Clean It Up
UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: lee_dewing on November 21, 2022, 07:26:38 am
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Hello everyone
I work for my next door and neighbour in my road.
Done this for 10+ years
I do have too much work
And if I’m honest I think you should never work in the road you live in, not as a window cleaner anyway as once a month !
Maybe once in a blue moon
Was going to print a note off
What would you write ✍🏻
I’ve been asked for neighbour customers to
Do them a favour and clear their loft and another said they needed my help to repair their garage door
I’m a helpful guy
But me thinks it’s time to pull the rip cord😳😄
What would you put?
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Hello Neighbour, I’ve cleaned your windows today,
But I can’t in the future as I’m spread too thin these days, thanks for the work.
Regards Lee
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Hello Neighbour, I’ve cleaned your windows today,
But I can’t in the future as I’m spread too thin these days, thanks for the work.
Regards Lee
Trouble is, they’ll see how often your van is on the drive, or home by 3pm and think ‘he’s got loads of time’’
;D
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I wish
I’m not home until 6pm
5pm 🕔 now due too lack of daylight
After finishing work my pure water fill up is at my parents 15 minutes drive from my place
So fill up tea and biscuits too
As they don’t have off street parking I’m doing 2 barrels at a time to the van however
Close I can park 10 barrels
Back ward’s 10 times 🥲
Alternative is lottery winner for a bigger place for me or going back to ladders 🥲😄
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I clean a couple of neighbours flats occasionally when I clean my own.no charge and not regularly.
All paid work is further afield. :)
Lee you always seem to remind me of my former life as a window cleaner...gave up using barrels and cleaning on my doorstep years ago... ;)
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just clean there windows only. Depending how much £££s you make from them sell them on to another local windy who will be glad of extra work.
Just tell them you are helping another windy out who needs some extra work to keep going as hes finding it hard .
they will of think you as a hero
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Just wondering if you could perhaps fill up at a customers house and just fill your tank with tap water. D.I on board.
I used to have this issue when I first started. I lived in a flat and filled up at my mums house 20 mins away. I once filled my tank up at the local garage with their pressure washer was pretty quick.
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I wish
I’m not home until 6pm
5pm 🕔 now due too lack of daylight
After finishing work my pure water fill up is at my parents 15 minutes drive from my place
So fill up tea and biscuits too
As they don’t have off street parking I’m doing 2 barrels at a time to the van however
Close I can park 10 barrels
Back ward’s 10 times 🥲
Alternative is lottery winner for a bigger place for me or going back to ladders 🥲😄
How do have the energy to work till 5pm everyday?
Sounds like you might need to change the business model a bit?
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Hello Zesty
I start 9.30 am ish until 4.00 pm ish now
And 5 ish when not so dark.
I wouldn’t start cleaning another house after 4.15 pm in these dark days 3.50 pm
Then 10-20 min drive to parents
With 30mins filling barrels and loading and a cup of tea
20 min drive home
So 1.5-2hrs until my bum is on my settee
After cleaning the last window.
I fill up 3-4 times a week at parents
That’s the way it’s been since August 2006
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Stoots
I’ve looked into using a portable Merlin system to re-fill barrels at customers houses
But I think the Merlin would cost a lot to run as I live in Essex on London borders, with hard water
Also with customers having cameras everywhere
I don’t think they’d appreciate it!
Also thought of filling up at one of them pure water pump dispenser jobs but what it costs in a week to produce my own is what I’d pay a day at pure water pumps 🤦♂️
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Sounds like they like to take advantage - anything like this I let them know I’m not insured so the answer is no
9.30? Jeez that’s a late start no wonder your out until after dark
Darran
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I clean most of our Avenue including one of my next door neighbours......takes a steady 6 hour day including breaks.and I don't have to move the van off the drive.
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I'd take a look at your start time firstly. 9:30 is way too late, half the day has gone by then. Try starting at 8:00/8:30
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I avoid cleaning neighbours windows, I won’t even take on work 2 or 3 streets over.
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I don't clean any residential only commercial and one of the positives is I have no problem saying no to any friends,family or neighbours in my road.
My answer is always sorry I don't take on any residential.
Granted that can be a bit harder if you do clean residential and especially if like most on here your home for 1pm.
