
You firstly have to choose an area you want to live it and then research it. It may mean knocking on doors over a period of time to identify if there is a need for your services in that area. Availability of accomodation, schooling, shopping centers etc are all important aspects of your DD study.
I bought a diesel heater from a window cleaner on the south coast (Newhaven area.) A portion of his work was in London (south and east) and he felt it paid him to travel that distance. Whilst that may not be the long term goal, at least your work in London could keep you going whilst you build a round where you choose to move to.
Window cleaning is at least regular work. Gutter cleaning isn't, so you would need a much bigger customer base. I personally would stick to one thing, your core business, and put your energies into that.
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Forget all that research stuff and studying the area and all that. Sorry Spruce, that may apply to other business's but window cleaning? It's over complicating what is in essence very simple.
Get out of London because it's one big dump and when you move, just go door knocking.
The window cleaner in Newhaven. I live in Brighton and have lots of work in Peacehaven, 5 or 6 miles from Brighton where I live, and Newhaven is next door to Peacehaven. The amount of times I've been asked if I cover Newhaven is ridiculous.
Not only that, when doing the 8 days work I have in Peacehaven (next door to Newhaven), I often get asked to give quotes etc, which I turn down because I have enough work already.
If that window cleaner from Newhaven needs to travel to other areas to get work then he is doing something seriously wrong.
Window cleaning; I agree with you Ross. There are plenty of windows for everyone. I was thinking more along the lines of his doing gutter clearing and needing to get kit in order to do it. Sometimes an internet search and scan of local papers and local mags will give someone a clue to the demand for these types of occasional services.
I still believe that you need to research the area you want to move to before making that decision. When you are young its easy to go ahead and just do it. We moved countries several times giving up all to start again. Some of those moves were emotionally driven and not something I would do again. As you get older you get more cautious. I gather that this is a concern for the op. If it wasn't he wouldn't have brought it up on a thread.
My reference to the cleaner in the Newhaven/Peacehaven area was to point out that it was possible to still move and retain his work in London whilst building a round in his chosen area. It wasn't to discuss his sanity traveling as he did.
I only met this cleaner for maybe half an hour tops, but he maintained that it was still more profitable working in London than locally. We didn't talk in much detail so I can't recall specifics. What I can remember is that I got stuck in trafic all the way down from the M25 so my first thought was why he would bother as he must experience this regularly the same as I did.
He did talk about a pricing divide. He mentioned that on one side of a road (he did mention which road it was but it meant nothing to me) the prices for window cleaning were much better than the other side, so there was much competition among cleaners to get work in the more profitable side.
He lived in a nice house with a well cared for 4 x 4 in the drive and a nice caravan. So my impression was that he was doing OK. Of course you never know where the 'wealth' comes from - inherited etc. Outward appearances are sometimes deceiving.
Personally, I would work as local as I can which is the long term goal of the op.
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i believe anyone can build a round from scratch if their determined but itll take a few years.a lot of canvassing and leafleting and taking on every job including "one off" add ons,etc.id probably have a website done too and use facebook.
saying that id personally hate to be starting all over again now!im too comfortable and content with my current round and most of my work is in the leafy suburbs or rural. :)
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I was thinking of relocating to sandbanks but then again maybe not ;D
http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/Sandbanks.html
Oi, gerroff my patch!
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Excellent post and reply Spruce, another thing to consider is if the prices aren't as good as in London how will that make you
feel about the job, doing the same work for less money.
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I wouldn't worry about the pricing. I'd just take my prices with me. There are cheap window cleaners everywhere and its best to ignore them.
When I started I bumped into a window cleaner at a house I was leafleting and he said "who's going to pay more than a fiver for this?" I said nothing, but at that time I'd have priced it at £15 and even then it was too cheap.
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Read through the back posts when we were having last year's storms.
The cleaners on the coast were having no end of problems with the salt spray.
I had a round on the coast and it presents some challenges to the way you work.
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I wouldn't worry about the pricing. I'd just take my prices with me. There are cheap window cleaners everywhere and its best to ignore them.
When I started I bumped into a window cleaner at a house I was leafleting and he said "who's going to pay more than a fiver for this?" I said nothing, but at that time I'd have priced it at £15 and even then it was too cheap.
Mate would you please stop talking bull, so you met a crappy window cleaner who couldn't do a decent enough job
to get a decent price or hadn't the sense to charge it, who hasn't.
So what happens if the op is used to getting £50 for the same properties, could he get that ?
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I wouldn't worry about the pricing. I'd just take my prices with me. There are cheap window cleaners everywhere and its best to ignore them.
When I started I bumped into a window cleaner at a house I was leafleting and he said "who's going to pay more than a fiver for this?" I said nothing, but at that time I'd have priced it at £15 and even then it was too cheap.
