Clean It Up

UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: tjgibbo2010 on February 20, 2010, 05:51:13 pm

Title: Newbie Starting out
Post by: tjgibbo2010 on February 20, 2010, 05:51:13 pm
I have decided to take the plunge and get going on my own round. Where can I canvass....? Can I canvess on some elses patch as such?
Title: Re: Newbie Starting out
Post by: Jack Wallace on February 20, 2010, 05:58:19 pm
Canvass anywhere you like. "patches" are a myth.
Title: Re: Newbie Starting out
Post by: Mike55 on February 20, 2010, 06:06:47 pm
Just don't deliberately undercut anyone and you will be fine.
Title: Re: Newbie Starting out
Post by: Gav Camm lammy 283 on February 20, 2010, 06:09:04 pm
I have decided to take the plunge and get going on my own round. Where can I canvass....? Can I canvess on some elses patch as such?
and not on mine  ;D ;D
Title: Re: Newbie Starting out
Post by: tjgibbo2010 on February 20, 2010, 09:36:07 pm
I'm not planning on undercutting or taking anyones work ............. just my w/c is awful and I thought if he makes a living and I can do better then I might as well do it myself. I have never known a window cleaner to canvass around my way so there could be plenty of customers waiting for the knock on the door  :)
Title: Re: Newbie Starting out
Post by: Ian Mason on February 20, 2010, 09:42:45 pm
I'm not planning on undercutting or taking anyones work ............. just my w/c is awful and I thought if he makes a living and I can do better then I might as well do it myself. I have never known a window cleaner to canvass around my way so there could be plenty of customers waiting for the knock on the door  :)

Lol,

We had a window cleaner that would drink special brew, & then spend much of the day asleep in people gardens.
Title: Re: Newbie Starting out
Post by: Andy@w.c.s on February 20, 2010, 09:49:23 pm
sounds like me  ?!!!!

do i know you
Title: Re: Newbie Starting out
Post by: windymiller on February 20, 2010, 09:50:35 pm
Patches are old school. Go for it m8 you wont regret it.
Get as much advice and information as you can off the forums and you wont go far wrong.
Leaflet drop and door knock around your local area, if already got a window cleaner leave alone, respect other cleaners as you you dont do to them as you wouldnt like done to yourself.
You can tell straight away if they havnt a window cleaner just by looking at there windows and its these customers who havnt a window cleaner you should be targeting.
Theres plenty of advice on this forum to help you prosper. Good Luck.  ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: Newbie Starting out
Post by: amayze on February 21, 2010, 06:00:09 am
Don't forget to practice, practice, practice !
Title: Re: Newbie Starting out
Post by: A & J Owen Window Cleaning on February 21, 2010, 09:47:37 am
canvass where you like mate
Title: Re: Newbie Starting out
Post by: tjgibbo2010 on February 21, 2010, 12:07:19 pm
Been canvassing and after about 300 houses I have 2 customers. I'm really bad at canvassing, is it best to pay someone to do it and if so what rate of pay is best?
Title: Re: Newbie Starting out
Post by: Bobs Window Cleaning on February 21, 2010, 12:21:47 pm
If you only got 2 out of 300, I would say there is already a window cleaner in that area.

Try another area.

Bob
Title: Re: Newbie Starting out
Post by: Ian Mason on February 21, 2010, 12:41:18 pm
Been canvassing and after about 300 houses I have 2 customers. I'm really bad at canvassing, is it best to pay someone to do it and if so what rate of pay is best?

