Clean It Up
UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: dave f on October 24, 2017, 05:13:04 pm
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im just about the end of my tether with window cleaning its just one big ball ache I have 300 custys and a new ish fully fitted 350 ltr hot wash system its a good round I'm just not botherd any more
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Sorry to hear that mate! Happens to all of us at some time or other....
What exactly is causing you bother?
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what else have you got lined up then?benefits? ::)roll ;D
i love the money
i love the flexible short hours
i love working outside in the fresh air
its good honest work with low stress.
whats not to like? 8)
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what else have you got lined up then?benefits? ::)roll ;D
i love the money
i love the flexible short hours
i love working outside in the fresh air
its good honest work with low stress.
whats not to like? 8)
+++++1
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im just about the end of my tether with window cleaning its just one big ball ache I have 300 custys and a new ish fully fitted 350 ltr hot wash system its a good round I'm just not botherd any more
So are you looking for people to talk you back into it, looking for buyers or are you just making a statement?
Take a few weeks off work, I’d imagine you’d be raring to get back after that
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im just about the end of my tether with window cleaning its just one big ball ache I have 300 custys and a new ish fully fitted 350 ltr hot wash system its a good round I'm just not botherd any more
So are you looking for people to talk you back into it, looking for buyers or are you just making a statement?
Take a few weeks off work, I’d imagine you’d be raring to get back after that
Especially if you take on another job being paid pittance and being told what to do.
;D ;D
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how many days/hours do you work a week?
..............and when was the last time you had a holiday/break dave?
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Have a look at job vacancies then consider how many extra hours you would have to work be where you are now. Being self employed has it's good and bad points but you have to consider when you weigh it all up if it's for you. Have a break and get away somewhere and have a serious think about it. We all lose our self motivation at some point but then you need to dig deep and weigh up the options. Personally, I would rather work 2 or 3 days a week doing this then 5-6 days for someone else. You only get out of this what you are prepared to put in. Think seriously.
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what else have you got lined up then?benefits? ::)roll ;D
i love the money
i love the flexible short hours
i love working outside in the fresh air
its good honest work with low stress.
whats not to like? 8)
You have to be on a mind bending Stepford wives type of drug Dazmond there's no way anybody could like washing glass as
much as you do and not be on something, come on tell us what it is and where we can buy some. lol.
I clean windows for a mate who lives in a bungalow, he's as tight as a ducks backside, every pounds a prisoner and even he would
rather pay me than clean his own windows, I think that says it all.
Dave what about cutting back on the windows and adding things like power washing and so on to your round, believe me it does
take the edge off.
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If you a serious Dave, i would be interested in buying some work.
You are in west yorkshire aint you?
It can be a testicle ache of a job at times but only if you let it get to you. Ive had my fair share of non payers and p takers etc that pushed me to the edge but now ive found that if i keep on keeping on things always turn out ok in the end.
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what else have you got lined up then?benefits? ::)roll ;D
i love the money
i love the flexible short hours
i love working outside in the fresh air
its good honest work with low stress.
whats not to like? 8)
You have to be on a mind bending Stepford wives type of drug Dazmond there's no way anybody could like washing glass as
much as you do and not be on something, come on tell us what it is and where we can buy some. lol.
I clean windows for a mate who lives in a bungalow, he's as tight as a ducks backside, every pounds a prisoner and even he would
rather pay me than clean his own windows, I think that says it all.
Dave what about cutting back on the windows and adding things like power washing and so on to your round, believe me it does
take the edge off.
i count my blessings every day sean.im a very lucky guy.plenty of guys much worse off than me (in all aspects of life).
no drink,no drugs and defo no cigarettes.life is good mate. :)
i like routine,order and familiarity in my working day (and discipline).it gives me structure to the day.
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I don't get how some of you don't enjoy window cleaning. I have had a few jobs and 3 different businesses in total, and window cleaning is without doubt the best for me. Very little stress, good money, work on autopilot most of the time, very little that can go wrong, fresh air, chat to customers. I dont know, maybe its just me but its a doddle really for what i feel i get out of it. I hardly feel any stress from my window cleaning business and i am somebody who suffers with chronic anxiety lol.
I've only been in the game for 3/4 years though, maybe by the time im 20 years in i'll be ready to move on to something else.
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Personal opinion, but i think cleaning glass 5 days a week is boring and hard work, i mean yes worse jobs out there but for anyone except DAZ its simply not that enthralling......I think the beauty of this job is when you are doing 2-3 days a week and making more than you would be employed for 5, as a part time job its great.
Theres no way i want to be cleaning glass 5 days a week for the rest of my life, so if you are simply fed up of getting up everyday and going through the same routine then there are other options.
cut back on the glass and do something else alongside.
employ someone to help you, then you could be done in 3 days
etc
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Nathankaye may be interested in buying your work too as he only has 2 days work a week ;D
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Personal opinion, but i think cleaning glass 5 days a week is boring and hard work, i mean yes worse jobs out there but for anyone except DAZ its simply not that enthralling......I think the beauty of this job is when you are doing 2-3 days a week and making more than you would be employed for 5, as a part time job its great.
