Clean It Up

UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: texas girl on December 07, 2006, 02:31:38 am

Title: Interesting unusual services offered
Post by: texas girl on December 07, 2006, 02:31:38 am
Hey Guys,

I have been noticing all of the services people are offering these days. And getting plenty of customers!

There is a service that comes to your house and wraps your Christmas presents.

A service that decorates your house inside and out.

A service that removes all of your decorations and then stores them until next year.

A service that picks up your dog's POOP! Every week!

Rent a husband service (that could be real interesting).

A service that drives you to all of your appointments.

A service that delivers your dog to it's appointments, waits for it, and brings it home.

A service that shops for you; groceries, gifts; you name it.

A service that massages your feet for an hour!

And these are a few of what I have heard of lately.


All of  the above goes to show with a little imagination; you can make money doing just about anything!

Anything else to add to this list?

Hugs,

Texas Girl :-*


Title: Re: Interesting unusual services offered
Post by: Paul Coleman on December 07, 2006, 07:15:43 am
Is there a service that supplies common sense to match peoples' wallets?   ;D
Title: Re: Interesting unusual services offered
Post by: AuRavelling79 on December 07, 2006, 07:45:10 am
Mornin' Shiner!

Actually I do less extras now my round is full and have reverted to what I am fastest at - cleaning windows.
Title: Re: Interesting unusual services offered
Post by: Paul Coleman on December 07, 2006, 08:56:05 am
Mornin' Shiner!

Actually I do less extras now my round is full and have reverted to what I am fastest at - cleaning windows.

Hiya Malc.
I find that I make more money by just targetting window cleaning too.  It's what I'm quickest at and what I'm tooled up for.  I will scrub up the ouitsides of gutters, facia and soffits too sometimes but I do ask people to give me a bit of notice so that I can plan ahead a bit (as much as you can in this business).  My round used to be overfull but I have gaps still since I went onto WFP.  The jobs I'm now getting are much better quality ones - and better priced, but as I pick them up, I gradually drop the customers who mess me about or don't want to pay me adequately for my service.  Eventually they will all be gone but I can't do that all at once.
Title: Re: Interesting unusual services offered
Post by: TVCS on December 07, 2006, 08:33:28 pm
Just curious.
What appointments do peoples dogs have.
 Meeting friends for coffee?  Shopping? Going to the library what. 
The world has gone mad, people must have more money than sense.  The only appointments my greyhounds have  are chasing things and sleeping.
ANT
TVCS
Title: Re: Interesting unusual services offered
Post by: Pole2pole on December 07, 2006, 10:13:34 pm
as we're on the subject of extras.does anyone on here find conservatory roofs more trouble that what they're worth? I've come to the conclusion, i hate 'em :(
Gimme vertical glass every time.........just my thoughts  ::)
Title: Re: Interesting unusual services offered
Post by: Roy Harding on December 07, 2006, 11:05:38 pm
A friend of mine bought in to this.

http://www.greenthumb.co.uk/

He has 2 vans now and and winter is his busy time of year.

The bloke who started it up got the idea from USA, and came back and developed green thumb.


I have seen a couple of vans around Ross-on-Wye.

Its a very good earner.

Roy
Title: Re: Interesting unusual services offered
Post by: texas girl on December 09, 2006, 03:25:17 am
Hi Roy,

How are you?  Hey you are right about the green thumb lawn business. I have heard this name being advertised and I have seen their vans.

Not to stray from window cleaning at all; window cleaning is the best and I will stay with it forever.

But yes; you know how you fertilize your lawn 2-3 times per year via hand spreader or the kind you push around?

That is a lot of what they do; and charge big bucks for it! Walk around the yard when the customer is not home and with a hand held spreader; spread weed and feed. And bill you $30-&40.

The thing that sells is the maintenance program and the certification of being a lawn scientist or specialist.

And believe it or not, pets have grooming appointments for their fur, their nails, etc. And some go to pet day care and pet farms with heated pools and play grounds. And some go to counseling because they are depressed. Some kind of therapy for dogs and cats.

But if you want your windows cleaned, you need someone who is a true professional. Not everyone knows how or could
learn to do what we do. Maybe we should charge more?

Hugs, ;)

Texas Girl  :-* :-* :-*
Title: Re: Interesting unusual services offered
Post by: Roy Harding on December 09, 2006, 01:35:44 pm
Hi Debbie

I think it is interesting to see the services over there, as we allways seem to be about 4-5 yrs behind you. Who knows we may start to see some starting to pop up over here.

