Interested In Advertising? | Contact Us Here
Warning!

 

Welcome to Clean It Up; the UK`s largest cleaning forum with over 34,000 members

 

Please login or register to post and reply to topics.      

 

Forgot your password? Click here

Recent Posts

Pages: 1 2 [3] 4 5 ... 10
21
Window Cleaning Forum / Re: Price of new vans!
« Last post by Stoots on Yesterday at 07:31:32 am »
Most people will.buy a new van because of reliability.

But thats not really the case. The newer vans euro 6 have a lot of issues with dpfs. Theres the wet belt issues with ford's the chain issues with the Peugeots etc. When a newer van goes wrong its having to deal with warranty and a dealer and if you are just outside that and your engine blows it can be 5 grand or whatever.

Even if an older van costs you more in replaced wear an tear items like suspension, brakes etc and maybe a clutch and a starter and bits here and there it will always work out better than the massive depreciation you pay on a new van.

If the new van depreciates 15k over 5 years (it will be more)  thats 3k a year that has to go wrong with the older van. Ive had about 10 or 15 vans and never had anything like that, you could replace the entire engine and gearbox every year for that and still beat the depreciation.

Depends though, I cant remember last time I went to a garage ive done clutches, injectors, cambelts and all the usual servicing stuff on my driveway. Only time I go to a garage is mot time.
22
Window Cleaning Forum / Re: Price of new vans!
« Last post by dazmond on March 11, 2026, 09:48:44 pm »
Quote from: martinw on March 11, 2026, 09:29:52 pm
This thread makes me wonder if any of you with a leased van actually have written permission to modify it to bolt on tanks. Last time I checked in 2021, ten leasing companies had refused to provide it. I ended up buying pre-reg, as it was working out cheaper overall over five years.

Mine is a business finance lease. You can do what you want to it if your running it for 15 years!
23
Window Cleaning Forum / Re: Price of new vans!
« Last post by martinw on March 11, 2026, 09:29:52 pm »
This thread makes me wonder if any of you with a leased van actually have written permission to modify it to bolt on tanks. Last time I checked in 2021, ten leasing companies had refused to provide it. I ended up buying pre-reg, as it was working out cheaper overall over five years.
24
Window Cleaning Forum / Re: Sole trader account
« Last post by dazmond on March 11, 2026, 08:16:17 pm »
Quote from: harleyman on March 11, 2026, 01:36:52 pm
I'm looking g for a new sole trader account
I only have a small round who do youguys use thanks

First Direct current account. Great customer service. Linked 7% interest saver account and fantastic mobile app.

25
Window Cleaning Forum / Re: Price of new vans!
« Last post by dazmond on March 11, 2026, 07:59:00 pm »
Quote from: deeege on March 11, 2026, 05:23:09 pm
Quote from: dazmond on March 11, 2026, 09:03:20 am
Having a decent van is the number one requirement for WFP cleaning IMO and the largest outlay is your van. If you don't want to spend a huge chunk all at once then leasing for a small rental amount every month that's 100% tax deductable is ok. Its easily affordable for most businesses.

I just see it as a legitimate business expense every month now.

I was telling you this for years Daz when you were driving old bangers. “No need for a new van, sod paying for a lease, I only do 50 miles a week yada yada”, you said this for years, until you finally  got a new van and it was suddenly the best thing you ever did.  ;D

I prefer to buy a low mileage year old van, let someone else take the hit on the depreciation but still have all the benefits of the new van.

I'm allowed to change my mind.....

I spent a few years with old vans when I switched to wfp but then realised that I had to swap systems  over every couple of years (when they finally gave up the ghost)which is a real pain.

I also wanted a diesel heater after faffing about with cheap(and dangerous!) gas shower units so it's not worth installing one in anything other than a brand new van IMO.

I ve got my dream van and system and I still love it 9 years on. I will get the timing belt and water pump changed next year.
26
Window Cleaning Forum / Re: Price of new vans!
« Last post by dd on March 11, 2026, 05:41:23 pm »
Quote from: Stoots on March 11, 2026, 02:38:38 pm
I went full circle and im back at old vans.

