[P®oPole™]

Anyone had any experience with taking over established trad rounds as I know a couple of fella's that are packing it in.

Thanks
ProPole

[windowwashers]

Anyone had any experience with taking over established trad rounds as I know a couple of fella's that are packing it in.

Thanks
ProPole

I have bought a couple, what do you need to know ?

[P®oPole™]

Hi Ian,

I can forsee problems in the 'wfp change over'. One of the guys needs a quick sale as he's got a new job lined up for next week. He has told all of his customers that he is selling up and they are just "happy there windows will still be cleaned". However if I turn up with a pole splashing water everywere I doubt they will like it.

I have bought wfp work in the past and was very please with how well it changed hands but I'm quite unsure about trad work.

Whats your views Ian?

Pro

[windowwashers]

Hi Ian,

I can forsee problems in the 'wfp change over'. One of the guys needs a quick sale as he's got a new job lined up for next week. He has told all of his customers that he is selling up and they are just "happy there windows will still be cleaned". However if I turn up with a pole splashing water everywere I doubt they will like it.

I have bought wfp work in the past and was very please with how well it changed hands but I'm quite unsure about trad work.

Whats your views Ian?

Pro

you can do one of a few things, knock on each door indroduce yourself to them and say they way you clean, get the guy to give a letter to each of the customers saying that he has stopped you will be cleaning and you use wfp (saves loads of time) and get them to call if they need to ask questions.

Or just pole all the windows and explain if needbe.

I personally would ask the guy to give them a letter explaining the change over and saying you clean with wfp and to call you will any questions (most will not call).

Next one down I would knock the doors as I was cleaning and give a quick explanation and say they get there frames cleaned free for 2 months people like free things (if some of the prices are low this also gives the chance to increase them by a pound or 2 if needbe down the line "a great tip I learnt by mistake").


hope this help m8, post any more questions and I will do my best to help


Ian

[Stevie G]

IN MY OPINION

You will never get the positive benefits through to them.

Even after explaining it all, they will still complain about how much quicker you are than a bloke up a ladder.  You say"...it's not how fast we go, it's whether your windows are clean and how they are cleaned and the eventual result..."

Trad customers always want what they had in the past.  They hate change, even after accepting that they like what you are doing....after a while they will find an excuse that they pull out of nothing.....you find out later that a cheaper trad cleaner has been knocking in the area and have undercut you (in some cases).

The prices will be about 10 years old on trad work.  You cant really up your prices unless you explain to them the full benefits.  A 3-bed house for £7 cant be upped to £12 (its real price) unless the customer is really understanding of what you are doing.  Normal everyday folk who are able to understand WFP are few and far between.

For some people the changeover does work very successfully, but this is down to sheer persistence and plenty of time trying to convince people, the how's and the who's and the what's.

[bluez]

Pro I take it that you are wfp only, if so I would buy the work on the basis that you are only paying for those customers that remain with you for two+ cleans, this moves the responsability back to the seller.

Then you go do your normal service using wfp and do your best to explain where necessary, but if they don't like it you are not out of pocket.

[SonOfFormby]

IN MY OPINION

You will never get the positive benefits through to them.

Even after explaining it all, they will still complain about how much quicker you are than a bloke up a ladder.  You say"...it's not how fast we go, it's whether your windows are clean and how they are cleaned and the eventual result..."

Trad customers always want what they had in the past.  They hate change, even after accepting that they like what you are doing....after a while they will find an excuse that they pull out of nothing.....you find out later that a cheaper trad cleaner has been knocking in the area and have undercut you (in some cases).

The prices will be about 10 years old on trad work.  You cant really up your prices unless you explain to them the full benefits.  A 3-bed house for £7 cant be upped to £12 (its real price) unless the customer is really understanding of what you are doing.  Normal everyday folk who are able to understand WFP are few and far between.

For some people the changeover does work very successfully, but this is down to sheer persistence and plenty of time trying to convince people, the how's and the who's and the what's.

