Clean It Up
UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: Don Simon on March 16, 2017, 06:16:32 am
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Lost a lot of work due to illness so need to start another round, how hard is it getting new work now ?
Thanks
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how long is a piece of string? depends on where you live I suppose . I have found that the more wfp users is less work simply because you can do more jobs which equals less work which means you have to go further away thus having a scattered round the compartition is vast with introduction of wfp you wont know until you try, or buy some work imo
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A doddle mate!
Just get out knocking.
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Try talking to your ex customers, they may still feel some loyalty if your any good.
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It's getting tough to pick new work up now....enquiries are definitely down the last couple of years...
Seems like every one wants to be a window cleaner these days.
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Depends on how hard your willing to work really.
Lots of people want a wc still and need one.
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Window cleaners creaping out of everywhere! But i hear so much talk of "he doesnt do a good job" " dont know where he is"
" dont like his attitude" "dont like the look of him" get out talking to people, listen to what theyre saying and resolve to remedy the issues theyre having. There is a lot of window cleaners but theres still a need for good window cleaners!
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Depends on how big you want to grow.
Just for yourself? Might take a few years but it's a lot easier finding 300 that 3000
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How long have you been away from window cleaning? And were you able to inform your customers of your situation?
If you are able to salvage as many of your former customers as possible you will have a foundation to build on.
I am in Ireland now but built a run in the UK in the 90s. It was really easy then, but I am sure it is harder now with so much competition about, though anything is possible if you are willing to graft, do a good job and be polite and professional.
Best wishes
John.
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TBH mate id hate to be starting again.some of my customers have already had 5 different leaflets from window cleaning companies this year alone.its certainly very competitive out there.more than in 1993 for sure in my area.
BUT if you want more work you will get it if you try hard enough.leafleting,canvassing,FB,website and advertising in local magazines.also offer to clean f/s/g,conny roofs,solar panels,gutters......even inside window cleaning if you need the money.
i would also go and knock on your ex customers doors too.i bet you end up picking a few up here and there and (over time) get most of them back if you did a good job and the customers liked you.
i lost a fair bit of work due to illness myself over 10 years ago.luckily for me i sold the rest of that part of the round(which was mainly underpriced anyway) before i lost the lot.i also had other rounds in other areas that i managed to keep ticking over and then as i got better and went wfp my round just exploded into what it is today.all my newly acquired work(picked up in the last 5 years or so) has been picked up through walk ups,word of mouth and recommendation with virtually no canvassing/leafleting.
i dont have a website or FB page either and ive never advertised in local magazines.
a logo d uniform and a clean sign written van with matching business cards,etc are essential IMO for making you stand out from the other window cleaners in your area(your branding if you like).
good luck
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Which area are you in?
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Canvass your old round and explain your situation, you will be surprised at how many will take you back just because
their new wfp'er with the flashy van and uniform hasn't got a clue.
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Tim, where are you in the country?
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I am in Huddersfield, good idea about contacting customers though, will give that a go, we do gutter and pressure washing too.
Thanks for the advice guys.
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I am in Huddersfield, good idea about contacting customers though, will give that a go, we do gutter and pressure washing too.
Thanks for the advice guys.
Not a good area to get work then
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Ever thought about starting up as a canvasser instead? there's lots of work in that field
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I have one particular round that initially i only had the two customers in a large cul de sac. I cleaned them every four weeks and built up a good rapport with them, oh and did a good job. By end of year i had expanded quite rapidly and by 2nd year i do the huge majority. I didnt canvass, it was down to people watching, recommendations but also looking/being professional.
So with consistency, you can build a round up. But dont under charge or under cut other shiners in the area. But also the opposite, dont over charge. Aim for a middle ground, be fair and the work will come.
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Being consistent is key. Also being polite and easy to please. It's very saturated now and it's not like it used to be.
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Being consistent is key. Also being polite and easy to please. It's very saturated now and it's not like it used to be.
I remember 30 years ago when we had " MY PATCH " areas . . . . times were so simple then with a bucket and a chamois
Those were the days my friend I thought theyd never end . . . . . . altogether now
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Personally I think that new entrants into this game has hit a peak. We are going to see a slow down of new window cleaners coming into the market now as Brexit bites and saturation wanes.
