Clean It Up
UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: colin bird on February 28, 2019, 07:11:59 am
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Hi thanks for reading,I'm finding this year compared to others new business enquiries,very slow,
No enquiries on web site,no walk ups,basically dead
I am based in the south east and we have a lot of new builds going up,this seems to be attracting a lot of new window cleaners,I've been out canvassing picked up a few new jobs but not like it was a couple of years ago.
Is any one else finding the same ? If yes what ideas do you have to generate new jobs?
Is window cleaning not the business it used to be ?
I've been going eleven years and it's not been like this before.
Thanks for reading
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My area is awash with WFP vans. Saturated here. Depending on the population of your town you may need to travel to nearby towns as some will be ripe and some will be dead. For example we picked up dozens in Wantage but virtually zero in Newbury (which is full of window cleaners) and where 70% of my work is.
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To add, with Facebook it’s in some senses a lot easier for new starters to pick up work. They don’t need to get off their arse.
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ive been picking up a few jobs here and there but im not actively seeking new work its all word of mouth,recommendation and walk ups....
i always get leaflets for window cleaning handed to me from existing customers,at least 5 or 6 times during the year so no different to usual....
if you want more work then target sold "for sale " signs.....leafleting and canvassing....
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Iv been getting more enquiries from commercial and residential customers, December & January was quiet which I’m glad about but things started to pick up again in February.
I think in business , if YOU stop trying then it will effect your business.
You mentioned walk up , web site enquiries - these are both things were you are waiting for customers to come to you.
Maybe start being more proactive and start searching for customers , look at new ideas if the old ideas aren’t working anymore.
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The type of customer is changing. Less and less prepared to commit to a regular service than a few years back.
Out of the 12 website enquires I had this year so far, only 4 of them actually wanted to go onto a regular service 3 out of 4 choosing to go to a quarterly clean, all the others were one off requests which I didn't get or want anyway, the interesting thing is that these people had used several window cleaning companies in my local area before. Social media enquiries are ignored now, as last year out of the 30 odd, every single one of them was looking for the cheapest price with no commitment.
I have said this before, window cleaning saturated with guys starting up thinking they are going to make a fortune. Over the last 8 years I have seen a number of window cleaners start up, buy a flashy van with lots of thermo pure logos all over it, for them to pack it all up in 4 or 5 years.
This is why I am looking into other business ventures, as I do feel that in the next 5-10 years window cleaning will have changed to such an extent that you will need to supplement your income with something else, which is the way most things are going anyway.
Good news is for us who have established rounds, the value of them should increase with the demand for work going up.
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It's not like the "old days of wfp" round here - and there is plenty of unskilled work for people in my side of Bristol on the Avonmouth warehouse/industrial estates. But the low sun and the good recent weather has brought in a few enquiries - I really am not trying at all and I am only interested in making my round "creamier" and I have had success in price increases!
However, for the first time in a couple of years, last week I had my daughter drop off leaflets while working alongside me in a long road of 60 houses that I have as compact work and I have about 20 of them. I asked her to not put leaflets in existing and "dumped" customers and I reckon she dropped off about 35 for me. Not one enquiry from it. So I guess that this bit of my round is "saturated".
Also a few JW window cleaners have started up in the last couple of years as they have been asked to leave the London HQ or want to start up - they are usually part time - and I have had two JW window cleaners ask me if I have any work to sell (I haven't) which tells me that all is not sweetness and light anymore.
Do a good job, be reliable and you'll be OK.
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It’s the ‘CleanItUp effect’. New guys lurking on here listening to people talking about earning £xxx hundreds of pounds a day then thinking they can buy a shiney new van/system and do the same. I’d hate to be starting up these days.
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I have found the amount of new enquiries is dramatically down too.
I reckon the majority of it is down to new boys in their vans running around. I live in a fairly nice area on the outskirts of Basingstoke and regularly now see plenty of window cleaning vehicles about. The other day 3 newish on the scene vans passed my house within 30 minutes of each other. Im sure the work is still out there, just its a little sparser than it was 5 years ago. In other words, you've got to go out and get it rather than it coming to you...
