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

kevinc

Re: young one wanting to start
« Reply #40 on: January 07, 2012, 11:50:51 pm »
hopefully a very highly paid tea bitch!

Scoop

  • Posts: 262
Re: young one wanting to start
« Reply #41 on: January 07, 2012, 11:52:12 pm »
This sounds like quite an inspirational story. A lot of youngsters think that work means sitting down all day sippings coffee and emailing "What are you wearing?" to the pretty PA down the corridor.

James is prepared to put the effort in and I've no doubt he will get the rewards out. Well done  :)
Don't wish it were easier. Wish that you were better - Jim Rohn

kevinc

Re: young one wanting to start
« Reply #42 on: January 08, 2012, 12:09:08 am »
many thanks for replys  :) every thing has been taken in' but going back to the main question could i be taken seriously as a window cleaner at my age (15) on a weekend basis (saturday, sunday) given that my dad will give me a bit of a round' do you think people would take me seriously  ??? many thanks james

Blue Frog Systems

  • Posts: 3813
Re: young one wanting to start
« Reply #43 on: January 08, 2012, 12:41:40 am »
only one way to find out james ;)

good luck to you..

Only those who risk going too far will truly know how far they can actually go

KLEENAWAY

  • Posts: 891
Re: young one wanting to start
« Reply #44 on: January 08, 2012, 12:45:22 am »
I think you should be fine mate, if it worries you that much dont tell people your age or if they ask tell them your 17, they wont know.

Im 23 now but when i left school i worked for a removal company and became the warehouse foreman over about 25 men after 8 months....they hated it and tried taking the p*** but after a few month were fine and just treated me as one of the lads. The moral of the story is, no matter what job/journey you take whether it be a window cleaner or some "swanky office job" people are always going to try and take the mikey, its just human nature and it happens in all walks of life so dont be worried!

Danny

kevinc

Re: young one wanting to start
« Reply #45 on: January 08, 2012, 01:18:33 am »
hi lads,kevin here,jimbo's in bed(and so should be at this time)can i thank you all for the time you shared with james,the good advice you gave him,and just good old fashioned hospitatility you all showed to a young guy hoping to find his way in this world,james can see a future in this,as he's said its a numbers game-at15 :o

Gav Camm lammy 283

  • Posts: 7520
Re: young one wanting to start
« Reply #46 on: January 08, 2012, 03:37:35 am »
i was trad at 13 every sat even sunday
at 15yrs old youve gotta be trad !!"!"!
not knocking ya la build a round top prices
then in 2 yrs time if you pass
yr test change to wfp
then lose all yr custys !!!!!
cuz they prefer their windows
squeegeed
cant win la  ;)
go collage learn be anything but a windy ;D ;D ;D ;D
LET YOUR PANES BE MY PLEASURE

"If CALSBERG did WINDOW CLEANING
 it would be C.C.C  Probably the best WINDOW CLEANERS IN THE WORLD ..........."

sean84

Re: young one wanting to start
« Reply #47 on: January 08, 2012, 11:05:32 am »
hi sean,fair do'swanted james to post his own question,in his own words-big boy,big world get use to it!saturday job could be the way to go with this one,i guess start with trad as james prefers this to wfp need as much feedback as possible so i can make a decision on this one,and no henleys shirts are allowed!he has his own uniform the same as ours,just can't change him from trainers to boots

Whats wrong with trainers?!

CLEANCARE WC

  • Posts: 4454
Re: young one wanting to start
« Reply #48 on: January 08, 2012, 12:59:46 pm »
many thanks for replys  :) every thing has been taken in' but going back to the main question could i be taken seriously as a window cleaner at my age (15) on a weekend basis (saturday, sunday) given that my dad will give me a bit of a round' do you think people would take me seriously  ??? many thanks james

James yes I think you can be taken seriously, especially if you tell your customers that your dad is a w cleaner and you have helped him in the holidays since you were 12 or whatever. and above all to be taken seriously DO NOT LET CUSTOMERS TAKE THE P OUT OF YOU, PRICE EACH JOB WELL AND DO A PROFESSIONAL JOB.
WE CLEAN BY FAITH, NOT BY SIGHT WITH WATER FED POLE WHEN WORKING AT HEIGHT.

