[GDwindowcleaning]

Can anyone tell me if now is a good time to start gutter cleaning, and the best method to gain customers? Any advice greatly appreciated....

[andyM]

I wouldn't do it now. Most people are probably having sunday lunch and plus it will be getting dark soon 

[GDwindowcleaning]

Wow this place is full of comedians lol... Think its pretty obvious what I meant...

[Jimmy Jon]

Now is a good time to start gutter cleaning as the leaves are falling from the trees, I do them all year round but have done quite a few recently, 4 this week alone alongside the window cleaning. I have done a leaflet drop recently advertising the gutter cleaning service which is bringing me a steady stream of calls. Also look out for houses with grass/vegetation growing out of the gutter and knock and ask them if you could give them a price to clear it for them. Explain the importance to them of having clean gutters which will function properly. Some people don't realise their gutters have plants growing out of them and will be glad of your service, Other people know that they have plants growing out of them but are not bothered by it and will not require your services but give them a leaflet/business card anyway! 

[GDwindowcleaning]

I thought it would be a good time but wanted to check my logic lol, how do you work your prices out?

[Jimmy Jon]

flat rate £25.00 per side (but charged £35.00 per side on 2 houses this week due to fancy guttering with no external brackets so more time consuming) but depends on various factors - number of sides on house, height of building, access round the building, working over a conservatory/extension, blocked downpipes. I have a guttervac but sometimes it's quicker and easier to just get the ladder out and clean them by hand. 

[GDwindowcleaning]

Where abouts are you? That makes it good money for the time involved... Do you clean the outside too?

[Jimmy Jon]

Bristol, That is gutter clearing only not cleaning the outside, that is a seperate service. It has to be that price or it's not worth the time and hassle doing it when I could be window cleaning instead. Recently with all this heavy rain my phone rings more because people realise their gutters are blocked and overflowing (usually the downpipe blocked). It is a good add on service to my business.

[tacky]

dont forget to tell them that blocked downpipes n gutters .means rain overflowing gutters .thus resulting in damp penitrating walls. etc

[GDwindowcleaning]

How do you deal with blocked downpipes? Is it usually just blocked at the top?

[nathan214]

blocked down pipes could be anythink from a ball if they got kids or leaves jammed down there best to get hose pipe and fush it through pushing hose down guttering sorts it messy job tho

[GDwindowcleaning]

Thanks for all your help guys, I have a gutter vac but do you think its worth putting ladders on the van too?

[nathan214]

yh deffo ladders to mate

[GDwindowcleaning]

How do you price nathan?

[Llaaww]

How do you deal with blocked downpipes? Is it usually just blocked at the top?

I had a blocked down pipe to clear once. It was on an office in Brizzle. It was about five stories up, and a wide bore pipe.

It was blocked at the bottom, so I set about the mat of leaves and cr@p with a stick. It took ages to get even a trickle of water. Seeing that I was getting somewhere I got steamed into the job, what I hadn't thought of was that a five story big bore down pipe holds a lot of water. When it went it didn't stop coming, It went off like a burst water main, I was soaked head to toe.

Live and learn......  

[nathan214]

i do all my work off ladders i price 20 pounds for each side and extra if they want outside cleaned normally i do it wiv wtp or the jetwash so all in all if they want the outside cleaned to 70 pounds i say

[Bushboy]

Any one got a copy of here gutter leaflet 

[GDwindowcleaning]

What kind of propertys are most likely to want them done? 90% of customers are on new build and not had much of a take up for it. So was planning on targeting older houses? Good chance of picking up window customers too...

[nathan214]

yes older houses or people that live in rural areas sorounded by trees

[GDwindowcleaning]

Cool, thanks for all your help. I was on the right track but its always nice to confirm things with people in the know. Will let you know how it goes over the next few days....