Clean It Up
UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: Paul_Rolfe on August 14, 2009, 03:35:49 pm
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Or doesn't it matter?
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do you have a complex about this? or are you just trying to get your post count up ;D
yes a sign written van looks more proffesional than working out of a car but that dosnt meant the person working out of the car is any less of a window cleaner than the guy in the van and vice versa
I think it depends on how far you intend to take your business
me personally i have alway worn a uniform and had a sign written van but that was what i said i would do when i set up business
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if you mean does it make you feel less professional than having a van then NO , Worked out of a car all the time no probs what so ever
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I dont think it matters. I started out with a beat up old carand I got loads of work. I now have a 08 van , van wrap and people think I must be expensive so dont get asked as often in the street.
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true wot Formby says . i started using a car with cheaply made signs in the rear windows . i could easily step to using a van but theres no advantage (if you are trad) as car seats and car drive is more comfy ..another bonus of using a car is that its easyto find onethat has belonged to an old fellah who has pumped mega money into keeping it well maintained ,ready for action,whereas van are rarely pampered . perhaps a car looks more unprofessional but hey as long as the car catches peoples eyes thats all that matters
i see a couple of window guys in my town use a merc with ladders on the roof, but thats probably going too far
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no my car is in better con than most work vans on the road. ;D
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car is pristene and well maintained our only car , i'm wfp with purefreedom trolley manage great with car
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most have humble beginnings, but most trad cleaners around here use a car, its economical. I was talking to a guy the other day 25 years in the business, who worked out of a car. I personally find a kangoo, berlingo, or combo are a good compromise between the economy of a small vehicle and the proffessional look of a van. I wont be going out and buying a Renault traffic for window cleaning trad. No point. I would only do that if I was going to add pressure washing or something to my list of services, but I don't intend on doing that so.
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just fitted a wfp delivery system in the back of the misses fiesta.so she can do upstairs now. a van would have been nice, but at the moment out of reach. i think if your standards are high and you look good it doesn't matter if you turn up in a milk float. (now there's an idea mmm)
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I work out of a Tesco trolley, bothered?...er no!
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Eclipse - lol! It is a bit low isn't it? I'll try harder.
FWIW, I started out of a car (~Fiat Uno) but soon realised a van would be miles better.
When I see w/c out of a car boot they make me think they are hard up firemen on their days off.
They are usually wearing shorts as well which I think looks cheap.
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I work from a new Fiat 500. With back seats down and a custom made marine ply liner to locate 20 litres water barrels I can go out and earn £50 - £60 in less than half a day. Come back for a break, refill barrels and go out earn and the same again. Potentially £500 a week - more than enough for me.
I easily fit in either my backpack trolley unit or my OmniTrolley, 25ft SLX pole, ground floor pole, cobweb pole/brush and all my trad bits. Well within the carrying capacity of this little car - and 70 - 80 mpg (diesel). Barells/equipment are chained to the rear seat locators for extra safety.
Customers seem to like me turning up in my 500 and are surprised when all the gear starts coming out.
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Mr Grey Wolf; why does it look cheap to be wearing shorts ??? ??? ???
I have a sign written van, wfp, top end carpet cleaning machine, high quality floor buffers, hoovers and every thing else needed to run a profitable contract cleaning business.
I wear shorts all the time during the summer.
Does that make my company cheap; or does it just mean I don't have trousers sticking to my sweaty legs as I'm working in these hot, humid conditions ??? ??? ???
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Hi,
My take on this is why have a van when all I would put in it is a bucket.!
An ideal car would be a Ford focus type car.
Kevin WINDOLENE
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I just think too much skin showing looks, um, grubby. Keep it for the beach.
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Mr Grey Wolf, You clean glass mate and nobody cares whether you drive a van, car, ride a horse or push a pram. Further they don't care whether you wear shorts, skirts, kilts or a three piece suit complete with a bowler hat.
Your customer couldn't care less how you clean their windows: you can trad them, wfp them or pi$$ on them and wipe 'em off with a used tampon...as long as at the end of the day they're clean and you charge sensible money relative to your opposition.
You seem to be under the impression that your customers have a view about you...they don't!...get over it!
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I just think too much skin showing looks, um, grubby. Keep it for the beach.
i wear shorts in the summer time with a polo shirt all sign written, i even have quite alot of tattoos, it sounds like it wouldn't be up to your standards,
i do mostly residential work out of my car with a freedom trolley, i have a fare bit of better quality residential work some very well to do customers they all treat me well and seem to like chatting with me, they do judge a book by its cover,
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Shorts are okay, shorts and t-shirt or polo shirt are okay.....but NO t-shirt isnt good IMO.