Theres no way i want to be cleaning glass 5 days a week for the rest of my life, so if you are simply fed up of getting up everyday and going through the same routine then there are other options.
cut back on the glass and do something else alongside.
employ someone to help you, then you could be done in 3 days
etc
i didnt say i find it enthralling adam but its work!what do you expect? ;D
i can easily work 4 or 5 short days a week every week.its a doddle.(and ive been window cleaning for 24 YEARS!).
i could just work 2 or 3 days a week and live off that but i like to earn more money so i work more days plus what would i do if im not working in the week?my missus is at work running her own business,most of my friends/family are working too so i might as well be out earning money too. ;)
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I love cleaning windows, the thrill I get knowing that the customers going to come back to water marked windows is sublime!
In fairness, I’d lick up dog mess for a living for £750 a day so twice that cleaning windows on my own is win win
On another note, anyone got a second hand pump for sale?
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I am 56 still jumping over gates dog poop gardens non payers e t c if I were to sell up it would have to be all or nothing . so no turning back
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If your ready to quit , then just give everyone a price increase beforehand- you might be surprised how many accept and that’ll make you want to clean again
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I do love my job, have done so from first day untill now. Yes it gets tedious many a times but i stick head phones in n crack on. Ive refined my prices and rounds and make them work for me and my life style. But also expanding your business into soft washing or power washing breaks it up and they pay as soon as the job is complete.
But some (shrek ;D) dont like me or others to mention how many days off we can give ourselves now because of not being a slave to our jobs. Which certainly helps.
No i dont race about like a headless chicken or splash n dash! To me the best part of the job is meeting people of all walks of life, i know alot of varied people and some of their experiences or health experiences actually helps keep me grounded.
But i can spend time with my wife n kids.
Though admittedly its taken many years to get my work how it is now. It helps that i use gocardless, bank transfer and card readers to help with the cash flow as well.
Dog poo gardens which are a nightmare.......i dont have anymore. Ive let them types of customer know by text that im coming and if garden is bad, then i dont clean. For me this works!
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im just about the end of my tether with window cleaning its just one big ball ache I have 300 custys and a new ish fully fitted 350 ltr hot wash system its a good round I'm just not botherd any more
Flog the lot Dave!
If you can get £20,000 for it I would suggest investing the proceeds in a 'garden grow'. Here's how it works....
Rent a JCB to excavate a decent sized hole in your back garden.
Buy shipping container to plop in the aforementioned hole.
Wire the leccy to the nearest streetlamp.
Purchase some water related equipment (hydroponics I think they're called).
Grow some TOMATO plants or mebbe CHILLI plants.
Lots of plant food, remember to flush the nutrients out before you retail no one wants it left in, staining on the glass and all that.
Find a wholesale dealer to shift your produce.
Sit back and enjoy your retirement. Simples .
Drawbacks might include no back garden but other than that can't see any problems.
HTH
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I am 56 still jumping over gates dog poop gardens non payers e t c if I were to sell up it would have to be all or nothing . so no turning back
No offence.. it not nice when you feel like this about work, but it sounds to me you need to sort your round out a bit and refine.
Dont jump over gates anymore (text the customer the night before for access, if they dont do it then tell them you cant clean for them anymore.)
Dog poop issue, under no circumstances will i clean at a property that has dog poop lying around. If i clean a front and then go round the back to find dog poo i wont clean it but i will still charge full price. Again let the customer know this is unacceptable offer to text before hand or dump.
Bad payers, be straight with them, tell them payments need to be on time or inform consistent late payers they need to pay by direct debt else you can't clean for them anymore. GoCardless is very easy to set up.
Thats those 3 issues sorted.
i know its easy to just type it out on a forum what changes to make, in reality it does take a bit of time, but seriously mate if these are the things getting you down then change how you work and what you're prepared to put up with.
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or spend the next year or so growing, get another van preferably with a bigger tank, put 1 worker in each van, get off the cleaning yourself and spend the time refining your business, getting rid of bad payers ect. All of 18 months effort could transform your business into one with less problems and you not being the one that generates the money. You could easilly stay under the vat level, pay the 2 guys 20k each and still earn 30-35k yourself and not have to clean anymore.
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Oh by the way you now owe Lee £450+vat for the info ;)
As windowswashed said look at what's out there, the hours "they" want you to work and the rate of pay and you'll more than likely change your mind. For all I know you could be very good at something else but if it's down to dog crap then ditch the customer, personally I can't be bothered with texting customers day before so I would ditch them as well.
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I'll shoot from the hip too.
This time of the year we're a week away from the clocks going back and winter approaching. It's a bit gloomy, dank and drizzly and I want to forget window cleaning, but what else is there that will pay £30/£40 per hour?
But I find the Daz's and Nathan's of this world encouraging and want to have their positive attitude. So ...
I'm 58 and climb gates with a small ladder. Bit of exercise see?
I will put up prices from time to time.
I can save dosh/have a break/take a day off when like.
I won't do dog crap houses.
I won't text beforehand.
I wont put up with bad payers/not today's/it might rain/it's too drizzly/come back in spring types.
I will not go back to any customer that puts a knot in my stomach - as in I feel uneasy to go there.
I do cull untrainable customers usually after a strike or two, but I reserve the right to flounce immediately.
I have a bit too much work and so can drop any developing dross to improve the average.
I do count my blessings.
I do "only" 6 hour days. (I might do 7 or 8 if it means I can take the next day off)
I usually average 4 days a week. Rarely more. Maybe less.
I only do "one offs" if the price is good and I'm in the mood.