stuart mc

  • Posts: 7775
Re: young one wanting to start
« Reply #49 on: January 08, 2012, 01:03:23 pm »
many thanks for replys  :) every thing has been taken in' but going back to the main question could i be taken seriously as a window cleaner at my age (15) on a weekend basis (saturday, sunday) given that my dad will give me a bit of a round' do you think people would take me seriously  ??? many thanks james

James yes I think you can be taken seriously, especially if you tell your customers that your dad is a w cleaner and you have helped him in the holidays since you were 12 or whatever. and above all to be taken seriously DO NOT LET CUSTOMERS TAKE THE P OUT OF YOU, PRICE EACH JOB WELL AND DO A PROFESSIONAL JOB.


what he said ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

AuRavelling79

  • Posts: 26576
Re: young one wanting to start
« Reply #50 on: January 08, 2012, 03:28:47 pm »
Hi James - here's some advice from Uncle Malc.

Tell your Dad he should be as pleased a Punch (shame he's not so good-looking as Punch) that you are so keen. He and/or your Mum must have done something right! But your Dad's spelling could do with some work too!  ;D

Now then - a w/c mate of mine has a 15 year old son who has built up his own £250 a month wheelie bin cleaning round that he has done simply using his feet, a bucket and soapy water. Walks straight out the house and does the neighbours.

So you'll be fine. But when you are old enough - 16/17 then work with your Dad - van insurance will be a killer for a 17 year old so although you will be desperate to drive hang on until you've got enough turnover because you don't want £3 grand a year going on insurance when you don't need it.

Now then - girls.

Bear in mind that loads of guys are numpties and have no nouce or jobs or desire to succeed so you will find that once you start rolling you will find girls will be keen. Now I'm a religious geezer but nevertheless my advice is "keep it in your trousers" and be respectful of girls/women. This is hard (pun intended) for a male teenager. Talk to your Dad and ask him for some advice. Look for a girl who also wants to work and who has some self respect.

If you do talk to your Dad he will be more embarrassed than you, trust me - but he was/is like you - full of hormones and knows what it was like to be 15. He really wants you to do well. You know waaaaaay more than he does now but when you are fifty and he is dead and gone (or gaga like me) you will realise that he was the wisest man in the whole world.

What you don't want in your plan to become a successful businessman and more importantly a respected person in life that makes his parents proud is to be thwarted by getting some girl up the duff and having pressures and responsibilities before their time.

So be wise my son and listen to your Uncle Malc .....  ;D
It's a game of three halves!

CLEANCARE WC

  • Posts: 4454
Re: young one wanting to start
« Reply #51 on: January 08, 2012, 03:36:43 pm »
Hi James - here's some advice from Uncle Malc.

Tell your Dad he should be as pleased a Punch (shame he's not so good-looking as Punch) that you are so keen. He and/or your Mum must have done something right! But your Dad's spelling could do with some work too!  ;D

Now then - a w/c mate of mine has a 15 year old son who has built up his own £250 a month wheelie bin cleaning round that he has done simply using his feet, a bucket and soapy water. Walks straight out the house and does the neighbours.

So you'll be fine. But when you are old enough - 16/17 then work with your Dad - van insurance will be a killer for a 17 year old so although you will be desperate to drive hang on until you've got enough turnover because you don't want £3 grand a year going on insurance when you don't need it.

Now then - girls.

Bear in mind that loads of guys are numpties and have no nouce or jobs or desire to succeed so you will find that once you start rolling you will find girls will be keen. Now I'm a religious geezer but nevertheless my advice is "keep it in your trousers" and be respectful of girls/women. This is hard (pun intended) for a male teenager. Talk to your Dad and ask him for some advice. Look for a girl who also wants to work and who has some self respect.

