[VSP Home Care]

Guys as I'm sure your aware I've been researching the business for a month or so with the intention of starting a round this year.

I'm learning a few things here and there, I started with the idea of working trad only.  The more I survey my area as if I was going to work the houses, the more I realize that you trad guys earn your money 

Almost every other house seems to have inaccessible windows of some sort.  Not all the windows obviously just one or two that you wouldn't to do Trad.  To my mind I want to do them all and WFP is the only option..

I've also seem many windows that would require balls to do Trad and I'm sure you boys do them, I've not seen a sole out cleaning this week but I've not seen that many filthy windows, so I suspect there's a few Ninja WFP boys out there to   

The two biggest complaints I hear regarding WFP are the lack of drying (on the spot) and dirty window ledges.  I can see the ledges getting done properly with a radius brush but I wondered if you WFP guys have any tips on drying, do you dry the ones you can reach by hand?

Cheers

[erithwc]

I have done trad and still can when needed but as i worked i always looked up at the windows and thought how much better wfp would be so now i use wfp to makes my life easier and safer.

Today i did a 1st floor masonette trad would take me 10-15 min from setup to packing up with wfp it will take me 5-7 minutes  

[Ian101]

I started out June last year and after a couple of days trad I realised that yup you do work hard for the money .... after a few months full time though u sort of get used to it ... now gone wfp but still trad the ones quicker to do by trad.

[bobby p]

after a while you get good at using a pole with swivel  mop/squeegee to get at the awkward windows

 its true Trad is  hard graft though and my back aches this after , my new helper let me down yet again, another pansy boy excuse ,  so i had to do  a TRUE DOUBLE SLOG today .  jeeesus im glad to be home

[Mark Farrimond]

I have one window in my house (over a conservatory) that my window cleaner never cleans.  He uses traditional methods but what can I do?  Do I tell him to clean it whatever way he can or just leave it dirty?  I dont want him risking life and limb just for one 4 ft window. 

I like to keep my garden quite neat, I am no gardener but it just looks good.  He come and leaves three sets of holes in the garden.  Can i say owt to him?  He's a really nice bloke, and a big lad too.  Do I tell him? Or this just something I should accept?

[Paul Coleman]

No excuses for leaving any windows - even for traditional cleaners:-

see here:-

http://www.aiprinc.org/para-c04_Harvey-Wilson_2006.pdf

[Mark Farrimond]

Thanks Paul. He's coming round for his money tomorrow. I will give him that website address, looks perfect

[Smudger]

Yes trad is very hard work and any1 still doing it has full respect for that, but when wfp can do a complete
house safely, and do the frames and sills ( and not using a stupid radius/sill brush ) then i wonder why
these people don't change other than the fact is a fear of learning something new.

Mark, great comments from you as a custy - when i first canvassed i just could not get my head around why
some people who said they had a windy had several dirty windows (above conny etc..) or filthy frames,
now i realise that many customers will not change to another w/c even if the new w/c is offering to clean all windows
and frames as like yourself they have a 'relationship' with the current w/c and don't wish to upset him

the only times i have taken work from another is when asked by people to quote as the current w/c has gone AWOL or not reliable - i quote my price and even if i am higher i get the work as customer service is paramount.

Darran

[mikecam]

Guys as I'm sure your aware I've been researching the business for a month or so with the intention of starting a round this year.

You're advertising you provide these services already?   http://www.vsphomecare.co.uk/

I'm learning a few things here and there, I started with the idea of working trad only.  The more I survey my area as if I was going to work the houses, the more I realize that you trad guys earn your money   

You obviously havn't done trad, nor had a trad cleaner.

Almost every other house seems to have inaccessible windows of some sort.  Not all the windows obviously just one or two that you wouldn't to do Trad.  To my mind I want to do them all and WFP is the only option..

Oh, ok you havn't done trad, but the pennies dropped !!

I've also seem many windows that would require balls to do Trad and I'm sure you boys do them, I've not seen a sole out cleaning this week but I've not seen that many filthy windows, so I suspect there's a few Ninja WFP boys out there to      

You need to do more than 'suspect', you should know if you're going into business exactly whats happening and where.

The two biggest complaints I hear regarding WFP are the lack of drying (on the spot) and dirty window ledges.  I can see the ledges getting done properly with a radius brush but I wondered if you WFP guys have any tips on drying, do you dry the ones you can reach by hand?

Cheers

Where are you hearing these complaints? In any case, you specialise in cleaning UPVC so i'd imagine cleaning sills would be a doddle to you?

[VSP Home Care]

Guys as I'm sure your aware I've been researching the business for a month or so with the intention of starting a round this year.

You're advertising you provide these services already?   http://www.vsphomecare.co.uk/

I'm learning a few things here and there, I started with the idea of working trad only.  The more I survey my area as if I was going to work the houses, the more I realize that you trad guys earn your money   

You obviously havn't done trad, nor had a trad cleaner.

