Clean It Up
UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: Bungle on July 18, 2024, 06:22:14 pm
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Text goes out from me. Hi Agnes, window cleaner calling tomorrow morning.
She replies. Thank you very much, will give it a miss this time. I have won a window cleaning prize at the local fete last week so will take advantage of that. Many thanks otherwise.
FFS
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That would be a strike off on my round ;D
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That would be a strike off on my round ;D
Difficult one as I clean her daughter's who lives next door. But it has p1ssed me off TBF. A quick Google and I've found out the window cleaners are also handymen, painters and decorators... you name it they do it. And to cap it all off they're based over 20 miles away.
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That would be a strike off on my round ;D
Difficult one as I clean her daughter's who lives next door. But it has p1ssed me off TBF. A quick Google and I've found out the window cleaners are also handymen, painters and decorators... you name it they do it. And to cap it all off they're based over 20 miles away.
You gotta laugh at that!🤣🤣🤣
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Can’t blame her, let her have the clean and then carry on!
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When you go back, stick a quid on the price
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Offer your services at the fete next year and if you're lucky, they might put you in a raffle bungle
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Offer your services at the fete next year and if you're lucky, they might put you in a raffle bungle
Yeah, I'll have a special 50% off window clean prize then add 150% with a one year contract to be paid up front 😂
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Thats a beaut!
they will either not turn up - or do a cr@ppy job so be prepared to surcharge for the extra mess ;D
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Thats a beaut!
they will either not turn up - or do a cr@ppy job so be prepared to surcharge for the extra mess ;D
Some people need to learn the hard way.
There isn't much that they could mess up imo. The windows are already cleaned wfp, so they could easily get away with a shoddy job provided their water is pure.
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Can’t blame her, let her have the clean and then carry on!
I agree. But I would also expect to lose both hers and her daughter's future clean to these fete cleaners.
I doubt they will last, but the customer sounds like she could be tempted away by price.
If this does happen and she eventually asks Bungle back, then he must make the decision if he takes her back on or not.
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As someone who has given "free window clean" vouchers away to raffles, fete's & charity's before, I don't think you can blame the old lass for utilising her prize, A free clean is a clean off her outgoings,
What you can be disappointed in is her failure to pre warn you that she may want to miss, this was ignorant of her.
It sounds like the firm who gave it away were using it as a way to upsell other services they offer as she already has a good window cleaner you would seem unlikely to lose the jobs of her or her daughter.
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It's not a good sign that she Is willing to see you out of work to save a few poxy quid. Shows lack of respect for you and that she is a tight get.
On the other had if it's just one clean and then it's back to normal who cares. However I doubt these cleaners are looking to clean windows for free just for the hell of it, its a tactic to get them in the door and hopefully take the ongoing work.
I alway struggle with these things, on one had it doesn't matter at all on the other it grates at me. Hmm dump or not dump I would be toying with.
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It's not a good sign that she Is willing to see you out of work to save a few poxy quid. Shows lack of respect for you and that she is a tight get.
On the other had if it's just one clean and then it's back to normal who cares. However I doubt these cleaners are looking to clean windows for free just for the hell of it, its a tactic to get them in the door and hopefully take the ongoing work.
I alway struggle with these things, on one had it doesn't matter at all on the other it grates at me. Hmm dump or not dump I would be toying with.
You take it too personally, at the end of the day to most customers, we’re just a service, they don’t think about our well being or financial circumstances.
Obviously there are some customers who become good friends, but it’s not a given…
She just wants her free clean, and why not? If she then jumps ship to new guys then so be it, it’s not like she’s in a contract, she probably couldn’t care less. To some people we’re just simply a window cleaner and nothing more…
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It's not a good sign that she Is willing to see you out of work to save a few poxy quid. Shows lack of respect for you and that she is a tight get.
On the other had if it's just one clean and then it's back to normal who cares. However I doubt these cleaners are looking to clean windows for free just for the hell of it, its a tactic to get them in the door and hopefully take the ongoing work.
I alway struggle with these things, on one had it doesn't matter at all on the other it grates at me. Hmm dump or not dump I would be toying with.
You take it too personally, at the end of the day to most customers, we’re just a service, they don’t think about our well being or financial circumstances.
Obviously there are some customers who become good friends, but it’s not a given…
She just wants her free clean, and why not? If she then jumps ship to new guys then so be it, it’s not like she’s in a contract, she probably couldn’t care less. To some people we’re just simply a window cleaner and nothing more…
On a par with bin men.
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It's not a good sign that she Is willing to see you out of work to save a few poxy quid. Shows lack of respect for you and that she is a tight get.
On the other had if it's just one clean and then it's back to normal who cares. However I doubt these cleaners are looking to clean windows for free just for the hell of it, its a tactic to get them in the door and hopefully take the ongoing work.
I alway struggle with these things, on one had it doesn't matter at all on the other it grates at me. Hmm dump or not dump I would be toying with.
You take it too personally, at the end of the day to most customers, we’re just a service, they don’t think about our well being or financial circumstances.
Obviously there are some customers who become good friends, but it’s not a given…
She just wants her free clean, and why not? If she then jumps ship to new guys then so be it, it’s not like she’s in a contract, she probably couldn’t care less. To some people we’re just simply a window cleaner and nothing more…
On a par with bin men.
😂
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It's probably 6 months cleaning which could be £100 or more.
What's she supposed to do? Turn it down in case she hurts your feelings?
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It's not a good sign that she Is willing to see you out of work to save a few poxy quid. Shows lack of respect for you and that she is a tight get.
On the other had if it's just one clean and then it's back to normal who cares. However I doubt these cleaners are looking to clean windows for free just for the hell of it, its a tactic to get them in the door and hopefully take the ongoing work.
I alway struggle with these things, on one had it doesn't matter at all on the other it grates at me. Hmm dump or not dump I would be toying with.
You take it too personally, at the end of the day to most customers, we’re just a service, they don’t think about our well being or financial circumstances.
Obviously there are some customers who become good friends, but it’s not a given…
She just wants her free clean, and why not? If she then jumps ship to new guys then so be it, it’s not like she’s in a contract, she probably couldn’t care less. To some people we’re just simply a window cleaner and nothing more…
On a par with bin men.