But at the moment yes, it's very competitive. I just priced up a job that should be in the £90 mark, very big new build house a mansion, and was up against silly quotes of £30 and £40. I won it at £65 as I was recommended by neighbouring houses and estates but the times of the cream jobs, or those golden nuggets where you used to get 200 quid for 2 hours work are well gone. £65 for this job isn't in my opinion for the area I live particularly good. Even £90 is cheap in my opinion it should be around the £140 mark.
For anyone starting up its hard as you have no reputation to base your prices on, and the advent of canvassing companies means more and more areas are being canvassed over and over again driving prices down, saturating the market.
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Personally I think that new entrants into this game has hit a peak. We are going to see a slow down of new window cleaners coming into the market now as Brexit bites and saturation wanes.
But at the moment yes, it's very competitive. I just priced up a job that should be in the £90 mark, very big new build house a mansion, and was up against silly quotes of £30 and £40. I won it at £65 as I was recommended by neighbouring houses and estates but the times of the cream jobs, or those golden nuggets where you used to get 200 quid for 2 hours work are well gone. £65 for this job isn't in my opinion for the area I live particularly good. Even £90 is cheap in my opinion it should be around the £140 mark.
For anyone starting up its hard as you have no reputation to base your prices on, and the advent of canvassing companies means more and more areas are being canvassed over and over again driving prices down, saturating the market.
Totally agree with you Marc. There's lots of window cleaners now. Two of my mates have started up in the last couple of months, in areas where there's loads of window cleaners already.
I have a customer, live round the corner from me. Been cleaning this house for two years and their flat previously. It's a 4 bed terraced house worth £750k. My price is £35, takes about 15-20 mins. They have some rear velux windows which takes my 35ft to the max.
Got an mail on Tuesday saying a son of their colleague has started up and will be doing it for £15 per clean including washing the exterior of gutters and fascias every time!
I haven't replied yet and not even sure if I will. The thing is the likes of those types won't be around for long, how can they be at those prices? And how can they afford a decent pole to reach the high windows?!?! The good thing is I got a £50 4 weekly and a £28 8 weekly round the corner to replace!
I have done a bit of canvassing recently and there is still good priced work to be had, it just takes longer to get them. And then there is the battle of 'our last window cleaner did all our windows and gutters and fascias for £15...'
I'm looking forward to he challenge of canvassing now, I will have a lot of time to do it. I'm interested to see how long it takes to get a decent wedge of well priced, quality work compared to when I started 6 years ago.
Marc what made you decide to get back into window cleaning as I thought you were doing something else?
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Personally I think that new entrants into this game has hit a peak. We are going to see a slow down of new window cleaners coming into the market now as Brexit bites and saturation wanes.
But at the moment yes, it's very competitive. I just priced up a job that should be in the £90 mark, very big new build house a mansion, and was up against silly quotes of £30 and £40. I won it at £65 as I was recommended by neighbouring houses and estates but the times of the cream jobs, or those golden nuggets where you used to get 200 quid for 2 hours work are well gone. £65 for this job isn't in my opinion for the area I live particularly good. Even £90 is cheap in my opinion it should be around the £140 mark.
For anyone starting up its hard as you have no reputation to base your prices on, and the advent of canvassing companies means more and more areas are being canvassed over and over again driving prices down, saturating the market.
why should you get £200 for 2 hours work though marc just cos they live in a big house?£100 an hour for cleaning windows is a rip off in anyones book.
you keep harping on about how much money you could make years ago in this game.its greed.pure greed mate IMO.
you can still make a good living if you re consistent and hard working but more realistic and sensible with pricing.
whatever money you could make years ago has gone mate.you blew it! ;D......get over it! :)
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im the opposite marc.i struggled for many years to make a living in this game due to low prices and alcoholism and since the financial crash in 2008 my business has gone from strength to strength.prices have gone upwards and of course i went wfp in 2010 and not drank in years.
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just get out there and try your best and hardest.
be consistent every day and move forward every day
canvass x doors per day or leaflet drop x amount per day or both.
Im sure in 1932 similar conversations were going on about how many newbies are starting up with that new method of squeegee instead of chamois and scrim.
good luck !
