[Richard iSparkle]

Newsflash guys. We are the bottom of the food chain in the service industry. We perform a service that isn't exactly life or death. If we don't clean the windows, nobody dies. So try get used to the fact that we aren't in a trade that's studied or learned, we just clean bloody windows.

this belief about window cleaning being 'bottom of the food chain' is a funny one.

i see it crop up from time to time on this forum, with people saying they are looked down upon or whatever.

the thing is, is its not true to me at all.

most of the services people offer, and businesses people make money from are not life and death things.  the whole fashion industry thrives off peoples wants, not their needs.

what about starbucks and costa?  nobody's going to die without their cappuccino in the morning are they!

the people who are making great businesses out of window cleaning, realise that it is not just about cleaning windows at all.  people want to feel good about them selves and their homes, and they are willing to pay for it...  hence all the lawn care, window cleaning, domestic cleaning, power washing, nail polishing....  businesses springing up all over the place.

[C o z y]

Yes, good points, so why bother about what the "other" guys are using? I think you've missed my point on that score Richard.

[rosskesava]

I must be odd, I don't care whether someone continues to use trad or not.

I'm mainly wfp but for some jobs, some parts are done trad and for a few, I do the whole job trad and what's worse, I use a ladder.

I try to use the advantages of both to their best potential but if some are 100% trad and they're happy to work that way, why should it bother anyone?

[Richard iSparkle]

Yes, good points, so why bother about what the "other" guys are using? I think you've missed my point on that score Richard.

hey chris,

on that score...  i think you gave your rational very clearly! ;-)

if it makes sense to you, and you are making the money that you need,  then it's good.

for me, i think in the UK that trad cleaners will eventually be able to charge a premium for thier service, but it will be the exception rather than the norm, so you wont get a street of houses wanting it.  some windows (old etc) just dont come up well on WFP

[windiewasher]

Yes, good points, so why bother about what the "other" guys are using? I think you've missed my point on that score Richard.

hey chris,

on that score...  i think you gave your rational very clearly! ;-)

if it makes sense to you, and you are making the money that you need,  then it's good.

for me, i think in the UK that trad cleaners will eventually be able to charge a premium for thier service, but it will be the exception rather than the norm, so you wont get a street of houses wanting it.  some windows (old etc) just dont come up well on WFP

Charge a premium for trad?
Are you aving a laugh??
most trads have just come out the nick or are dolers!

[C o z y]

Yes, good points, so why bother about what the "other" guys are using? I think you've missed my point on that score Richard.

hey chris,

on that score...  i think you gave your rational very clearly! ;-)

if it makes sense to you, and you are making the money that you need,  then it's good.

for me, i think in the UK that trad cleaners will eventually be able to charge a premium for thier service, but it will be the exception rather than the norm, so you wont get a street of houses wanting it.  some windows (old etc) just dont come up well on WFP

Very good point about trad guys charging premium in the future. I've said that a couple of years ago (in yet another WFP vTrad thread   )

There is a problem for some WFP guys though with that very issue, and the fact that custies still hav a choice of method.
Anyway, I'm upset because Beyern Munich have won tonight, so I'm off for a quick sulk before bed   So it's good night from me..................

[Richard iSparkle]

Yes, good points, so why bother about what the "other" guys are using? I think you've missed my point on that score Richard.

hey chris,

on that score...  i think you gave your rational very clearly! ;-)

if it makes sense to you, and you are making the money that you need,  then it's good.

for me, i think in the UK that trad cleaners will eventually be able to charge a premium for thier service, but it will be the exception rather than the norm, so you wont get a street of houses wanting it.  some windows (old etc) just dont come up well on WFP

Charge a premium for trad?
Are you aving a laugh??
most trads have just come out the nick or are dolers!

they'll have to dress up like a WFP guy, all uniformed and smart van etc.

not the dole summer brigade  

[David Kent @ KentKleen]

Oh the classic 2 opener problem.
Care and time is my technique.
We clean around 15 to 20 jobs on an average day. Thats 2 of us wfp cleaning all frames and doors including garage.
Average size houses nothing massive.
IMO i could clean them trad quicker if the customer just wanted the glass cleaning.
IMO correct water fed pole cleaning (cleaning ALL the frame including vent areas) takes longer than trad cleaning due to having too clean all the frames CORRECTLY in order too leave the customer with perfect results.
I see on a daily basis wfp'ers cleaning houses in a 1/4 of the time it takes us too clean the same size house, BUT, we charge well and keep ALL our customers without exception. (other than death and moving)
For example we clean a property for £12.50, the speed demons clean next door for £5.00.
The next month we clean them both for £12.50 each. Speed demons clean neither.