Bin men are way more important!
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It's not a good sign that she Is willing to see you out of work to save a few poxy quid. Shows lack of respect for you and that she is a tight get.
On the other had if it's just one clean and then it's back to normal who cares. However I doubt these cleaners are looking to clean windows for free just for the hell of it, its a tactic to get them in the door and hopefully take the ongoing work.
I alway struggle with these things, on one had it doesn't matter at all on the other it grates at me. Hmm dump or not dump I would be toying with.
You take it too personally, at the end of the day to most customers, we’re just a service, they don’t think about our well being or financial circumstances.
Obviously there are some customers who become good friends, but it’s not a given…
She just wants her free clean, and why not? If she then jumps ship to new guys then so be it, it’s not like she’s in a contract, she probably couldn’t care less. To some people we’re just simply a window cleaner and nothing more…
On a par with bin men.
Bin men are way more important!
I bet they don't get many skips 😜
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It's not a good sign that she Is willing to see you out of work to save a few poxy quid. Shows lack of respect for you and that she is a tight get.
On the other had if it's just one clean and then it's back to normal who cares. However I doubt these cleaners are looking to clean windows for free just for the hell of it, its a tactic to get them in the door and hopefully take the ongoing work.
I alway struggle with these things, on one had it doesn't matter at all on the other it grates at me. Hmm dump or not dump I would be toying with.
You take it too personally, at the end of the day to most customers, we’re just a service, they don’t think about our well being or financial circumstances.
Obviously there are some customers who become good friends, but it’s not a given…
She just wants her free clean, and why not? If she then jumps ship to new guys then so be it, it’s not like she’s in a contract, she probably couldn’t care less. To some people we’re just simply a window cleaner and nothing more…
On a par with bin men.
My previous job was a bin man😆
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Difficult one as I clean her daughter's who lives next door. But it has p1ssed me off TBF. A quick Google and I've found out the window cleaners are also handymen, painters and decorators... you name it they do it. And to cap it all off they're based over 20 miles away.
That's the future of window cleaning now. I've been doing it for 6 years and I see other folk have it on their vans. Today a customer asked me to come in and take a look at the dishwasher. It was 10 years old and I told her to buy a new one and I would fit it. Integrated so need to put wooden door back on new one when she gets it. Then she wants all the slabs Softwashed and a deep clean on a headstone at the cemetery. Great customer and I'm happy to oblige, have already replaced a bathroom tap and popup waste. Multiple streams of income so that's the reason I keep my tools in my van with deadlocks fitted. Its the future I'm afraid. The more one can do then the more you make. Realise its not for everyone.
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Difficult one as I clean her daughter's who lives next door. But it has p1ssed me off TBF. A quick Google and I've found out the window cleaners are also handymen, painters and decorators... you name it they do it. And to cap it all off they're based over 20 miles away.
That's the future of window cleaning now. I've been doing it for 6 years and I see other folk have it on their vans. Today a customer asked me to come in and take a look at the dishwasher. It was 10 years old and I told her to buy a new one and I would fit it. Integrated so need to put wooden door back on new one when she gets it. Then she wants all the slabs Softwashed and a deep clean on a headstone at the cemetery. Great customer and I'm happy to oblige, have already replaced a bathroom tap and popup waste. Multiple streams of income so that's the reason I keep my tools in my van with deadlocks fitted. Its the future I'm afraid. The more one can do then the more you make. Realise its not for everyone.
Jack of all trades springs to mind.
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Yea. So you moan others are prattling around not being one specific trade, then you yourself offer to fit some old birds washing machine.
Muppet.
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Doubt it - any by the time you've half arsed about doing that you could have done 4/5 cleans and earned 200 notes instead of 40
there will always be people (customers ::)roll) asking you to do odd little jobs - usually because they get it done cheap.
One word of caution - check you have permission to "Deep Clean" headstones - and I don't mean your customer
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And if you have public liability insurance - does it cover all these 'odd jobs'?
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Difficult one as I clean her daughter's who lives next door. But it has p1ssed me off TBF. A quick Google and I've found out the window cleaners are also handymen, painters and decorators... you name it they do it. And to cap it all off they're based over 20 miles away.
That's the future of window cleaning now. I've been doing it for 6 years and I see other folk have it on their vans. Today a customer asked me to come in and take a look at the dishwasher. It was 10 years old and I told her to buy a new one and I would fit it. Integrated so need to put wooden door back on new one when she gets it. Then she wants all the slabs Softwashed and a deep clean on a headstone at the cemetery. Great customer and I'm happy to oblige, have already replaced a bathroom tap and popup waste. Multiple streams of income so that's the reason I keep my tools in my van with deadlocks fitted. Its the future I'm afraid. The more one can do then the more you make. Realise its not for everyone.
The future of window cleaning, FFS.
Ask Dazmond what extra services he offers, in fact look at all the successful guys on here and see if you can find a post of them sending someone out to do anything other than their core business.
Maybe having a fat pension each month clouds your judgment.
For most, unless you have the tools, time and skills, spend your time building 1 business
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Each to their own @tlwcs.
I certainly agree that sticking to your core business is the only way forward for most of us.
There are a number of window cleaners in our area who have stopped doing add-ons. So we get approached quite often by their customers. In the beginning, I thought that if they employed me to do the work that their regular cleaners wouldn't do, then they would get me to clean their windows as well.
It never happened. So now I reluctantly only do add-ons for by current customer base.
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Bit of a pile-on here chaps. Play nice.
For me I am actively reducing any add-ons. I stopped doing gutters and soffits a couple of years back and pass them on to Dan the Man.
I don't even do Conny roofs anymore (unless it's an existing customer and a simple lean-to), but that's more of a 'looking to wind down' thing than anything else.
If MM has a pension or other work then good for him. If he enjoys doing odd jobs then who cares?
Having said that it seems strange to complain about a customer winning a free clean. That's such an outlier that unless I was looking for an excuse to dump even I would let that pass without a flounce. ;D
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Having said that it seems strange to complain about a customer winning a free clean. That's such an outlier that unless I was looking for an excuse to dump even I would let that pass without a flounce. ;D
Exactly.
