[Lee Burbidge]

Do you canvass for more window cleaning residential work? Is the summer the only time you canvass or do you canvass all year round but its the service you offer that changes with the season?

[pdale]

I've always found December to be one of the busiest times of the year for new customers as people want their windows cleaning for Christmas.

You'll get work all year around so long as you are pro active, I picked up over £700 of fresh work last week, the jobs are out there.

[roundbuilder]

I dont canvass anymore as have far too many customers from caining it over the last 2 years.
December is a crap time to canvass unless you want loads of 1 off dmas cleans todo, also for others its a tight/skint time december/january so isnt the best, i know from experiance of myself trying to build my own round up last year.
The rest of the year tends to be great, i find winter months the best as  no time is wasted on the houses where nobody is home as can see if they are in or out, many will say summer is the best time but that is only because they arnt hardcore or motivated enough to go out on those cold damp nights!! Many wc canvass in summer but only minimal in winter months..

[Lee Burbidge]

I've always found December to be one of the busiest times of the year for new customers as people want their windows cleaning for Christmas.

You'll get work all year around so long as you are pro active, I picked up over £700 of fresh work last week, the jobs are out there.

You know what, you right... comments from another site are saying the same. Strange as you would think less customers in the winter and even less response in the Christmas month. One guy wrote:  we find winter is great for canvassing in, most of the dole boys and fair weather ones have disappeared, so pick up loads.

plus if you are willing to go out in cold door knocking it can show the customer that you are willing, reliable and dedicated to the job.

Another also wrote: Better doing it during winter that's when all the cowboys and seasonal window cleaners drop out. Better chance of picking up work.

So there is no denying you can pick up winter customers. See I always stopped for the winter window cleaning customers and offered different services instead. Just imagine how much window cleaning I could bemissing out on.... think I am going to try this this winter.

I think we are hard wired to think Summer is the only time you can.

[Lee Burbidge]

I dont canvass anymore as have far too many customers from caining it over the last 2 years.
December is a crap time to canvass unless you want loads of 1 off dmas cleans todo, also for others its a tight/skint time december/january so isnt the best, i know from experiance of myself trying to build my own round up last year.
The rest of the year tends to be great, i find winter months the best as  no time is wasted on the houses where nobody is home as can see if they are in or out, many will say summer is the best time but that is only because they arnt hardcore or motivated enough to go out on those cold damp nights!! Many wc canvass in summer but only minimal in winter months..

December, I would of thought so...... you hit the spot on the other points too. If you did canvass still would you do it all year round?

[roundbuilder]

I dont canvass anymore as have far too many customers from caining it over the last 2 years.
December is a crap time to canvass unless you want loads of 1 off dmas cleans todo, also for others its a tight/skint time december/january so isnt the best, i know from experiance of myself trying to build my own round up last year.
The rest of the year tends to be great, i find winter months the best as  no time is wasted on the houses where nobody is home as can see if they are in or out, many will say summer is the best time but that is only because they arnt hardcore or motivated enough to go out on those cold damp nights!! Many wc canvass in summer but only minimal in winter months..

December, I would of thought so...... you hit the spot on the other points too. If you did canvass still would you do it all year round?

Yes defo people dont only want a window cleaner in just summer or just winter, i canvassed 2/3 days a week for just under 2 years to build a 2 van full to the brim of domestics business up. I actualy built my 2nd round up in 4 months but then decided to change action plan and go for everything front only taking more time to build however was so worth it..
Defo canvassing is an all year game to play... As well as the sold boards which is far better than canvassing after your 3/4 months in on it with newbies moving into there new homes.

[koopmaster]

ditto, the winter months are actually very good most of the comments here are so true for all of us.  I think the week after chrishmas to the new year is a little quiet but after the new year the customers still keep rolling in. 

[Lee Burbidge]

ditto, the winter months are actually very good most of the comments here are so true for all of us.  I think the week after chrishmas to the new year is a little quiet but after the new year the customers still keep rolling in. 

Do you push more gutter clean etc during this period as well ?

[Mike #1]

Judging by the amount of views against responses either no one is willing to let out some kind of secret or their is a load that dont have a clue .

Personally i think just dropping a good leaflet in different areas every 3 months  brings a steady flow of custys , Just know your areas ,

 Have a visible  identity such as a signed vehicle with logo along with leaflets etc  and push it so you are the stand out window cleaner in your area  . Mike

[Lee Burbidge]

Judging by the amount of views against responses either no one is willing to let out some kind of secret or their is a load that dont have a clue .

Personally i think just dropping a good leaflet in different areas every 3 months  brings a steady flow of custys , Just know your areas ,

 Have a visible  identity such as a signed vehicle with logo along with leaflets etc  and push it so you are the stand out window cleaner in your area  . Mike

Mike do you drop in December or avoid Christmas altogether? What ROI you achieving on straight leaflet drops? ( to be fair tho some hold on to leaflets for months and months)

[Nick_Thompson]

I actualy built my 2nd round up in 4 months but then decided to change action plan and go for everything front only taking more time to build however was so worth it.
[/quote]

So Mick, in the process of building a 'fronts only' round, did you find that people were generally more responsive, irrespective of the season?

[Lee Burbidge]

I actualy built my 2nd round up in 4 months but then decided to change action plan and go for everything front only taking more time to build however was so worth it.

So Mick, in the process of building a 'fronts only' round, did you find that people were generally more responsive, irrespective of the season?
[/quote]

Would fronts only be for streets that have houses packed together do you think?

[easy clean]

I'd say 99% of my work is fronts only, too much messing about with gates and getting all the gear round the back......just as quick to clean next door instead!!!

[paul ette]

when doing fronts, do the customers moan that your only doing half the job?

[easy clean]

Nope they're ok with it....well my 1500+ are anyway

[paul ette]

that shocks me

[easy clean]

Why

[roundbuilder]

I charge any house i do £10 for front only and try my best to target areas where its all victirian terrace where there is no rear access, for the few where there is access i charge £15/20 for whole house all depending on area, i do loads in charlton/greenwich/blackheath where all roads near on have rows and rows of victorian terrace, a lot of the work i gain on these roads is from sold boards, some roads i have as many as 8 fronts that i can bang out in 20/30 mins from same spot which is why for me targeting fronts is a win win.
I recomend it to anyone who is building there customer base to give it a go with targeting front only cleans instead of avoiding them like the plaige as there is stacks of this type of work out there as most wc's want full front and back houses.

[paul ette]

i can definately see how its easier and better money doing fronts, just thought if i tell a customer i can only do fronts, they will leave me for a window cleaner that can do whole house

[roundbuilder]

i can definately see how its easier and better money doing fronts, just thought if i tell a customer i can only do fronts, they will leave me for a window cleaner that can do whole house

Only if its a house where there is rear access! The trick is to target the right areas/houses where there is no or next to no rear access.