[colin stee1e]

I've posted this on another forum but though I'd ask you all here as I remember there being quite a few from London...

So I'm going to move back to the city, the country life just bores me!

A few questions a bout working in London. Initially I'll be commuting back to Bucks as I have established a good business here and it's only a 45 min drive back but I will be working on building a round on north London.

Now there are plenty of windows that's not the problem... parking is the problem? How do cleaners in London deal with parking during the week? I want to target north london (Barnet etc.) in the weekdays and look to getting a decent commercial round for Saturdays. Any advice appreciated...

I won't have the storage like I do here so initially won't be able to make my own pure water... Who sells it in london and what is the going rate. I have a 250L tank!

I spoke to a few cleaners in London this weekend and their advice was to make most of the money on weekends (and work for them nice offer!) as parking is easier but can anyone enlighten me to their tricks of the London trade.

Oh one more question, what is the going rate in London?  Where I am it's £1 per window but what other costs do you consider when pricing up houses/commercial work in London.

Thanks guys

[dazmond]

hate london.my brother lives in wimbledon.went down there with my other brother and dad 2 years ago to visit him and got to piccadilly and my dad turns round and says (mod note; swearing - even replacing some letters with an asterix - is not allowed)  innit?"i had to agree!!

everytime ive gone down there the traffic and parking is an absolute nightmare!!

looks like you ll have to add parking ticket charges in with your pricing and using your backpack/trolley more.


good luck!(manchester lad)

dazmond

[Dannymackreturn]

Make sure you earn plenty of money as fuel cost can be costly.

[LT carpet cleaning]

Make sure you earn plenty of money as fuel cost can be costly.

Very profound

[Window Lickers]

good luck!(manchester lad)

dazmond

Do you sound like Terry Christian?

[Mick Kent]

It will take you a lot longer than 45 mins to get to and from especialy beggining and end of a working day! It takes me 45 mins sometimes to travel 3 miles in london! I was canvassing in stoney/northampton//bucks 6 odd years back and it took ages to drive to and from especialy on the m25 and m1 as always trafic, you should realy give it a lot of thought before you commit to it!
I dont see the point in doing it in barnet as its verey hard to gain work in and around that area. Best to hit central london  and pay conjestion charge because house all around there you can Charge silly prices to make it worth while eg £100 for a 3 story double fronted house.
Anyway good luck if you do decide on doing it.

[Mick Kent]

Ahh my bad i just reread your planning on moving back this way..
Defo go for it then :-)

[Crystal-clear]

Expect one off galore

[colin stee1e]

Yeah I've budgeted about £240-300 on diesel a month, that's about double what I pay now.  This will cover the 80 miles daily there and back...

Mick why is it so hard to gain work in Barnet?  Driving though a couple of times it seems that is where the larger houses are and plenty of parking?  Is it the canvassing that is hard or is it the competition.

Any ideas on locating pure water?

[PoleKing]

Can't speak for London area but all of my work (bar a day or so) is between 30-60 minutes away.
I like it.
No chance of nipping home for a brew that turns into half an hour doing nothing.
The drive is not an issue at all for me but I'm A1 not M25.
And it keeps work/home life split.
It's not for everyone, but I like it.
All the best with it.

[Mick Kent]

I havnt tried all of barnet but hadley wood and surroundings in barnet i got nothing between 2 of us for 2 knocks, everyone was already sorted and were also verey rude with us knocking.
This was 5 years ago but im guessing it would be even harder now.

[colin stee1e]

Can't speak for London area but all of my work (bar a day or so) is between 30-60 minutes away.
I like it.
No chance of nipping home for a brew that turns into half an hour doing nothing.
The drive is not an issue at all for me but I'm A1 not M25.
And it keeps work/home life split.
It's not for everyone, but I like it.
All the best with it.

Ha I know that problem, it's sometimes too easy to pop home for along lunch

[colin stee1e]

I havnt tried all of barnet but hadley wood and surroundings in barnet i got nothing between 2 of us for 2 knocks, everyone was already sorted and were also verey rude with us knocking.
This was 5 years ago but im guessing it would be even harder now.

OK thanks, I may give the canvassing a miss, haven't done that in years anyway.  I get most of my work through my website or word of mouth.  I'm thinking i'll set up a new website, new company name, targeting north London keywords. May as well start now and get the website ranking.

So you do much Saturday work? I saw loads of windies out on the Saturday doing store fronts.  How easy do you find getting that work, I can imagine there is lots of competition

[Stephen.C]

Stay in Buckinghamshire mate, I lived in Paddington nearly all my life and I know a few shiners around NW8, to W12 loads of one offs, All the big gaffes are owned by immigrants and most don't bother or have one-offs. London is Poop hole now full of dross if you really want to come back to town stick to the suburbs.

[colin stee1e]

Stay in Buckinghamshire mate, I lived in Paddington nearly all my life and I know a few shiners around NW8, to W12 loads of one offs, All the big gaffes are owned by immigrants and most don't bother or have one-offs. London is Poop hole now full of dross if you really want to come back to town stick to the suburbs.

Well I guess commuting back to Bucks sounds like a good option then... Where do you do most of your work?

I don't mind one offs as long as I can charge a decent amount

[Stephen.C]

I have only been shining in Hampshire, worked in print for nearly 30 years

[Window Lickers]

I have only been shining in Hampshire, worked in print for nearly 30 years

You don't know how to clean. Bloomin' amateur you are sunshine. 

[jimiwindows]

No work down here