The correct response is:
That's great, congratulations. Just give me a shout when you need me back.
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Difficult one as I clean her daughter's who lives next door. But it has p1ssed me off TBF. A quick Google and I've found out the window cleaners are also handymen, painters and decorators... you name it they do it. And to cap it all off they're based over 20 miles away.
That's the future of window cleaning now. I've been doing it for 6 years and I see other folk have it on their vans. Today a customer asked me to come in and take a look at the dishwasher. It was 10 years old and I told her to buy a new one and I would fit it. Integrated so need to put wooden door back on new one when she gets it. Then she wants all the slabs Softwashed and a deep clean on a headstone at the cemetery. Great customer and I'm happy to oblige, have already replaced a bathroom tap and popup waste. Multiple streams of income so that's the reason I keep my tools in my van with deadlocks fitted. Its the future I'm afraid. The more one can do then the more you make. Realise its not for everyone.
Jack of all trades springs to mind.
He might be a jack of all trades but these people are handy to know.good luck to him he will make a lot of people happy around his chosen area fixing and cleaning all sorts of things...
We need guys like him in society
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A free window clean in a raffle...fair enough. If it was one of my custys, I wouldn't really even think about it, just contact them next time and carry on; I've been cancelled for far worse reasons! ;D
M.M. you've been cleaning for 6 years and you still have time to do extra work! I was up to my proverbial bottom in windows after 6 years!
And as for the' future of window cleaning'...it's window cleaning! Nothing more, nothing less; provide a good, friendly, reliable service, be professional and polite and offer a fair price. And repeat, and repeat, and repeat.
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(http://www.cleanitup.co.uk/smf/1721476633_Screenshot_20240720_125439_Gallery.jpg)
It's not a good sign that she Is willing to see you out of work to save a few poxy quid. Shows lack of respect for you and that she is a tight get.
On the other had if it's just one clean and then it's back to normal who cares. However I doubt these cleaners are looking to clean windows for free just for the hell of it, its a tactic to get them in the door and hopefully take the ongoing work.
I alway struggle with these things, on one had it doesn't matter at all on the other it grates at me. Hmm dump or not dump I would be toying with.
You take it too personally, at the end of the day to most customers, we’re just a service, they don’t think about our well being or financial circumstances.
Obviously there are some customers who become good friends, but it’s not a given…
She just wants her free clean, and why not? If she then jumps ship to new guys then so be it, it’s not like she’s in a contract, she probably couldn’t care less. To some people we’re just simply a window cleaner and nothing more…
Why would you want to be anything other than just the window cleaner?.
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Why would you want to be anything other than just the window cleaner?.
I just find cleaning windows all the time drives a man into depression or drives you crazy. One day window cleaning and then one day doing add-ons. Flexibility is the reason I have loyal customers. Did a gutter clear, SFG clean and first clean on windows this morning. Started at 9am finished for 12.30pm and made £300 plus I have the monthly clean. Can only do it because I have Vac, Nano Trolly, Hypo and van system with 25' pole as I wasn't allowed to go on roof. Wouldn't have went on roof anyway, it was a new slate roof. The window cleaning gives me continuity with my customers who come first above everything else and they provide the add-ons, I see it as a win win situation. The reason Bungle is upset is because he may only do window cleaning, if on the other hand he does add-ons then he might have been able to fit something in. Happens to me and I finish earlier so I visit B&Q and buy material for a job I have booked that month. I believe the answer we have all been looking for is flexibility, add another skill to your bow and more money will come in. If you are happy just cleaning windows then so be it, its a free world so they say.
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I like add on’s they are a nice change from the glass and if priced right they are a nice boost in cash 💰 :)
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Why would you want to be anything other than just the window cleaner?.
I just find cleaning windows all the time drives a man into depression or drives you crazy. One day window cleaning and then one day doing add-ons. Flexibility is the reason I have loyal customers. Did a gutter clear, SFG clean and first clean on windows this morning. Started at 9am finished for 12.30pm and made £300 plus I have the monthly clean. Can only do it because I have Vac, Nano Trolly, Hypo and van system with 25' pole as I wasn't allowed to go on roof. Wouldn't have went on roof anyway, it was a new slate roof. The window cleaning gives me continuity with my customers who come first above everything else and they provide the add-ons, I see it as a win win situation. The reason Bungle is upset is because he may only do window cleaning, if on the other hand he does add-ons then he might have been able to fit something in. Happens to me and I finish earlier so I visit B&Q and buy material for a job I have booked that month. I believe the answer we have all been looking for is flexibility, add another skill to your bow and more money will come in. If you are happy just cleaning windows then so be it, its a free world so they say.
Have you got heated seats and a 5* holiday booked by any chance?
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I’ve recently started doing gutter repairs and replacements (not just the usual gutter clearing/cleaning we all do) and it’s absolutely fantastic. The money is better than window cleaning and it’s something a bit different.
Granted, it’s not my core business so I can take it leave jobs. Pick the cream jobs.
So glad I ventured into it, set up a dedicated website for it, it brings in a trickle of jobs and I really enjoy getting away from the windows for a day.
It is sometimes worth adding other strings to your bow. But only, and I mean only, if it’s more enjoyable and earns you more than window cleaning.
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Why would you want to be anything other than just the window cleaner?.
I just find cleaning windows all the time drives a man into depression or drives you crazy. One day window cleaning and then one day doing add-ons. Flexibility is the reason I have loyal customers. Did a gutter clear, SFG clean and first clean on windows this morning. Started at 9am finished for 12.30pm and made £300 plus I have the monthly clean. Can only do it because I have Vac, Nano Trolly, Hypo and van system with 25' pole as I wasn't allowed to go on roof. Wouldn't have went on roof anyway, it was a new slate roof. The window cleaning gives me continuity with my customers who come first above everything else and they provide the add-ons, I see it as a win win situation. The reason Bungle is upset is because he may only do window cleaning, if on the other hand he does add-ons then he might have been able to fit something in. Happens to me and I finish earlier so I visit B&Q and buy material for a job I have booked that month. I believe the answer we have all been looking for is flexibility, add another skill to your bow and more money will come in. If you are happy just cleaning windows then so be it, its a free world so they say.
what's with the consent pricing and list of equipment - do you not think everyone else has equipment and in all honesty its better than what you've listed...