Only vehicle ive ever bought new, paid 24k plus vat in 2022 so 29k.

Was paying 450 a month ish plus 100 month ins then the tax. also it only did 23mpg

sold for 13k in 2025

the vat was lost as soon as i bought it as im not vat reg so total i lost in 3 years was 16k

16k! in 3 years what a mad decision it was to buy new, never again.

I now have a 2016 peugeot partner for 3k paid cash and last year bought my old renault trafic back off the lad who i sold it to for £350 quid, i did loads of work on it so it cost me about a grand all in.

So now i have a van that does 40 mpg cost 400 quid a year to insure and no 450 quid a month payment im way over 500 quid a month better off plus i have a spare.

The only requirement i have for a van is air con, to me thats a non negotiable apart from that i really dont care anymore its just a mode of transport.
Mistake you made was buying the wrong van, not buying a new van. I bought my Dispatch new 20 years for £11,500 incl VAT.
In the 20 years I have owned it has never let me down
Main expenses was clutch at 113k and 2 timing belt changes.
27
Window Cleaning Forum / Re: Price of new vans!
« Last post by deeege on March 11, 2026, 05:23:09 pm »
Quote from: dazmond on March 11, 2026, 09:03:20 am
Having a decent van is the number one requirement for WFP cleaning IMO and the largest outlay is your van. If you don't want to spend a huge chunk all at once then leasing for a small rental amount every month that's 100% tax deductable is ok. Its easily affordable for most businesses.

I just see it as a legitimate business expense every month now.

I was telling you this for years Daz when you were driving old bangers. “No need for a new van, sod paying for a lease, I only do 50 miles a week yada yada”, you said this for years, until you finally  got a new van and it was suddenly the best thing you ever did.  ;D

I prefer to buy a low mileage year old van, let someone else take the hit on the depreciation but still have all the benefits of the new van.
28
Window Cleaning Forum / Re: texting customers and cancellations
« Last post by Stoots on March 11, 2026, 02:42:29 pm »
I text 90% of them. Locked gates or not i prefer people to know im coming makes me feel less awkward.

I also always clean front windows first on every house, lets them know im there so they can get out of my way if they are round back or unlock gate if they have forgot.

Dont get many skips without a reason although you always get the odd day where its 2 or 3 and a couple of locked gates and you question your life.

I would say almost half of my jobs have a lock on or at least a latch that wouldnt be reachable if i didnt text them.

29
Window Cleaning Forum / Re: Price of new vans!
« Last post by Stoots on March 11, 2026, 02:38:38 pm »
I went full circle and im back at old vans.

Only vehicle ive ever bought new, paid 24k plus vat in 2022 so 29k.

Was paying 450 a month ish plus 100 month ins then the tax. also it only did 23mpg

sold for 13k in 2025

the vat was lost as soon as i bought it as im not vat reg so total i lost in 3 years was 16k

16k! in 3 years what a mad decision it was to buy new, never again.

I now have a 2016 peugeot partner for 3k paid cash and last year bought my old renault trafic back off the lad who i sold it to for £350 quid, i did loads of work on it so it cost me about a grand all in.

So now i have a van that does 40 mpg cost 400 quid a year to insure and no 450 quid a month payment im way over 500 quid a month better off plus i have a spare.

The only requirement i have for a van is air con, to me thats a non negotiable apart from that i really dont care anymore its just a mode of transport.




30
Window Cleaning Forum / Re: Price of new vans!
« Last post by KS Cleaning on March 11, 2026, 01:37:04 pm »
Quote from: dazmond on March 11, 2026, 09:03:20 am
Having a decent van is the number one requirement for WFP cleaning IMO and the largest outlay is your van. If you don't want to spend a huge chunk all at once then leasing for a small rental amount every month that's 100% tax deductable is ok. Its easily affordable for most businesses.

I just see it as a legitimate business expense every month now.
You sound like a salesman’s dream Daz😆
Pages: 1 2 [3] 4 5 ... 10