[mick hay]

For those who employ and are totally wfp on residential, question for you.....how many employees do you have, and how many houses per day/week on average, are they expected to clean???

Whether working alone or in pairs..thanks........

[bluez]

I go by approx €30.00 (maybe £19 )per hour per operative and generally end up after all they usual issue good and bad with somewhere between 26 and 30 based on an 8 hour day. I find that production goes down a bit when I go two man teams but it is necessary for some type of work. In the summer months we would work closer to 10 /11 hour days where necessary.

To try to equate that to the u.k. I expect about 12 houses a day but my area is largely rural and travel time in a day can be as much as 3 hours in total. I also count insides as one house and we do a lot of insides maybe as many as 2 per day per van.

[mick hay]

Thanks for the info.....how many vans do you have out per day?

[bluez]

I have 4 vans but it depends on the time of year. I have one full round made up of retail and regular domestic that runs pretty much like clockwork same return every week. One large van on commercial generally in full use two man team about 4 dyas a week this time of year and about 6 days summer. The other two vans service one off calls, buiderscleans and assist in commercial when really busy. Tbh the forth van I dont have too long and it is still a bit of a luxury but not for too long in the new year.

[East coast window cleaning Services]

I have 4 vans but it depends on the time of year. I have one full round made up of retail and regular domestic that runs pretty much like clockwork same return every week. One large van on commercial generally in full use two man team about 4 dyas a week this time of year and about 6 days summer. The other two vans service one off calls, buiderscleans and assist in commercial when really busy. Tbh the forth van I dont have too long and it is still a bit of a luxury but not for too long in the new year.

Sounds like a cracking little setup you got there fella

[bluez]

Thanks p&r lots of luck early on and plenty of sweat since, it's getting there now this is going to be the year it all pays off I hope

[gary evans]

Well done bluez, thats the way i,m tryng to go, but, its my 3rd van thats the luxory at moment only out 2-3 days per week.

Out today now on a job(sunday) as we,ve got so much work this side of xmas, being lucky also & picked big contract just worked 5 days on, so the futures looking good.

Gary

[mick hay]

Gary and Bluez,

Do you plan for a extra van, i.e., leaflet or canvass, for a  month or so to build the round up for it?

I invisage doing that myself, with leaflets, train someone up in a van with myself, then when im happy let him loose on the round.

[bluez]

I always put in the capability to do the work first then chase the work but that is just because I hate not feeling organised and ready when I am calling on potential customers.

I try to leaflet all the time unless the weather prevents it getting results. I put leafleter out at least 4 days a week for 3 hours minimum in an existing area because I rely on one offs more than regular work  (I think the trick is to market when you are busy not when you are quite) I also do regular discounts and coupons and leave them at every job. If i am doing outsides I leave a discount for insides or gutters, if I am doing retail then I leave domestic coupons and vice a versa.

I dont canvass mainly because I feel that cold calling on businesses (one hotel contract can be worth anywhere from €3000 to 10,000 per annum) is more productive so I put my efforts there but I would if I had time and might try it later this year.

[jampot]

fair play bluez. 
hope i can be in that boat infew years.
good on you mate 

[gary evans]

Mick

We are chasing commercial cleaning jobs at moment, have a new van coming this week, have put one van up for sale to see what interest just incase other work does not come off.

Had meeting sunday & hopefully secured a 2 week trial clean with a further 8 to 10 weeks secured after.

Also looking to expand into domestic next year also as currently was just commercial, taken on a couple recently.

Gary

[RO-Sheen]

Bluez, where are you based? I'm from Swords in Dublin but now living in Oxfordshire

[stevekennedy]

Hi Gary. Are you selling the van complete with system.

I am thinking that when I change my vans I will strip out the system first. I don't want another cheap second hand system out there. If I sell it to another local w.cleaner it increases my competition. I'd rather sell the van to a carpet fitter or a joiner.

[gary evans]

steve,

Probably yes as it is a good professional system with tucker poles.

Jampot showed interest but am to busy to do anything at moment, looking to expand so may need it, priced up another 6 jobs today, asked to price up 3 on sunday aswell.

I like toyota & there's a good deal at moment so would look to have all toyota,s.

Gary

[davids3511]

Bluez, where are you based? I'm from Swords in Dublin but now living in Oxfordshire

Heh, I'm from Ashbourne Co. Meath (just down the road from Swords), now living in Manchester.

[bluez]

We will have to set up a new forum "window cleaners of Irish extraction" I am based along the west coast and into the midlands.

By the wayy there are plenty of windows need cleaning in co. Meath