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I agree Dasmond. The past is the past.
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Its easy to start again. Hit sold boards a soon as they are down by keeping an eye on a batch off 2/300, you will pick up over 50 percent of them if nicer bigger houses, noone moves into a £300k plus house and doesn't want clean windows to show off to there friends and family etc. Knock and tell them how you clean many of the locals and shall i put you on the books, it really is that simple. Failing that you cant beat a nice canvass campaign, hit the doors 3 eves a week 5-8 for 3 months and you will end up picking up around 200 customers to have the base of the round setup. Be strict on yourself following an action plan and you will achieve it. I have done it many times over and over.
Best of luck.
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Personally I think that new entrants into this game has hit a peak. We are going to see a slow down of new window cleaners coming into the market now as Brexit bites and saturation wanes.
But at the moment yes, it's very competitive. I just priced up a job that should be in the £90 mark, very big new build house a mansion, and was up against silly quotes of £30 and £40. I won it at £65 as I was recommended by neighbouring houses and estates but the times of the cream jobs, or those golden nuggets where you used to get 200 quid for 2 hours work are well gone. £65 for this job isn't in my opinion for the area I live particularly good. Even £90 is cheap in my opinion it should be around the £140 mark.
For anyone starting up its hard as you have no reputation to base your prices on, and the advent of canvassing companies means more and more areas are being canvassed over and over again driving prices down, saturating the market.
Totally agree with you Marc. There's lots of window cleaners now. Two of my mates have started up in the last couple of months, in areas where there's loads of window cleaners already.
I have a customer, live round the corner from me. Been cleaning this house for two years and their flat previously. It's a 4 bed terraced house worth £750k. My price is £35, takes about 15-20 mins. They have some rear velux windows which takes my 35ft to the max.
Got an mail on Tuesday saying a son of their colleague has started up and will be doing it for £15 per clean including washing the exterior of gutters and fascias every time!
I haven't replied yet and not even sure if I will. The thing is the likes of those types won't be around for long, how can they be at those prices? And how can they afford a decent pole to reach the high windows?!?! The good thing is I got a £50 4 weekly and a £28 8 weekly round the corner to replace!
I have done a bit of canvassing recently and there is still good priced work to be had, it just takes longer to get them. And then there is the battle of 'our last window cleaner did all our windows and gutters and fascias for £15...'
I'm looking forward to he challenge of canvassing now, I will have a lot of time to do it. I'm interested to see how long it takes to get a decent wedge of well priced, quality work compared to when I started 6 years ago.
Marc what made you decide to get back into window cleaning as I thought you were doing something else?
I am still moving forward with the other enterprise..it's one of the reasons why Bramar Ltd has been set up. But the window cleaning business is the one paying my bills, and is financing any further development. I never intended to leave window cleaning, in fact I am actively looking to develop and grow it, in a more efficient and profitable way.
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Its easy to start again. Hit sold boards a soon as they are down by keeping an eye on a batch off 2/300, you will pick up over 50 percent of them if nicer bigger houses, noone moves into a £300k plus house and doesn't want clean windows to show off to there friends and family etc. Knock and tell them how you clean many of the locals and shall i put you on the books, it really is that simple. Failing that you cant beat a nice canvass campaign, hit the doors 3 eves a week 5-8 for 3 months and you will end up picking up around 200 customers to have the base of the round setup. Be strict on yourself following an action plan and you will achieve it. I have done it many times over and over.
Best of luck.
Do you fancy a week up here in Sunny Huddersfield. will pay for your hotel and expenses ( and three cleans for all the work gained ) ?
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Hard thing is I only take on well paid jobs, kept some of old work only cos it thay are like £50 + and they are lovelly people !
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I'm the same I'll only take on the equivalent or better work,I've always said there's no point in taking on work for works sake. No doubt a lot of work is out there but most of it is stuff other established cleaners either don't want or they have had more window cleaners than hot dinners. My opinion is it takes years and years to build a business enough to have money coming in each day either being paid online everyday or very soon after the clean,no customer where I work could be collected the area is to vast to bother.
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If it was me I would focus more on exterior property surface cleaning rather than just cleaning glass.
You will be surprised that many already have a regular window cleaner but most will pay good money to get specialists in instead.
