[magic moments]

My first week in New career and I knew the customer would be fussy from when I first spoke with her however as I was cleaning top windows above an extension what has a flat tiled roof,she comes out and says stop its leaking,upon going in and leaking its a poor extension crack on the inside and mastic on the inside along the join,she couldn't understand that if the roof was correctly sealed it couldn't leak,must admit its knocked my confidence now.

[VSP Home Care]

I wouldn't let that knock your confidence mate, she's the one with a naf roof.  What does she do when it rains?

If it's the sort of work you can repair why not offer to price it, or if it's not your thing find a builder/roofer locally to price the work, plus your drink 

[Richard iSparkle]

i know how you feel.  the first clean we ever did all the windows leaked!  nightmare.

i wouldnt worry tho.  you'll prob never get a leaky extension ever again.

[Tom White]

,must admit its knocked my confidence now.

Don't let it; it's not your fault; as VSP points out, it's the naff roof, not you.

And remember, you're self employed now, you need to be robust enough to take the mishaps; you will have them.

Since you're new I'll not say 'Take two sissy pills and Man up'.

[colley614]

Your water is that pure its burnt a hole in her roof. Good effort!

I would have given her the heavy shower speel

[magic moments]

Thanks ,time to man up and soldier on.

[colley614]

Honestly I would have forgotten it already, sometimes things happen. On Thursday me and a lad from work were using a sixty foot pole and the wind caught it and it nearly landed on a BMW and an Audi. These things are sent to test us. Does the lady want you back next month?

[magic moments]

Yes so far I was hoping she wouldn't ,not sure I have the patience ,but I'm now self employed and suppose beggers can't be choosers and untill I'm tur.I.g away work il put a smile on and continue.

[colley614]

When I first started out I canvassed a bit of work in Decemeber 2006. It was terraced houses, I did 2 cleans before Christmas and must of built myself around £100 to £200 a month in work. Anyway when I turned up after Christmas I turned up and there was another guy in this road cleaning windows on the houses I'd canvassed I lost a lot of the work to this guy who had started undercutting me so I gave up and went somewhere else. I then got myself in a bad habbit of just giving up work that I didn't like doing and it took me a while to realize that basically I was constantly have to canvass a lot of new work just to replace the work I was choosing not to do.

What I'm trying to say is don't teach yourself to quit. You'll will probably have a joke about it with her one day in the summer when your both supping a cuppa in the back garden. I'd just ask if she wants you to leave the window above the leaking roof until the roofs fixed.

[magic moments]

Yea your right .I was going to just jump up on the extension its flat roof with thick tiles so should be ok ,well she said the old cleaner used to walk up there ,and I could trad them to keep her happy.

[colley614]

Are you canvassing at the moment?

[magic moments]

Yes mate got my 7 last week ,as I jacked my steady well paid job I get paid from them untill end of month then I'm reliant on the glass not ideal I know but I need a total of 100 custies by end of march to survive #live for pressure#

[colley614]

You just quit your job and went for it  Did you give them any notice or did you just say "Screw you guys, I'm going home!"?

[magic moments]

I gave notice ,but went on the sick to give me a little headstart ,and funds to make a little start, lifes to short to dread getting up for work and to be unhappy,I have dreamed of businesses etc for years and could never afford to try my luck then I thought window cleaning is relatively cheap to start ,and the more effort I put in its all for me and the family to benefit. I'm 28 and wish I done this years ago.

[colley614]

How many days have you been canvassing so far?

[magic moments]

Honestly twice only about 2 hours so not a bad ratio,have to be a little sneaky whilst I'm currently employed untill the end of the month.

[colley614]

Good luck with it all mate, I would say your doing well

[magic moments]

Thanks this forum is a massive help.

[colley614]

I'd say you have picked the best time of year to start up. Before you know it it'll be summer and you'll be mad busy!