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If you started at 8 you could finish 2:30 and work the same hours surely that would be better ?
I used to start at 9 now i start at 8, id rather finish early plus having the majority of work banged out by the time i stop for lunch just feels a lot better.
Also you say 10 barrels every day, do you only use 250l a day ?
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I don't do neighbours at all, on a regular 8 weekly.
All my neighbours are really friendly and nice, so I may do the odd front for free, or a house for a tenner (token gesture) but this is very rare.
If you want to stop doing your neighbours, tell them you have a dodgy elbow, (or whichever part of your body hurts the most) so you are cutting down on your workload.
I actually do have a dodgy elbow, so if anyone pics me up on it, I can say my elbow is a lot better now I have cut down.
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Hello Stoots
Yes 250 litres a day or less
I’m very economical on my water usage
Uni valve and my xline brush has 11 pencil jets
I use large brush 14 inch is it🤔
My biggest day is 14 semi detached houses
Takes 6 hours
2 houses are just fronts
But 3 houses have flat roofs so up a ladder
1 of these has a large conservatory
This takes 10 barrels
Luckily this is road my parents live in and where my water setup is
So if I ran out of water can fill up on site 😄
I can always carry more barrels
My setup is very diy
Rectangle bucket with shurflo pump screwed inside short end a large bolt pops up through bucket floor,
acts as a barrier stops car battery 🔋 sliding along bucket and squashing pump
And an eBay power regulator switch to turn pump speed up and down
I do lift hose reel out of van and it’s connected to and pump box with pole hose that I shut under van door and lock
My parents road where pure water is has a school at top of the road so 3.15 to 4pm
The road is full of Chelsea tractors 🚜
My parents don’t have off street parking so
I’d have to fill up water before 3 or after 4 pm
I don’t have the flashiest equipment
So lose some speed there
But I think I’m quite quick
I’ve watched other wfp windies work
While I’m having a sandwich and I’ve thought there quite slow
But probably people think I’m a slow coach 💁🏻♂️
I take it all with a pinch of salt now
I’ve heard some outrageous claims on this
Site on how many houses have been cleaned in a day and how much waters been used, earnings etc
Maybe I’m a snail 🐌😂
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Hello Robbo
I will tell the 5 customers in my road I have too much work, cutting back.
I find them all to be false, blank avoid you mainly then,
Super friendly watch out favour request coming.
If I get quizzed which one of them will
Sarcasm maybe 🤔 used
The voices in my head are telling me not to clean your windows 🤣
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Hello Stoots
Yes 250 litres a day or less
I’m very economical on my water usage
Uni valve and my xline brush has 11 pencil jets
I use large brush 14 inch is it🤔
My biggest day is 14 semi detached houses
Takes 6 hours
2 houses are just fronts
But 3 houses have flat roofs so up a ladder
1 of these has a large conservatory
This takes 10 barrels
Luckily this is road my parents live in and where my water setup is
So if I ran out of water can fill up on site 😄
I can always carry more barrels
My setup is very diy
Rectangle bucket with shurflo pump screwed inside short end a large bolt pops up through bucket floor,
acts as a barrier stops car battery 🔋 sliding along bucket and squashing pump
And an eBay power regulator switch to turn pump speed up and down
I do lift hose reel out of van and it’s connected to and pump box with pole hose that I shut under van door and lock
My parents road where pure water is has a school at top of the road so 3.15 to 4pm
The road is full of Chelsea tractors 🚜
My parents don’t have off street parking so
I’d have to fill up water before 3 or after 4 pm
I don’t have the flashiest equipment
So lose some speed there
But I think I’m quite quick
I’ve watched other wfp windies work
While I’m having a sandwich and I’ve thought there quite slow
But probably people think I’m a slow coach 💁🏻♂️
I take it all with a pinch of salt now
I’ve heard some outrageous claims on this
Site on how many houses have been cleaned in a day and how much waters been used, earnings etc
Maybe I’m a snail 🐌😂
It just sounds to me like you could make some improvements to your round/equipment to make life easier for yourself in the long run.
