Clean It Up

UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: peter holley on September 04, 2008, 11:22:50 pm

Title: dont work in the rain!
Post by: peter holley on September 04, 2008, 11:22:50 pm
iv noticed a lot of wc using this forum dont work in the rain.....i am bewildered by this :o...ok many of you may say that  if you charge enough you wont need to.....but even if i were to double my prices, and stop working on wet days , i would still  be worse off :-\

i work in all weather , apart from terencial rain , i have to....and i want to, i am a buisness, and i want money!

Title: Re: dont work in the rain!
Post by: d s windowcleaning on September 04, 2008, 11:26:37 pm
work in any weather if needs must .
Title: Re: dont work in the rain!
Post by: Roger Slater on September 04, 2008, 11:29:33 pm
I started this business to "work to live" not "live to work" flexability if you have a good round that brings in double what you need to live then personally i dont need to work in the rain and i think it looks very un-professional. But if you have to work in the rain to make a living then you have no choice.
Title: Re: dont work in the rain!
Post by: peter holley on September 04, 2008, 11:40:41 pm
I started this business to "work to live" not "live to work" flexability if you have a good round that brings in double what you need to live then personally i dont need to work in the rain and i think it looks very un-professional. But if you have to work in the rain to make a living then you have no choice.

thats my point... if i work in the rain i make £2... if i dont i earn £1...... btw i work to live , im home by 2 pm most days......iv been in this job a long time...
Title: Re: dont work in the rain!
Post by: Roger Slater on September 04, 2008, 11:43:42 pm
I started this business to "work to live" not "live to work" flexability if you have a good round that brings in double what you need to live then personally i dont need to work in the rain and i think it looks very un-professional. But if you have to work in the rain to make a living then you have no choice.

iv been in this job a long time...

So whats the problem then, You work in the rain some of us dont.
Title: Re: dont work in the rain!
Post by: simon123 on September 04, 2008, 11:45:37 pm
I started this business to "work to live" not "live to work" flexability if you have a good round that brings in double what you need to live then personally i dont need to work in the rain and i think it looks very un-professional. But if you have to work in the rain to make a living then you have no choice.

iv been in this job a long time...

So whats the problem then, You work in the rain some of us dont.
That just looks like a gay spiderman sorry !
Title: Re: dont work in the rain!
Post by: Roger Slater on September 04, 2008, 11:47:31 pm
I started this business to "work to live" not "live to work" flexability if you have a good round that brings in double what you need to live then personally i dont need to work in the rain and i think it looks very un-professional. But if you have to work in the rain to make a living then you have no choice.

iv been in this job a long time...



So whats the problem then, You work in the rain some of us dont.
That just looks like a gay spiderman sorry !

 ;D ;D ;D(((((Nice Try))))) ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: dont work in the rain!
Post by: peter holley on September 04, 2008, 11:58:57 pm
I started this business to "work to live" not "live to work" flexability if you have a good round that brings in double what you need to live then personally i dont need to work in the rain and i think it looks very un-professional. But if you have to work in the rain to make a living then you have no choice.

iv been in this job a long time...

So whats the problem then, You work in the rain some of us dont.
Title: Re: dont work in the rain!
Post by: peter holley on September 05, 2008, 12:01:08 am
I started this business to "work to live" not "live to work" flexability if you have a good round that brings in double what you need to live then personally i dont need to work in the rain and i think it looks very un-professional. But if you have to work in the rain to make a living then you have no choice.

iv been in this job a long time...

So whats the problem then, You work in the rain some of us dont.

you dont work much then? its not a problem, i have a nice comfortable lifestyle that i could only dream about if i didnt work in the rain ;D
Title: Re: dont work in the rain!
Post by: Roger Slater on September 05, 2008, 12:05:04 am
I started this business to "work to live" not "live to work" flexability if you have a good round that brings in double what you need to live then personally i dont need to work in the rain and i think it looks very un-professional. But if you have to work in the rain to make a living then you have no choice.
then, You work in the rain some of us dont.

you dont work much then? its not a problem, i have a nice comfortable lifestyle that i could only dream about if i didnt work in the rain ;D

Well done to you. I just supervise under my brolly ;D
Title: Re: dont work in the rain!
Post by: gerard mcmanus on September 05, 2008, 07:02:14 am
I try to give my customers booking times, roughly within the hour I say i'll be there, and call then to cancel if I need before there due time. I do this because when I started allot people said to me "most just turn up when they want to, I think its just when they need money".