Almost every other house seems to have inaccessible windows of some sort.  Not all the windows obviously just one or two that you wouldn't to do Trad.  To my mind I want to do them all and WFP is the only option..

Oh, ok you havn't done trad, but the pennies dropped !!

I've also seem many windows that would require balls to do Trad and I'm sure you boys do them, I've not seen a sole out cleaning this week but I've not seen that many filthy windows, so I suspect there's a few Ninja WFP boys out there to      

You need to do more than 'suspect', you should know if you're going into business exactly whats happening and where.

The two biggest complaints I hear regarding WFP are the lack of drying (on the spot) and dirty window ledges.  I can see the ledges getting done properly with a radius brush but I wondered if you WFP guys have any tips on drying, do you dry the ones you can reach by hand?

Cheers

Where are you hearing these complaints? In any case, you specialise in cleaning UPVC so i'd imagine cleaning sills would be a doddle to you?

Mike, if you search the web for window cleaning complaints you will read plenty, try mums.net 

I've never worked professionally as a window cleaner, but I have spent my life cleaning my own windows mate 

Its called research and advertising.  Would you advertise yourself as a tiler that's looking for his first tiling job?

[mikecam]

Guys as I'm sure your aware I've been researching the business for a month or so with the intention of starting a round this year.

You're advertising you provide these services already?   http://www.vsphomecare.co.uk/

I'm learning a few things here and there, I started with the idea of working trad only.  The more I survey my area as if I was going to work the houses, the more I realize that you trad guys earn your money   

You obviously havn't done trad, nor had a trad cleaner.

Almost every other house seems to have inaccessible windows of some sort.  Not all the windows obviously just one or two that you wouldn't to do Trad.  To my mind I want to do them all and WFP is the only option..

Oh, ok you havn't done trad, but the pennies dropped !!

I've also seem many windows that would require balls to do Trad and I'm sure you boys do them, I've not seen a sole out cleaning this week but I've not seen that many filthy windows, so I suspect there's a few Ninja WFP boys out there to      

You need to do more than 'suspect', you should know if you're going into business exactly whats happening and where.

The two biggest complaints I hear regarding WFP are the lack of drying (on the spot) and dirty window ledges.  I can see the ledges getting done properly with a radius brush but I wondered if you WFP guys have any tips on drying, do you dry the ones you can reach by hand?

Cheers

Where are you hearing these complaints? In any case, you specialise in cleaning UPVC so i'd imagine cleaning sills would be a doddle to you?

Mike, if you search the web for window cleaning complaints you will read plenty, try mums.net 

I've never worked professionally as a window cleaner, but I have spent my life cleaning my own windows mate 

Its called research and advertising.  Would you advertise yourself as a tiler that's looking for his first tiling job?

Take no notice to me, i think i'm spending to much time on the 'net !!! Gonna check mums.net now, i'll be their newest member !!!!

[VSP Home Care]

No worries Mike.  It's very helpful source of info into that dark and mysterious place...... a womans mind 

But also good for finding out what they moan about to.

[Paul Coleman]

Thanks Paul. He's coming round for his money tomorrow. I will give him that website address, looks perfect

Please do.  If he's a seasoned window cleaner he will have a sense of humour.  Trust me, you have to in this business 

[Paul Coleman]

I have one window in my house (over a conservatory) that my window cleaner never cleans.  He uses traditional methods but what can I do?  Do I tell him to clean it whatever way he can or just leave it dirty?  I dont want him risking life and limb just for one 4 ft window. 

I like to keep my garden quite neat, I am no gardener but it just looks good.  He come and leaves three sets of holes in the garden.  Can i say owt to him?  He's a really nice bloke, and a big lad too.  Do I tell him? Or this just something I should accept?

A more serious answer now Mark.  When I cleaned with ladders, I carried an extension pole that would (usually) clean a window above a conservatory.  This was because I also carried an applicator and squeegees that would swivel at the neck allowing work from awkward angles.  Due to the difficult angle and the method, it might not be a great job but at least it cleans it after a fashion.
If he does start doing this, expect to pay more.  By the time he has set this kit up, it can easily take 4 - 5 times longer to clean a window like this if the angle is tricky.  I once allowed £3 (probably would be £4 now) just for one window as it was a very tricky clean and even then I sold myself a bit short.
If the window is small paned (e.g. Georgian) or leaded, he may not be able to do it that way.

[Mark Farrimond]

Thanks Paul, I will gladly pay a bit more even if it's only once a month. He does them every 2 weeks at present but even if he just did that window once a month it would be cleaner.

Smudger, no probs. Glad my comments were thought as useful. Hope he's not reading this and comes round to deck me later!  Only kidding, he's a good w/c and I wouldnt think of changing. When I moved in dec 2009 I didn't have a w/c, he knocked a month later saying he used to clean for the previous owner and that was that. I have a w/c neighbour (on the same estate) and he never knocked.  So fair play to him.