For example I cleaned 24 houses today 8 till 2pm and used about 500l of water. That's not to brag at all but it's a fairly normal day for me so just to show what can be done. 250l and 14 houses seems painfully slow for 6 hours. Again that's not to knock you nothing wrong with taking your time that's your perogative but what if you did have the latest gear such as high mod poles and electric reels maybe you would be able to get through works faster.
Things such as climbing on flat roofs would be a no no for me too time consuming.
Maybe invest in equipment and invest in gaining new work to compact your round and get rid of jobs that slow you down.
Just sounds like you are struggling, 14 houses and not home till 5pm sounds not very enjoyable at all :'(
Is there any reason you can't start before 9:30 ? I would be aiming to finish before 3 to fill your water up before the school run...
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Hello Stoots
Yes 250 litres a day or less
I’m very economical on my water usage
Uni valve and my xline brush has 11 pencil jets
I use large brush 14 inch is it🤔
My biggest day is 14 semi detached houses
Takes 6 hours
2 houses are just fronts
But 3 houses have flat roofs so up a ladder
1 of these has a large conservatory
This takes 10 barrels
Luckily this is road my parents live in and where my water setup is
So if I ran out of water can fill up on site 😄
I can always carry more barrels
My setup is very diy
Rectangle bucket with shurflo pump screwed inside short end a large bolt pops up through bucket floor,
acts as a barrier stops car battery 🔋 sliding along bucket and squashing pump
And an eBay power regulator switch to turn pump speed up and down
I do lift hose reel out of van and it’s connected to and pump box with pole hose that I shut under van door and lock
My parents road where pure water is has a school at top of the road so 3.15 to 4pm
The road is full of Chelsea tractors 🚜
My parents don’t have off street parking so
I’d have to fill up water before 3 or after 4 pm
I don’t have the flashiest equipment
So lose some speed there
But I think I’m quite quick
I’ve watched other wfp windies work
While I’m having a sandwich and I’ve thought there quite slow
But probably people think I’m a slow coach 💁🏻♂️
I take it all with a pinch of salt now
I’ve heard some outrageous claims on this
Site on how many houses have been cleaned in a day and how much waters been used, earnings etc
Maybe I’m a snail 🐌😂
It just sounds to me like you could make some improvements to your round/equipment to make life easier for yourself in the long run.
For example I cleaned 24 houses today 8 till 2pm and used about 500l of water. That's not to brag at all but it's a fairly normal day for me so just to show what can be done. 250l and 14 houses seems painfully slow for 6 hours. Again that's not to knock you nothing wrong with taking your time that's your perogative but what if you did have the latest gear such as high mod poles and electric reels maybe you would be able to get through works faster.
Things such as climbing on flat roofs would be a no no for me too time consuming.
Maybe invest in equipment and invest in gaining new work to compact your round and get rid of jobs that slow you down.
Just sounds like you are struggling, 14 houses and not home till 5pm sounds not very enjoyable at all :'(
Is there any reason you can't start before 9:30 ? I would be aiming to finish before 3 to fill your water up before the school run...
Depends what he's being paid for the 14 houses, he might be earning more than you even though you splashed and dashed 24.
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I work 7:30 to midday these days, sometimes it’ll stretch to 2pm if I do a gutter clear or whatever after the round.
Took a few years to refine the round, but boy is it nice to be back for the afternoon. Especially as I’m renovating the house. Time is precious.
My neighbours don’t understand, they can’t believe how I earn a living on such short hours. Window cleaning is a funny one, it’s like no other job!
If you’re happy with those hours, crack on, but it may help to start early and aim to be home for 3pm…
No right or wrong, as long as you’re not finding the job stressful and un enjoyable.
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Hello Stoots
So: 24 houses today 8 till 2pm
That’s 24houses/6 hrs= 4 houses an hour
15 minutes per house
Was that driving to different roads Stoots or were they all in the same road?
Maybe I can’t do it because I don’t believe it can be done.
Bit like the 3 minute mile
No one believed it could be done
Until Roger Bannister did 🏃🏻♂️
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Hello Stoots
So: 24 houses today 8 till 2pm
That’s 24houses/6 hrs= 4 houses an hour
15 minutes per house
Was that driving to different roads Stoots or were they all in the same road?
Maybe I can’t do it because I don’t believe it can be done.