When you say canvass, is this actually knocking on doors, or leaflet dropping only?
Title: Re: Newbie Starting out
Post by: martinsadie on February 21, 2010, 01:02:03 pm
Canvass anywhere you like. "patches" are a myth.

there are not a  myth around here
Title: Re: Newbie Starting out
Post by: paul rulton on February 21, 2010, 01:03:33 pm
where u from then stan the man?????
Title: Re: Newbie Starting out
Post by: martinsadie on February 21, 2010, 01:06:10 pm
East Lancashire
Title: Re: Newbie Starting out
Post by: paul rulton on February 21, 2010, 01:14:23 pm
thanks stan the man, im in essex, just asked about this question on the form.
b interestin 2 c wot others ave 2say bout it.
Title: Re: Newbie Starting out
Post by: tjgibbo2010 on February 21, 2010, 02:20:46 pm
yes knocking on doors and leafleting people who don't answer. There is a cleaner in this area but he doesn't canvass, he been going for years. But I thought for me to get 2 custys then there may possibly be more.... think i'm gonna hire a canvasser.
Title: Re: Newbie Starting out
Post by: Supreme clean window cleaning on February 21, 2010, 10:48:18 pm
ware about in essex r u
Title: Re: Newbie Starting out
Post by: paul rulton on February 21, 2010, 10:50:51 pm
is that aimed at me m k?
Title: Re: Newbie Starting out
Post by: Supreme clean window cleaning on February 21, 2010, 10:55:50 pm
yes mate
Title: Re: Newbie Starting out
Post by: paul rulton on February 21, 2010, 10:59:24 pm
i live in halstead in essex, kind of between colchester n braintree ish ::).
y is that m8? where u from? :)
Title: Re: Newbie Starting out
Post by: Supreme clean window cleaning on February 21, 2010, 11:01:08 pm
yes mate
Title: Re: Newbie Starting out
Post by: paul rulton on February 21, 2010, 11:02:46 pm
 ??? ??? ??? ???
Title: Re: Newbie Starting out
Post by: Supreme clean window cleaning on February 21, 2010, 11:05:11 pm
i live in bounmouth but moving up to essex soon thinking about buying a round
Title: Re: Newbie Starting out
Post by: paul rulton on February 21, 2010, 11:07:47 pm
send me an email if u do m8, i will do my best 2help u out ;D
Title: Re: Newbie Starting out
Post by: Supreme clean window cleaning on February 21, 2010, 11:09:26 pm
cheers
Title: Re: Newbie Starting out
Post by: tjgibbo2010 on February 28, 2010, 09:51:14 pm
where is the best place to buy tools for the job?
Title: Re: Newbie Starting out
Post by: Ste M on February 28, 2010, 10:01:40 pm
where is the best place to buy tools for the job?

window cleaning wharehouse is probably one of the best ive found, craig is a top bloke who will advise you on what you need and he will get it out to your house in super quick time as well ive found

ste
Title: Re: Newbie Starting out
Post by: jonnyald on March 01, 2010, 08:09:15 am
2 out of 300 isnt terrible. keep on knocking,soon itll be twenty ,its sink or swim once you are out on the streets so do your best effort and keep larfing
Title: Re: Newbie Starting out
Post by: tjgibbo2010 on March 01, 2010, 08:49:06 am
cheers mate, I've hired a canvasser as I was just terrible at the door.  :o
Title: Re: Newbie Starting out
Post by: Premier Cleaning on March 01, 2010, 01:10:08 pm
I have just had to build my business so i hope my advice helps.

I have always found if you do main roads and villages you can pick up work quicker.In my experience everyone hits the common easy estates(less walking for them,they they speak to more people ) so although you will pick up work you may at times,have to work harder for it.But there is no gol;den rules so thats only my opinion.Business is everywhere if you are diligent and hard working you cant fail.

Do not underprice yourself.We have a minimum charge of £10 per house,no matter how small it is.Price high rather than low,you will only dump low price work later down the line.Do it right from thge beginning.It is better to work one house whilkst others have to work 2/3 in the same time.Market yourself on quality of service and you will be ABLE TO COMMAND HIGH PRICES.
I will be putting more free resources on my website over the next few months,Please feel free to check it once in a while for new information on building / marketing a window cleaning round/ business
http://www.premiercleaninguk.com/index.html
Title: Re: Newbie Starting out
Post by: gerard mcmanus on March 01, 2010, 04:13:52 pm
is it an actually round builder you have got to market for you, or just someone you know that has the gift of the gab?
Title: Re: Newbie Starting out
Post by: R W C™ on March 01, 2010, 04:33:34 pm
round forsale in essex

