[captain lard]

Hello everyone,I am looking to get into WC pt,the idea came to me when my wife mentioned our windows hadnt been cleaned in months,we did have a WC who called regularly but he hasnt been seen in ages.I have been looking for some pt work,and this seems a good opportunity.
I have asked about and I think he is concentrating on bigger houses elsewhere and the sort of suggestion is he isnt interested in doing the likes of my street and a couple of others.
I had thought about going to see him cos I think I know where he lives and talking about it but am a bit put off cos I dont fancy buying a round off him that he hasnt bothered with in over 6 months.
I am thinking of canvassing the 3 streets involved at the weekend and seeing if I can get some jobs.I am a bit worried though and dont want to cause a lot of trouble with him but feel that the work is up for grabs,if anyone wants to stay loyal to him then fair do's but I think people are desperate for a WC and I wouldnt mind providing a good regular service and doing it long term.
I wouldnt dream of doing this if he was coming to the street regularly like fortnightly or monthly but do some of you just shut down on an area over the winter and then resume services in the spring? Am I going against the WC code by doing this or would you say it is fair game??

[Grafters Cleaning Services]

if he aint been around for 6months then GO FOR IT

[captain lard]

Thanks for the encouragement mate, I am gearing up toward going out and knocking on doors to see if I can get some business drummed up.I wanted to tap into the experience here on the forum though just to sound you folk out in case I was being a bit opportunist and unfair to a WC but he hasnt been around in months and I sort of feel I can offer a regular service and if people want it its up to them.

[beefy]

if he was interested he would of told his customers he was going to be away or late if he's not contacted them in that time the area is free so get in there

[captain lard]

Well we were one of his customers and he said nowt,thanks mate-will keep you informed of developments.

[Mike George]

Hi captain lard. I'm just starting up and I've found out that some people don't actually know who their window cleaner is, they just know somebody turns up every month and cleans the windows, and they pay them.

So when you go round, don't be surprised if some people are cross with you for not turning up for the last six months!

[captain lard]

Lol - never thought of that! Cheers.

[wightsurf]

post some flyers if you don't want to knock on doors.works for me

regards

Martin

[captain lard]

Have thought about that but have put some feelers out and it seems folks are getting fed up and it seems the time is right to knock on doors.Having read a lot of posts here it seems the flyers can be hitty missy and I want to get in there and stake me claim so he who dares......(gulp)I plan do go out tomorrow teatime and see what response I get,the worst thing is people will say no but I am not going to take it personally.Am going to get a couple of T shirts printed up with my phone no and stuff on the back to show folks what I am doing nd hopefully thatll help customers come my way.Am in the process of sorting out some insurance and am buying some kit so I can practise cleaning windows this weekend.If I can drum up some jobs I will start on Friday next week and take it from there.Am expecting to take a while at first so am going to make sure I do a good job and be realistic in how many I can get through,hopefully,with practise itll get better.

[tomh]

i'd recomend getting some flyer's done for those houses where no 1 is in ! but i have friend's who build up a round very quickly as you plan too then give it a miss if they feel like it there is loads of work out there for everyone.... i'd go for it best of luck
Tom

[captain lard]

Good idea,am hoping folks will be in but I was going to knock up a flyer to hand people as they answered so will pop em in the no answers letter boxes-cheers.

[craig jwc]

Doorknock and flyers mate they can only say yes or no.
I started up by a few neighbours watching me clean my windows.
They asked me to do their's and it went from there.
Do a good job and you will get work through recomendation.
I have had a w/c ask me questions and advice and even asked if i would help him out.
I know i have had customers of his come over to me as they said they have heard i do a better job.
I'm not saying he does a bad job as he's been at it for just over 10 years.
Talk to other w/c if you see them about.
I find if you approach them first they don't feel threatened like they would if you ignore them.

Craig

[captain lard]

I have ordered some basic kit and hope to start practising cleaning windows over the weekend to see where I am at.

[captain lard]

Well,went out knocking this afternoon,picked up 26 jobs,12 refusals,leafleted 24 more houses-no one in and tomorrow hope to chase those 24 up and have another 35 houses to call on so cannot complain it went really really well.Was not too sure what to expect but was optimisic as I knew there hadnt been any WC round since well well before XMAS .Anyone who said they had a WC I just said thats not a problem and went,about a third were ecsatic,another third said they had a WC but he hadnt been for months and they just talked themselves into taking me on so I dont feel I have twisted any arms,if anything I was saying look stay with him ,you will see me around or take my flyer just in case so am due to start next Friday - thx for the help to those concerned.This weekend am waiting for the kit I ordered and will be practising like crazy.

[Mike George]

Well done captain, I thought I was doing well with 25 customers in two weeks!

I don't think I could have coped with a lot more though - I've been doing desk jobs and driving jobs for the past 20 years and I'm getting a bit achey by the end of the day. Five houses a day is about my limit at the moment, with the physical effort and the fact that some houses still take me an hour to do.

[Grafters Cleaning Services]

well done captain,

26 jobs in 1 afternoon ain't bad at all
jay

[Paul Coleman]

Hi captain lard. I'm just starting up and I've found out that some people don't actually know who their window cleaner is, they just know somebody turns up every month and cleans the windows, and they pay them.

So when you go round, don't be surprised if some people are cross with you for not turning up for the last six months!

I've had that happen too.  The husband asked me to start window cleaning as the window cleaner hadn't been artound in ages.  On the second clean, his wife asked where I'd been.  I wasa bit put out at first as I had got around in the agreed 6 weeks.  Then, when she said it had been about 6 months, I realised what had happened and she cooled down.  Got a cup of tea as an apology :-)

[captain lard]

Thanks folks - I have scheduled 10 -12 a day which might be ambitious reading the comments .Added to this itll be the first clean in over 6 months so it isnt going to be easy but its a case of bite the bullet and get stuck in,if 6 houses in and 6 hours later I am knackered and still slogging away I might be thinking different like .I had thought 10 or 12 was reasonable but am commited now!!Am excited and a bit apprehensive.

[captain lard]

Start on Friday!!!!!!

[stephen.b1]

stop stop stop
 i just joined this forum and noticed your post you are being feed candy for answers??
first go and talk to the window cleaner he may have been ill he may have family problems or he may of fell off his ladders and broke a leg  ??tell him you started cleaning your own windows and some neighbous have asked you to clean theres ay he hasnt been around in a while. make it right with him  he may have spent many thousands of pounds on that round18 feet is a long way to fall of a pair of ladders.

secondly and most inportant you are not a window cleaner. you have no experiance with ladders you can learn to use a blade and scrim prety fast but ladders is a diffrent ball game i have known window cleaners with 15 years on the job and still fell of ladders and ends up with broken arms and legs  in the south last week a window cleaner died after a fall
i will leave it at that post a topic on the forum dangers of ladder use for newbie and learn

tip
keep safe think safe. if you think you can reach it come down reposition and go up again it aint worth it