From experience - adding things like grass cutting - shed erecting - decorating dent work it severely limits your earning power/potential that in real terms you are going backwards - related add ons - Conny, sfg cleans gutters etc.. work well all the rest is just for someone just playing at running a biz who has either another job or large pension so they puff up their own ego a kid themselves they run a really good business
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I personally love doing addons but only in the cleaning jobs, ie I do a lot of gutter cleans using a gutter vac also FSG and con roofs but I do draw the line at fitting washing machines or cutting customers grass.
I used to do a lot of jet washing but packed that up due to loading and unloading the petrol jet wash from the van.
Having said all that, the other week I was cleaning windows at an old girls place and she asked if I could possibly run the hoover over the top of her kitchen unit as she could not get on the step ladder,
she has been a customer for over 20 years so I did do it for her, (it only took 3 minuets) she offered to pay me but I refused , bless her .
Later that day I get a text from her daughter saying thank you so much, sometimes that is better than money.
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Can’t be ersed with tool boxes, gutter vacs, ladders, power washers, dosatrons etc etc, I prefer to keep things simple. Regular maintenance window cleaning is the easiest work out there😉
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I personally love doing addons but only in the cleaning jobs, ie I do a lot of gutter cleans using a gutter vac also FSG and con roofs but I do draw the line at fitting washing machines or cutting customers grass.
I used to do a lot of jet washing but packed that up due to loading and unloading the petrol jet wash from the van.
Having said all that, the other week I was cleaning windows at an old girls place and she asked if I could possibly run the hoover over the top of her kitchen unit as she could not get on the step ladder,
she has been a customer for over 20 years so I did do it for her, (it only took 3 minuets) she offered to pay me but I refused , bless her .
Later that day I get a text from her daughter saying thank you so much, sometimes that is better money.
Doing a little favour for a loyal elderly customer isn't really the issue. I think we'd all do that wouldn't we?
But I can beat that, Jay! I actually lent an old biddy £30 in cash when her bank account got frozen due to suspected fraud activity. ;D
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I lent one of my customers £40 at Christmas because she was bleating she didn’t have enough money for Christmas, then I found out she had a boyfriend. Shame really, very tasty.
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what's with the consent pricing and list of equipment - do you not think everyone else has equipment and in all honesty its better than what you've listed...
From experience - adding things like grass cutting - shed erecting - decorating dent work it severely limits your earning power/potential that in real terms you are going backwards - related add ons - Conny, sfg cleans gutters etc.. work well all the rest is just for someone just playing at running a biz who has either another job or large pension so they puff up their own ego a kid themselves they run a really good business
I am an honest person so it was an honest mornings work. I'm telling the story to help newbies who don't have much equipment. To gain experience one has to undertake the work and then one can relate to it. Then and only then can we look back at the diary and see what jobs made the most money in the least amount of time. I used to spend a hundred a month on advertising but with enough work I don't advertise and just have the website. Parents owned a hotel so I grew up in a 24/7 business and began to notice the reason why a business grew and it all came down to the business cycle. Window Cleaning is on an up cycle with the introduction of wfp and rising house prices. If one decided to open a shop, pub or restaurant then you would probably last a year at the most. Open an internet business and you would probably succeed because of the amount of customers you have access too. I'm only trying to help anyone who wants their business to grow. My customers know that if they cancel my window cleaning service then I won't do any other work for them so they are less likely to cancel. Apple related to this, that they want loyal customers when they came out with the Iphone. One windy was saying a customer asked him to clean the inside windows one month and he said sorry don't clean inside windows. The customer immediately cancelled his monthly clean. I realised then that the more you do for your customer then the more loyal they will become.
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Someone believing their customers are inherently loyal says more about you than them.
They don’t give a monkeys fig you can change a taps washer.
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I personally love doing addons but only in the cleaning jobs, ie I do a lot of gutter cleans using a gutter vac also FSG and con roofs but I do draw the line at fitting washing machines or cutting customers grass.
I used to do a lot of jet washing but packed that up due to loading and unloading the petrol jet wash from the van.
Having said all that, the other week I was cleaning windows at an old girls place and she asked if I could possibly run the hoover over the top of her kitchen unit as she could not get on the step ladder,
she has been a customer for over 20 years so I did do it for her, (it only took 3 minuets) she offered to pay me but I refused , bless her .
Later that day I get a text from her daughter saying thank you so much, sometimes that is better than money.
3 minuets eh? She led you a merry dance.
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Someone believing their customers are inherently loyal says more about you than them.
They don’t give a monkeys fig you can change a taps washer.
Always find it funny when people think the customer wouldn't have anyone else cleaning there windows but them. They couldn't give a toss who cleans them aslong as there done okay.
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Regular maintenance window cleaning is the easiest work out there😉
I dunno , I find gutter vaccing easier i can do that one handed.
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Now you mention it, Im looking for a window cleaner.
How are you on blocked sewage pipes these days? It'll only take a couple of minutes.
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what's with the consent pricing and list of equipment - do you not think everyone else has equipment and in all honesty its better than what you've listed...
From experience - adding things like grass cutting - shed erecting - decorating dent work it severely limits your earning power/potential that in real terms you are going backwards - related add ons - Conny, sfg cleans gutters etc.. work well all the rest is just for someone just playing at running a biz who has either another job or large pension so they puff up their own ego a kid themselves they run a really good business
I am an honest person so it was an honest mornings work. I'm telling the story to help newbies who don't have much equipment. To gain experience one has to undertake the work and then one can relate to it. Then and only then can we look back at the diary and see what jobs made the most money in the least amount of time. I used to spend a hundred a month on advertising but with enough work I don't advertise and just have the website. Parents owned a hotel so I grew up in a 24/7 business and began to notice the reason why a business grew and it all came down to the business cycle. Window Cleaning is on an up cycle with the introduction of wfp and rising house prices. If one decided to open a shop, pub or restaurant then you would probably last a year at the most. Open an internet business and you would probably succeed because of the amount of customers you have access too. I'm only trying to help anyone who wants their business to grow. My customers know that if they cancel my window cleaning service then I won't do any other work for them so they are less likely to cancel. Apple related to this, that they want loyal customers when they came out with the Iphone. One windy was saying a customer asked him to clean the inside windows one month and he said sorry don't clean inside windows. The customer immediately cancelled his monthly clean. I realised then that the more you do for your customer then the more loyal they will become.