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Im getting new and fresh pressure washing enquires but gutter cleaning seems dead this year. Im assuming thats because of the dry winter we've had.
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The rapid growth of canvassing companies popping up everywhere and social media advertising etc it means that competition is getting higher and will continue to as more and more come into window cleaning.
The internet has been responsible for pushing prices down in all businesses and ours in no exception.
No longer can you sit on your backside and expect work to come to you, you have to be constantly looking for it with either your time or your money. I budget £200 a month at the minute, some growth and some simply replacing drop offs.
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A customer of mine who has been a Painter and Decorator for decades with a good reputation told me that so far this year this has been the quietest start to the year he has ever known since he has been in business.
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It definitely get worse year on year. So many new ones pop up as see so many when out and about, but majority I never see again. There are a handful I regulally see out and about.
Facebook is a waste of time. Every group or page you see someone trying to set up a wc business. I would not want to start again.
The phone has been busy this week as the sun comes out so its too early in the year to be too worried.
Supply and demand. Supply has increased and demand has decreased which lowers the value of the job.
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Blame Brexit. Thats what everyone one else does ;D
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The type of customer is changing. Less and less prepared to commit to a regular service than a few years back.
Out of the 12 website enquires I had this year so far, only 4 of them actually wanted to go onto a regular service 3 out of 4 choosing to go to a quarterly clean, all the others were one off requests which I didn't get or want anyway, the interesting thing is that these people had used several window cleaning companies in my local area before. Social media enquiries are ignored now, as last year out of the 30 odd, every single one of them was looking for the cheapest price with no commitment.
I have said this before, window cleaning saturated with guys starting up thinking they are going to make a fortune. Over the last 8 years I have seen a number of window cleaners start up, buy a flashy van with lots of thermo pure logos all over it, for them to pack it all up in 4 or 5 years.
This is why I am looking into other business ventures, as I do feel that in the next 5-10 years window cleaning will have changed to such an extent that you will need to supplement your income with something else, which is the way most things are going anyway.
Good news is for us who have established rounds, the value of them should increase with the demand for work going up.
i disagree.....window cleaners were saying the same 10 years ago.....most of us have never had it so good in this game IMO....
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It’s the ‘CleanItUp effect’. New guys lurking on here listening to people talking about earning £xxx hundreds of pounds a day then thinking they can buy a shiney new van/system and do the same. I’d hate to be starting up these days.
yeah they start up and dont last long when they realise its takes years to build up a decent income week in/week out in this game.....
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I'm moving to Dazmondland.
The world of gorgeous girlfriends, 5* hotels, perpetual holidays, gyms that turn you into a greek god and a positive attitude that would make duracell blush.
Oh and where sun-glasses are rose coloured!
;D
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The rapid growth of canvassing companies popping up everywhere and social media advertising etc it means that competition is getting higher and will continue to as more and more come into window cleaning.
The internet has been responsible for pushing prices down in all businesses and ours in no exception.
No longer can you sit on your backside and expect work to come to you, you have to be constantly looking for it with either your time or your money. I budget £200 a month at the minute, some growth and some simply replacing drop offs.
no you dont......i never advertise or very rarely go looking for new work and ive been picking up steady new jobs for many years,ive even built entire new pockets of work with better prices in some areas over the last 7 or 8 years.....
the only advertising is sign written van and logod workwear.....
by the way there are over 20 different window cleaning companies that i know of that work my areas too....
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I'm moving to Dazmondland.
The world of gorgeous girlfriends, 5* hotels, perpetual holidays, gyms that turn you into a greek god and a positive attitude that would make duracell blush.
Oh and where sun-glasses are rose coloured!
;D
Its a good place to be...... 8)
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I welcome 8 weekly / quarterly cleans - charge more than a monthly clean and you’ll enjoy them
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Brexit.
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The rapid growth of canvassing companies popping up everywhere and social media advertising etc it means that competition is getting higher and will continue to as more and more come into window cleaning.
The internet has been responsible for pushing prices down in all businesses and ours in no exception.
No longer can you sit on your backside and expect work to come to you, you have to be constantly looking for it with either your time or your money. I budget £200 a month at the minute, some growth and some simply replacing drop offs.
