So today I got my new van and changed the company name. I decided on CLEAR VIEW CLEAR CLEAN CLEAN WINDOW CLEANING CLEAN CLEAN CLEAR SPOTLESS CLEANING LTD.
I had saved up for the van all last summer. I opted for the PPT machine and heated system. I decided I needed to show other window cleaners I mean business. I went for a VW T5 as I was told I can earn at least £5 more an hour with this setup. It came in close to 50K but that’s only a couple of months work. I never hit the VAT threshold as I claim back shoe leather and leaking brass elbow fittings.
I set off as usual at 7am to start cleaning at 5.30am. I have a few domestics I can start early, as they are usually travelling the world and pay 12 months in advance. I don’t need to worry about locked gates as they leave the front door open. I just walk through to the back.
I managed to get them knocked out by 9am and was already approaching the £250 mark
I got onto my compact work and started working; the whole street came out to look at the van and wanted to go for a ride in it. I explained that this will do a better job than traditional and ladders are indeed banned. In fact if you see anyone with ladders on their car or van odds on they are taking them to the scrap yard.
I decided to try out my new Chinese pole today as I had just received my order of 119 poles. I managed to save £443 and it was well worth the effort, risk and wait.
I started my first cream house; it’s a coach house with 4 windows. I have a minimum charge of £25 so this only takes me 4 minutes. A lady came over and asked for a quote which I said I would do after I lowered the pole down. She had her little boy with her. To my horror the pole snapped and a carbon splinter went straight into the boy’s eye. She started shouting and screaming at me. I pulled out my iphone 7 (I know the iphone 6 isn’t out yet, but I am special) and showed her how much I have saved. She agreed her son was in the wrong and still wanted the quote.
I managed to get the job, including her sister, mother, brother, father, and 8 neighbours. I declined one of the neighbours as the front door clashed with my van vinyl. I managed to get them all done before 12pm and do an hour’s leaflet dropping. I only target houses with awkward access and dog poo in the garden. It always increases my chances of getting the job.
After having my lunch I received a text to say I had missed a window and she was going to cancel. So I drove over and I had indeed missed the window. I offered to refund the £9 for the house, I mean £90 and she accepted. I asked if she would consider using me again and she said yes please keep me on as a customer. Well I dumped her there and then. I replaced her with three £10 houses, I mean £100 houses and was happy as a sand boy.
I received a call from an unknown number shortly after getting back into the van. I answered the call CLEAR VIEW CLEAR CLEAN CLEAN WINDOW CLEANING CLEAN CLEAN CLEAR SPOTLESS CLEANING LTD and asked how I could help. Turns out its Mr Zan Xi Yi from China, he was out looking for a plane or something and saw my snapped pole. He has offered to send a replacement and should be with me next day. PING email comes through, looks like DPD tried to deliver today, ah that’s the pole then I have just missed.
It started to slightly sprinkle with rain, so decided to wrap up warm and crack on. I was determined to hit my £500 target and finish a few hours early. The rain soon turned into a storm. I had to go back to my harris pole as the Chinese pole was too light in the wind. As I was cleaning the fronts, a window opened. “Surely you are not going to cleaning my windows in this?” I explained I still have bills to pay and the windows will dry fine. We offer a rain guarantee, it’s on page 23 of my terms and conditions. She felt sorry for me and started throwing money at me and blankets to keep me warm.
By now I was starting to flag, but I can see the magical £500 target approaching. I decided to crack on and not stop at all. I was just starting my last house and shock horror the water has gone cold. I run back to my van and the heater is out of diesel! I worked out I had earnt close to £500 in not much over 5 hours but it had cost me £8 in diesel. At this point I was raging, I decided to back track and increase customers houses for the next clean. Most accepted but one was a bit reluctant. I explained that I have just bought a new van and I need the work. She smiled and said look, take this and sell it. She had very kindly removed one of her kidneys and said I should sell it to pay for the fuel. I feel guilty because she will be dumped next time, as the gate wasn’t open this time.
I managed to hit the £500 target 10 minutes later, I had worked out I had used 10 25L drums so was very happy with the water usage for today.
How was your day guys?