[K.J.M]

Alrite guys to start could i say thanks for all the posts on here with out them i wouldnt be confident enough to start up


Ive been working for trad window cleaners for the last cpl of yrs (over worked under payed) now ive decided to take the leap and start up on my own in an area that has more w/c then london has pigeons which i thought would be a problem until i read several posts on here


ive ordered all the kit (except ladder hope to get 1 cheap off a contact) got a flyer made up insurance in place and ready to go self employed im gonna use trad just to get my foot on the ladder (no pun intended) then branch out into a number of other cleaning services

have any of you got any other advice that will help me on my way
 

cheers kev   

[JSMC]

get out chapping doors looking for customers. When dry work that extra wee bit each day becaus etomorrow could be ping down with rain. Also make sure you stick money by each week for tax and also winter. This is a must when working for yourself.

[james44]

You didn`t last long in ireland then?

[mci services]

yes mate I have one tip, if you have been employed at rubbish rates you will have been taught bad habits, so don't do any of them. and you are right last year I was talking to a guy that was canvassing in Falkirk and he was from ayr, what is that all about

But on a serious note do all the other window cleaners just do the glass, miss doors, skip the odd frosted window, you get the picture, well when canvassing promise not to do any of that and price higher than them and do frames, sills and detail round the window, but make sure you are charging more than the going rate.

apart from that good luck if you need to ask more specific questions ask away

[K.J.M]

You didn`t last long in ireland then?

the bird didnt like it over there back arse of no where and not alot happening i didnt really get on with the locals dunno if it was because im english or what

[K.J.M]

yes mate I have one tip, if you have been employed at rubbish rates you will have been taught bad habits, so don't do any of them. and you are right last year I was talking to a guy that was canvassing in Falkirk and he was from ayr, what is that all about

But on a serious note do all the other window cleaners just do the glass, miss doors, skip the odd frosted window, you get the picture, well when canvassing promise not to do any of that and price higher than them and do frames, sills and detail round the window, but make sure you are charging more than the going rate.

youve got it in 1 the last boy i was working for only cleans the glass a cpl of his custs have the sills and that done but they pay extra as for frosted glass they were always skipped i wasnt really bothered as it wasnt my business and i was only getting a quid a house ive priced a cpl of houses for friends around the area where this guy works he charges a 5er ive told them 7 or 15 inside and out and thats mates rates

[K.J.M]

Stu mac could i email you my flyer and you tell me what you think

[John drake]

West Coast, E.mail me with it, i am bored

drake_john@rocketmail.com

[mci services]

email away address is on my profile

[mci services]

got your email and replied mate.

[K.J.M]

thanks for the feed back not bad for the first attempt then i suppose

[james44]

Kevin how are you at trad?

Have you picked up bad habits as stu has said?

Are you going to clean frames sills doors as a standard clean?

Where in Ayrshire are you starting out?

[K.J.M]

Kevin how are you at trad?

Have you picked up bad habits as stu has said?

Are you going to clean frames sills doors as a standard clean?

Where in Ayrshire are you starting out?

IMO i think im good at it and try to work to a high standard the only time i didnt was when i was flat out trying to bang as many out as poss keeping in mind the last boy i was workin with was only paying me a quid a gaff

depends what you mean by bad habits

im going to clean the windows and doors properly yes but charge a few quid more then the other w/cs for this area the average price is £4.50/£5   for 2/3 bed council house im gonna charge £7 or £12 in and out but gonna try and go for the more up market houses where the price will be higher for the same sort of time

the 3 towns bud

[james44]

Kev forget the council areas, stick to the private ones!

[mci services]

Kev forget the council areas, stick to the private ones!

Why james? yes I get a fair amount of wasters on council estates but if you drop them quickly you get a nice hardcore of good customers. That pay on the day in cash. yes private estates can fetch more money but I find them to be the worst payers, I like a mixture of both truth being told

[james44]

Kev forget the council areas, stick to the private ones!

Why james? yes I get a fair amount of wasters on council estates but if you drop them quickly you get a nice hardcore of good customers. That pay on the day in cash. yes private estates can fetch more money but I find them to be the worst payers, I like a mixture of both truth being told

hi stu its not that i am against council areas, but i know the area very well, where kev is and  the council areas are flooded with cleaners, where there is less competition on the private estates! most have leaded windows and not many cleaners want to do them! so thought he would have a better chance to build up a round with decent prices!

the access in some of the council estates is crap to say the least waste to much time trying to get in and out of properties and the rear access is frustrating on some!

with locked gates, cloths lines everywhere

[mci services]

fair enough James, when I was building my round and I was trad at the time I got a very low take up from private estates and not to mention most of the windows meant running across roofs ect. but on the council estates I got a bigger take up and yes granted I had to drop loads of them as clean windows isn't that important if the giro isn't cashed but to start with they were by far the quickest customers to pick up

[K.J.M]

8ft fences and big dogs pmsl

its exactly that james theres 4 w/c within 5 mins walk of my house that i know of

as for the lead i dont mind my doing them my self the job looks better if there done its not like there hard to do

im gonna mainly canvass and chap the private estates out w kilbride way and just do friends and family on the  council estates and hope that people stop and ask me to do theres if that dont work on the council estates i will start to canvass them

[james44]

Kev you will get loads of work on the council estates if you want it, as you have seen for yourself the standards that most of the cleaners around your way leave the windows in, you do a good job and you will have nothing to worry about!

[K.J.M]

The only thing im worryed about is wakin up one mornin to find all my tyres slashed 

sayin that tho i was talkin to a boy who works in addrossan and he said the same thing if i keep to high standards the customers will come to me even if my price is higher