Hi Gomo out of that £200 do you spend any on ppc or fb ads? I've just started using Google for ads but not having much joy atm
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The rapid growth of canvassing companies popping up everywhere and social media advertising etc it means that competition is getting higher and will continue to as more and more come into window cleaning.
The internet has been responsible for pushing prices down in all businesses and ours in no exception.
No longer can you sit on your backside and expect work to come to you, you have to be constantly looking for it with either your time or your money. I budget £200 a month at the minute, some growth and some simply replacing drop offs.
Hi Gomo out of that £200 do you spend any on ppc or fb ads? I've just started using Google for ads but not having much joy atm
My experience is that when domestic customers turn to Google they usually want a one off and they will get other quotes.
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The rapid growth of canvassing companies popping up everywhere and social media advertising etc it means that competition is getting higher and will continue to as more and more come into window cleaning.
The internet has been responsible for pushing prices down in all businesses and ours in no exception.
No longer can you sit on your backside and expect work to come to you, you have to be constantly looking for it with either your time or your money. I budget £200 a month at the minute, some growth and some simply replacing drop offs.
no you dont......i never advertise or very rarely go looking for new work and ive been picking up steady new jobs for many years,ive even built entire new pockets of work with better prices in some areas over the last 7 or 8 years.....
the only advertising is sign written van and logod workwear.....
by the way there are over 20 different window cleaning companies that i know of that work my areas too....
Two things
1. I've been going 4 years and you have been going 20 odd and have i more work than you and it didn't come by sitting and waiting. (In the nicest possible way just making a point :D )
2. You don't live in my area, maybe yours is much easier .
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January is always a bit quite, but we are getting a lot of enquires , ime not generally interested in more estate type of houses only big detached and commercial work so turn a lot down there arnt many window cleaners around my area , those that are are either unreliable , or do a poor job , so we get lots of enquires, many start up window cleaning but soon give up , I have no idear why , there is a lot of new housing estates being built and no ware near enough window cleaners to do all the work , perhaps some on hear should look at relocating
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The rapid growth of canvassing companies popping up everywhere and social media advertising etc it means that competition is getting higher and will continue to as more and more come into window cleaning.
The internet has been responsible for pushing prices down in all businesses and ours in no exception.
No longer can you sit on your backside and expect work to come to you, you have to be constantly looking for it with either your time or your money. I budget £200 a month at the minute, some growth and some simply replacing drop offs.
Hi Gomo out of that £200 do you spend any on ppc or fb ads? I've just started using Google for ads but not having much joy atm
I spend all my budget online mate.
Since Jan I've spent about £400 for £700 of work but it's a bit skewed as it was a fresh area which is always easier.....generally I look to get a 1:1 ratio of money spent for work gained £ per month
Of course you get drop offs etc so you have to factor it in but the R.O.I kills leaflets or paying canvassers. The o it downside is unlike canvassing it's not going to be compact.
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There are more WCleaners I agree but there are lots of new houses going up,everywhere you turn you’re head there is a pane of glass in the world there’s plenty of work if you’re willing to look for it I think you can get a bit paranoid I’ve felt like it myself over the years experience tells me don’t pannick.
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December was the quietest month I’ve ever had for new jobs calling which I don’t mind as they mostly want one off cleans, which I’ve stopped doing now same with gutters and conservatory roofs only done for existing customers all the others enquiries are given to someone local starting up
But January and February nearly back to normal I generally get 10-12 new customers every month which is enough to keep up with
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The type of customer is changing. Less and less prepared to commit to a regular service than a few years back.
Out of the 12 website enquires I had this year so far, only 4 of them actually wanted to go onto a regular service 3 out of 4 choosing to go to a quarterly clean, all the others were one off requests which I didn't get or want anyway, the interesting thing is that these people had used several window cleaning companies in my local area before. Social media enquiries are ignored now, as last year out of the 30 odd, every single one of them was looking for the cheapest price with no commitment.
I have said this before, window cleaning saturated with guys starting up thinking they are going to make a fortune. Over the last 8 years I have seen a number of window cleaners start up, buy a flashy van with lots of thermo pure logos all over it, for them to pack it all up in 4 or 5 years.