Roy
Title: Re: Interesting unusual services offered
Post by: DASERVICES on December 09, 2006, 05:34:07 pm

 I do grass cutting in the summer as my add on service, a lot of people do this for a living now. They work through the summer and the money they make they can afford to take the winter off.

This I feel is the next big thing most house owners will want including window cleaning. People just do not have time to spend cutting their grass.

Doug
Title: Re: Interesting unusual services offered
Post by: Londoner on December 10, 2006, 09:17:21 am
Thats OK as long as you keep it to just grass. The trouble is people want the whole gardener bit and you get drawn in.
I had a go at it about 4-5 years ago but I abandoned it because I couldn't keep it simple.
I agree its a good sideline but I would be interested to know how you go about it. There is a big demand and I got a lot of replies to my leaflets, some years after I had delivered them.
Title: Re: Interesting unusual services offered
Post by: rhino on December 10, 2006, 03:23:05 pm
Hi,
I am looking at starting a w/c round sometime next year (when the weather warms up a bit). The Grass/hedge cutting business would appeal to me as it means less strain on the ol' knees, up and down the ladder five days a week.
Does anyone have any more info' on this service, especially pricing and demand. Also, are you expected to take the cuttings away or leave with the customer?

Cheers lads.....'n' lasses
Title: Re: Interesting unusual services offered
Post by: TVCS on December 10, 2006, 05:27:01 pm
Whenever I have done grass cutting the customers keep the cuttings.  When I started doing pressure washing I had this as one service i offered.  Since developing my window round I havent offered it.   Its pretty easy money if you have a good mower.
Title: Re: Interesting unusual services offered
Post by: rhino on December 11, 2006, 06:47:17 pm
Thanks for that.
Any thoughts on pricing?
Title: Re: Interesting unusual services offered
Post by: DASERVICES on December 11, 2006, 06:56:18 pm
Min price £15 front and back for smallish lawns, larger lawns you need to hit £25
per hour.

Doug
Title: Re: Interesting unusual services offered
Post by: rhino on December 11, 2006, 07:01:57 pm
Cheers Doug.
Title: Re: Interesting unusual services offered
Post by: rhino on March 04, 2007, 01:19:58 pm
Hi,
Vince, i don't suppose you still have your leaflet design handy?
Don't want to waste money i don't have using a graphic designer.
Bit cheeky i know!!
Would anyone who has done the grass cutting recommend you target detached properties only, or have you had a good response from the 3 bed semi brigade.
Thanks for any advice.
Title: Re: Interesting unusual services offered
Post by: Count Phil on March 04, 2007, 02:17:42 pm
I offer 'The Naked Window Cleaner'. But its summer time only and unless the house is secluded its insides only. There are a few takers, but I charge triple rate. Strangely, its generaly older women who ask for the service. But in summer it does boost your income. You need to work out a bit, but their not to fussy.
Title: Re: Interesting unusual services offered
Post by: russ_clark on March 04, 2007, 05:39:37 pm
Youy're having a giraffe Mr.Bowen ;D ;D
Does the Mrs. Know??
How do you advertise that ?? ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: Interesting unusual services offered
Post by: Llaaww on March 04, 2007, 06:30:48 pm
I spent some time gardening for one of my wealthier window cleaning customers. I spent three years  upto my ears in s*&t, working like a donkey, on this guy,s country estate for £65 a day. I ended up with all sorts of injuries and aches and pains. It took me two years to get myself back in shape and back to the window cleaning. Take my advice leave the gardens to bill and ben. :-[
Title: Re: Interesting unusual services offered
Post by: Clive McDonald on March 04, 2007, 06:48:06 pm
That was interesting Lawrence. It must have seemed like the safe option, steady wage, no worries. Doing it as an add on you also run into the usual problem of compactness.Four together at fifteen quid don't seem too bad, but with distance in between and working it in with with windows etc.

Going back to the security thing I sometimes dream I still work in a car factory and feel safe.Yet it was the poorest least happy  period of my life.

Has anyone else noticed that when Texas Girl posts the views are massive.
Title: Re: Interesting unusual services offered
Post by: rhino on March 05, 2007, 03:42:38 pm
Naked window cleaning eh.
Not a bad idea....always somewhere handy to hang your shammy!!
Title: Re: Interesting unusual services offered
Post by: Davew on March 05, 2007, 04:17:54 pm

Has anyone else noticed that when Texas Girl posts the views are massive.
Quote

Oooh Errrr