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I'll also add that if you give someone a price and they accept it you are in no way ripping them off,it is there choice to accept your quote and allow you to do the work. If they later find out someone that values there services less or has less overheads and will do the job for pittance they can switch,it's there prerogative no ones holding a gun and all that. I've had quotes for building work on my house read some of the quotes and laughed as it looked like I'd be paying for the next holiday as well as the wages and materials for the job,my point is you pays your money you takes your chance but being a cheap window cleaner will turn you into a busy fool yeah you'll be busy but only earn enough to live from month to month if your lucky.
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If it was me I would focus more on exterior property surface cleaning rather than just cleaning glass.
You will be surprised that many already have a regular window cleaner but most will pay good money to get specialists in instead.
I love pressure washing Smurf, if I could do it full time I would, but the work just isnt there ! Bit sad but I had to sell my pressure washer to pay the rent and council tax arrears. Looking at hiring a machine maybe now.
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If it was me I would focus more on exterior property surface cleaning rather than just cleaning glass.
You will be surprised that many already have a regular window cleaner but most will pay good money to get specialists in instead.
I love pressure washing Smurf, if I could do it full time I would, but the work just isnt there ! Bit sad but I had to sell my pressure washer to pay the rent and council tax arrears. Looking at hiring a machine maybe now.
You don't really want to be doing any one thing full time, in my opinion its hard to beat a bit of variety.
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If it was me I would focus more on exterior property surface cleaning rather than just cleaning glass.
You will be surprised that many already have a regular window cleaner but most will pay good money to get specialists in instead.
I love pressure washing Smurf, if I could do it full time I would, but the work just isnt there ! Bit sad but I had to sell my pressure washer to pay the rent and council tax arrears. Looking at hiring a machine maybe now.
You don't really want to be doing any one thing full time, in my opinion its hard to beat a bit of variety.
Beuty of pressure washing is you dont have to move the van around continually and the results of the clean drive really impresses customers and that is ace.
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Been in touch with old customers and even after six months they still want me to restart cleaning . . . . . amazing really
:o
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Personally I think that new entrants into this game has hit a peak. We are going to see a slow down of new window cleaners coming into the market now as Brexit bites and saturation wanes.
But at the moment yes, it's very competitive. I just priced up a job that should be in the £90 mark, very big new build house a mansion, and was up against silly quotes of £30 and £40. I won it at £65 as I was recommended by neighbouring houses and estates but the times of the cream jobs, or those golden nuggets where you used to get 200 quid for 2 hours work are well gone. £65 for this job isn't in my opinion for the area I live particularly good. Even £90 is cheap in my opinion it should be around the £140 mark.
For anyone starting up its hard as you have no reputation to base your prices on, and the advent of canvassing companies means more and more areas are being canvassed over and over again driving prices down, saturating the market.
Brexit bites! how do you know that? you don.t. Maybe stick to facts you do know.
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But all the problems of the world are the fault of Brexit!! ::)roll ::)roll
;D
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The effects off Brexit should not be dismissed when starting up again, I have a crash helmet and a radioactive fallout suit
sitting in my van just in case.
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I hope your helmet has a tinfoil lining
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I hope your helmet has a tinfoil lining
It does plus a rack on each side for holding a beer can, stupid buy as there wont be any beer after Brexit.
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not even Tennants extra??
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Been in touch with old customers and even after six months they still want me to restart cleaning . . . . . amazing really
:o
there you go!try ALL the customers you ve lost.if you get half of them back it wont be long before you get most of them back if your consistent and do a good job.HAPPY DAYS! ;D
how long had you been cleaning for them before you lost them due to illness?if its years and years i think most will come back to you.good time to put prices up too if you think their a tad underpriced. ;)
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Been in touch with old customers and even after six months they still want me to restart cleaning . . . . . amazing really
:o
there you go!try ALL the customers you ve lost.if you get half of them back it wont be long before you get most of them back if your consistent and do a good job.HAPPY DAYS! ;D
how long had you been cleaning for them before you lost them due to illness?if its years and years i think most will come back to you.good time to put prices up too if you think their a tad underpriced. ;)
Funny thing is nobody seems to ring asking where you are LOL. had some custies for 6 years