Spot on. I bought a trad round, but use WFP and lost a high percentage, mostly due to very low pricing that most people wont understand, when you up your prices (and you will have to). Along with other things, some peoples faces who have have nothing but trad W/C's, the look on their faces when they see water pouring down their walls is unreal.Luckily I replaced it quickly with better work.

But I would never buy a trad round again for WFP work.

Maybe I just had a bad experience.......but I don't think so.

Lee

[windowwashers]

Pro I take it that you are wfp only, if so I would buy the work on the basis that you are only paying for those customers that remain with you for two+ cleans, this moves the responsability back to the seller.

Then you go do your normal service using wfp and do your best to explain where necessary, but if they don't like it you are not out of pocket.

I cant see anyone selling a round going for that some how would you if you was selling it, I know I would not.

[Moderator David@stives]

Propole

If the prices are good just go for it, just act like its normal.

[Grafters Cleaning Services]

wfp tops, trad bottoms see how you get on then sort out good from bad
once done do all wfp

[groundhog]

They will soon get used to it, don't make a big deal out of it just turn up and clean them. Some won't like it to start with but give them a couple of Months and they will accept it. I have taken on lots of jobs where there previous window cleaner was trad, and I have had no problems!! 

[bluez]

Pro I take it that you are wfp only, if so I would buy the work on the basis that you are only paying for those customers that remain with you for two+ cleans, this moves the responsability back to the seller.

Then you go do your normal service using wfp and do your best to explain where necessary, but if they don't like it you are not out of pocket.

I cant see anyone selling a round going for that some how would you if you was selling it, I know I would not.

Ya I would, If I had any confidence in the work I was selling, mind you I am not one of those that would sell work for 2/3 times monthly value so that may cloud the issue as my price would allow for things like that, and to be honest If I was selling I would expect to ensure that all my customers remained with the buyer.

[P®oPole™]

Cheers for all the replies fella's

I know I can convince most, but just dont like the thought of all that lark about explaning it to everyone and then the risk of losing some. I may even trad the easy ones for the first couple of times and let them know whats coming.

Still quite unsure. However the guy who wants a quick sale is asking x2 (1 up front -- 1 after the first clean) so I rekon its better than canvassed work as hes been est since 04 and says his customers are good as gold he has also already got them sending cheques in.


Regards
ProPole

[AuRavelling79]

Hi propole - my two cents ...

Most important, more than the method is the pricing - are these houses being charged the right price? If so, proceed but if they are underpriced I would be very wary.

Surely the guy "is leaving because he believes that health and safety dictate he must use wfp" and "although he knows it will do an excellent job, he cannot afford the set up and training costs" and so he has found a professional wfp man to take care of his customers.

Now, if that paragraph in red above was put in an explanation letter and endorsed by the seller, then your new custy's have a very good reason for staying with you.

But it's only worth the effort if the pricing is right.

[P®oPole™]

Hi Malc - me old china

I cant say for sure what the prices are like yet as I have only briefly seen a couple of work sheets. Im supposed be getting shown around this weekend so should be able to see how he runs things.

I like that paragraph in red mate that sounds about right

He said it was the weather in the end and he needs a solid income, he seems like a nice enough guy and says his customers are too.

Regards
ProPole

[TDW]

Just clean them as normal. The less said the better unless they ask then give them time and explain it properly to them. Most people dont care. They just want there windows done.

[groundhog]

Just clean them as normal. The less said the better unless they ask then give them time and explain it properly to them. Most people dont care. They just want there windows done.

I agree 

[pjulk]

Myself i would never buy a round i would rather build my own or get a canvassing company to build me one.

[P®oPole™]

Paul that doesn't make sense mate, canvassed work comes with absoutley no goodwill.

I have worked on rounds built by two big canvassing names so know exactly what 'canvassed in a night work' entails and its without doubt alot more hassle than buying work of an est w/c.

Pro

[P®oPole™]

Im meeting this chap tonight, and will probably be handing over alot of money for what could potentially be just a bit of paper with made up names an stuff.

Any last words of wisdom much appreciated.

Pro