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Bout time someone said this ................... if you work out of a car your'e a cowboy. ;D
btw. I use an astra estate so I'm a cowboy too. :P
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come on guys cars do look a bit working class ; ionics kit merc vito your talking pro now ;)
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why would i need a ionics system for domestic work,
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Shorts are okay, shorts and t-shirt or polo shirt are okay.....but NO t-shirt isnt good IMO.
If I had a 6 pack I'd be bare-topped even in winter...however...I have a gut that that hangs somewhere south of my belt...so I keep my top well covered-up irrespective of weather ;D
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If i went to price a big commercial job and turned up in my Capri with my ladders tied to the roof and some wet scrims stuck under the rear wiper and had shorts and a vest on showing off my jail house tatts do you think i'd get a look in? ;D
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why is it people think we use crap cars,
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a vectra very nice thats on a par with escorts or mk2 astras now ;D
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not with my lump they ain't, pure v6 enlarged fuel pressure regulator enlarged throttle body,air intake system, sport cats , Remus straight through centre section, re-mapped, all i need is a lightened an balanced fly wheel, the torque is fun , eats a lot of fuel though :'(
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Now thats a cowboys ride if i've ever seen one. ;D ;D
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im proud of my car, so if im a cowboy your must be some sort of ????
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why would i need a ionics system for domestic work,
you dont they are over rated over priced
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Or doesn't it matter?
you shouild see the car ;D
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talking of cowboys seen two window cleaners lately with bandanas on like il pirate;
marco pantani that does look ify.
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not being funny but i picked this job up because of my van and my smartness (even in shorts and a boonie hat)
i cant see me picking up more clients like this if i turned up looking unproffesional
but saying that i do find that around me lots of the "car lads" will stop and give you time of day which is alway nice
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Round my way, the guys who have been doing w/c for years seem to go about in tatty old vans with 20 ladders on the roof or work from an old car. Where as the newer guys all have smart sign written vans and polo shirts etc. Don't get me wrong both probably do a good job, but if you had never spoken to them and didn't have one recommended I know which one most people would pick, how ever if you got talking to one in passing it could be a different story. For a lot of people first impressions count for a lot.
That said I might also think, if I get the guy with a smart van etc he's going to charge more than the guy with a car.
Also can't see anything wrong with a smart pair of shorts with a polo shirt in the summer, most plumbers/electricians/joiners wear them so why a w/c can't I don't know?
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not being funny but i picked this job up because of my van and my smartness (even in shorts and a boonie hat)
i cant see me picking up more clients like this if i turned up looking unproffesional
but saying that i do find that around me lots of the "car lads" will stop and give you time of day which is alway nice
I'm winding you all up about the shorts (obviously), but there's something to be said for presentation. Eclipse - that's a great arguement for the signwritten van. Some customers like to tell thier neighbours they're having stuff done. I doubt it matters MUCH if the w/c only has an estate, but your van looks in place.
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eclipse that looks a nice job, i have some like that and even bigger i do some local schools some flats for a management company and i have my car only i started out with a Astra van with small system in it, but a mate had a offer for me to become a partner in a lake so due to mostly domestic i sold van and for temp I'm use in the family car, but know i have another investment other than window cleaning, i do agree vans look better but don't mean you still cant get some quality jobs without a van, it just depends on who recommended you for the job, i nearly brought a van the other week but i couldn't make up my mind as i would like a l200 animal, one thing i have noticed buy not have in a van is less to pay out, if Mrs has a car to run about in say little corsa then you have family car for you, then works van it can cost a few quid to run them all, so l200 for me and my work and Mrs run around seems to make sense, it might not be every ones cup of tea working with freedom trolley and slx pole for domestic work but it works,
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its a simple set up but works
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i am the the same as s w c tattoos purefreedom trolley uniform , clean shaven pride myself on a good apperance , far better turned out than the two trad cleaners around my way in crappy vans scruffy dress code my wfp gear is worth more than there vans put together and i have run a succesful business for over 9 yrs all built on reputation
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eclipse that looks a nice job, i have some like that and even bigger i do some local schools some flats for a management company and i have my car only i started out with a Astra van with small system in it, but a mate had a offer for me to become a partner in a lake so due to mostly domestic i sold van and for temp I'm use in the family car, but know i have another investment other than window cleaning, i do agree vans look better but don't mean you still cant get some quality jobs without a van, it just depends on who recommended you for the job, i nearly brought a van the other week but i couldn't make up my mind as i would like a l200 animal, one thing i have noticed buy not have in a van is less to pay out, if Mrs has a car to run about in say little corsa then you have family car for you, then works van it can cost a few quid to run them all, so l200 for me and my work and Mrs run around seems to make sense, it might not be every ones cup of tea working with freedom trolley and slx pole for domestic work but it works,
don't start me off about the l200 i want one pleassseeee please ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
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i have had both systems and the little trolley will cope with anything, ive still got van system just no van, im not in a rush to go out and buy a van, being my work is domestic out in small villages from farm house to barn conversion to manor houses, its all recommendation only work, my car works not the ideal motor for it,as it eats petrol, i will change it at some point to either a vauxhall combo newer shape or to a l200, but meanwhile the little car serves me well,
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what size pole is that s w c , totally agree with everthing your saying i love pf trolley and manage great out of my car
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Don't start me off about them either.Bought a new L200 Animal in 2006/56 and was glad the day i sold it.