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Hobbies and interests. I use spare time on these.
This year I have done nothing major but here's a few little treats I have given myself/family.
January - Day out to Portsmouth Historic Dockyard with my bro, my nephew and my son-in-law.
February - Long weekend to Budapest with Mrs. Gold
March - Visited the West Somerset Heritage Railway and had lunch in Watchet with Mrs Gold.
April - Down our (23 year old) caravan for a weekend in Devon
May - Day out for a pub lunch - cycling out from Bath to Wellow in Somerset with my bro and our wives and my daughter.
June - Caravan and drove to Cornwall for a day.
July - Day out on the motorbikes with my other son-in-law and his dad - Monmouth - South Wales.
Went for a day walk along Offa's dyke path with youngest daughter - bought her lunch in Tintern
August - Camping barn lake district long weekend with a group of about ten.
September - Canoeing on River Spey for 5 days
October - Back down for a day out to the Submarine museum in Portsmouth with my bro and co.
Freeeedoooooommmm!
;D
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Winter always sorts the wheat from the Chaff.
Dave is just looking for sympathy , in a couple of days he will be refreshed and saying he back on board with window cleaning.
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im just about the end of my tether with window cleaning its just one big ball ache I have 300 custys and a new ish fully fitted 350 ltr hot wash system its a good round I'm just not botherd any more
Flog the lot Dave!
If you can get £20,000 for it I would suggest investing the proceeds in a 'garden grow'. Here's how it works....
Rent a JCB to excavate a decent sized hole in your back garden.
Buy shipping container to plop in the aforementioned hole.
Wire the leccy to the nearest streetlamp.
Purchase some water related equipment (hydroponics I think they're called).
Grow some TOMATO plants or mebbe CHILLI plants.
Lots of plant food, remember to flush the nutrients out before you retail no one wants it left in, staining on the glass and all that.
Find a wholesale dealer to shift your produce.
Sit back and enjoy your retirement. Simples .
.
Drawbacks might include no back garden but other than that can't see any problems.
HTH
You know too much about this kind of tomato growing
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The key is to not get emotionally involved.
Whatever happens day to day is just life, dont take it personally.
Keep advertising constantly so you can replace any problems.
With regards non payers, dump them straight away and take them to small claims court and sling a pot of paint down their driveway. Don't get angry just smile and chuckle to yourself as you do it.
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im just about the end of my tether with window cleaning its just one big ball ache I have 300 custys and a new ish fully fitted 350 ltr hot wash system its a good round I'm just not botherd any more
Take a month off and wait for the bailiffs. See how your enthusiasm is then.
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The key is to not get emotionally involved.
Whatever happens day to day is just life, dont take it personally.
Keep advertising constantly so you can replace any problems.
With regards non payers, dump them straight away and take them to small claims court and sling a pot of paint down their driveway. Don't get angry just smile and chuckle to yourself as you do it.
Isn't slinging a pot of paint down a driveway getting emotionally involved or taking it personally?
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I am 56 still jumping over gates dog poop gardens non payers e t c if I were to sell up it would have to be all or nothing . so no turning back
how long have you been a shiner dave?
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The key is to not get emotionally involved.
Whatever happens day to day is just life, dont take it personally.
Keep advertising constantly so you can replace any problems.
With regards non payers, dump them straight away and take them to small claims court and sling a pot of paint down their driveway. Don't get angry just smile and chuckle to yourself as you do it.
Isn't slinging a pot of paint down a driveway getting emotionally involved or taking it personally?
Possibly :) but no one's perfect
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sling a pot of paint down their driveway. Don't get angry just smile and chuckle to yourself as you do it.
This is a belter of an idea. I have an ex custard that owes me £48 and point blank refuses to pay, might just do this for halloween see how he likes it. Might even chuck paint on the windows whilst im at it!
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im just about the end of my tether with window cleaning its just one big ball ache I have 300 custys and a new ish fully fitted 350 ltr hot wash system its a good round I'm just not botherd any more
If you're unhappy and if you're thinking like that, and you've thought about it, and considered your options, then sell up.
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im just about the end of my tether with window cleaning its just one big ball ache I have 300 custys and a new ish fully fitted 350 ltr hot wash system its a good round I'm just not botherd any more
I've done many trades and i have to say window cleaning is by far the worst! There is a psychological torment about window cleaning. Repetitive, Chasing money, messers, winter, rain, and the physical side of things too. IT'S A SH#T TRADE!!
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im just about the end of my tether with window cleaning its just one big ball ache I have 300 custys and a new ish fully fitted 350 ltr hot wash system its a good round I'm just not botherd any more
I've done many trades and i have to say window cleaning is by far the worst! There is a psychological torment about window cleaning. Repetitive, Chasing money, messers, winter, rain, and the physical side of things too. IT'S A SH#T TRADE!!
A trade? I couldn’t even get a TRADE card at b&q ???
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My other half says she couldn't do my job full time. She's the problems in cash-flow and motivation.
I have pulled my hair out with cash-flow in the past but am fortunate enough not to have to concern myself with it anymore. Motivation is an on-going concern. New toys help. I fitted a PowerUP reel last week. That helps!
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My other half says she couldn't do my job full time. She's the problems in cash-flow and motivation.
I have pulled my hair out with cash-flow in the past but am fortunate enough not to have to concern myself with it anymore. Motivation is an on-going concern. New toys help. I fitted a PowerUP reel last week. That helps!
