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glisaglaze

  • Posts: 14
Slow and steady
« on: July 31, 2008, 04:05:52 pm »
Hi to everyone,

I'm new to the window cleaning game, and have started off with a few customers made up of friends, and friends of friends if you know what I mean....  :)  but I'm averaging 35mins for a semi-detached house using a trad method, this is painfully slow, can anyone tell me what they average on different types of property? Any tips for speeding up my work rate? Also how fast did your rounds develop, do they take weeks months or years to get extra custom?

Please tell me your thoughts...

Many thanks
Henry

jaykie

Re: Slow and steady
« Reply #1 on: July 31, 2008, 04:12:18 pm »
Welcome to the forum mate, i cant tell you what the speed should be as im quite a newbie too but what i would say is either get some leaflets printed and start putting them out or if youve got it in you go door knocking and youll soon get work, then youll get seen on the streets and people will ask you to do theres then it will build and build, i started at the beginning of june and now have about 80 custys and getting a few new jobs every week.

Good luck

Chris

NWH

  • Posts: 16952
Re: Slow and steady
« Reply #2 on: July 31, 2008, 04:12:25 pm »
If your willing to take anything like most are at the start it might not take you long,you could buy work so you have the work there from day 1.To have a good paying and by that i mean every house and commercial job exactly priced how you want it takes years to build and is not done overnight unless you pay mega ££££££££,my jobs have been trimmed and chopped to suit me more times than my hair.Don`t be fooled into thinking it can be done overnight because it can`t,like i say unless your willing to spend the money.

WCE

  • Posts: 968
Re: Slow and steady
« Reply #3 on: July 31, 2008, 04:18:13 pm »
Hi Henry! First thing is on average how much you charging and how much do you want to make per hour? Say you plan to earn £30 PH then if you are charging £15 per house then your going fast enough. £7.50 then you ether need to go twice as fast or charge more.  What method are you using to clean the windows? How are you going about getting new work? These questions - depending on what you tell me depends on the advice I (and others) will give. We need more information to suggest what may work for you!
WCE- For Windows that shine everytime!

Dean Taberner

  • Posts: 4164
Re: Slow and steady
« Reply #4 on: July 31, 2008, 10:16:43 pm »
Safety must come before speed when using the trad method.
Operations manager at J.V Price Ltd

http://www.thepricegroup.co.uk

Dean Taberner

  • Posts: 4164
Re: Slow and steady
« Reply #5 on: July 31, 2008, 10:19:45 pm »
Or  in any method.
Operations manager at J.V Price Ltd

http://www.thepricegroup.co.uk

Wrekin C S

  • Posts: 486
Re: Slow and steady
« Reply #6 on: August 01, 2008, 03:55:56 pm »
When I was trad about 4 yrs ago I used to do around 3 semis per hour but was charging fiver per house - all depends on what your charging tho?

Londoner

Re: Slow and steady
« Reply #7 on: August 02, 2008, 07:41:03 am »
Work at your own speed and be comfortable with what you do. You will speed up in time but 35 mins for a semi done trad doesn't sound bad to me.

You will alway get people on here saying they can do a house in 3 mins flat or whatever but that just it...............whatever.

Ian W

  • Posts: 1161
Re: Slow and steady
« Reply #8 on: August 02, 2008, 08:41:18 am »
Work at your own speed and be comfortable with what you do. You will speed up in time but 35 mins for a semi done trad doesn't sound bad to me.

You will alway get people on here saying they can do a house in 3 mins flat or whatever but that just it...............whatever.

Totally agree. I am not the fastest cleaner, but I do ok.
Do all the good you can, and make as little fuss about it as possible.
Charles Dickens

wightsurf

  • Posts: 1774
Re: Slow and steady
« Reply #9 on: August 02, 2008, 12:14:53 pm »
The first  3 bed house i did took 1Hr , i thought this was going to be hell doing it Trad , as i only had just ordered wfp and thought this will speed things up a bit.
The Facts for me .
The same house takes me trad about 15mins
Wfp about 8 mins
Building a round what you put in you will get out, I went out night after night posting my details ,The response was not fast but steady. But i found door knocking the best ,after the first hr of talking to people i found they don't bite your head off ,as i was not to keen on door knocking but just give it a go . Smartly dressed and polite you can't go wrong.
Good luck, best job i have ever had and i done it all my self<<THATS THE BEST BIT

glisaglaze

  • Posts: 14
Re: Slow and steady
« Reply #10 on: August 03, 2008, 08:51:26 pm »
Thanks guys for the respones...I get the point about upping the prices to suit me so I can take aslong as i want and make my hourly rate up. If I get faster maybe even lower the price, (which will please the customer) I just hate the thought of canvasing! lol! Done it before (not for window cleaning) you sometimes have to be very thick skinned in my expeirence! lol! I hope flyiers are the way forwards for me but with the credit squeeze i feel that people will hold on to the notes abit more!?? Your views??

Ian W

  • Posts: 1161
Re: Slow and steady
« Reply #11 on: August 03, 2008, 09:43:16 pm »
Don't lower your prices, just make sure that the quality remains the same as you get quicker.
Do all the good you can, and make as little fuss about it as possible.
Charles Dickens

matt

Re: Slow and steady
« Reply #12 on: August 03, 2008, 10:34:12 pm »


You will alway get people on here saying they can do a house in 3 mins flat or whatever but that just it...............whatever.

this is very true

it seems we have a few billy bu!!poopt3rs

glisaglaze

  • Posts: 14
Re: Slow and steady
« Reply #13 on: August 04, 2008, 01:10:01 pm »
thanks guys! gr8 responses! i'm slowly taking it all on board! keep safe!.....henry

WCE

  • Posts: 968
Re: Slow and steady
« Reply #14 on: August 04, 2008, 01:28:11 pm »
Thanks guys for the respones...I get the point about upping the prices to suit me so I can take aslong as i want and make my hourly rate up. If I get faster maybe even lower the price, (which will please the customer) I just hate the thought of canvasing! lol! Done it before (not for window cleaning) you sometimes have to be very thick skinned in my expeirence! lol! I hope flyiers are the way forwards for me but with the credit squeeze i feel that people will hold on to the notes abit more!?? Your views??
Don't be put of canvassing!!! I once worked for a few days as a double glazing canvasser. The job was a nightmare. When I first started window cleaning the thought of canvassing really began to get to me but I have found that people are more receptive of window cleaners and don't class you the same as a double glazing etc salesman. You will be surprised. Some even welcome you with open arms!!!
WCE- For Windows that shine everytime!

Jago

  • Posts: 453
Re: Slow and steady
« Reply #15 on: August 04, 2008, 02:26:20 pm »
I think the Hourley rate is Important with Saftey there too

when raining loads and I have managed a cheeky £50 and stayed warm and dry ish. Better than nothing I think.
Other times I do my full day and am very very happy

I can not see how some people say trad house by themselves 15 mins and the sills It just does not cut it with me.
 
Do them Propper thats all I will say to you. If you can look back and think damn they look good, Then I can Guarnetee your customer will certainly too.
Good Luck.
Also Do not undercut ;-) there are enough windows out there
To Do Is To Dare

glisaglaze

  • Posts: 14
Re: Slow and steady
« Reply #16 on: August 06, 2008, 03:33:30 pm »
Hi guys/gals,

Went to a house to day new customer, they asked that I was not to use chemicals on the windows just clean with pure water!?? Is this sometimes to be expected??

Take care
henry