I know this isn't true with most, they just work through a list and get out when they can, but looking at this figures I would rather make more money and see my business grow than limit it when I dont have to.

If you make more money you can invest in better equipement like a WFP for instance and your customers get a better job and service.

So I kind of agree with p holley, make no sense. But it would be interesting to see what everyone's reasons are for not cleaning in the rain.

I think allot of you if you are honest, just dont want to upset your customers, and stop because they dont like it, and that fair enough. But I have found that I can still clean when its wet and very rarely does anyone complain, only an odd comment and even then they would prefer to get it done than not.
Title: Re: dont work in the rain!
Post by: lee_dewing on September 05, 2008, 05:14:36 pm
gererad
i would like to work in rain but don't want to lose or stand there arguing that it makes no difference to windows.

how do you get on with this as i find it hard to belive all these people on here saying i work in the rain and never get problems.

not calling you a liar mate i just don't want to run out and try it because everyone one on here says ity so matter of fact.

i'd be the poor g1t that lost all his customers ;D
Title: Re: dont work in the rain!
Post by: Rob_Mac on September 05, 2008, 05:20:47 pm
This argument has been mentioned on here so many times.

The answer is simple - offer the rain guarantee!!!

If you are working and it starts to rain have a slip made up that says something like

If we clean your windows in the rain and the quality is not as good as normal  call our contact numbers, within 24 hours and we will re clean. No one ever calls because you can clean windows with wfp in the rain and it makes no difference!!!.

It has a lot more to do with comfort factor and not wanting to get our hair wet.

Easy

Rob ;D
Title: Re: dont work in the rain!
Post by: Tim82 on September 05, 2008, 05:45:31 pm
I work int rain.

Pole system a lot more suited to rainy conditions than trad though! Sometimes you dont need to rinse!
Title: Re: dont work in the rain!
Post by: prestigeclean on September 05, 2008, 08:24:13 pm
its rained all week , and i,ve done very well , what is the matter with you pansies who are scared of the rain regards alan
Title: Re: dont work in the rain!
Post by: gsw on September 05, 2008, 08:36:21 pm
so true geez, all anyone with a pole (or sqeegee for that matter) has to do is next time its peeing down is get out there and clean their own windows .....after that that their 100% rain guarantee is born!!!

if anyone can't clean windows in the rain they aren't doing it right, fact, I am now taking bookings for rainy day cleaning courses @£199.00 buffet lunch included. cost of course can be recouped in one wet day!( if you believe what some can earn on here !)

greg
Title: Re: dont work in the rain!
Post by: peter holley on September 05, 2008, 08:38:05 pm
I started this business to "work to live" not "live to work" flexability if you have a good round that brings in double what you need to live then personally i dont need to work in the rain and i think it looks very un-professional. But if you have to work in the rain to make a living then you have no choice.

thats my point... if i work in the rain i make £2... if i dont i earn £1...... btw i work to live , im home by 2 pm most days......iv been in this job a long time...
try not working in the rain,and working to 5 pm when its fine

it rained every day here where i live this week....i have to work in the rain!
Title: Re: dont work in the rain!
Post by: peter holley on September 05, 2008, 08:41:38 pm
an interesting comparison would be to compare the turnover and size of the rounds of those who work in the rain , to those who dont....i know where my money would go!!

Title: Re: dont work in the rain!
Post by: peter holley on September 05, 2008, 09:03:35 pm
i dont  just want to just cover my bills! i want to cover holidays, sickness, unforseen occurances, repair bills,tax,replacement of tools, and my fun time with my family :o

i appreciate what your saying... maybe my circumstances are different, i have a mortgage :o and 3 children ;D
Title: Re: dont work in the rain!
Post by: gerard mcmanus on September 05, 2008, 09:42:35 pm
gererad
i would like to work in rain but don't want to lose or stand there arguing that it makes no difference to windows.

how do you get on with this as i find it hard to belive all these people on here saying i work in the rain and never get problems.

not calling you a liar mate i just don't want to run out and try it because everyone one on here says ity so matter of fact.

i'd be the poor g1t that lost all his customers ;D

I would say dont take it from me because you dont know, I think allot of thing I read on here are exagerated, and I really only try to pick out the decent advice myself.

I have only been window cleaning for a year, and have learned what I know from trying. Seeing what works and what doesn't. So instead I would suggest you do that. If you are happy not cleaning in the rain and get by then keep things that way they are.

But if you were like me a sitting in watching the rain, and losing allot of money knowing that I could be out working then, go out and do your own windows in the rain, see the results, and decide for yourself.

