[jaykie]

As im looking for work as still building a round i thought i may contact a few estate agents that sell houses in

certain parts of my town, I dont know if to go in and pull one person up from each company and offer them a deal

i.e once a week they give me info on any people moving into propertys that week, i canvass them if i get the job

they the estate agent gets a percent of the 3rd clean, i know they wont make money for a few months but worth it

in long run, also they could maybe get fascia and soffit cleans for me on houses that are just going on the market.

Do any of you guys do this yourself.

Chris

[michael papworth]

I've got this on my business plan, but not got round to doing it yet.

Please keep us all updated on this one. Could be a nice little earner as sellers have a strong motivation to make their houses as attractivre as possible.

And a clean exterior sends a powerful meta-mesage to a potential buyer.

[Joe Lauzon]

I work for a couple of estate agents.

Nothing in writing, they just give me a call when a job comes up.  Its always properties that are let out.  I clean the properties up, usually for when the new tenant moves in.

Window cleaning, gutters, conservatory rooves.

I charge 30 p/h (south-west prices).  I charge for all travelling time at this rate.  As the work is all in my town, I don't add anything on for fuel.

If I were you I'd get a professional looking pack together and just pop in one day.  I imagine most will already have someone though.  I started as a fallback option to another window cleaner in both cases, one guy retired, the other was unreliable.

[RO-Sheen]

I considered this before but knocked on the head because I didnt want 1 off jobs all over the place.

Why dont you knock on the houses with 'For Sale' signs and say 'I am working in your neighbourhood today and I noticed that you have your house up for sale and was wondering if you would like your windows or Facias cleaned? Why pay an estate agent to ask for you?
If you get the job, go back to the house and knock on the door and tell them that you used to clean for the previous owner and would they like you to continue with the service. If they are not in, post a leaflet through their door with the same wording and include the price and frequency.  
Easy peasy.
Adie

[michael papworth]

I think that this type of work might appeal more to  w/cs at the start of their business. When your round isn't yet complete and you have gaps in your schedule, it might be good to have a few well-priced one-off jobs.

I can understand that when you are established and your round is pretty well full and you are working steadily that one-offs aren't what you really want.

So yes, jaykie, it's probably well worth while following up on the idea.

Both Joe and RO-sheen made very valid points:

* put a little publicity pack together - maybe a simple display book with a list of services, a price list, a few pictures and testimonials - and lots of business cards.

* approach sellers directly

It would be so good for all of us if you could put a good strategy together and then tell others what you have done.

[windowwashers]

I think that this type of work might appeal more to  w/cs at the start of their business. When your round isn't yet complete and you have gaps in your schedule, it might be good to have a few well-priced one-off jobs.

I can understand that when you are established and your round is pretty well full and you are working steadily that one-offs aren't what you really want.

So yes, jaykie, it's probably well worth while following up on the idea.

Both Joe and RO-sheen made very valid points:

* put a little publicity pack together - maybe a simple display book with a list of services, a price list, a few pictures and testimonials - and lots of business cards.

* approach sellers directly

It would be so good for all of us if you could put a good strategy together and then tell others what you have done.

I always make time for one-off cleans they are a good earner

[David Slater]

I think that this type of work might appeal more to  w/cs at the start of their business. When your round isn't yet complete and you have gaps in your schedule, it might be good to have a few well-priced one-off jobs.

I can understand that when you are established and your round is pretty well full and you are working steadily that one-offs aren't what you really want.

So yes, jaykie, it's probably well worth while following up on the idea.

Both Joe and RO-sheen made very valid points:

* put a little publicity pack together - maybe a simple display book with a list of services, a price list, a few pictures and testimonials - and lots of business cards.

* approach sellers directly

It would be so good for all of us if you could put a good strategy together and then tell others what you have done.

Wally,

In case you dont know, I'm just about to start out and I'm thinking about all sorts of things.

The pack you mention sounds excellent. What sort of things would you put in it and how far would you go with it? (obviously, you dont want to be filling it with fluff).

A nice folder style pack with inserts? H&S stuff? Risk Assessment info?

Any chance of getting a look at your pack? Or maybe more of a breakdown over what to include?

By the way - I love your name. Its probably the most memorable and easily recognisable on the whole forum 

[matty72]

just to say i think theres laws against agents giving details of people moving into their new houses at least i tried asking the  government agency that handles it, the info is exspensive and can only be used for certain things.
tell you what though you can go on rightmove and it list properties that moved in about 6 months ago

[kirky]

i wrote to a few estate agents a while back asking if they wanted properties forsale cleaning, only one got back to me and upto now ive only had one job from them but its a start.

[stephen d]

house cleaning firms can be useful as well,i pay a small finders fee for everyone they get for me.

[East coast window cleaning Services]

Word of advice never trust a estate agent i was one for 5 years lol

[jaykie]

Im going to give this a good think over the weekend and put it into action on Monday, I might just go straight

in to the estate agents on monday in my uniform and put it to him straight, might give his staff a insentive to get

soffit and fascia cleans if i give them a percent of what i charge, especially with how the housing going at the

Mo,they could probs do with a bit of cash.

Chris