I see my debt list as money in the bank.its virtually the same as it being in the bank (esp with the low interest rates at the moment).it comes in eventually.even if i didnt get paid off ANY customer for months id still be able to pay my bills comfortably but that never happens.i get paid every day here and there.some days i get virtually all my days money in(cash/cheques).
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im just about the end of my tether with window cleaning its just one big ball ache I have 300 custys and a new ish fully fitted 350 ltr hot wash system its a good round I'm just not botherd any more
I've done many trades and i have to say window cleaning is by far the worst! There is a psychological torment about window cleaning. Repetitive, Chasing money, messers, winter, rain, and the physical side of things too. IT'S A SH#T TRADE!!
psychological torment?really?i think its the perfect "daydreamers" job.chilled out and relaxing at times.i mainly work in the peaceful leafy suburbs though or rural locations with stunning views of countryside.
yes its repetitive.so what.lots of jobs are.
chasing money is hardly much of a chore these days as my collecting is drastically reduce to around 3 hours A MONTH(it used to be around 3 hours a week at one time!)
i hardly get any messers.they ve been weeded out and dropped.
winter and rain have never bothered me.ive always worked outside all my life.i used to work outside for 10 hours a day when i worked for someone else!at least now its only 5 or 6 hours a day in the winter.
physically i find WFP window cleaning easier and more profitable than trad so not a problem plus im in much better shape with a clean lifestyle and working out in the gym 3 days a week.
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im just about the end of my tether with window cleaning its just one big ball ache I have 300 custys and a new ish fully fitted 350 ltr hot wash system its a good round I'm just not botherd any more
I've done many trades and i have to say window cleaning is by far the worst! There is a psychological torment about window cleaning. Repetitive, Chasing money, messers, winter, rain, and the physical side of things too. IT'S A SH#T TRADE!!
psychological torment?really?i think its the perfect "daydreamers" job.chilled out and relaxing at times.i mainly work in the peaceful leafy suburbs though or rural locations with stunning views of countryside.
yes its repetitive.so what.lots of jobs are.
chasing money is hardly much of a chore these days as my collecting is drastically reduce to around 3 hours A MONTH(it used to be around 3 hours a week at one time!)
i hardly get any messers.they ve been weeded out and dropped.
winter and rain have never bothered me.ive always worked outside all my life.i used to work outside for 10 hours a day when i worked for someone else!at least now its only 5 or 6 hours a day in the winter.
physically i find WFP window cleaning easier and more profitable than trad so not a problem plus im in much better shape with a clean lifestyle and working out in the gym 3 days a week.
Glad to hear that window cleaning can please the less mentally challenged!
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im just about the end of my tether with window cleaning its just one big ball ache I have 300 custys and a new ish fully fitted 350 ltr hot wash system its a good round I'm just not botherd any more
I've done many trades and i have to say window cleaning is by far the worst! There is a psychological torment about window cleaning. Repetitive, Chasing money, messers, winter, rain, and the physical side of things too. IT'S A SH#T TRADE!!
That sums it up quite nicely. It's a mentally challenging business.
Nothing Is ever done, there's always someone who hasn't paid or someone who moves out or cancels, skips a clean etc. Rarely does it run smoothly and when you think you are on top a week of thunderstorms throws the entire thing to pot again.
It's the ability to cope with these factors that will define how you enjoy the job. Some people can just block all the crap out and keep going regardless. Others like Dave obviously are sick of the thing.
I'm 3 years in, pretty much full and I know that my next aim is to start removing myself from window cleaning as much as poss.
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It goes to show how alot is dependant upon your mental outlook of the job, as can be seen by the many comments on here.
Some//all of the negatives that were first posted can be overcome by changing how you work. But it depends if you want to make changes or not. I know some on here hate change or cant see the point but then they dont improve what they are doing and its possible to get oneself stuck in a rut!
Im grateful that ive been doing this for many years as i would hate to be starting up new. But at the same time i wish i made some changes in the early years as well.
I think we live in a time period where technology and electronics can really help us in such areas of getting paid. At one time it was reliant on cash n cheques and forever trying to catch people in to get your money. Whereas now we have so many options and with the use of smart phones its even easier to get paid.
It all depends on mind set to make use of these advances or not.
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ive been shining 10 years
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I reckon a lot of it is down to the work someone would be cleaning for them to have the attitude of just jacking it all in,I just look at it from the perspective that what else could I do that would earn me the same money for the same hours with the same stress level. I know a few people that have been in the same situation and what are they doing now,they are back to starting all over again canvassing and yes it’s window cleaning again.
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I'll shoot from the hip too.
This time of the year we're a week away from the clocks going back and winter approaching. It's a bit gloomy, dank and drizzly and I want to forget window cleaning, but what else is there that will pay £30/£40 per hour?
But I find the Daz's and Nathan's of this world encouraging and want to have their positive attitude. So ...
I'm 58 and climb gates with a small ladder. Bit of exercise see?
I will put up prices from time to time.
I can save dosh/have a break/take a day off when like.
I won't do dog crap houses.
I won't text beforehand.
I wont put up with bad payers/not today's/it might rain/it's too drizzly/come back in spring types.
I will not go back to any customer that puts a knot in my stomach - as in I feel uneasy to go there.