I find this very odd!
This is a window cleaning website and people come on here to learn about how to start (or improve) their window cleaning business. I'm pretty sure they have no interest in fitting washing machines, painting or general diy tasks...otherwise they wouldn't be on window cleaning website.
It seems as though you have to do extra jobs to make more money.
If that works for you then that's great. A good window cleaning round can generate an excellent hourly rate to make a living and then some! Of course there are add-ons such as soft washing, pressure washing, conny roofs, fsgs etc. Some of the other members on here are specialists in these areas and earn far more money than just cleaning windows and they are more than willing to share their experiences to help everyone out, so we can all achieve more.
You seem very focused (obsessed) on customer loyalty! Offering 10 services to a customer makes them no more loyal (or dependent) than offering one. If you feel you need to offer 10 different services to a customer in order to make them loyal to you then I think you're misguided. Yes, offering a wide range of services is far better than just one service...but relying on that range of services as a substitute for insecurity, or quality, doesn't work.
To sum up:
If you want to offer a range of (diy services) then that's great and good for you. But that is not good advice for a newbie who (with the right direction) can earn a higher hourly rate just cleaning windows. After all, that's why they are here.
If you feel you need to offer more services to 'keep' customers then you are misguided. I have over 350 window cleaning customers and I know that (despite the relationships I have built up over the last 13 years) any one of them would drop me in an instant, given the right circumstance! My only upside to this, is I know how to go and get more customers to replace them.
If you haven't managed to earn a good hourly rate cleaning windows, then there are many back posts on here to help, or if you feel you need better customer loyalty, then provide a better quality service. If you need to offer other services to make your job more fullfilling then that is fine, but that is not good advice for newbies wanting to learn about window cleaning; perhaps some window cleaning advice would be good?
Sorry, rant over.
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Personally wouldnt have a problem with someone winning a raffle prize and wanting to use it... id do the same but would have a problem if someone was taking advantage of one of these firms that offers 1st clean free at my expense.
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Personally wouldnt have a problem with someone winning a raffle prize and wanting to use it... id do the same but would have a problem if someone was taking advantage of one of these firms that offers 1st clean free at my expense.
If I wasn't a window cleaner and I had a window cleaner and I won a free clean with another company and told my window cleaner of 4 years not to come this time I'd be a bit worried that he wouldn't show up in the future. But is that me thinking with my window cleaners hat on knowing how things pan out in this business?
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Your right bungle - as a customer it didn’t even cross her mind you might get the hump same as deciding not to shop at Tesco this weekend.
Annoying as it is - let it go and carry on taking her £ in the future.
MM - is really a handyman -
This forum IS to help others and by all means share your cleaning experiences ( preferably when people ask for them and not in a condescending way)
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It will be interesting to see if they turn up and what sort of job is done...
What if they still haven't done the free clean by the time Bungle is due again, he gets put off again ?
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Personally I can't think of anything worse than offering all sorts of odd jobs to my window cleaning customers...
I just want to get my work cleaned and get home.I've got plenty of other jobs to do for my mother,my missus and daughter.(usually little DIY jobs and gardening jobs here and there)....
Fair play to those that want/like to do all sorts of other work but its defo not for me.
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As long as you are home by 2pm at the very latest and dont work fridays it matters not what you do. Just stick to this rule and all is well.
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Personally I can't think of anything worse than offering all sorts of odd jobs to my window cleaning customers...
I just want to get my work cleaned and get home.I've got plenty of other jobs to do for my mother,my missus and daughter.(usually little DIY jobs and gardening jobs here and there)....
Fair play to those that want/like to do all sorts of other work but its defo not for me.
You could always ring MM jack of all trade services to do these little jobs and then you’d have even more time for the gym 😁
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I don't repair washing machines. The old lady asked me to have a look at her Dishwasher as it wasn't filling up with water. All I was looking for was a reset button which some have. The more you integrate with your customers face to face then the more likely you will keep their business. Anyway, going by the way my business is going, I have never been busier and can take work or leave it. Handyman Industry is also on the up cycle. I have always studied Cycles and the reason why they happen and it mostly comes down to Demographics.
Scotland has highest rate of people living alone
It said more than one in three (37%) of households were one person living alone - 930,000 people in total. The latest data for the rest of the UK shows 30% of households in England were single person, 32% in Wales, and 31% in Northern Ireland.
I have many single woman customers over 50 years old. If they need something done they contact me first and I give them my advice for free and usually do the job. That's the reason I'm so busy and they trust me to leave me in their house alone. I see it as a win win connection. fwiw
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So you do a lot of Widow cleaning?
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I don't repair washing machines. The old lady asked me to have a look at her Dishwasher as it wasn't filling up with water. All I was looking for was a reset button which some have. The more you integrate with your customers face to face then the more likely you will keep their business. Anyway, going by the way my business is going, I have never been busier and can take work or leave it. Handyman Industry is also on the up cycle. I have always studied Cycles and the reason why they happen and it mostly comes down to Demographics.
Scotland has highest rate of people living alone
It said more than one in three (37%) of households were one person living alone - 930,000 people in total. The latest data for the rest of the UK shows 30% of households in England were single person, 32% in Wales, and 31% in Northern Ireland.
