[cleewindows]

i just get to houses and then dont knock,why not?
i know i will get more custys that way than what i will delivering leaflets!
please help!

[daz1977]

just knock it and get the first one out of the way   then it is easy,  i have started booking jobs in for first thing in the morning, so i got to get up and get out

[Tom White]

Self moderated by Tosh.

Apologies - if you read my post, Clee - for my wayward sense-of-humour.   

[paul rulton]

clee, ave u thought of just takin a timeout from the knockin? just a week will be enough 4u
2regroup ur thoughts n drive    well it used 2work 4me m8  try it, u got nothing 2lose 

[Jack Wallace]

I was just the same when I first went knocking; I drove 5 miles to a village, drove around for a bit, and then came up with some lame excuse not to knock so went home. I felt bad for days.
So next time I forced myself to do it even though I really did not want to. You know what? I actually ended up enjoying it.
I think it’s the fear of being face to face and getting rejected, but I found most folk were really nice and after an hour I had 30 quid’s worth of work.
Once over that it’s a doddle.
Something that helped me was knowing that even if someone opens the door and is rude it’s not personal. I realized that after a guy knocked on my door selling fish, I said no but I still ended up talking to him for about 20 mins to pick his brains about door knocking, I even made him a cuppa.  
He said 99% of people are fine but every now and then you catch someone at a bad moment and they take it out on you, "Like your neighbour"
I was amazed when he told me how rude she had been, she is one of the nicest people I know yet when he knocked she was really horrid and slammed the door. She had a 4 week old child at the time (her first) so I assumed he just picked a bad time. It made me realize that when you knock you have to expect it may happen but it’s not personal. So I am now able to just shrug it off and move to the next house.

[groundhog]

i just get to houses and then dont knock,why not?
i know i will get more custys that way than what i will delivering leaflets!
please help!

I know how you feel, I hated doorknocking!! But I left a very well paid job to do this and had to find work fast, you just have to grit your teeth and go for it. Rehearse what you are going to say, then just knock on the doors and say it! If they say no then go to the next door, it's a numbers game and the more doors you knock on then the more success you will have!!

I also had a lot of success with leaving leaflets that stated a date and approx time that I would call back, normally a day or two after the leaflet drop, ideally find an estate of newly built houses. When I did this I found that many of the householders were actually waiting eagerly for me to knock!!  

[roundbuilder]

i just get to houses and then dont knock,why not?
i know i will get more custys that way than what i will delivering leaflets!
please help!

I know how you feel, I hated doorknocking!! But I left a very well paid job to do this and had to find work fast, you just have to grit your teeth and go for it. Rehearse what you are going to say, then just knock on the doors and say it! If they say no then go to the next door, it's a numbers game and the more doors you knock on then the more success you will have!!


How long you been cleaning windows then groundhog. You seem quite clued up on it all and i like reading your replys, i think you are mad to have left a well paid job to do this. Im only doing it as i cant earn  what i can shineing anywhere else without qualifications.

I also had a lot of success with leaving leaflets that stated a date and approx time that I would call back, normally a day or two after the leaflet drop, ideally find an estate of newly built houses. When I did this I found that many of the householders were actually waiting eagerly for me to knock!!  

[A & J Owen Window Cleaning]

ask your wife to do a few door knocks it works for us they are more receptive to ladys at the door then blokes 

[Darranvps]

For each one that says NO, you are one closer to saying YES

[groundhog]

How long you been cleaning windows then groundhog. You seem quite clued up on it all and i like reading your replys, i think you are mad to have left a well paid job to do this. Im only doing it as i cant earn  what i can shineing anywhere else without qualifications.

I've been window cleaning full time for about 7 years, but was doing it part time for a long time before finally taking the plunge and jacking in my job! I did it because I hated my old job, and I hated having a boss!! The freedom we have in this job is what I love, and we are in control of how successful we become.. Most will just plod along and earn enough to pay the bills and maybe a holiday every year etc, but others have gone on to do really well and there really are window cleaning millionaires out there!! The sky really is the limit!! But I would say that if you don't enjoy the job, then don't do it.. look for something you want to do and go for it... lifes too short to spend everyday doing stuff your not enjoying!!! 

[cleewindows]

i love window cleaning and driveway cleaning just dont enjoy door knocking,tried leafleting and dont get a very good response.
my mrs is going to come out with me tuesday day and then i will go back out at night.
cheers for everyones advice.
i sometimes feel that people feel intimidated by me knocking there door so feel bad for that as im 6ft 2 16 stone and skinhead but always dress smart in my work clothes so they know who i am before they answer the door.

How long you been cleaning windows then groundhog. You seem quite clued up on it all and i like reading your replys, i think you are mad to have left a well paid job to do this. Im only doing it as i cant earn  what i can shineing anywhere else without qualifications.