I do cull untrainable customers usually after a strike or two, but I reserve the right to flounce immediately.
I have a bit too much work and so can drop any developing dross to improve the average.
I do count my blessings.
I do "only" 6 hour days. (I might do 7 or 8 if it means I can take the next day off)
I usually average 4 days a week. Rarely more. Maybe less.
I only do "one offs" if the price is good and I'm in the mood.
....
Hobbies and interests. I use spare time on these.
This year I have done nothing major but here's a few little treats I have given myself/family.
January - Day out to Portsmouth Historic Dockyard with my bro, my nephew and my son-in-law.
February - Long weekend to Budapest with Mrs. Gold
March - Visited the West Somerset Heritage Railway and had lunch in Watchet with Mrs Gold.
April - Down our (23 year old) caravan for a weekend in Devon
May - Day out for a pub lunch - cycling out from Bath to Wellow in Somerset with my bro and our wives and my daughter.
June - Caravan and drove to Cornwall for a day.
July - Day out on the motorbikes with my other son-in-law and his dad - Monmouth - South Wales.
Went for a day walk along Offa's dyke path with youngest daughter - bought her lunch in Tintern
August - Camping barn lake district long weekend with a group of about ten.
September - Canoeing on River Spey for 5 days
October - Back down for a day out to the Submarine museum in Portsmouth with my bro and co.
Freeeedoooooommmm!
;D
I thoroughly enjoyed reading that post GG.
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im just about the end of my tether with window cleaning its just one big ball ache I have 300 custys and a new ish fully fitted 350 ltr hot wash system its a good round I'm just not botherd any more
I've done many trades and i have to say window cleaning is by far the worst! There is a psychological torment about window cleaning. Repetitive, Chasing money, messers, winter, rain, and the physical side of things too. IT'S A SH#T TRADE!!
That sums it up quite nicely. It's a mentally challenging business.
Nothing Is ever done, there's always someone who hasn't paid or someone who moves out or cancels, skips a clean etc. Rarely does it run smoothly and when you think you are on top a week of thunderstorms throws the entire thing to pot again.
It's the ability to cope with these factors that will define how you enjoy the job. Some people can just block all the crap out and keep going regardless. Others like Dave obviously are sick of the thing.
I'm 3 years in, pretty much full and I know that my next aim is to start removing myself from window cleaning as much as poss.
mentally challenging business?that really makes me laugh! ;D ;D
my business virtually ALWAYS RUNS SMOOTHLY adam because im very organised.round software,smartphones and electronic payments coupled with WFP have made this job so easy.
yes some customers skip a clean very occasionally,die,move out,cancel but it doesnt disrupt me.its part and parcel of the job and doesnt bother me one bit.i just crack on and move onto my next job without giving it a second thought.
same for bad weather.i just work in it and keep to my schedule.i might re arrange a few jobs here and there for another day or the next week but its not a problem/issue.
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You need a holiday, somewhere hot, all inclusive, 2 weeks, branded drinks, women in bikinis...works for me! ;D
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My other half says she couldn't do my job full time. She's the problems in cash-flow and motivation.
I have pulled my hair out with cash-flow in the past but am fortunate enough not to have to concern myself with it anymore. Motivation is an on-going concern. New toys help. I fitted a PowerUP reel last week. That helps!
I see my debt list as money in the bank.its virtually the same as it being in the bank (esp with the low interest rates at the moment).it comes in eventually.even if i didnt get paid off ANY customer for months id still be able to pay my bills comfortably but that never happens.i get paid every day here and there.some days i get virtually all my days money in(cash/cheques).
Same here. Hardley taken a bean in cash this week. I have some of my best payed days on a day off!! ;D All messers have been filtered out over the years so I have zero concerns any longer regarding cash flow. Many of my customers now pay via bank transfer which helps.👍
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I've done many trades and i have to say window cleaning is by far the worst! There is a psychological torment about window cleaning. Repetitive, Chasing money, messers, winter, rain, and the physical side of things too. IT'S A SH#T TRADE!!
There's a world of difference in mentality between not liking a job and blaming the job for you not liking it.
It's not a **** trade, it's just simply 'a trade' that you don't like. If you blame the job then you make doing the job you don't like even harder to do.
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im just about the end of my tether with window cleaning its just one big ball ache I have 300 custys and a new ish fully fitted 350 ltr hot wash system its a good round I'm just not botherd any more
I've done many trades and i have to say window cleaning is by far the worst! There is a psychological torment about window cleaning. Repetitive, Chasing money, messers, winter, rain, and the physical side of things too. IT'S A SH#T TRADE!!
http://www.cleanitup.co.uk/smf/index.php?topic=46185.0 :-X
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I reckon a lot of it is down to the work someone would be cleaning for them to have the attitude of just jacking it all in,I just look at it from the perspective that what else could I do that would earn me the same money for the same hours with the same stress level. I know a few people that have been in the same situation and what are they doing now,they are back to starting all over again canvassing and yes it’s window cleaning again.
I have to agree with Nigel. I am permanently on medication and have to juggle my work as well as working around the weather. Don't think any employer would take me on with random days off very occasionally. I wouldn't want to work for any one else Eff that not after all these years. I'd rather do three days a week doing what I'm doing now or even two days then get bored, spoken down to by an employer and for peanuts of a minimum wage,.......stuff that up your backside :) I'm fortunate I have good, loyal customers so I just have to make sure I don't let them down.
