[rg1]

Steve its what you do with the customers you have.
I canvassed and got 50 then the rest came to me.
Take your time at each house over clean them.
Neighbours watch and recommend.
Get your name and phone number on your van or car{ Landline works better}
Work Saturdays.
Expect to get messers and don't let them get you down.
Keep yourself and vehicle clean and tidy.
Look after you customers go the extra mile once you get a good reputation
the customers will come to you.
Be patient a good round takes time to build.

All good advice.

As already said, look after your customers and you WILL get recommendations. The recommendations will almost always turn out to be long time valued customers.

[Johnny B]

Yup, some good advice here. I have built my runs from scratch by good old fashioned door knocking. I didn't take too much notice if the windows were already clean. It may be that the householder does them themselves, and was waiting or looking for a window cleaner to call.    

I am in the south west of Ireland, and have knocked around 5000 doors in my locality. I currently have 378 customers of varying regularities. It has taken me 20 months to get to this stage, and I reckon it will take me another year to get to where I need to be.

It is definitely tougher going than it was a few years ago, but with enough determination and motivation it is still possible to build a decent run.

To the OP, you have made a good start. Stick with it, and as has been suggested, try canvassing at times when people are more likely to be in. The more doors you knock, the closer you will get to reaching your target.

Best wishes,
John
        

[GB Window Cleaning]

trying my hardest to start up a round but its slow going.
in 3 weeks I've gathered 12 (twelve) customers after knocking on what must be over a thousand doors.
is this normal ?
determined to keep at it but didn't expect it to be so hard getting people to part with about a tenner to get their windows cleaned !
anyone else just started up ?
comments and suggestions appreciated.

cheers
Steve.

You have 12 customers in 3 weeks - this is very good.
You have knocked on over 1,000 doors - this is very good.
Clearly you have determination and sticking power - you will go far !

+ 1, this is what i was about to say more or less! well done thts good going!

[GB Window Cleaning]

Top tip of the day!

Saving Time.

If you knock doors and the first few people say they already have a window cleaner, don't bother with the rest of the street, go somewhere else.

Thats The worst advice, an area where noone has a windowcleaner is normally a slum, the norm is that most people dont want 1 just dont waste time knocking on clean houses, i never canvass a clean house as 99 percent of the time they do them thereselfs or have a cleaner already. Try steer away from built up estates and concentrate on main/busy roads. Knock on the dirty ones and you have a 50 percent chance of it being a simple yes or no against a 1% chance with a clean house.

Top tip is to take note of every sold board in your area and knock them when board has come down. An easy way of gaining 50 plus customers in 3 months without actualy canvassing.

Now that sounds like some real advice! thanks mick. im gonna use those techneques also! you should charge money for these ideas mate

George

[GB Window Cleaning]

Yup, some good advice here. I have built my runs from scratch by good old fashioned door knocking. I didn't take too much notice if the windows were already clean. It may be that the householder does them themselves, and was waiting or looking for a window cleaner to call.    

I am in the south west of Ireland, and have knocked around 5000 doors in my locality. I currently have 378 customers of varying regularities. It has taken me 20 months to get to this stage, and I reckon it will take me another year to get to where I need to be.

It is definitely tougher going than it was a few years ago, but with enough determination and motivation it is still possible to build a decent run.

To the OP, you have made a good start. Stick with it, and as has been suggested, try canvassing at times when people are more likely to be in. The more doors you knock, the closer you will get to reaching your target.

Best wishes,
John
        

Your'e an inspiration to me mate, and i just wanted you to know! Ive followed what you do closely!

Thanks

George

[richywilts]

MY TOP TIP IS IF YOU HAVE TOO BLAG THEM A LOT TO SIGN UP AND THEY HAVE REALLY DIRTY WINDOWS THEN NO DOUBT THEY WILL PROB BECOME A MESSER OR A SHORT TERM CUSTOMER , IF THERE GARDENS AND HOUSE ARE MESSY THEY WILL PROB BECOME A MESSER

YOU WILL GET THE JIST OF THEM EVENTUALLY

SOMETIMES PEOPLE HAVE DIRTY WINDOWS BUT ONLY BECAUSE THEY WORK ALL WEEK AND DONT SEE WINDOW CLEANERS

TRY AND DO FIRST CLEANS ON WEEKENDS AND BANK HOLS SO PEOPLE SEE YOU OUT CLEANING AS THIS WILL BRING IN NEW CUSTOMERS TOO

[8weekly]

MY TOP TIP IS IF YOU HAVE TOO BLAG THEM A LOT TO SIGN UP AND THEY HAVE REALLY DIRTY WINDOWS THEN NO DOUBT THEY WILL PROB BECOME A MESSER OR A SHORT TERM CUSTOMER , IF THERE GARDENS AND HOUSE ARE MESSY THEY WILL PROB BECOME A MESSER

Agreed. If their windows are minging, they don't care. Either they rent or clean windows mean nothing to them. When you go back for your second clean they will wonder why they ar paying for you to clean their windows as they are still clean. It is bad advice to knock only on houses with dirty windows.

[Martin-Swinscoe]

You have found the hardest customer so far.
The very first one who said "yes you can do mine"
The rest will follow now.
I've been going since 2006
it ain't been easy it's been a long old slog
But now i can pick and choose what i do now.
You will get there but you have gotta be prepared for all kinds of eventualties


Good Luck

[gavinb]

Why is that the worst advice then?

Proof is in the pudding look at my results. Why would you waste time knocking on clean houses anyway. Thats the joy of canvassing properly, you choose what you target. I target dirty houses and stay away from anything looking spotless.

But to be honest mick another window cleaner did tell you which doors to knock on .

[deeege]

I am in the south west of Ireland <snip>
        

Whereabouts in SW Ireland Johnny? I'll be over in Ennis later in the summer.

[richard jagger]

There is not dough i my mind that canvassing has become a much harder job lately as the market becomes smaller as the economy bites and more windies wanting a slice of the pie.