This is why I am looking into other business ventures, as I do feel that in the next 5-10 years window cleaning will have changed to such an extent that you will need to supplement your income with something else, which is the way most things are going anyway.
Good news is for us who have established rounds, the value of them should increase with the demand for work going up.
So £350-£400 a day is not enough for you marc?that you'll need to have a second income stream too?.......I don't know any one man band window cleaners who earn as much as you,I certainly don't earn that much a day...nowhere near...... ;D
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Brexit.
I blame Tosh and Chepstow house prices.
We’ve just signed our biggest contract.
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The type of customer is changing. Less and less prepared to commit to a regular service than a few years back.
Out of the 12 website enquires I had this year so far, only 4 of them actually wanted to go onto a regular service 3 out of 4 choosing to go to a quarterly clean, all the others were one off requests which I didn't get or want anyway, the interesting thing is that these people had used several window cleaning companies in my local area before. Social media enquiries are ignored now, as last year out of the 30 odd, every single one of them was looking for the cheapest price with no commitment.
I have said this before, window cleaning saturated with guys starting up thinking they are going to make a fortune. Over the last 8 years I have seen a number of window cleaners start up, buy a flashy van with lots of thermo pure logos all over it, for them to pack it all up in 4 or 5 years.
This is why I am looking into other business ventures, as I do feel that in the next 5-10 years window cleaning will have changed to such an extent that you will need to supplement your income with something else, which is the way most things are going anyway.
Good news is for us who have established rounds, the value of them should increase with the demand for work going up.
So £350-£400 a day is not enough for you marc?that you'll need to have a second income stream too?.......I don't know any one man band window cleaners who earn as much as you,I certainly don't earn that much a day...nowhere near...... ;D
That's my turnover, it's not my wages or earnings, and I work 4 days a week.
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The type of customer is changing. Less and less prepared to commit to a regular service than a few years back.
Out of the 12 website enquires I had this year so far, only 4 of them actually wanted to go onto a regular service 3 out of 4 choosing to go to a quarterly clean, all the others were one off requests which I didn't get or want anyway, the interesting thing is that these people had used several window cleaning companies in my local area before. Social media enquiries are ignored now, as last year out of the 30 odd, every single one of them was looking for the cheapest price with no commitment.
I have said this before, window cleaning saturated with guys starting up thinking they are going to make a fortune. Over the last 8 years I have seen a number of window cleaners start up, buy a flashy van with lots of thermo pure logos all over it, for them to pack it all up in 4 or 5 years.
This is why I am looking into other business ventures, as I do feel that in the next 5-10 years window cleaning will have changed to such an extent that you will need to supplement your income with something else, which is the way most things are going anyway.
Good news is for us who have established rounds, the value of them should increase with the demand for work going up.
So £350-£400 a day is not enough for you marc?that you'll need to have a second income stream too?.......I don't know any one man band window cleaners who earn as much as you,I certainly don't earn that much a day...nowhere near...... ;D
That's my turnover, it's not my wages or earnings, and I work 4 days a week.
Unless you are doing something wrong, as a sole trader overheads should be quite low.
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I think this thread sums it up well: http://www.cleanitup.co.uk/smf/index.php?topic=45909.0
Vin
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I think this thread sums it up well: http://www.cleanitup.co.uk/smf/index.php?topic=45909.0
Vin
exactly
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I think this thread sums it up well: http://www.cleanitup.co.uk/smf/index.php?topic=45909.0
Vin
I don't recognise most of those posters on this thread Vin. I see only a couple have been active at the end of last year. The others, 5 and 10 years ago were last active. I wonder if they have given window cleaning up or just not bothered with the forum any longer.
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I think this thread sums it up well: http://www.cleanitup.co.uk/smf/index.php?topic=45909.0
Vin
I don't recognise most of those posters on this thread Vin. I see only a couple have been active at the end of last year. The others, 5 and 10 years ago were last active. I wonder if they have given window cleaning up or just not bothered with the forum any longer.
Too many new ones about. ;D
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I imagine several things are going on at once.
There might be a small brexit effect, even before it's happened (if it happens). Tales of future economic woes often become self-fulfilling prophecies.
