[rosa]

 hi Folks, I am keen to learn from the best 
and wondred if there is anyone that would be prepared to show me the ropes working with wfp in the Wirral or Liverpool?
 

[Tosh]

Rosa,

I've just read your back posts; getting a van-mounted system (and I believe unless you're an extremely strong woman you've no other choice) is a big step to take when you've no customers.

Can you buy a round suitable for a van-mounted system?

Wor Lass (my missis) has been window cleaning for five years now, and still finds it tough, especially in Winter when it's freezing and window cleaning, no matter how you do it, is still physically demanding; you spend 'all day on the go'; (well about 6 hours anyway ).

Have you ever worked out doors and alone before?  The weather is nice now, but just wait till the end of November; it's not much fun.

[rosa]

Hi Tosh thanks for replying,
 I have one or two big problems really
a. no money to buy a round or a van or expensive eqipment.
b. still learning to drive

I work as a care assistant in the community so always work alone and although I dont spend all day outside, I walk to my patients homes, so quite used to the elements.
Also although I am by no means an amazonian women I have lifted and moved patients about for 21 years, gotta count for something :
I know the two points above sound like a big dissadvantage but I have got to start somewhere
I am interested to learn about the wfp system and will be booking to go on a course but I would also like some "real" hands experience.
Are there any other alternatives to working without ladders?
Trad without ladders but using reach poles? is it possible?
Rosa

[Tosh]

Trad without ladders but using reach poles? is it possible?
Rosa

Not really, Rosa; not unless you're an absolute 'black belt' window cleaner.  I can't even use a short pole for shop windows; though I haven't really practiced; I use a seven foot A Frame or a WFP.  I don't really think this a viable option.

I reckon your best bet is to work with hubby; him using ladders and doing 'tops'; you work the ground floor.  Can he get time off work?  Saturdays maybe to start with?

Trad start up costs are low; about £400 should sort you - cheaper maybe.  Find a local trad window cleaner (phone them up from the phone books and ask; I did; offer some free labour for help and advice).

 

[Helen]

Hi Rosa,
I have been in the industry for some time now. When there was just the 2 of us, we shared the physical and office work. We now have staff and I am fortunate in the fact that I run things from the office for the majority of time now.
I can trad and I can WFP, both have their pros and cons as to manageability etc. I am now used as holiday and sickness cover!
Your biggest obstacle in my opinion, is that you are still learning to drive and until you are self mobile that is going to be a problem for you, unless you intend to have customers on your doorstep only. Personally I would concentrate on passing your test and getting a vehicle, before you make any decisions about window cleaning. As Tosh said it is physically demanding, hard in the cold and wet weather and hard and draining in the really hot weather. Personally I would not go window cleaning on a regular basis on my own.
1) I have no wish to and
2) safety issues, not only work ones, but at the end of the day you have no idea who or what your customers are or have been.

Anyway bottom line, pass your test first as the whole idea really does depend on this

[Tosh]

Anyway bottom line, pass your test first as the whole idea really does depend on this

Good post, but this won't matter if hubby drives and is able to make time to work as a window cleaner.

There's a local guy to me works as a van driver; early morning stuff; and cleans windows in the afternoon; so it's possible.

[Helen]

Tosh, Always possible, as the saying goes there is more than one way to skin a cat!!!!!
My personal feelings are that if you want to set up your own business (in window cleaning or whatever) you have to go the easiest route possible and that doesn't mean to say that setting up is easy...it isn't.
I think Rosa's plans are for both her and hubbie to be SE eventually, without her being able to drive around (when hubbie is at work or not available) it will make it damned hard (not impossible) to build a round where it has to support both of them for short term (when hubbie first quits his job).
Think of the the best round you have, now imagine walking there, carrying equipment, cleaning the windows by whatever method, walking in between each property, walking home again, would really shorten your working hours and knacker you. Where would you shelter if it rained? Would you want to carry on working soaked to the skin....where would you have a rest when it is really hot?
Just think that this obstacle would be better out the way before she seriosuly starts to think about it and spend out £££

[xxmattyxx]

Trying to make a living from window-cleaning without a vehicle isn't viable.

I have about 8 properties in the village I live in that I could reasonably do without the use of a vehicle, after that its a no-brainer.

Theres no reason why you cant plan a business nor investigate the hows and whys of window-cleaning, but get a licence before you try to do the job.

If you go in working off ladders, and WFP is totally out of the question, you'll have a ladder to carry, possibly with a rojak or stand-off, a bucket with water, a squeegee, a mop, cloths for detailing, cloths for wiping sills, spare blades, a scraper, a set of steps, your work-belt, notification leaflets that youve done the job..... 

[dave0123]

Rosa were about are you?

[Ian Rushmore]

Rosa were about are you?

in the Wirral or Liverpool?
 

[dave0123]

ye but thats 2 diffrent places :

[Captain Scarlet]

Rosa I have a woman in my area that uses trad poles to clean, she will not use ladders at all, she does quite well, Luke

[rosa]

Rosa were about are you?

Lovely sunny Birkenhead

[dave0123]

Lovely sunny Birkenhead

You may be the first woman window cleaner carnt say i have seen any girls around wirral cleaning windows. you may be able to come out with us sometime in the future once we are not so busy! as our workload has gone mental and were trying to catch up from bad weather  still.

Anyway your first prority is to pass your driving test. You will also need to learn to clean windows trad! squeeguee and blade i think this is very inportant as wfp is only a tool and you will get jobs for inside cleaning.

dave

[rosa]

Thanks everyone for the replies, some very good advice, just what I needed.

driving test it is

Thanks Dave for offering when your less busy

I have been doing lots of trad practice on our house, my windows have never been soooo clean(ish), the neighbours must think I`m nuts  :

Kudos to all you window cleaners, as its not the easiest thing to do

now off to work on my streaks 

[dave0123]

Also do you have any family members houses you can practise on? it all helps just when you practise on your house what normaly happens is after a time you just learn to clean your windows then when actully cleaning windows its alot diffrent

so if you were cleaning other houses to then this would give a varity of diffrent windows hopefully.

Yes you can come out with us in future but i dont no how old you are am a youngie! at 22 so you may not feel comfortable getting advice from a youngie!

dave

[rosa]

I`m getting on a bit, 37 :
don`t mind intruction from someone younger than me, it doesn`t` matter how old you are if you`ve got the experience, thats what I need

I`m sure the family wont mind me having a go at their windows, I will ask
It`s all good practice

I`ve been reading up and watching Youtube, also found a pole system called Procurve.
From what I gather it`s not as easy as it looks 
anyone used it?

Ps not a lazy moo, just my day off