I have many single woman customers over 50 years old. If they need something done they contact me first and I give them my advice for free and usually do the job. That's the reason I'm so busy and they trust me to leave me in their house alone. I see it as a win win connection. fwiw
Do you know what MM...... it's almost sounds like you are lacking in love and attention so you turn to all your customers to get some...... bless yer
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MODDED
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I don't repair washing machines. The old lady asked me to have a look at her Dishwasher as it wasn't filling up with water. All I was looking for was a reset button which some have. The more you integrate with your customers face to face then the more likely you will keep their business. Anyway, going by the way my business is going, I have never been busier and can take work or leave it. Handyman Industry is also on the up cycle. I have always studied Cycles and the reason why they happen and it mostly comes down to Demographics.
Scotland has highest rate of people living alone
It said more than one in three (37%) of households were one person living alone - 930,000 people in total. The latest data for the rest of the UK shows 30% of households in England were single person, 32% in Wales, and 31% in Northern Ireland.
I have many single woman customers over 50 years old. If they need something done they contact me first and I give them my advice for free and usually do the job. That's the reason I'm so busy and they trust me to leave me in their house alone. I see it as a win win connection. fwiw
Each to there own.....personally I don't want to be busy all the time.
I currently have 321 jobs to clean either on a 4/8 weekly basis of various sizes.thats enough for me with the occasional add on job (F/S/G,Conny roof or solar panels for existing customers).
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Be cautious doing odd jobs indoors for customers, all it takes is one customer to report you to the police accusing you of some money, jewelry or whatever missing and police turning up on your doorstep, not worth it. Only takes one idiot trying to falsely claim off their insurance when money is tight. I avoid indoor jobs completely.
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Be cautious doing odd jobs indoors for customers, all it takes is one customer to report you to the police accusing you of some money, jewelry or whatever missing and police turning up on your doorstep, not worth it. Only takes one idiot trying to falsely claim off their insurance when money is tight. I avoid indoor jobs completely.
I cleaned the insides of a house many years ago and I knocked a big feck off house plant over. Dirt all over the carpet. I said oh dear.
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MODDED
Another one like that puts you on the naughty step for a month.
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I warned earlier in the thread about a pile-on.
No more warnings for anyone.
If you want to explain the reasons you do/don't think that non cleaning add-ons are a good idea that's fine. But do it civilly.
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Me?
what have I done .... ???
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Me?
what have I done .... ???
Tsk tsk.
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Did you warn? Oooo the power!
What happened to freedom of speech!
The guy talks complete and utter drivel. We both know that!
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I always upset some folk because they can't see what I'm meaning. If my company wasn't doing well then I wouldn't be posting stuff. Only trying to help folk turn a coin with adding some services to their window cleaning service. The thing is, if not for you then just ignore it and move on.
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Me?
what have I done .... ???
Turn around and face the wall ;D
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Did you warn? Oooo the power!
What happened to freedom of speech!
The guy talks complete and utter drivel. We both know that!
That's why he's allowed to post. ;D
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I always upset some folk because they can't see what I'm meaning. If my company wasn't doing well then I wouldn't be posting stuff. Only trying to help folk turn a coin with adding some services to their window cleaning service. The thing is, if not for you then just ignore it and move on.
not upset MM - in fact quite the opposite - I struggle to take you seriously (sorry thats the way I see it)
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That’s a fair comment! Apologies!
He just winds me up as he’s telling people (window cleaners) to add odds and sods to their repertoire and it will bring them riches. It’s just not true. I’ve been there and done that. What he doesn’t tell you is the amount of time he spends picking up a tin of paint here, a gutter bracket there, chatting to the old dear whilst he’s fitting the washing machine etc etc Is that all costed in to the hourly rate? I think not! Add ons can be lucrative such as the usual gutters and conny roofs etc but certainly not the bits and bobs. I think he once said he cleaned some bins out for £3 a pop ffs!
To be fair he is building up a good personal relationship with his group of customers and he will always have work that way.
But working that way will not beat having a solid window cleaning round that has been refined over the years. The repeat work is always there year after year. No picking up materials, no getting rid of rubbish. No quoting time for all these extra jobs. Very rarely hampered by bad weather etc etc
All IMO of course
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That’s a fair comment! Apologies!
He just winds me up as he’s telling people (window cleaners) to add odds and sods to their repertoire and it will bring them riches. It’s just not true. I’ve been there and done that. What he doesn’t tell you is the amount of time he spends picking up a tin of paint here, a gutter bracket there, chatting to the old dear whilst he’s fitting the washing machine etc etc Is that all costed in to the hourly rate? I think not! Add ons can be lucrative such as the usual gutters and conny roofs etc but certainly not the bits and bobs. I think he once said he cleaned some bins out for £3 a pop ffs!
To be fair he is building up a good personal relationship with his group of customers and he will always have work that way.
But working that way will not beat having a solid window cleaning round that has been refined over the years. The repeat work is always there year after year. No picking up materials, no getting rid of rubbish. No quoting time for all these extra jobs. Very rarely hampered by bad weather etc etc
All IMO of course
Some people like to feel useful all of the time and enjoy fixing things constantly for people which is great.
Most established window cleaners just want to get their work cleaned and get back home to their families and hobbies.
I bumped into a painter and decorator yesterday and he's the same age as me(early 50s)and he said he works a lot because 'he's not one for sunbathing'as if that's the only thing to do when not working!🙄😂
Nowt as strange as folk!👍😂
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Whatever you give out then it must come back to you. I got a call yesterday from the local church to take a look at a drain. Went by at 10.30am and met folk coming out of morning mass. Someone asked me to clean their windows so I went down and cleaned them and ended up cleaning another 3 homes. Their windy has gave up so that's the reason I picked them up. I clean the church windows for free and pick up customers because my van is their every week. Someone told me its called networking, I call it being Courtesy to any person I meet. It works for me.
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What happened to the work you had scheduled yesterday to let you have time to do all that?
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Whatever you give out then it must come back to you. I got a call yesterday from the local church to take a look at a drain. Went by at 10.30am and met folk coming out of morning mass. Someone asked me to clean their windows so I went down and cleaned them and ended up cleaning another 3 homes. Their windy has gave up so that's the reason I picked them up. I clean the church windows for free and pick up customers because my van is their every week. Someone told me its called networking, I call it being Courtesy to any person I meet. It works for me.
Do you clean the church windows for free every week? On a Sunday?