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, one thing i have noticed buy not have in a van is less to pay out, if Mrs has a car to run about in say little corsa then you have family car for you, then works van it can cost a few quid to run them all, so l200 for me and my works van
thats why i bought the vito dual liner it drives like a car and it has the proper seats in the back (not the clip in ones and behind the bulkhead theres a 500 litre system and a pure freedom trolley as well and room on it if i need to put the carpet cleaner on for a job
we have got the family car as well but whenever we go out as a family we always use the van 6 big nice seats for 4 of us (picked up quite a few jobs as well cause of the signwriting)
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its a slx 30ft but going off to alex next week to have new clamps and turned into a 35ft slx,
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Looks very good swc. Nice to see a pole in the field.
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thanks for that s w c , nice set up buy the way car and all
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i use two poles a newer 17ft hybrid in 4 sections with swivel adapter so its compact and good for general abuse, the slx is a far nicer pole to use, im tempted by a 18ft slx when hybrid wears out,
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all done with trolley
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that is two different nice jobs and here is another job a pic of there indoor pool so its not small, all got use in my car and trolley system, so there is no reason why use in a set up like mine will hold you back,
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Jesus, why do they have their washing hanging out on that drier? In the pool area I mean? pfft. Looks grim IMO. Not you, swc, the customer. I would have expected a few babes lying around sipping cocktails and that. Still nice house ethetera. Good job otherwise.
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i know but i shall just put up and shut up, she gets me to do in an out every three mths and it takes just over half a day to do but worth a day ana halfs wages in the short time,
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Its weird innit, you have these people and thier big flash houses and they can't seem to hang thier washing the right way. Or they're dirty in some other way like having a dog or something. I can't work them out. Dusty sills, flashy cars, bins in the wrong place. Odd stuff. Like they don't really "belong" there. Not their real home if you follow me.
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Its got to be said that having a van has got to be better all around both for appearance and practical reasons,
A car is a way to start and Ive been known to clean from a car myself,
In the long run though a van wins hands down.
Dean
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at the end of the day personaly i dont think van or car matters , its the drive in the person, i personaly like domestic and happy to stay there,
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im only a domestic wc too but like others have said from a customers point of view it looks more proffesional in a sign written van
however back on topic me personally i dont look down on any shiner whether there on a bike in a car or on a van as long as they are paying all there taxes and doing a good job and not getting carear shiners a bad name
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a agree, as long as there all above board insured etc, i still want a pick up crew cab style,
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If the vehicle is presentable it doesn't matter whether it is van or car on domestic or light commercial.
But having wfp and getting full potential from it means having a van.
When I went from trad to wfp I was using an estate car. I've used a trolley, a back pack and a 175L tank and barrels from it.
If you had a big estate with the seats down you could get a 250L in but that ignores the safety issues IMO. I even know one guy who had a 400L in the back of a 405 estate but it left very little room for the reel, pump and gubbins. He swapped his 400L tank with me when I got the van and he got my 175L tank and six barrels in return.
One of the posters above said how he earns so much in a morning and so much in an afternoon - that was a little less than I would earn out of my car with wfp. (I had a 175L tank too, remember). With the van the amount goes up appreciably because instead of driving back and filling and faffing (no insult meant - I did it too) and lifting barrels etc you are working.
Even if it is an hour that filling, faffing and driving costs you in a day then that is probably £30 lost.
Even so my Doblo with 400L is beginning to restrict me. I sometimes carry another 50L in barrels to top me up for the last hour of the day. My next step, planned for just over a year away is bigger van with a 650L/800L capacity.
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being 6ft-6 people nearly always look up to me ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
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being 6ft-6 people nearly always look up to me ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
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being 6ft-6 people nearly always look up to me ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
do you pley basketball ;D
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i started off with an old motor just as many of you guys did........mind you that was 20 odd years ago.....if i was starting off now i would love to start with a nice new shiny van, however unless i had rich parents i reckon it would be difficult to attain that without going into debt, so i reckon i would start off with an old motor 8)
i have a nice new shiny van now (and have had nice new shiny vans over the years) but most of my customers never get to see it anyway except when i am sitting next to them at the lights....i have a trolley system and walk the whole run without ever needing to go back to the van (unless it rains).
the only custies who really get to see it is the commercial ones...but to be honest as long as the job is done correctly i doubt they even care i turned up in a nice shiny new van or not.........but i choose to have one as its more tax efficient than a car ;)