Bit like the 3 minute mile
No one believed it could be done
Until Roger Bannister did 🏃🏻♂️
Quite compact today. 1 house then move van. I'd say on average 1 to 2 mins between jobs. Mostly semis with a few detacheds. I'd say an average semi takes me 10 mins to clean so with pack away time and move the van 4 maybe 5 an hour is do able.
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Lee - I wouldn't worry about what other people do or don't do - you need only worry about yourself and your rate.
I have found the guys with a lower rate are not usually slower on the glass - its all the other bits that drag them down - faffing when parking extra trips to the van getting bits and bobs of the next clean card - poor hose practices - ie more tangles etc..
without being rude - you come across as a bit of a worrier/overthinker - in this game you are alone - there is no set standard to quality/pace etc..
if your worried about pace look at the off glass times
But an earlier start in the morning would be my priority
Darran
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Hello Stoots
So: 24 houses today 8 till 2pm
That’s 24houses/6 hrs= 4 houses an hour
15 minutes per house
Was that driving to different roads Stoots or were they all in the same road?
Maybe I can’t do it because I don’t believe it can be done.
Bit like the 3 minute mile
No one believed it could be done
Until Roger Bannister did 🏃🏻♂️
Quite compact today. 1 house then move van. I'd say on average 1 to 2 mins between jobs. Mostly semis with a few detacheds. I'd say an average semi takes me 10 mins to clean so with pack away time and move the van 4 maybe 5 an hour is do able.
I have a really unusual round, in which I usually move the van every couple of houses, perhaps only a few hundred meters, but i rarely have more than 3 houses all within reach.
I decided to to only really take on bigger houses (not always) but good priced work. I quite like the little journeys between jobs. Granted, it is a waste of time. Gives the body a short rest and a sip of water though.
I only clean around 8-10 houses a day now. That’s the advantage of years of refining.
How do you find cleaning that many houses stoots?
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⬆️ I agree I do much the same only a small amount of jobs per day 6-10 on average,it should get easier if like you say you keep refining the trouble is people are lazy and don’t so it’s not possible or you’re a liar.
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I work 7:30 to midday these days, sometimes it’ll stretch to 2pm if I do a gutter clear or whatever after the round.
Took a few years to refine the round, but boy is it nice to be back for the afternoon. Especially as I’m renovating the house. Time is precious.
My neighbours don’t understand, they can’t believe how I earn a living on such short hours. Window cleaning is a funny one, it’s like no other job!
If you’re happy with those hours, crack on, but it may help to start early and aim to be home for 3pm…
No right or wrong, as long as you’re not finding the job stressful and un enjoyable.
It's amazing how many window cleaners that have been going for many years are still busting a gut working long days..... ;D
Each to their own.... ;)
Im actually more productive working short days and part time hours week after week.i don't tend to suffer with burn out and i don't get too fed up with cleaning and enjoy my day to day life a lot more. 8)
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16 houses pencilled in for today,20 for tomorrow and another 16 on Friday.most are compact estate houses this week.each day I'll complete these jobs in 5 hours.no problem. :)
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I never count them.
Work nine till three thirty then knock it on the head.
I’m not that anal about windowcleaning.
My favourite property is always the last one.
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I don't care how many houses anyone cleans or if they earn more or less money. Just trying to help him maybe speed is something he can look at, maybe not, take it or leave it.
Another thought Lee what about getting a bigger van with a high payload ? There's some vans that can carry 1.5 ton plus. If you are only using 250l a day you could just fill a big van up once at the weekend and have it last you all week. An investment maybe but if its cuts 2 or 3 hours off each workday.
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I live in a flat and clean five flats in my block neighbours just post money through door, and five in next block bank transfer no problem at all don't even move motor
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I don't care how many houses anyone cleans or if they earn more or less money. Just trying to help him maybe speed is something he can look at, maybe not, take it or leave it.
Another thought Lee what about getting a bigger van with a high payload ? There's some vans that can carry 1.5 ton plus. If you are only using 250l a day you could just fill a big van up once at the weekend and have it last you all week. An investment maybe but if its cuts 2 or 3 hours off each workday.
Makes a lot of sense that.