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ive been shining 10 years
At 56 and window cleaning for 10 years, what's your options?
I think Lee Prior made the best suggestion for you.
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im just about the end of my tether with window cleaning its just one big ball ache I have 300 custys and a new ish fully fitted 350 ltr hot wash system its a good round I'm just not botherd any more
I'm right where you're at !! ;D Same age, same lenght of time cleaning, only i aint got hot water ;D I think, for me anyway, i'm just at the end of my tether working in general. In a previous life i was a HGV driver, i don't fancy rolling out my bed at 4 am in the morn only to finish at 7pm and have no life outside a truck, so i do try to embrace my window cleaning. Its a struggle to stay positive but looking at the alternatives helps me stay focused..... for now anyway.
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im just about the end of my tether with window cleaning its just one big ball ache I have 300 custys and a new ish fully fitted 350 ltr hot wash system its a good round I'm just not botherd any more
I'm right where you're at !! ;D Same age, same lenght of time cleaning, only i aint got hot water ;D I think, for me anyway, i'm just at the end of my tether working in general. In a previous life i was a HGV driver, i don't fancy rolling out my bed at 4 am in the morn only to finish at 7pm and have no life outside a truck, so i do try to embrace my window cleaning. Its a struggle to stay positive but looking at the alternatives helps me stay focused..... for now anyway.
when was the last time you had a week off? and how many hours a day do you work?
do you have weekends off?
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im just about the end of my tether with window cleaning its just one big ball ache I have 300 custys and a new ish fully fitted 350 ltr hot wash system its a good round I'm just not botherd any more
I'm right where you're at !! ;D Same age, same lenght of time cleaning, only i aint got hot water ;D I think, for me anyway, i'm just at the end of my tether working in general. In a previous life i was a HGV driver, i don't fancy rolling out my bed at 4 am in the morn only to finish at 7pm and have no life outside a truck, so i do try to embrace my window cleaning. Its a struggle to stay positive but looking at the alternatives helps me stay focused..... for now anyway.
when was the last time you had a week off? and how many hours a day do you work?
do you have weekends off?
Not sure where you're going with this Daz, but i'll try answer...
I can't specifically remember when i had a week off (this year anyway), but i've had plenty of weeks where i just worked a day or two in the week.
I don't generally work more than 4 hours per day.
I have most weekends off, i just have a few Saturday jobs where i bunch 'em together and do them about every six or seven weeks.
That help your assesment? ;D
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im just about the end of my tether with window cleaning its just one big ball ache I have 300 custys and a new ish fully fitted 350 ltr hot wash system its a good round I'm just not botherd any more
I've done many trades and i have to say window cleaning is by far the worst! There is a psychological torment about window cleaning. Repetitive, Chasing money, messers, winter, rain, and the physical side of things too. IT'S A SH#T TRADE!!
That sums it up quite nicely. It's a mentally challenging business.
Nothing Is ever done, there's always someone who hasn't paid or someone who moves out or cancels, skips a clean etc. Rarely does it run smoothly and when you think you are on top a week of thunderstorms throws the entire thing to pot again.
It's the ability to cope with these factors that will define how you enjoy the job. Some people can just block all the crap out and keep going regardless. Others like Dave obviously are sick of the thing.
I'm 3 years in, pretty much full and I know that my next aim is to start removing myself from window cleaning as much as poss.
mentally challenging business?that really makes me laugh! ;D ;D
my business virtually ALWAYS RUNS SMOOTHLY adam because im very organised.round software,smartphones and electronic payments coupled with WFP have made this job so easy.
yes some customers skip a clean very occasionally,die,move out,cancel but it doesnt disrupt me.its part and parcel of the job and doesnt bother me one bit.i just crack on and move onto my next job without giving it a second thought.
same for bad weather.i just work in it and keep to my schedule.i might re arrange a few jobs here and there for another day or the next week but its not a problem/issue.
In my experience it can be a ballache of a job at times. Some times it's great other times it's stressful.
But that depends on your outlook.
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Like with a lot of things it's a case of whether you consider this job "glass half empty" or "glass half full". Also for everyone there has to be a time when you finally pack it in whether that be for health reasons or just the fact that you just need a change ....
Having been an employee most of my working life it's great to be running the business the way I want to rather than having some faceless manager way up the management chain telling me how I should do things. Also it means that I can live where I want to, & earn a reasonable living rather than having to work half way across the country & spend nights away from home & family.
It would probably be untruthful of me to say I actually enjoy the cleaning of windows - although you can get a sense of satisfaction at the results after having cleaned a filthy conservatory for example. What I enjoy is getting out in the fresh air, keeping fit, meeting people of all ages & all backgrounds (as well as the free tea & cakes). When I see some of my older customers confined to their homes - because they can't get out - TV on, volume turned up & subtitles on it makes me think how lucky I actually am!
"The grass is NOT always greener the other side of the fence".
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Sometimes it depends where you are in lifes' journey as well.
Also the window cleaning journey......daz is in a comfortable position but how long has he been doing this game! So its ok saying for him its the best it can be but not everyone is there yet.
Myself, i used to work everyday apart from sundays. Not true, i did work a handful of sundays just to catch up. I took on a helper just one day a week and not to make more money but to get my work done so I could have saturdays off! Then i realized to stop saying yes to every job that came my way but to start refining the work I had. I then helped my friend to build his own round up as i no longer required him to work for me.