CORRECT WFP WILL provide perfect results everytime. IMO

This is not a go at trad or other speed demons. JUST MY OPINION>

[Danny Guest]

One of the reasons I I'm staying trad for this year at least is the cost of van insurance with van mount.  I'm 25 next year so hopefully that will change

One upside to trad is the cheap running costs and gives a better finish in some cases. I had a system before and there was one houses I could never get perfect.

Either way if you clean a window, get paid and have a very happy customer your a successful window cleaner

[Richard iSparkle]

Oh the classic 2 opener problem.
Care and time is my technique.
We clean around 15 to 20 jobs on an average day. Thats 2 of us wfp cleaning all frames and doors including garage.
Average size houses nothing massive.
IMO i could clean them trad quicker if the customer just wanted the glass cleaning.
IMO correct water fed pole cleaning (cleaning ALL the frame including vent areas) takes longer than trad cleaning due to having too clean all the frames CORRECTLY in order too leave the customer with perfect results.
I see on a daily basis wfp'ers cleaning houses in a 1/4 of the time it takes us too clean the same size house, BUT, we charge well and keep ALL our customers without exception. (other than death and moving)
For example we clean a property for £12.50, the speed demons clean next door for £5.00.
The next month we clean them both for £12.50 each. Speed demons clean neither.

CORRECT WFP WILL provide perfect results everytime. IMO

This is not a go at trad or other speed demons. JUST MY OPINION>

most customers don't need perfect results though.  90% is good enough for them.

we charge £12.50 too for 3 bed semi and we are speed demons ;-)

[windiewasher]

Oh the classic 2 opener problem.
Care and time is my technique.
We clean around 15 to 20 jobs on an average day. Thats 2 of us wfp cleaning all frames and doors including garage.
Average size houses nothing massive.
IMO i could clean them trad quicker if the customer just wanted the glass cleaning.
IMO correct water fed pole cleaning (cleaning ALL the frame including vent areas) takes longer than trad cleaning due to having too clean all the frames CORRECTLY in order too leave the customer with perfect results.
I see on a daily basis wfp'ers cleaning houses in a 1/4 of the time it takes us too clean the same size house, BUT, we charge well and keep ALL our customers without exception. (other than death and moving)
For example we clean a property for £12.50, the speed demons clean next door for £5.00.
The next month we clean them both for £12.50 each. Speed demons clean neither.

CORRECT WFP WILL provide perfect results everytime. IMO

This is not a go at trad or other speed demons. JUST MY OPINION>

most customers don't need perfect results though.  90% is good enough for them.

we charge £12.50 too for 3 bed semi and we are speed demons ;-)

+1
I can do 25 to 40 houses a day easily!
No need to be slow,aslong as your confident of your own ability!Aslong as your getting recommendations then you know your doing a very good job!

[David Kent @ KentKleen]

Its funny you should mention 90% I was having a conversation last week with a fellow windie.
If you took your car into a garage and they returned it saying they had fixed 90% of the problems or re-sprayed 90% of the damage how would you feel?
I am happy to provide 100%

[windiewasher]

I provide 100% but still do a average house in 15 minutes or less and thats all glass frames sills
downstairs sills and doors cleaned with glass and sills and doors wiped off!

[David Kent @ KentKleen]

where you from windiewasher?

[windiewasher]

where you from windiewasher?

cleethorpes

[David Kent @ KentKleen]

What size houses are you cleaning? Your average price your charging new customers gained this month seems low? or am i wrong?

[windiewasher]

What size houses are you cleaning? Your average price your charging new customers gained this month seems low? or am i wrong?

Average price a tenner for a 3 bed semi.
Like i say dont take long.
Have bigger house £20 odd and big commercials.
If your only doing about 15 to 25 a day for 2 of you at 12.50 each.your not earning much at all.

[rosskesava]

He we go again.

Willy waving time.

[David Kent @ KentKleen]

  and im waving a very small one. but does its job well!

[rosskesava]

and im waving a very small one. but does its job well!