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Whatever you give out then it must come back to you. I got a call yesterday from the local church to take a look at a drain. Went by at 10.30am and met folk coming out of morning mass. Someone asked me to clean their windows so I went down and cleaned them and ended up cleaning another 3 homes. Their windy has gave up so that's the reason I picked them up. I clean the church windows for free and pick up customers because my van is their every week. Someone told me its called networking, I call it being Courtesy to any person I meet. It works for me.
It sounds to me that you are more of a handyman rather than a window cleaner perhaps you should get sign written on your van saying
"MM Handyman no job to big or small"
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My uncle retired at 65 with a state and small works pension. But he wanted to visit his son - my cousin - in Australia every other year so he did handyman stuff until his early 80's.
My Grandad was a copper. Got his pension at 50 and cleaned windows part time for 20 years.
Each to their own.
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Do you clean the church windows for free every week? On a Sunday?
Clean them every 3 months and the church house when I can be bothered. Oddjob Mick I think they call me.
It saves the church a ton of money if I can fix it and I pick up the odd window cleaning customer because my van goes everywhere I go.
Clean the concierge office windows for free in the sheltered housing complex and she gets me new customers when they move in.
We owned a hotel and began to notice how my mother ran it. Give out free lunch or dinner to the funeral director and the next thing I noticed he was passing on our details for the purvey.
In the end its all to do with human behaviour, its hard to dislike someone when they give you something for free.
That's why I always have my customers front door spotless because its the first thing they notice. Trad guys don't do doors, well up here they don't.
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My uncle retired at 65 with a state and small works pension. But he wanted to visit his son - my cousin - in Australia every other year so he did handyman stuff until his early 80's.
My Grandad was a copper. Got his pension at 50 and cleaned windows part time for 20 years.
Each to their own.
Nothing wrong with that - Mick appears to be the same - I just need the condescending attitude that he knows best all the time
- he also sounds like a god bother as well
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Free this free that and still doing £300 a day ummmmmm!
And free lunches for the funeral director and he was passing on the what now!
I also agree that the high horse tone does him no favours.
But as long as he’s happy that’s all that matters I suppose! And a need to be liked I suspect. Keep giving out the free stuff and he will definitely get people to like him!
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Whatever you give out then it must come back to you. I got a call yesterday from the local church to take a look at a drain. Went by at 10.30am and met folk coming out of morning mass. Someone asked me to clean their windows so I went down and cleaned them and ended up cleaning another 3 homes. Their windy has gave up so that's the reason I picked them up. I clean the church windows for free and pick up customers because my van is their every week. Someone told me its called networking, I call it being Courtesy to any person I meet. It works for me.
Fook that! Are you mad? The church always pleads poverty.
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Whatever you give out then it must come back to you. I got a call yesterday from the local church to take a look at a drain. Went by at 10.30am and met folk coming out of morning mass. Someone asked me to clean their windows so I went down and cleaned them and ended up cleaning another 3 homes. Their windy has gave up so that's the reason I picked them up. I clean the church windows for free and pick up customers because my van is their every week. Someone told me its called networking, I call it being Courtesy to any person I meet. It works for me.
Fook that! Are you mad? The church always pleads poverty.
I charge £80-00 for the church I clean.its an easy 50 min job.i only clean it twice a year though.
I never do any jobs for free unless it's a friend,neighbour or family
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(http://www.cleanitup.co.uk/smf/1721840161_Unknown.jpeg)
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Do you clean the church windows for free every week? On a Sunday?
Clean them every 3 months and the church house when I can be bothered. Oddjob Mick I think they call me.
It saves the church a ton of money if I can fix it and I pick up the odd window cleaning customer because my van goes everywhere I go.
Clean the concierge office windows for free in the sheltered housing complex and she gets me new customers when they move in.
We owned a hotel and began to notice how my mother ran it. Give out free lunch or dinner to the funeral director and the next thing I noticed he was passing on our details for the purvey.
In the end its all to do with human behaviour, its hard to dislike someone when they give you something for free.
That's why I always have my customers front door spotless because its the first thing they notice. Trad guys don't do doors, well up here they don't.
You stated in an earlier post that you gain work from church goers because your van is parked at the church every week……Now you’re saying your van is there every three months ???
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Whatever you give out then it must come back to you. I got a call yesterday from the local church to take a look at a drain. Went by at 10.30am and met folk coming out of morning mass. Someone asked me to clean their windows so I went down and cleaned them and ended up cleaning another 3 homes. Their windy has gave up so that's the reason I picked them up. I clean the church windows for free and pick up customers because my van is their every week. Someone told me its called networking, I call it being Courtesy to any person I meet. It works for me.
Fook that! Are you mad? The church always pleads poverty.
And the Catholic church in particular is loaded!
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Do you clean the church windows for free every week? On a Sunday?
Clean them every 3 months and the church house when I can be bothered. Oddjob Mick I think they call me.
It saves the church a ton of money if I can fix it and I pick up the odd window cleaning customer because my van goes everywhere I go.
Clean the concierge office windows for free in the sheltered housing complex and she gets me new customers when they move in.
We owned a hotel and began to notice how my mother ran it. Give out free lunch or dinner to the funeral director and the next thing I noticed he was passing on our details for the purvey.
In the end its all to do with human behaviour, its hard to dislike someone when they give you something for free.
That's why I always have my customers front door spotless because its the first thing they notice. Trad guys don't do doors, well up here they don't.
You stated in an earlier post that you gain work from church goers because your van is parked at the church every week……Now you’re saying your van is there every three months ???
He s obviously a church goer himself on a Sunday and he drives there in his van.
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Whatever you give out then it must come back to you. I got a call yesterday from the local church to take a look at a drain. Went by at 10.30am and met folk coming out of morning mass. Someone asked me to clean their windows so I went down and cleaned them and ended up cleaning another 3 homes. Their windy has gave up so that's the reason I picked them up. I clean the church windows for free and pick up customers because my van is their every week. Someone told me its called networking, I call it being Courtesy to any person I meet. It works for me.
Fook that! Are you mad? The church always pleads poverty.
And the Catholic church in particular is loaded!