But then I still enjoyed my job and didnt work wknds for a good number of years. I refined it to how i liked it and I was begining to get the odd additional days of here and there. But since going onto WFP those odd days off became virtually fixed days off and I added to them. So its only been in the last 2 years for me where all the small tweaks all came together. I have my work exactly where I want it.......well for now anyway. Perhaps in a year or so I may want to take on employees or expand my empire....i dont know.
But I understand why some might want to jack it in and listening to everyone else's success doesnt always provide people with the motivation to continue or make changes to improve the situation for the better. Nor to grin through the battle to push on, its sometimes easier to throw the towel in and call it a day
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Bailiffs won't worry if you don't pay your bills, they'll just seize your assets, surely that's enough motivation to get working to pay the bills, money in the bank then you can afford to get depressed, have a well earned holiday, otherwise get to work and get your motivation back before your bills get on top of you and you lose everything you've worked so hard for, simple ;D
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Am I the only fool working a 40+ hour week?
You need to make the job more interesting, some kind of challenge.
Window cleaning destroys the soul, it's that boring.
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im just about the end of my tether with window cleaning its just one big ball ache I have 300 custys and a new ish fully fitted 350 ltr hot wash system its a good round I'm just not botherd any more
I'm right where you're at !! ;D Same age, same lenght of time cleaning, only i aint got hot water ;D I think, for me anyway, i'm just at the end of my tether working in general. In a previous life i was a HGV driver, i don't fancy rolling out my bed at 4 am in the morn only to finish at 7pm and have no life outside a truck, so i do try to embrace my window cleaning. Its a struggle to stay positive but looking at the alternatives helps me stay focused..... for now anyway.
when was the last time you had a week off? and how many hours a day do you work?
do you have weekends off?
Not sure where you're going with this Daz, but i'll try answer...
I can't specifically remember when i had a week off (this year anyway), but i've had plenty of weeks where i just worked a day or two in the week.
I don't generally work more than 4 hours per day.
I have most weekends off, i just have a few Saturday jobs where i bunch 'em together and do them about every six or seven weeks.
That help your assesment? ;D
i just wondered as i thought you guys might be working too hard for too long with no breaks/holidays/time away from window cleaning.
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Am I the only fool working a 40+ hour week?
You need to make the job more interesting, some kind of challenge.
Window cleaning destroys the soul, it's that boring.
i couldnt work 40+ hours a week window cleaning every week. ;D
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Am I the only fool working a 40+ hour week?
You need to make the job more interesting, some kind of challenge.
Window cleaning destroys the soul, it's that boring.
i couldnt work 40+ hours a week window cleaning every week. ;D
You’d be richer than your brother if you did ;D ;D
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Am I the only fool working a 40+ hour week?
You need to make the job more interesting, some kind of challenge.
Window cleaning destroys the soul, it's that boring.
i couldnt work 40+ hours a week window cleaning every week. ;D
You’d be richer than your brother if you did ;D ;D
...and id be miserable........ ;D
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Bailiffs won't worry if you don't pay your bills, they'll just seize your assets, surely that's enough motivation to get working to pay the bills, money in the bank then you can afford to get depressed, have a well earned holiday, otherwise get to work and get your motivation back before your bills get on top of you and you lose everything you've worked so hard for, simple ;D
There's no doubt about it the bailiffs are a great motivator but I get the feeling Dave's at a stage in his life where they are no longer a threat, its very easy to put up with crap when your faced with ending up on the streets not so much when its to pay
for a weeks holiday.
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I think the motivator for me to keep going through the messers, dog poop gardens, rain etc is the vision i have when its all set up and running how i want it.
Thats vision may never materialise but hope and goals are the thing that drives humans beings to keep going.
Maybe the business has stagnated for some, all they see is cleaning windows forever and going through the motions and it all gets a bit depressing.
Some obviously relish in simply going through the motions and dont seemt o want or strive or better, i think thats fantastic for those people who can take life for what it is. But others thrive on challenge and growth and to stand still is to go backwards.
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I think the motivator for me to keep going through the messers, dog poop gardens, rain etc is the vision i have when its all set up and running how i want it.
Thats vision may never materialise but hope and goals are the thing that drives humans beings to keep going.
Maybe the business has stagnated for some, all they see is cleaning windows forever and going through the motions and it all gets a bit depressing.
Some obviously relish in simply going through the motions and dont seemt o want or strive or better, i think thats fantastic for those people who can take life for what it is. But others thrive on challenge and growth and to stand still is to go backwards.
i never go backwards adam.im still always tweaking and refining my round.it never ends.
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Am I the only fool working a 40+ hour week?
You need to make the job more interesting, some kind of challenge.
Window cleaning destroys the soul, it's that boring.
Window cleaning can be tedious. Got excited today and tried out my wide extreme brush with two rinse bars cut and joined together giving me a 42 jet rinse bar, that's 11 jets more than on reach-it's constructor brushes, ...it worked successfully but had to turn my pump up to 70 to get a decent flow but it was successful so that made my day trying that out and a Jack brush that's meant for bissell carpet cleaning.....good brush for only a fiver, scrubs good and lighter than an extreme :) Ran out of water almost today but that was because of my extra long rinse bar, bloody quick, two passes and your average window is done, splash and dash ;D
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"The grass is NOT always greener the other side of the fence".