Mate would you please stop talking bull, so you met a crappy window cleaner who couldn't do a decent enough job
to get a decent price or hadn't the sense to charge it, who hasn't.
So what happens if the op is used to getting £50 for the same properties, could he get that ?
The point is that in any area there will be cheap window cleaners and not so cheap ones. If you canvass a customer they won't be getting comparative quotes. Quote at a price you are happy with and ignore the cheap prices as the one you have quoted won't be getting a quote from them. If you do a good job, they won't bother getting quotes from anyone else.
How is that bull?
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I wouldn't worry about the pricing. I'd just take my prices with me. There are cheap window cleaners everywhere and its best to ignore them.
When I started I bumped into a window cleaner at a house I was leafleting and he said "who's going to pay more than a fiver for this?" I said nothing, but at that time I'd have priced it at £15 and even then it was too cheap.
Mate would you please stop talking bull, so you met a crappy window cleaner who couldn't do a decent enough job
to get a decent price or hadn't the sense to charge it, who hasn't.
So what happens if the op is used to getting £50 for the same properties, could he get that ?
The point is that in any area there will be cheap window cleaners and not so cheap ones. If you canvass a customer they won't be getting comparative quotes. Quote at a price you are happy with and ignore the cheap prices as the one you have quoted won't be getting a quote from them. If you do a good job, they won't bother getting quotes from anyone else.
How is that bull?
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Its nothing to do with cheap or not so cheap window cleaners its to do with what the op is used to, if he cant demand and get
the pricing he's used to then its going to be a lot harder to live on less or even have the same motivation for the job.
It would be like Vin coming into my area and trying to get £30 for a small semi, it wouldn't happen, now forget the nonsense and
ask what effect would that have on Vin or others used to getting more for less graft.
If moving to another area while still needing to work you have to think very seriously about earning potential and if that earning
potential is reduced, what steps do you need to take to make things right.
For me it would be vary hard to put the same care and effort into a job where I was getting less money for the same work
for an employer it mightn't be so bad as it just means employing a couple more to make up the shortfall.
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Hi
One of my colleagues moved to Christchurch Dorset from NW London, it's taking a while to build a round with just flyers but he's happy spending a few days each month back in NW where he has family. I reckon with real commitment knocking doors you'd build a round within 6-8 months or even less. We stick to window cleaning and price exactly as NW London (cost of living is similar too). He's delighted with the move, absolutely loves the area, outdoor life etc, made lots of new friends and would thoroughly recommend it.
HTH
John
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Spruce - That was probably me you bought the heater from
Ross, are you the chap with the Transit connect that does Anzac cl?
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Sell your London round and use the money to buy a round at your new location
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I wouldn't worry about the pricing. I'd just take my prices with me. There are cheap window cleaners everywhere and its best to ignore them.
When I started I bumped into a window cleaner at a house I was leafleting and he said "who's going to pay more than a fiver for this?" I said nothing, but at that time I'd have priced it at £15 and even then it was too cheap.
Mate would you please stop talking bull, so you met a crappy window cleaner who couldn't do a decent enough job
to get a decent price or hadn't the sense to charge it, who hasn't.
So what happens if the op is used to getting £50 for the same properties, could he get that ?
The point is that in any area there will be cheap window cleaners and not so cheap ones. If you canvass a customer they won't be getting comparative quotes. Quote at a price you are happy with and ignore the cheap prices as the one you have quoted won't be getting a quote from them. If you do a good job, they won't bother getting quotes from anyone else.
How is that bull?
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Its nothing to do with cheap or not so cheap window cleaners its to do with what the op is used to, if he cant demand and get
the pricing he's used to then its going to be a lot harder to live on less or even have the same motivation for the job.
It would be like Vin coming into my area and trying to get £30 for a small semi, it wouldn't happen, now forget the nonsense and
ask what effect would that have on Vin or others used to getting more for less graft.
If moving to another area while still needing to work you have to think very seriously about earning potential and if that earning
potential is reduced, what steps do you need to take to make things right.
For me it would be vary hard to put the same care and effort into a job where I was getting less money for the same work
for an employer it mightn't be so bad as it just means employing a couple more to make up the shortfall.
Does he charge £30 for a small semi? Your point seems to be that he needs to be guided by a rate dictated by what others charge. Others around me charge less, but I know that it's not necessary to drop my prices to compete. I don't know where you live, but if I moved there I'd charge exactly the same prices safe in the knowledge that customers don't as a rule get comparative quotes.
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Many thanks for all those helpful replies!
I'm thinking of moving to aldeburgh in Suffolk ( where 40% of houses are either second homes or rented holidays homes).
I'm aware I wouldn't earn as much as in london but that's ok as I could buy a mortgage free house.