If you do talk to your Dad he will be more embarrassed than you, trust me - but he was/is like you - full of hormones and knows what it was like to be 15. He really wants you to do well. You know waaaaaay more than he does now but when you are fifty and he is dead and gone (or gaga like me) you will realise that he was the wisest man in the whole world.

What you don't want in your plan to become a successful businessman and more importantly a respected person in life that makes his parents proud is to be thwarted by getting some girl up the duff and having pressures and responsibilities before their time.

So be wise my son and listen to your Uncle Malc .....  ;D

..that i may make a reply to him that undercuts me  ;D

(sorry semi religious joke)
WE CLEAN BY FAITH, NOT BY SIGHT WITH WATER FED POLE WHEN WORKING AT HEIGHT.

andyM

  • Posts: 6100
Re: young one wanting to start
« Reply #52 on: January 08, 2012, 03:44:20 pm »
Sounds like "all work and no play!"  :(
No uncle malc is right about the ladies, it will make your legs weak which is no good for tradding up and down ladders all day long  ;D   
 
One of the Plebs

RO-Sheen

  • Posts: 1308
Re: young one wanting to start
« Reply #53 on: January 08, 2012, 05:59:28 pm »
When I was 15 and if an 'Uncle Malc' told me all those things I would just think (but not say out loud) 'yeah yeah yeah, whatever....now, im off to look for some girls' BUT he is absoluately 100% right!
I know it sounds old and boring when you hear oldies like us saying that there will be loads of time for that later but there really is!
Get yourself sorted first and like Malc says if the right ambitious girl comes along great stuff but behave yourself!
I know in 25 years from now you WILL be giving 15 years the exact same advise.
Formerly known as GARGAAX

kevinc

Re: young one wanting to start
« Reply #54 on: January 09, 2012, 10:10:43 pm »
thank you for all advice :) i know about girls i just have to look at my 19 year old brother and how bossed around he gets by her i shall not let this happen till im well under way with window cleaning many thanks james :) :)

Llaaww

  • Posts: 2260
Re: young one wanting to start
« Reply #55 on: January 10, 2012, 09:59:47 am »
Good luck with your enterprise, it is good to know that there are still young fellas out there who are willing to get stuck in and have a go.

This job can be a very good number for a fit young bloke, and if you get to it early you could go all the way and develope a  very succesful business.

You seem to be a little daunted as to whether you will be taken seriously as a 15 yr old, so the thing to do is to get your message across quickly and effectivley. I would sugest having a flyer made up with a picture of yourself actually doing the job, and a brief note explaining that you intend to follow the family business. When you are out door knocking, be prepared to do the job there and then.

People like enterprise, especially in todays climate, I think you could do quite well. 

I see that you are planning to work trad, however there is plenty of cleaning that can be done with a wfp and garden tap. My absolute best advice is that you consider getting a wfp and use it to clean/ sofits/ gutters/ walls/ sills and frames before finishing windows trad. There is good money to be made washing these things, and the water does not need to be pure, so a garden tap and custy hose will do. Also a pole would bunjee to the ladder and be easy to carry about.

Many years ago I started cleaning trad and didn't even have a ladder. I started on neighbours downstairs windows and promised to come back for the tops when I got one. I was given one soon enough, and set about all the tops in the area until I could afford a car. I scrounged a cheap car from a local dealer and in the three months I had until the mot ran out, I worked my conkers off and was up and running.

Good luck, I hope it goes well for you.




if it is dirty it is fair game

Dane

  • Posts: 180
Re: young one wanting to start
« Reply #56 on: January 12, 2012, 11:15:18 pm »
i started a year ago when i was 22... i dont think age is the issue like some people have said, if the lad wants it eough im sure he'll make it work

All the best i hope it works out for him

Deangsi

  • Posts: 663
Re: young one wanting to start
« Reply #57 on: January 18, 2012, 10:35:09 pm »
I was 19 when i started now 22 i have 225 custys. When i was 19 i looked about 16 and when i was canvading the people used to love the idea of a young lad trying to make something of himself. Even the kids that answered the doors woulg go mummy thers a boy/lad at the door. Now i get man at the door. Younger the better i vote.