It is.
But the $hit still stinks.
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I've bn there with this job, and it was this time of the year too. It kept playing on my mind.
Fast forward nearly sold up and was cleaning up in a carers job working all hours and having to do menial paper work n go to health safety classes etc. money was crap and hours were long. Night shift also .
Went back to cleaning wibdows freakin skipping man. Still find it good to be a free man.
Maybe listen to some les brown and stuff like that on youtube .
Or see ways out there before you make the leap
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Windows isn't that bad and you could always be a lot worse off, imagine you were a Rangers new co supporter! Then you'd have something to feel bad about. :D
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Haven't had time to read through all the posts. But here's my two pence worth.
If you know you have had enough and your heart just isn't in it anymore, you have come to the end. You have to address it.
My advice is this, don't sell the business right away. You can always do that as a last resort.
Get some "you" time back. Go down to 3 days a week, get someone out in the van for the 2 days and see how you feel for a year. You may even get your mojo back in 3 months and start picking up more work and your then transforming from doing the work to running the business.
If you still feel like selling up after then at least you have considered all avenues and you will have increased your market share and turnover being able to sell for a higher price eventually.
I have been doing this for 15 years nearly and trust me I know how you feel. I sold my business once before and always regretted it.
Only work I didn't regret selling is the Farnham rounds as traffic was a nightmare from Woking.
Anyway see how you feel once you have tried those avenues. I am doing the same as I am also sick and tired of the job now. I'm down to 4 days a week, still got lots of work on but more condensed and efficient on the working days. Wednesdays are "me" days. 😎
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Go Fishing ;D
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Haven't had time to read through all the posts. But here's my two pence worth.
If you know you have had enough and your heart just isn't in it anymore, you have come to the end. You have to address it.
My advice is this, don't sell the business right away. You can always do that as a last resort.
Get some "you" time back. Go down to 3 days a week, get someone out in the van for the 2 days and see how you feel for a year. You may even get your mojo back in 3 months and start picking up more work and your then transforming from doing the work to running the business.
If you still feel like selling up after then at least you have considered all avenues and you will have increased your market share and turnover being able to sell for a higher price eventually.
I have been doing this for 15 years nearly and trust me I know how you feel. I sold my business once before and always regretted it.
Only work I didn't regret selling is the Farnham rounds as traffic was a nightmare from Woking.
Anyway see how you feel once you have tried those avenues. I am doing the same as I am also sick and tired of the job now. I'm down to 4 days a week, still got lots of work on but more condensed and efficient on the working days. Wednesdays are "me" days. 😎
good advice that marc.
whats helped me over the last few years is keeping my hours short(5 or 6 hours a day "on the glass")and having most weekends off.clean lifestyle and looking after myself.couple that with more efficient working practices and better quality higher priced work and im onto a winner. 8)
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For me to stop life getting boring and work for that matter it's all about constantly improving and moving forward as opposed to standing still or moving backwards. Having a goal or something to work towards gets me out of bed. Regardless of whether i will ever hit those goals it's still a challenge and something to aim for and drive me.
You need goals that are achievable though and realistic so you feel rewarded when you hit them. I set about 10 goals this year and i've hit atleast half of them, and i am well happy about that.
If you just keep cleaning windows forever and ever with no change it is going to get tiring and boring. Even if i can just make small improvements here and there, that is what drives me forward. How can i improve my technique, earn more per hour, work less hours, cut costs down, get better customers, convert bad payers, price higher. The list goes on and on. Point is that is what keeps me interested in doing the job. Otherwise work will just feel like work without any real direction. Then you could end up just becoming like some of the employee mindset person who hates their job and it's a struggle every day.
Sometimes the Journey is more exciting than the destination. That's just my take on things anyway through the eyes of a 24 year old welshman LOL
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For me to stop life getting boring and work for that matter it's all about constantly improving and moving forward as opposed to standing still or moving backwards. Having a goal or something to work towards gets me out of bed. Regardless of whether i will ever hit those goals it's still a challenge and something to aim for and drive me.
You need goals that are achievable though and realistic so you feel rewarded when you hit them. I set about 10 goals this year and i've hit atleast half of them, and i am well happy about that.
If you just keep cleaning windows forever and ever with no change it is going to get tiring and boring. Even if i can just make small improvements here and there, that is what drives me forward. How can i improve my technique, earn more per hour, work less hours, cut costs down, get better customers, convert bad payers, price higher. The list goes on and on. Point is that is what keeps me interested in doing the job. Otherwise work will just feel like work without any real direction. Then you could end up just becoming like some of the employee mindset person who hates their job and it's a struggle every day.
Sometimes the Journey is more exciting than the destination. That's just my take on things anyway through the eyes of a 24 year old welshman LOL
After 20 years I do similar, always try different things. Even pick up in new areas and concentrate on building up concentrated work in a new area if affluent. Always increase lowest price work every year or lose it. All the bad payers, any dodgy ones, awkward jobs get left til last and sometimes just get sick of doing the tedious ones and end up letting them go as too much hassle which ain't worth getting depressed about. Try to stay positive and find new ways to motivate myself (or rather kid myself this job is brilliant haha ) Just keep plodding on with new work with better prices and better customers. Make a point of taking more irregular days off if I want and take proper holidays more often to stop any boredom developing