[dazmond]

over the last few years ive banged my round into much better shape.prices rises,dumped the crap,gone WFP,added conny roof/fascia/soffit cleaning as add ons,now solar panel cleaning.picked up a fair amount of better priced work,etc,etc.

BUT over the last 3 or 4 months ive been resting on my laurels a bit,the bad weather hasnt helped really coupled with the recession and a lot more competition in my area.

im earning ok and can easily manage my 340+ customer base that are mostly on a monthly frequency but im after some more bigger jobs,large domestic if possible so im going on a canvassing and leafleting spree next week targeting very large houses that the new ladder guys cant reach!!

i also want to be able to use my 40 ft SUPERMAX more often and get my moneys worth out of it!!


ill let you know how i go on!!i also want to fatten up some areas where i have a handful of properties.


any of you guys do the same?or are you all sick to death of window cleaning with work coming out of your ears??

[G Griffin]

or are you all sick to death of window cleaning with work coming out of your ears??

Yes. I've just been diagnosed with Deantaberneritis  .

[Gav Camm lammy 283]

 

[richard jagger]

I thought I had to do all those things all the time.

[Londoner]

I have some very big houses but I have always found that small houses are the best earners and the best customers.
I know what you mean about plodding along though, I feel very much the same. Definitely loosing customers one by one. Lots of people moving out to cheaper areas or dying/ going into a home. About one a week at the moment

The average age of my customers is well past retirement, thats a bit of a long term problem because the wealthy retired are a limited resource, the next generation coming through are not going to be so well off. Not by any means.

Also I am more than sure the undercutters have been at work. Had several who just didn't want their windows done anymore out of the blue. Others who have money/job problems I either know of or suspect.

After the holiday I will get out and leaflet up some more but thats not going to be so easy because I know that the areas have been well canvassed and leafletted already. I am thinking of getting a new leaflet printed saying "cleaning windows in this area since 1972" to try and establish my credentials a bit more.

I'm still toying with the idea of the dog walking. The only trouble is I can't put dogs in the back of my van with all the gear in there. And it does tie you down because its every day the same, but its rock&roll if you get it organised properly. People are prepared to spend fortunes on their pets.   

[dazmond]

the same has been happening to my round vince but it always has!!people die and move away,get a cheaper cleaner(although that is very rare!).i pick up more than i lose normally but im hardly picking much new work up lately.i usually rely on word of mouth and recommendation but i think i need to canvass and leaflet a bit more.

ive also been going a long time(18 years)so i dont need a great deal of new work.

you do seem to have a defeatist attitude though vince before you ve even started leafleting and canvassing!

are you friendly and cheerful with your customers?


regards


dazmond

[dazmond]

i disagree vince about large houses.ive got some pretty big uns and their good earners when they come around!ok sometimes i have to wait a while for payment but good nevertheless.

i agree smaller cheaper compact houses is good for cashflow but i have loads of these.im looking for a bit of cream work to mix my round up a bit more!


best wishes


dazmond

[Londoner]

you do seem to have a defeatist attitude though vince before you ve even started leafleting and canvassing!

are you friendly and cheerful with your customers?

Oh yes I am friendly with the customers, just bored with the job. You can only remain motivated for so long. The change over to WFP was a boost for a few years  but then you sink back into a rut again.

[dazmond]

i wouldnt say i have motivational problems but granted vince i do get spells of low motivation sometimes especially when the weather is bad!

its ruddy awful here but im going out after this coffee and ill do my best to get a good chunk of work cleaned.

my cashflow dries up a bit this time of year due to lots of customers on holiday but i usually end up with high takings in september then sod off on holiday!!

ive got to admit the last 3 or 4 months as been the worst wet weather ive ever known in 18 years of window cleaning!!!luckily its not affected my business too much!its just a bit miserable working in it!!

i could think of worse jobs though!like DOG WALKING!!!

[sham33]

Just imagine working in a warehouse or factory with a bunch of idiots and  a crap boss when those feeling set in.

[lal]

Just imagine working in a warehouse or factory with a bunch of idiots and  a crap boss when those feeling set in.

Exactly my  thoughts

[AC Window Cleaning]

It is harder now to get new customers,i went out canvassing yesterday afternoon for 3 hours and picked up 2 new ones possibly 3.
There seems to be so many estate cars/normal cars with roofracks and ladders and a frame on top with scrims blowing in the wind driving around the areas i do.I have never seen so many people at it.
Dont get me wrong,everyone is entitled to canvas and work but my point is,theres so much competition i feel its getting more difficult to pick up work.
I really am glad im not starting out now like i did a couple of years ago,with no work lol

[Tony Edwards]

It is harder now to get new customers,i went out canvassing yesterday afternoon for 3 hours and picked up 2 new ones possibly 3.
There seems to be so many estate cars/normal cars with roofracks and ladders and a frame on top with scrims blowing in the wind driving around the areas i do.I have never seen so many people at it.
Dont get me wrong,everyone is entitled to canvas and work but my point is,theres so much competition i feel its getting more difficult to pick up work.
I really am glad im not starting out now like i did a couple of years ago,with no work lol

I am a complete newby and have been canvassing just over 6 weeks although the rain washed out 2 weeks of that. I drop leaflets in the afternoon and than call back in the evenings 5-8pm a couple of days later.

I go dressed in smart clothes etc and door knock every house until I have spoken to every house. I am picking up an average of 2-3 customers day.

Yesterday picked up the following;

1 x £80 first clean then will be £40 every 4 weeks
4 x £60.00 first cleans which will then be £30.00 every 4 weeks

I do see loads of cars with roof racks but I am still getting the work.

I am no super salesman I just think custys need to see the face behind the business. I am converting 85% of all my quotes because I am eager polite and look smart.

Sure I will get some comments along the lines of " beginners luck, jackanory,etc etc. But I am grafting and getting the results.

[AC Window Cleaning]

Well done,they sound big houses.
I had to laugh yesterday,a bloke said to me "i think you'll find mate,most folk with bungalows do their own"
I just laughed and said "is that right,is it?"

[Tony Edwards]

I do mostly bungalows but have targeted £1-£3M properties as i am lucky that I work on the  Herts/North London borders.

[Ian101]

My "patch" has been leafletted to death the last few weeks .. a few customers have mentioned it and leaflet got prices on it which are quite sensible prices for this neck of woods so no issues and leaflet is quite good (customer gave me  a copy) however the bloke appears to have not followed up with a knock ...... suits me as Im door knocking this next week on rainy days / weekends ... looks like he has done legwork for me  

Morning ... do you need a window cleaner ??  you may have seen our leaflet ?

Oh yes got a leaflet thru my door so was meaning to call

oh well Ive saved you the phone call now

 

my glass always half full