I don't profess to know everything, but I think with my years in the window cleaning industry and study of today's market ( just as you have) causes me to hold views. Here is a conversation copied and pasted from our FB Group which is on going right now, just to bring you up to speed... I would love your views too.... I am always learning and I am enjoying the interaction of opposing views on this subject without malice. I ask that you guys all respect each other when you comment here, thanks
THE POST:
I was on the phone Friday afternoon when I answered the door.
Paulo the Brazilian stood at the door. At first I didn't recognise him. That soon evaporated, I ended my phone call and shuck his hand warmly. I was very pleased to see him and immediately invited him in.
Paulo is a window cleaner whom I met a year ago. I remember having a great chat with him about his pure freedom trolley and window cleaning in general.
We met when I was cleaning a customer in my village 4 doors down from my house and Paulo turned up to clean the house right next door.
On that day I showed him the CLX I was using at the time. I even let him try it on the front windows of his customer that was next to my customers house and showed him about how to rinse well for a top job.
So now Paulo is in my kitchen and not for the first time.
A year ago he wanted to sell up and so he came to me. I told him what I wanted to pay that was fair but he wanted a lot more.
He mentioned the Internet and that he has seen rounds go for 10 or 12 times there worth.
I told him those window cleaners are crazy and they will only sell to ppl that don't know better or not at all. They will not sell at these prices to seasoned window cleaners. When are window cleaners going to get this and stop making it difficult for other window cleaners wanting to close business transactions??
That's for the seller or the buyer.
Paulo left as he wanted way more for the round.
So here he is again, 1 year later, in my kitchen with over 700 pounds per month of work to sell.
He told me, "I want to accept your offer of 1,500 for the lot, work, equipment" ( top range digital pure freedom trolley)....
"You have it...." I said. He told me he had one or two companies interested in the work. Of course this was a bluff.
Roughly translated he wanted to close the deal quick. I picked up on that, but I was on my way out to a meeting. I shuck his hand, took all his exact details and thrust 40 quid in his hand.
I will ring you at 5pm. At 5pm I rang Paulo to arrange closing the deal and getting the whistle tour over the work. It's all up to date and not due till jan 2014 ( most of it) so that's good, as we have so much to finish before Christmas with schools etc.
BANG !- thats how buying and selling a round should work..... Smooth, trustful, like clock work and with a smile and no regrets!
Moral of the story?
(Sellers) If you want to sell a round, seriously settle on a price that will sell. 2,3 and may be 3 times any more may not be worth it.
Window cleaners would rather get the work them selfs no matter how much your round would set them up. Your round is not the carrot you thought at these dizzy heights.
(Buyers) Stick to your budget no matter how much the work will set you up. If you want to pay 2x the round but your budget to play with is 3x the round but the seller wants 4x the round. Walk away and immediately do a couple days leafleting, door knocking etc to make you feel better. Door knocking on a bad day you get nothing, on a good day you can pick up 200 quid of new work but still have the cash in the bank for the 2x round you wanna buy when it turns up
