Hi Moderators,
this site is a great place for advice and comments on all aspects of our industry, Just an idea but why not have a 'Post of the week or Month' Competition. and some sort of gratification would be excellent No prize would be needed just some sort of notification of that post!
Lots of posts tend to get ruined with stupid or silly comments but on average we do have some excellent posts all of which are really helpful and some sort of gratification would be really helpful and thus probably direct even more traffic towards reading them (lets face it none of us read every comment/reply to all posts.
Anyway Just an idea.....
Heres my vote for your first one, just to get the ball rolling...
from ' Newbie asking for help about upsetting other window cleaners'
Author; Carl2009
I started April 2009 from scratch. I knocked doors for 3 months, wore out a pair of boots and had bleeding knuckles in doing so, but haven't knocked a door since. Total advertising spend so far: a tenner.
I knocked the door and said "Hi my name's Carl Welsby, I live in Crymych. I was wondering if you had or were in need of a regular window cleaner?". If they said they did have one, I thanked them for their time and walked away. If they said they had one and they asked me to quote I asked them why they wanted me to quote. If it was because they were not happy with them or they were unreliable then I quoted. If it was because they were looking to drive down their spend I declined, explaining I didn't want to take another mans business ( I also knew that if I got the custie and someone else came and undercut me then i'd be out: such custies aren't worth having imo). It will get back to the other windies and you won't put their back up (unless they are nutters).
My advice is:
No-one owns "a patch"
Don't quote if they have a windie UNLESS they are unhappy with them
Always stop and talk to other windies or at least honk at them and give em a wave. I have one close to me who has given me work and i've dropped off a slab of beer in return. It's better to be mates.
A price war hurts everyone. I don't want to be busy as hell earning begger all.
Don't price too low, but deliver a first class clean that gives good value for money. If in doubt add a couple of quid to the price.
Do any clean you can at first, but slowly dump the poor payers and ones where they don't clean up the dog poop. It's a great feeling to be able to chuck custies who won't respect you.
Do the occasional freebie - garage doors etc. BUT tell the custie you've done it so you get the credit!
Get a website. But get your van signwritten first - best way to get new business.
And for Gawd's sake say a smiley hello to people who pass you as you work - you'll be amazed how many ask you "How much do you charge".
I'm sure others on here will have a view on these but they worked for me.
I used to work in a stressful but well paid office job, travelling all over the world on business and I can tell you I wish i'd started window cleaning from school rather than when I was 46. It's a great job, providing a valuable service and one in which you can hold your head high and say you own your own business.
Best of luck. Unless you're on my patch lol