When a window cleaner used to start up it involved ladder work and a relatively small outlay - especially if they already had a vehicle. The winter often filtered them out, and some people would discover that climbing ladders all day was a bit too energetic for them - or even a little scary. However, starting with WFP requires a larger outlay and no ladder climbing. If you quit, you've potentially lost a lot more. So new window cleaners are more likely to stick with it.
I have had very few enquiries for some time now. I did start door knocking last October for a short while and gained a few new jobs. I will be re-starting that soon. Of the jobs I picked up, some were one-offs who pretended different. Others are still around though.
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The type of customer is changing. Less and less prepared to commit to a regular service than a few years back.
Out of the 12 website enquires I had this year so far, only 4 of them actually wanted to go onto a regular service 3 out of 4 choosing to go to a quarterly clean, all the others were one off requests which I didn't get or want anyway, the interesting thing is that these people had used several window cleaning companies in my local area before. Social media enquiries are ignored now, as last year out of the 30 odd, every single one of them was looking for the cheapest price with no commitment.
I have said this before, window cleaning saturated with guys starting up thinking they are going to make a fortune. Over the last 8 years I have seen a number of window cleaners start up, buy a flashy van with lots of thermo pure logos all over it, for them to pack it all up in 4 or 5 years.
This is why I am looking into other business ventures, as I do feel that in the next 5-10 years window cleaning will have changed to such an extent that you will need to supplement your income with something else, which is the way most things are going anyway.
Good news is for us who have established rounds, the value of them should increase with the demand for work going up.
So £350-£400 a day is not enough for you marc?that you'll need to have a second income stream too?.......I don't know any one man band window cleaners who earn as much as you,I certainly don't earn that much a day...nowhere near...... ;D
That's my turnover, it's not my wages or earnings, and I work 4 days a week.
Unless you are doing something wrong, as a sole trader overheads should be quite low.
I think a chunk of his earnings go to his chartered accountant?
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Bit slow for me at the moment, plus i've been lazy over the last couple of years, so i've decided to fire it up a bit.
Starting March through to August, I shall be:
Advertising in local magazine: 3 different areas over 6 months.
Leaflet campaign in my 2 favourite areas, total about 15K.
Sold houses campaign.
Google My Business
Adwords Express
And I've just produced a leaflet showing all the other services I offer, (this is to existing customers only).
Plus I am doing some selective canvassing and leafleting myself.
See how it goes...
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I have a Facebook page, there's a local 'do you know' page (Facebook again) with 15000 members, some of whom are customers.
I don't have logo' uniform, my van is old, battered and not sign written, and my advertising budget is zero.
Despite all this, I keep on plodding away and still pick up new customers most weeks without trying.
John
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There is nothing but new builds going up all around me. I stay clear of them as the ones who move in are stretched to the brim with mortgage, household bills, furniture and white goods on credit and possibly flashy car . Been slowly working my way into the best areas for work and commercial. Picked up quite a few on reputation from customers which is very good. It's a nice steady trickle to replace lost/deceased/moving customers. Keep my round full just picking the best ones and letting other window cleaners have the new builds, terrace houses and the likes.
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dont write the year off its only the end of feb lads!plenty of time to pick up new jobs in the months to come....... 8)
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Let's look on the upside. With so many wfp folk out there is getting the word out about the equioment switch over.
The more Joe public sees a wc in the street the more they start to think about their windows and becomes the norm to employ one.
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I've picked up a few so far this year. Got one this morning, put my price in and left them with it. Phone went this afternoon and they want me to be their window cleaner. I asked how much the other cleaner charged and they said £25 less than you but he was unreliable. Not too bothered if I pick any up or not really, if I do I price higher.
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I've picked up a few so far this year. Got one this morning, put my price in and left them with it. Phone went this afternoon and they want me to be their window cleaner. I asked how much the other cleaner charged and they said £25 less than you but he was unreliable. Not too bothered if I pick any up or not really, if I do I price higher.
What’s the total price of the clean?
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this is a weird one for me .