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/window-cleaning-round-essex_W0QQitemZ180475511775QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_HomeGarden_CLV_Cleaning_CA?hash=item2a052dc3df
Title: Re: Newbie Starting out
Post by: gerard mcmanus on March 01, 2010, 04:40:02 pm
We are currently marketing at the mo and have picked up more than that in the last 6 weeks, with about £150 pounds worth of flyers. But if the market is tight in that area, then is worth the money at 4x, when some are going for 10x.
Title: Re: Newbie Starting out
Post by: tjgibbo2010 on March 02, 2010, 03:32:52 pm
I Put an ad in the job centre, My canvasser has been doing canvassing for 15 years self employed..... He starts tomorrow so i'll keep you updated!
Title: Re: Newbie Starting out
Post by: sunshine windies on March 02, 2010, 03:43:34 pm
How much does a canvasser cost if you dont mind me asking?
Title: Re: Newbie Starting out
Post by: tjgibbo2010 on March 02, 2010, 09:47:57 pm
I'm paying commision only and he self employed (first clean revenue on each new custy) I have to pay nmw if he don't make it. Round our way custy get fortnightly wash at £6 -7 a time.
Title: Re: Newbie Starting out
Post by: Mack's Window Cleaning on March 03, 2010, 04:14:07 am
Hitman, do you have any work in Braintree?
Title: Re: Newbie Starting out
Post by: gerard mcmanus on March 03, 2010, 07:24:22 am
I dont know about having to pay him minimum wage of he doesnt get you any  :-\ if he is a canvaser and thats his business you pay him for the work he gets you, thats his incentive. He is not going to give a toss if you are going to pay him minimum wage, plus how do you know how many hours he worked?
Title: Re: Newbie Starting out
Post by: tjgibbo2010 on March 03, 2010, 12:27:44 pm
What i'm saying is the job centre tells me that I have to......... He knows the score ;)
Title: Re: Newbie Starting out
Post by: sunshine windies on March 03, 2010, 12:36:26 pm
Let us know how he gets on, i am still building a round have got 45 custys started in december, i m hoping that the worst is out of the way in terms of weather and starting out, staring to get a bit of word of mouth spreading now which i think is the best thing........
dont worry though canvassing is the worst bit of the job i think, it does seem to help though if they meet you and have a chat etc. to see that you are not a total reprobate  ;)
Title: Re: Newbie Starting out
Post by: gerard mcmanus on March 03, 2010, 12:39:21 pm
dont worry though canvassing is the worst bit of the job i think, it does seem to help though if they meet you and have a chat etc. to see that you are not a total reprobate  ;)

lol
Title: Re: Newbie Starting out
Post by: tjgibbo2010 on March 03, 2010, 10:22:01 pm
Had canvasser out for about 1Hr 1/2 tonight to get the feel of my area. knocked 50 ish doors and got 7 New Customers.

Not bad I thought  ;D
Title: Re: Newbie Starting out
Post by: paul rulton on March 03, 2010, 10:26:20 pm
not bad at all m8 :) 7 more than u did ave ;D
Title: Re: Newbie Starting out
Post by: Ste M on March 03, 2010, 10:26:27 pm
where abouts are you in liverpool?
Title: Re: Newbie Starting out
Post by: tjgibbo2010 on March 04, 2010, 09:01:31 am
Not sure if I can tell you that you might come after me  :P

Only joking I'm in fazak but willing to cover anywhere.
Title: Re: Newbie Starting out
Post by: Ste M on March 04, 2010, 10:50:59 am
That's ok then, your not on my 'patch' ;D just keep door knockin mate an the customers will come, offer a free clean if they recomend you to someone as well
Title: Re: Newbie Starting out
Post by: tjgibbo2010 on March 04, 2010, 11:30:52 am
Patch!!! wots that haha  ;D

Where about are you ste?