The Catholic church in particular should be shut down for thr goings on that they have kept secret for year.
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Do you clean the church windows for free every week? On a Sunday?
Clean them every 3 months and the church house when I can be bothered. Oddjob Mick I think they call me.
It saves the church a ton of money if I can fix it and I pick up the odd window cleaning customer because my van goes everywhere I go.
Clean the concierge office windows for free in the sheltered housing complex and she gets me new customers when they move in.
We owned a hotel and began to notice how my mother ran it. Give out free lunch or dinner to the funeral director and the next thing I noticed he was passing on our details for the purvey.
In the end its all to do with human behaviour, its hard to dislike someone when they give you something for free.
That's why I always have my customers front door spotless because its the first thing they notice. Trad guys don't do doors, well up here they don't.
You stated in an earlier post that you gain work from church goers because your van is parked at the church every week……Now you’re saying your van is there every three months ???
He s obviously a church goer himself on a Sunday and he drives there in his van.
Not according to his post he’s not. He said he arrived at the church to look at a job as the congregation were coming out of morning mass.
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(http://www.cleanitup.co.uk/smf/1721840161_Unknown.jpeg)
(http://www.cleanitup.co.uk/smf/1721931899_ByVlCrzCMAAaXa-.jpg)
It's like people only do things because they get paid, and that's just really sad.
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You stated in an earlier post that you gain work from church goers because your van is parked at the church every week……Now you’re saying your van is there every three months
I attend mass every week so the van is parked at the Front of the carpark every week before I go in. I also became a member of the parish council and met a load of old folk there. And guess what happened when they heard I was a window cleaner? I picked up many more customers. Maybe it was divine intervention but I wasn't complaining. I picked up another new customer today next door to the one I clean. Our van is our best asset for advertising especially at supermarkets. That's the reason I want a new van so I can change a few bits. Folk are always trying to trip me up but I only tell the truth but most folk don't like to hear the truth. fwiw Remember Bill Gates gave away his operating system for free to all the computer makers, I wonder why. 🤔
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You stated in an earlier post that you gain work from church goers because your van is parked at the church every week……Now you’re saying your van is there every three months
I attend mass every week so the van is parked at the Front of the carpark every week before I go in. I also became a member of the parish council and met a load of old folk there. And guess what happened when they heard I was a window cleaner? I picked up many more customers. Maybe it was divine intervention but I wasn't complaining. I picked up another new customer today next door to the one I clean. Our van is our best asset for advertising especially at supermarkets. That's the reason I want a new van so I can change a few bits. Folk are always trying to trip me up but I only tell the truth but most folk don't like to hear the truth. fwiw Remember Bill Gates gave away his operating system for free to all the computer makers, I wonder why. 🤔
You'll be telling us you're a Freemason next.
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wow there's a leap -the Bill gates of window cleaning Scotland ;D
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Actually I also attend church every Sunday and I mostly drive there using my car but on the odd occasion, when I've used my van probably about a 20 times now I all ways seem to get a fellow church goers calling me up to either clean their windows or GFS,
I think it's because they have more trust in you if you attend church.
BTW as I stated I don't use my van that often but if I wanted a lot more work (which I don't at the moment)
I would use the van every time as it's free advertising and works well.
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Divine intervention 😃
You really crack me up!
I’ve had loads of work from people seeing my van over the years. The only ‘intervention’ was by the people who put the signs on it!
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Doubt it - any by the time you've half arsed about doing that you could have done 4/5 cleans and earned 200 notes instead of 40
there will always be people (customers ::)roll) asking you to do odd little jobs - usually because they get it done cheap.
One word of caution - check you have permission to "Deep Clean" headstones - and I don't mean your customer
What happened? ;D
I was previously a memorial mason. You didn’t bleach some marble per chance?
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Just wait until the current cleaner gives up the job, if she ask you to start again,just say you’re too busy and can’t help her now..
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You'll be telling us you're a Freemason next.
No I'm in the Knights Templar organisation.
£300 a day is nothing now to big companies. They used to charge £600 a day and now its £800 a day. If you ever get a chance to do some insurance work then you will think you have made it. I had to repair a wall for a customer as the supermarket van reversed into it. Easiest £800 I have every made and took me lass than a day and material was all lying around the wall. Sand, cement and a mixer and like humpty dumpty I put it all together again as it was one of those old stone d**e's.
I had a very rich father so its probably in my DNA. Old Sir Isaac told us centuries ago, for ever action there is an opposite reaction or as I call it, the law of reciprocation, what ever you give out comes back in spadefuls. Well that's what I'm noticing, working for very rich people obviously helps because they need trust above all else. 😉
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Not according to his post he’s not. He said he arrived at the church to look at a job as the congregation were coming out of morning mass.
They were coming out because it was Wednesday morning mass at 10am to 10.30am. Mass is on every morning bar a Saturday because the vigil is at 4.45pm. Anyway, went down to do that clean and picked up another 3 neighbours because the old windy has chucked it. Lost one this week but picked up a few more so it all evens itself out in the end.
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You'll be telling us you're a Freemason next.
No I'm in the Knights Templar organisation.
£300 a day is nothing now to big companies. They used to charge £600 a day and now its £800 a day. If you ever get a chance to do some insurance work then you will think you have made it. I had to repair a wall for a customer as the supermarket van reversed into it. Easiest £800 I have every made and took me lass than a day and material was all lying around the wall. Sand, cement and a mixer and like humpty dumpty I put it all together again as it was one of those old stone d**e's.
I had a very rich father so its probably in my DNA. Old Sir Isaac told us centuries ago, for ever action there is an opposite reaction or as I call it, the law of reciprocation, what ever you give out comes back in spadefuls. Well that's what I'm noticing, working for very rich people obviously helps because they need trust above all else. 😉
Oh dear.
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what's it called when everything bout yourself and how good you are ??
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what's it called when everything bout yourself and how good you are ??
Dunno but he's starting to grind my gears!
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what's it called when everything bout yourself and how good you are ??
Narcissist!
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what's it called when everything bout yourself and how good you are ??
Trumpism? ;D
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let her enjoy her win :D one less to do