I've been window cleaning full time for about 7 years, but was doing it part time for a long time before finally taking the plunge and jacking in my job! I did it because I hated my old job, and I hated having a boss!! The freedom we have in this job is what I love, and we are in control of how successful we become.. Most will just plod along and earn enough to pay the bills and maybe a holiday every year etc, but others have gone on to do really well and there really are window cleaning millionaires out there!! The sky really is the limit!! But I would say that if you don't enjoy the job, then don't do it.. look for something you want to do and go for it... lifes too short to spend everyday doing stuff your not enjoying!!! 

[cleewindows]

i dont like long hair mate,its longer than a 2 its long!

i sometimes feel that people feel intimidated by me knocking there door so feel bad for that as im 6ft 2 16 stone and skinhead but always dress smart in my work clothes so they know who i am before they answer the door.

I'm really not being facetious; have you considered growing your hair a little while you build your round?  Mine was number 2 but I let it go to a number 4 before I started, for the very same reason  (I'm 6'3" and 14 st).  Number 4 just looks like short hair and I think it all helps.

V

[groundhog]

i sometimes feel that people feel intimidated by me knocking there door so feel bad for that as im 6ft 2 16 stone and skinhead but always dress smart in my work clothes so they know who i am before they answer the door.

I guess us slim good looking guys have a bit of an advantage, when the housewife answers the door!!!!  

Seriously though I would keep at it, as door knocking is definately the quickest way to build your round!! Have you tried leafletting first and having when you are going to call back written on the leaflet? That way it isn't the same as cold calling, as they are already aware that you are coming. I do know how you feel about door knocking, I hated it also, but once you have your first 150 customers or so then door knocking will probably no longer be needed as the round will start to build itself through referals and leaflets etc!! I haven't knocked on a door now for over 6 years, but I always carry a few leaflets, and ditribute them whenever I see a likely house with wfp friendly windows!!!  

[tom2009]

i just get to houses and then dont knock,why not?
i know i will get more custys that way than what i will delivering leaflets!
please help!

Just walk to the door, (ignore what you are thinking ie. what if they say no, what if they are rude), knock on the door, wait about 15 seconds (thats how long it takes most folks to get to the door) then if they answer say 'hello , do you need a window cleaner?' wait for a response, if they say no then say thanks and move on. Most folks will say no - an unfortunate fact - but some will say yes! If no answer leaflet and move on. I'm very new but do feel qualified to comment as I have now knocked a lot of doors and actually look forward to it [knocking] as it's a break from the physical effort of being a WC. Dont think just do. best of luck.

[prestigeclean]

set yourself a very easily acheivable target to start , maybe 50 doors and then gradually increase the total , and remember to smile , not the gordon brown smile though lol regards alan

[roundbuilder]

with canvassing you either have it in you or you dont.
its a bonus if you do have it in you as in the long run you will build a very succesfull window cleaning business. The world realy is your oister if you have it in you to not think twice about knocking on the doors in this game.
So take the advice and set targets that are reachable and go for it
you have it easy if you are canvassing everyday houses(close terrace etc)I stupidly set a target to build 2k of work up in 3 months only going for £20 plusers, over a month in and i only have £600 but in all fairness to myself it is hard going for the biggies im going out 3 evenings a week for 2 hours a time. im normally only getting 1 new customer in the canvassing session, most i got was 3 but get a lot of nothing's, the only good thing about the nothing days is you cant do any worse.
Honestly though mate if you realy want the perfect ultimate round then its only door knocks away.

[cleewindows]

thanks m8 im going for it cheers
i went out week before last and picked up 4 customers in 1 hour but lost a customer last week which knocked my confidence i think.
i dont think she liked the idea of the wfp system.i know everyone says dont worry about losing customers.
onwards and upwards!
what do you say when knocking on doors?
i say "do you have a window cleaner and if not would you like a quote?"

with canvassing you either have it in you or you dont.
its a bonus if you do have it in you as in the long run you will build a very succesfull window cleaning business. The world realy is your oister if you have it in you to not think twice about knocking on the doors in this game.
So take the advice and set targets that are reachable and go for it
you have it easy if you are canvassing everyday houses(close terrace etc)I stupidly set a target to build 2k of work up in 3 months only going for £20 plusers, over a month in and i only have £600 but in all fairness to myself it is hard going for the biggies im going out 3 evenings a week for 2 hours a time. im normally only getting 1 new customer in the canvassing session, most i got was 3 but get a lot of nothing's, the only good thing about the nothing days is you cant do any worse.
Honestly though mate if you realy want the perfect ultimate round then its only door knocks away.

[G Griffin]

 Try to mention that you have a no.4, or at least are letting it grow to a no.4 if you still have a no.2   
    Don`t try and pass a no.4 off as a no.2 because the customer will see straight through you. They will know what you are then  .

[cleewindows]

?
i have a nought all over 
the ladies love it!

Try to mention that you have a no.4, or at least are letting it grow to a no.4 if you still have a no.2   
    Don`t try and pass a no.4 off as a no.2 because the customer will see straight through you. They will know what you are then  .

[G Griffin]

 Don`t worry too much about your hair. The way you act is far more important  .