I started in 1992...but I started to see lots of new start ups around 2006 when wfp started to become the norm.
but the last year or so it has really gotten crazy... newbies everywhere.
what I have noticed is that most or all of the new ones go for the add ons (soft wash, fascias , pressure washing , more than the window cleaning)
these can be more lucrative , but are not regular as in 4 weekly , or 8 weekly.
I know a few of them , I had one of them soft wash my render last year.
for me , I am not really interested in the add ons , unless they are a customer, and even then I find them a pain.
I am only interested in regular window cleaning customers, that's my main focus..
I am gaining slow and steady, but I am mainly after 8 weekly these days rather than 4.
in the end it will be survival of the fittest I believe .
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this is a weird one for me .
I started in 1992...but I started to see lots of new start ups around 2006 when wfp started to become the norm.
but the last year or so it has really gotten crazy... newbies everywhere.
what I have noticed is that most or all of the new ones go for the add ons (soft wash, fascias , pressure washing , more than the window cleaning)
these can be more lucrative , but are not regular as in 4 weekly , or 8 weekly.
I know a few of them , I had one of them soft wash my render last year.
for me , I am not really interested in the add ons , unless they are a customer, and even then I find them a pain.
I am only interested in regular window cleaning customers, that's my main focus..
I am gaining slow and steady, but I am mainly after 8 weekly these days rather than 4.
in the end it will be survival of the fittest I believe .
I agree. Some of the newer ones want to do the add ons. All well and good but it’s the regular customers that makes this a solid business.
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this is a weird one for me .
I started in 1992...but I started to see lots of new start ups around 2006 when wfp started to become the norm.
but the last year or so it has really gotten crazy... newbies everywhere.
what I have noticed is that most or all of the new ones go for the add ons (soft wash, fascias , pressure washing , more than the window cleaning)
these can be more lucrative , but are not regular as in 4 weekly , or 8 weekly.
I know a few of them , I had one of them soft wash my render last year.
for me , I am not really interested in the add ons , unless they are a customer, and even then I find them a pain.
I am only interested in regular window cleaning customers, that's my main focus..
I am gaining slow and steady, but I am mainly after 8 weekly these days rather than 4.
in the end it will be survival of the fittest I believe .
I agree. Some of the newer ones want to do the add ons. All well and good but it’s the regular customers that makes this a solid business.
Agreed
regular windows are the bread and butter
but the add ons are the icing on the cake - yum!
Darran
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It’s even dead since Christmas but 8 enquiries this week from the website.
1 is a new build with 8 windows and 1 door I got at £20 8 weekly, not sure how long I’ll keep it at that price.
The rest all had access issues and they’re not for me. I recommend someone else.
Tony
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It’s even dead since Christmas but 8 enquiries this week from the website.
1 is a new build with 8 windows and 1 door I got at £20 8 weekly, not sure how long I’ll keep it at that price.
The rest all had access issues and they’re not for me. I recommend someone else.
Tony
Nice when you know what you want and have the time to shape your round accordingly.
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It’s even dead since Christmas but 8 enquiries this week from the website.
1 is a new build with 8 windows and 1 door I got at £20 8 weekly, not sure how long I’ll keep it at that price.
The rest all had access issues and they’re not for me. I recommend someone else.
Tony
Nice when you know what you want and have the time to shape your round accordingly.
You only have to have half a brain to outthink the local Windowcleaners in my area
Its great, leave the dross to the inexperienced shiners. 😉
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There is nothing but new builds going up all around me. I stay clear of them as the ones who move in are stretched to the brim with mortgage, household bills, furniture and white goods on credit and possibly flashy car .
Although this is often the case, I've also encountered older people who are trading down, so buy a new house to avoid large maintenance costs as they go into retirement. These are also people who have recently come into a financial bonus if there are funds left over from the trade down.
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There is nothing but new builds going up all around me. I stay clear of them as the ones who move in are stretched to the brim with mortgage, household bills, furniture and white goods on credit and possibly flashy car .
Although this is often the case, I've also encountered older people who are trading down, so buy a new house to avoid large maintenance costs as they go into retirement. These are also people who have recently come into a financial bonus if there are funds left over from the trade down.