I think dropping the barrels for a tank is deffo the way forward. I've done trad., trolley from an estate car with barrels. A 200L tank on a trailer plus barrels. It took me 18 months from going wfp to bite the bullet and buy a new (Doblo) van with a 400L tank. It transformed my day back then (2006) and took me from a £150 a day feeling tired to £200 a day in 6 hours instantly.
For context in 2004 I would do about £100 a day trad. With barrels etc. I got to about £150 in 2005 and getting the van in 2006 it was unusual NOT to do £200.
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The first thing I would say to someone is are you pretty sure you’ll be doing this seriously if so get as new van as you can with system as big as you can.
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I never count them.
Work nine till three thirty then knock it on the head.
I’m not that anal about windowcleaning.
My favourite property is always the last one.
Don't you have worksheets or a schedule?I love being organised and having a set amount of work to do.all my weeks work is on my phone(cleaner planner).... ;D
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Nope, never have a worksheet, never count jobs. Most of my work is from memory although I use CP mainly for accounting.
Hate routine and never set goals.
The only routine I stick to is getting regular nights sleep and never work past 3.30
Rarely clean houses in the same order as it becomes boring and monotonous.
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Daz if I had to guess you were born in December.organising your work like you do,I should know I’ve lived with one for over half my life known her for longer 🤣🤣.
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Was Dazmondos birthday earlier in Nov, don't know if you heard but he went to Maldives, then had that massive tub of beans in jacuzzi :o
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Nope, never have a worksheet, never count jobs. Most of my work is from memory although I use CP mainly for accounting.
Hate routine and never set goals.
The only routine I stick to is getting regular nights sleep and never work past 3.30
Rarely clean houses in the same order as it becomes boring and monotonous.
I love routine.....its comfortable!😄
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Sound like my Mrs.
Same food for breakfast every morning whilst watching the same news channel at the same time. Watch the same tv prog, the same reality shows in the same jungle with the same format at the same time of the year, go to work and do the same job every day.
I’m the opposite of that 😀
Probably why I hate Christmas so much!
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Nope, never have a worksheet, never count jobs. Most of my work is from memory although I use CP mainly for accounting.
Hate routine and never set goals.
The only routine I stick to is getting regular nights sleep and never work past 3.30
Rarely clean houses in the same order as it becomes boring and monotonous.
That’s me 5 hours and depending on where I fancy working..or if I don’t fancy the weather,or ill always try to have a Monday or Friday off..doesn’t make it a chore then..
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Hello Stoots
Yes 250 litres a day or less
I’m very economical on my water usage
Uni valve and my xline brush has 11 pencil jets
I use large brush 14 inch is it🤔
My biggest day is 14 semi detached houses
Takes 6 hours
2 houses are just fronts
But 3 houses have flat roofs so up a ladder
1 of these has a large conservatory
This takes 10 barrels
Luckily this is road my parents live in and where my water setup is
So if I ran out of water can fill up on site 😄
I can always carry more barrels
My setup is very diy
Rectangle bucket with shurflo pump screwed inside short end a large bolt pops up through bucket floor,
acts as a barrier stops car battery 🔋 sliding along bucket and squashing pump
And an eBay power regulator switch to turn pump speed up and down
I do lift hose reel out of van and it’s connected to and pump box with pole hose that I shut under van door and lock
My parents road where pure water is has a school at top of the road so 3.15 to 4pm
The road is full of Chelsea tractors 🚜
My parents don’t have off street parking so
I’d have to fill up water before 3 or after 4 pm
I don’t have the flashiest equipment
So lose some speed there
But I think I’m quite quick
I’ve watched other wfp windies work
While I’m having a sandwich and I’ve thought there quite slow
But probably people think I’m a slow coach 💁🏻♂️
I take it all with a pinch of salt now
I’ve heard some outrageous claims on this
Site on how many houses have been cleaned in a day and how much waters been used, earnings etc
Maybe I’m a snail 🐌😂
:o
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Sound like my Mrs.
Same food for breakfast every morning whilst watching the same news channel at the same time. Watch the same tv prog, the same reality shows in the same jungle with the same format at the same time of the year, go to work and do the same job every day.
I’m the opposite of that 😀
Probably why I hate Christmas so much!
I'm not that boring mate!but when it comes to work I like to be organised...it helps me have a more efficient business... ;D....