If you beleive that it doesn't make much difference then you wont have to spend allot of time convincing poeple.

dont get me wrong its not nice to be out at all in the rain but I am making money, and thats the pupose of my business. If I ever did a bad job due to working in wet weather I wouldn't do it again.

I wouldn't say I never had any problems though, I did do jobs in light rain and one or two made comment, little hints that they prefered to get it done when it was dry, but when I called and canceled due to the rain the next time, they complained about that.

hope that helps m8

gerard
Title: Re: dont work in the rain!
Post by: JW1 on September 06, 2008, 11:33:31 am
an interesting comparison would be to compare the turnover and size of the rounds of those who work in the rain , to those who dont....i know where my money would go!!


im 2 weeks behind due to weather,no shortage of work need 6 full days every week to keep stright,but wont work in the rain

Same here, I hate working in the rain. I never do it. I just try to catch up when the weather improves.

I can't speak for wfp, but I found that trad work was a nightmare in the rain.
Title: Re: dont work in the rain!
Post by: lee_dewing on September 06, 2008, 02:25:47 pm
thanks gerard.

i do work in drizzle and try to box clever doing customers i know won't be in,
but like your self i hate losing money seem to earn well one week then it's followed by a medoco week's earnings.

i know some might say your not charging enough or your not quick enough, both are probably true.

but i am trying all the time to build a better round, putting under priced work up or dumping.
rome wasn't built in a day :(
Title: Re: dont work in the rain!
Post by: peter holley on September 06, 2008, 10:33:42 pm
with climate change , and the increase in everyday living, we have to work in the rain....(apart from very heavy rain).... and the custies realise this!
Title: Re: dont work in the rain!
Post by: peter holley on September 06, 2008, 10:47:23 pm
the ice caps are melting :o and our planet is in trouble, but thats another debate....your right though 2003 was a scorching dry summer.... i remember it well as it was the year ( summer) that my mum was ill and died :(.... the weather is iether too hot and dry or tooo wet...there is no balance.....
Title: Re: dont work in the rain!
Post by: peter holley on September 06, 2008, 11:07:57 pm
the ice caps are melting :o and our planet is in trouble, but thats another debate....your right though 2003 was a scorching dry summer.... i remember it well as it was the year ( summer) that my mum was ill and died :(.... the weather is iether too hot and dry or tooo wet...there is no balance.....
sorry about your mother but im talking about 2006 when there was record tempatures 90 degrees plus had to finish at 2.30 pm absolutly wasted with the heat
i remember it well :o i was cleaning a nursing home at 8am and after 20 mins i was soaking through... it was worse than working in damp weather... no energy etc...the heat was unbearable
Title: Re: dont work in the rain!
Post by: Jeff Brimble on September 07, 2008, 08:29:37 am
You can choose whether to work in the rain/dark. Its about time we as a body got rid of this customer perception of not cleaning in the rain. The idea stems from the past victorian/edwardian times of when w/cers used rat tails and chamois/scrim to clean and rain drops caused the polishing to streak. Nowadays with the use of squeegees and wfp things have moved on.

You may not want to clean in the rain if you dont like getting wet but as a group we should push that its OK for the rest of the w/cers that want/need to work.

Window cleaning is a 365 24/7 business.
Title: Re: dont work in the rain!
Post by: ftp on September 07, 2008, 08:56:36 am
Good point there Jeff, there's two reasons i don't work in the rain 1. i don't like getting wet and 2. the biggest reason for me is the customers views. If i could remove the second reason then i would occasionally work through the rain but it's the customer i worry about more than anything.
Title: Re: dont work in the rain!
Post by: peter holley on September 07, 2008, 09:07:59 pm
well! id have plenty of tips,  :D
Title: Re: dont work in the rain!
Post by: matt on September 07, 2008, 09:37:01 pm
Good point there Jeff, there's two reasons i don't work in the rain 1. i don't like getting wet and 2. the biggest reason for me is the customers views. If i could remove the second reason then i would occasionally work through the rain but it's the customer i worry about more than anything.

if i could remove the 2nd reason, i would most prob do till after lunch in the rain then pack it up

but alot of my customers are older and will find it hard to swallow the " its ok to clean in the rain " arguement
Title: Re: dont work in the rain!
Post by: peter holley on September 07, 2008, 09:48:01 pm
i understand the predicument... but it has been so wet where i live.... and the past few years have been the same... i have had to just get on with it!   the custies understand and are fine... i dont like getting wet...but i have no choice! its the same for brickies , scaffolders etc.