The problem with new builds around me is that canvassers get in their cheap and then sell the rounds on. So i leave these to ones who want to battle it out for the crumbs whilst i canvass more lucrative areas. Then wait for the phone enquiries when they get sick of the poor work or unreliability of their current cleaners 😎
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I've picked up a few so far this year. Got one this morning, put my price in and left them with it. Phone went this afternoon and they want me to be their window cleaner. I asked how much the other cleaner charged and they said £25 less than you but he was unreliable. Not too bothered if I pick any up or not really, if I do I price higher.
What’s the total price of the clean?
£65
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There is nothing but new builds going up all around me. I stay clear of them as the ones who move in are stretched to the brim with mortgage, household bills, furniture and white goods on credit and possibly flashy car .
Although this is often the case, I've also encountered older people who are trading down, so buy a new house to avoid large maintenance costs as they go into retirement. These are also people who have recently come into a financial bonus if there are funds left over from the trade down.
The problem with new builds around me is that canvassers get in their cheap and then sell the rounds on. So i leave these to ones who want to battle it out for the crumbs whilst i canvass more lucrative areas. Then wait for the phone enquiries when they get sick of the poor work or unreliability of their current cleaners 😎
After 15 years are you not tired of waiting ? plus as a sole trader on the go for 15 years your need to still canvass doesn't say much about your reputation or reliability.
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There is nothing but new builds going up all around me. I stay clear of them as the ones who move in are stretched to the brim with mortgage, household bills, furniture and white goods on credit and possibly flashy car . Been slowly working my way into the best areas for work and commercial. Picked up quite a few on reputation from customers which is very good. It's a nice steady trickle to replace lost/deceased/moving customers. Keep my round full just picking the best ones and letting other window cleaners have the new builds, terrace houses and the likes.
You know everyone in the estate is like that? Doubtful.
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I've picked up a few so far this year. Got one this morning, put my price in and left them with it. Phone went this afternoon and they want me to be their window cleaner. I asked how much the other cleaner charged and they said £25 less than you but he was unreliable. Not too bothered if I pick any up or not really, if I do I price higher.
What’s the total price of the clean?
£65
Unreliable in that case because he underpriced it I'm guessing. We've all done it. :(
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There is nothing but new builds going up all around me. I stay clear of them as the ones who move in are stretched to the brim with mortgage, household bills, furniture and white goods on credit and possibly flashy car .
Although this is often the case, I've also encountered older people who are trading down, so buy a new house to avoid large maintenance costs as they go into retirement. These are also people who have recently come into a financial bonus if there are funds left over from the trade down.
The problem with new builds around me is that canvassers get in their cheap and then sell the rounds on. So i leave these to ones who want to battle it out for the crumbs whilst i canvass more lucrative areas. Then wait for the phone enquiries when they get sick of the poor work or unreliability of their current cleaners 😎
After 15 years are you not tired of waiting ? plus as a sole trader on the go for 15 years your need to still canvass doesn't say much about your reputation or reliability.
Ok, ill bite?
Nah, in 2nd thoughts i cant be arsed to argue with you buddy or debate or whatever. Instead ill simply say;
Enjoy your working day mate 🖒🖒
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in the north east atm theres a housing boom,. 1000s of new builds in all areas. these started 3 years ago. theres still 5 years work on these areas to build more new houses. I got a big piece of this from 3 years ago. keeping an eye on new home owners moving in and pouncing . with my charm and decent pricing and my customer add on service at reduced rates I now have too much work on.
But I still seem to want to get that new customer moving in. ill have to stop. Too much work and you cannot keep to a regular schedule you can loose the odd one. I am happy with my current work load atm. for one man , im not having someone farting in my van , only me.
Lots of work for sale on Gumtree , ebay, I always look just out of curiosity to see how much they want
There was one chap wanting 8 x cleaning. no takers yet. 3 /4 x clean is the max.
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Just adapt to the changing environment and you will prosper. Good on Dazmond for been the only positive one on here( and me😉
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wish it was dead,seems that i still get calls though web-site and walk ups and just calls,in fact i hardly take on work now unless it next door to what i clean all ready.
i stopped advertising in the local mag hoping it would slow down,how wrong i was.