[Ian Fletcher]

I been window cleaning for a few years now,but the last few months I have been geting realy fed up with it bad weather peolpe not paying me

need some help or advice to get me back loveing my job,I have been doing a lot off conservatory roof cleans which i like and the money is good but I need more that one or two a week
 
prices i charge around £5 to £6 for a 3 bedroom house is that ok,as i feel like i am riping peolpe off if i charge more,I do have a few big houses one of which is £80,but thats only every 2 months

the wife keeps naging for me to get a new job,dont think i could work for someone else again,so lads any tips advice plz

[Jeff Brimble]

Hi Ian we all have off days, weeks and months. Cheer up you will get over it. Put your prices up, 3 beds in my rural area is at least8.50-10
What you loose will be more than compensated by what you gain. Listen to your wife you need more income.

[Ian Fletcher]

Do you know any good web sites for equipment etc,

[bumper]

I use these very good and prompt

http://www.soapnational.co.uk/acatalog/New_Products.html

[Van the man]

Where abouts are you Ian?

[S.A.J]

We all go through these bad patches especially through the winter months. Just think happy thoughts and the approaching summer.


As for suppliers I use these 

http://www.windowcleaningwarehouse.co.uk/wcw/ecommerce/index.php

And Varitech who dont have a web site but here is there number 01626 830830

Stuart

[Alex Gardiner]

For Trad gear I always use www.wintecs.co.uk

[MNWC]

For Trad gear I always use www.wintecs.co.uk

Where do you go for wfp gear Alex 

[Central Window Cleaners]

Hi Ian,
our charges start from £6 for a terraced and work up from there my much expensive one's are £25 a month which are quite big old houses.

I also get fedup with windows and love doing one off gutters and conservatory cleans.  I did a newletter offering 10% off to all my window customers and has worked a treat for extra work.

For equipment I find www.soapnational.co.uk to be the best for me good prices and fast delivery.

[shammy davis jnr]

ian i call this the blow out you get it from time to time
when it sets in it aint productive atall
esp after a bad run with weather etc you need to turn it round and go at it hammer and tong  if i get the blow out i make sure its when im up to date with my work etc then you can do the blow out but not while the sun shines if you know what i mean
belive me we all get it  why not go on a door kull ,up prices buy a new laddder anything to inspire you to get the spark back and when it does keep it lol
at least for a day till a unsatisfied customer comes on the phone lo0l
IT WILL PASS mate

[Ian Fletcher]

cheers lads,i am from wolverhamptpn buy the way

[xxmattyxx]

I know exactly what is meant regarding that down feeling.

Had it today actually    and then started thinking perhaps I need to ask about this on the forum, if any other shiners get it, so thanks for saving me the trouble Ian 


I get it particularly when the weather is wet, damp, dreary, miserable, cold, misty, foggy, blowy, bla bla bla, most of he time in that case it would seem. I love it when the sun shines in this job.

I also can be down regarding this job when customers seem 'off', but love it when I pick up a new one, which happened today btw.

Winters are depressing for lots of people, (Seasonally Adjusted Disorder!!) but most of the time better things lie ahead.

Matt

[Tosh]

Ian,

For the past three years, February always used to be my worst month for morale.

By this time you've spent Nov/Dec struggling to meet the demands of providing Christmas for your family and then struggled again to cover the bills in Jan.

By February you're feeling burnt out and have had enough of the dark, cold, damp dreary days!

However for me, this year is different; not so much of a struggle; hardly a struggle at all because work is really starting to pay!

So stick with it, mate;come up with some 'plan' to increase your income; Spring is just round the corner and remember that there's some people earning a good income from window cleaning.  If they can do it, so can you.

And when it comes to giving quotes and putting your prices up:

i charge around £5 to £6 for a 3 bedroom house is that ok,as i feel like i am riping peolpe off if i charge more

As long as you quote your price and frequency are up front; do a good job; and they agree to your terms and conditions, you're not ripping anyone off.

However, you may do your customers a diservice by being too cheap; then 'jacking it in' and not turning up ever again.

They may well have been prepared to pay a lot more for a good, regular honest 'Joe' window cleaner.

Spring's round the corner and all those 'B list jobs' that other window cleaners have dropped during the rainy weather and shorter working days could soon turn into your 'A Jobs'; if you price them well enough.

[EasyClean]

When I feel the need for a 'blow out' (winter blues), I go down the job centre and look at the vacancies board just to remind myself how fortunate I am, it always does the trick and inspires me again!!!

[Paul Coleman]

I been window cleaning for a few years now,but the last few months I have been geting realy fed up with it bad weather peolpe not paying me

need some help or advice to get me back loveing my job,I have been doing a lot off conservatory roof cleans which i like and the money is good but I need more that one or two a week
 
prices i charge around £5 to £6 for a 3 bedroom house is that ok,as i feel like i am riping peolpe off if i charge more,I do have a few big houses one of which is £80,but thats only every 2 months

the wife keeps naging for me to get a new job,dont think i could work for someone else again,so lads any tips advice plz

Maybe it's time to freshen it up a bit.  Going out there to get new, better paying work is usually a good way to do it.  Maybe travel out a bit more to get better rates if possible.  OK I know I'm in the southeast and it's probably a bit easier to do that down here.  I've picked up some decent work lately and am in the process of passing on some poorer paying work.
Going for WFP late in '05 and taking a long hard look at how I do business has given me a new lease of life.  I seem to be earning a bit more but in much less time and from fewer customers.  I have about 20 less customers than a year ago and I will soon be passing on a few more.  The 20 were from house moves or if they were troublesome or those who decided they disliked WFP.
It can be very easy to get down about it.  I think £6 for a 3 bed house is far too low.  That may be a regional thing though.

[texas girl]

Hey Ian,

It happens to all of us; hang in there. Before you know it the sun will shine and the birds will sing.

Try to get out of the house every day for at least a short time. Being indoors too much gets depressing.

I have been in this business 25 years. I do not like winter either. That is why I live in Texas; and 2 months of winter is long enough!

REMAIN STEADFAST with your work; if you are not getting paid maybe a change in collection/payment methods?

This is a great business! I now contract out all of my commercial accounts so my income is stable; but it wasn't always that way. Our residential market is seasonal over here. Each 6 months normal schedule.

This time will pass for you! Be encouraged that it is temporary.

God Bless,

Texas Girl   

[ac_cleaning]

Hang in there we all have off days try and work out were you need to find out how to get payments in,sae fpr example
al

[williamx]

Ian

There are severals ways to make more money from your excisting customers, firstly you are not charging enough, your minimum charge should be £10.00.

I work in Birmingham and have no problems with this amount.

You will get some customers who say that you are too expensive but the majority will not as they understand that the cost of living is expensive.

You can also offer your customers different cleaning times for different rates which will save them money but more importantly it will make you more money per house.

Below is what I offer my customers

4 weekly cleans  and 6 weekly cleans
£10.00                       £13.00
£12.00                       £15.00
£15.00                       £18.00
£20.00                       £27.00
£25.00                       £34.00
£30.00                       £42.00
£35.00                       £48.00
£40.00                       £54.00

and so on.

[Michael D]

Hi Ian, 
                 Are you working on your own.   Michael D

[simbo]

williamx thats the way, everyone a winner i got one yesterday who wanted a really good clean but not too often so i said £10 would be regular charge but will offer £15 for bi monthly she had no prob with this and i get £15 for 20 mins work which is a good little filler that can be done at the end of any day on my way home
cool, bring them on less reg more money
simbo