I'm 50 and my priority is quality of life over making money.
In London I clean either : every 4 ,6 or 8 weeks.
In the countryside it would be more like every 8 weeks I suppose ?
Once again Many thanks
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Now I like these prices a wee bit better.
http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/find.html?locationIdentifier=REGION%5E20&numberOfPropertiesPerPage=24&radius=0.0&sortType=2&index=24&viewType=LIST&areaSizeUnit=sqft¤cyCode=GBP
But still could I could not afford a mortgage free buy though all the same as my ex council house is worth bugger all (180,000) but it's paid for all the same. I guess they will have to carrying me out feet first as I've no intention of moving.
A while back I wanted to buy a narrow boat and live on it. But my missus soon put paid to that idea as she would have to live on it too as I would have sold the house. I don't think she thought it was a very good idea as she hates my guts anyway so probably would have done me in living in such cramped condition....Man overboard ;D ;D
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I was thinking of relocating to sandbanks but then again maybe not ;D
http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/Sandbanks.html
Oi, gerroff my patch!
Yeah gerroff his patch.
I clean at night when he's not looking. ;D
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Hi smurf
Yes, it's all about luck over here in London.
Property prices are stupidly high here.
Anyone who bought anything years ago made a mint out of doing nothing!
The youths are the ones left to pick up the tab!
I'm very lucky to have bought my house 8 years ago.
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Seriously though, I think moving to the coast is a good lifestyle choice in my opinion. There are nowhere near the volume of houses in Suffolk as London. I used to work in London, (not window cleaning) live in Essex and holiday in Suffolk and Norfolk. It is do-able but I think you will need to work very hard to build the round you have in London. London is very cosmopolitan and money orientated whereas Suffolk is very close nit community and...shall we say different. If it were me, I would take a week off and go canvassing in Suffolk and see how much work you get. The proof of the pudding etc ;D
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Yes, you're absolutely right !
In London with some motivation and a bit of hard work you just can't fail really as a window cleaner!
Not that hard to pick up custies with a bit of canvassing!
There is no way I would earn what I do in London!
I would not be unhappy to make say £15 .000 within 2 years if that's realistic?
My purpose would be to make a living where I want to live
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I mean £15.000 a year after 2 years
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I mean £15.000 a year after 2 years
Is £15K seriously your goal? :o
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I mean £15.000 a year after 2 years
Is £15K seriously your goal? :o
Add to that the life HE WANTS to live- bingo, more successful than most people!
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Hi everyone
I would really really appreciate all opinions from anyone.
I have a solid round and plenty of work cleaning windows only in london.
I'm seriously thinking of moving out somewhere on the coast round Suffolk .
I'm just looking for a quality of life which I believe would be better than in london!
I'm just wondering whether it would be possible to start from scratch all over again living in the countryside?
I suppose the demand for window cleaners might be limited and windies who have been around for a long time have the monopoly? Or might turn on me?
Would adding guttering ( using a vacuum cleaner) be an option?
Any advices would be greatly appreciated.
Many thanks
I did something similar 13 years ago. I was in a very well paid and secure job but hated it and hated the shift work. Moved 200 miles, very rural but 15 mins from the coast and started a window cleaning round- never looked back!! It was NEVER about the money although even that has turned out better than I ever expected. No traffic, fresh air, virtually no crime- never lock my van day or night, living a life that I chose! ;)
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My wife is the bread winner now...Yo go girl ;D ;D
She now keeps me which makes a nice change.
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Blind pierre you're spot on!
That's exactly why I want to leave london!
is £15.000 my goal? Well, going towards the unknown I'd rather be conservative! I would hope for more of course but if that doesn't happen being mortgage free ,not having children to worry about and enjoying what I'm doing for a living that wouldn't be a total fiasco!
Having lived in London for 23 years I'm totally ignorant as to what to expect out there!
That's why all your helpful messages were very welcome!
Let's say if 3 years down the line I could take home £20.000 I would be happy with that! If more so much the better!
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I once went to norfolk and everyone seemed so friendly.
Must be because they are all related or something ;D ;D
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rbHt4n2183Q
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Blind pierre you're spot on!
That's exactly why I want to leave london!
is £15.000 my goal? Well, going towards the unknown I'd rather be conservative! I would hope for more of course but if that doesn't happen being mortgage free ,not having children to worry about and enjoying what I'm doing for a living that wouldn't be a total fiasco!
Having lived in London for 23 years I'm totally ignorant as to what to expect out there!
That's why all your helpful messages were very welcome!
Let's say if 3 years down the line I could take home £20.000 I would be happy with that! If more so much the better!
"There is only one success … to be able to spend your life in your own way". Christopher Morley (5 May 1890 - 28 March 1957)