[MickeyMontz]

Hi guys I know you're all gonna think 'oh no not another newbie!' but I seriously need help and any would be greatly appreciated!

I decided I wanted to do windowcleaning about 2 months ago, I just love the prospect of being my own boss, and the wages have to be better than my current take home pay of £850 a month as a warehouse guy. I've been reading these forums for ages now but never really posted my own noobie topic, you all seem like a great bunch (mostly ), and after reading a load of the other noobie topics wanted to start my own so I get a more personal response (sorry if it p's any of you off). Just have a few questions though.

1. The kit I've got up to now is and ettore backflip 14" (planning on using squeegee and T Bar seperately), some extra rubbers and washer sleeves, about 10 microfibre cloths, bucket, GG3 (but will probably switch to fairy!), that's about it really oh and of course a set of 3.5 ladders from Midland Ladder Co with the articulated feet. Do you think this will be enough to get me started?

2. Leflets. I designed this myself and wanted your opinions, and whether or not you think the 20% off first clean was a good idea?

http://img158.i.us/img158/4989/vxcui6.jpg

3. I'm still in my full time job at the moment, and was thinking of just doing weekends to start, just until I'm earning enough to keep myself afloat, good idea? I don't have a clue what I'm gonna do when I get quite a few custies and have to start moving them around to weekdays and whatnot.

4. Pricing. I know prices differ up north than down south, and wondering if any of you guys up north can give me some advice on this like what's the average for a 2 bed terraced? I also don't want to be undercutting other wcs. There's a wc round my area that has been at it since before I was born and is charging like £3.50 for 3 bed semis! How do I compete with that?!

Anoy other help would be greatly appreciated and I look forward to the responses and to getting to know you all.

I know windowcleaning is not as easy as most poeple think what with the weather changing, customers not paying, hard graft etc but I'm ready for the challenge!!

[Tosh]

Hi Mickey,

You've asked a massive load of questions in one post; don't be surprised if the response isn't what you'd like!  I bet you've never been asked at an interview, 'Tell me all about yourself?', and if you have, the interviewer wasn't much cop; you've just done the equivallent on this forum!

Anyway, have you tried cleaning any windows with the kit you've bought yet?

Personally, I'd suggest you get a small 12 inch squeegie and put in it a good quality rubber; pay the extra; and start practicing.

With regards to the ladders, the usual advice here is, if it feels dangerous, then it probably is; don't do it.  When quoting to potential customers, ensure you point out windows that you can't do due to health and safety reasons; just be careful.

[chrisyg]

Im not one for giving advice... but the best bit of advise I could give if your working on ladder then get some proper window cleaning 'a' frames!

[Tosh]

Oh and who was it who produced that DVD about trad window cleaning?

That 'Mark' guy... has anyone got a link to it?

It's well worth buying if you're new; honest; buy it.  No joke; that's good advice.  I've seen it, it's good; though I don't know where you purchase it from.

[MickeyMontz]

Hi Mickey,

You've asked a massive load of questions in one post; don't be surprised if the response isn't what you'd like!  I bet you've never been asked at an interview, 'Tell me all about yourself?', and if you have, the interviewer wasn't much cop; you've just done the equivallent on this forum!

Anyway, have you tried cleaning any windows with the kit you've bought yet?

Personally, I'd suggest you get a small 12 inch squeegie and put in it a good quality rubber; pay the extra; and start practicing.

With regards to the ladders, the usual advice here is, if it feels dangerous, then it probably is; don't do it.  When quoting to potential customers, ensure you point out windows that you can't do due to health and safety reasons; just be careful.

Thanks for the reply Tosh, sorry if I'm asking a lot but I just have a lot to think about.

I think I will be getting more different sized squegees for different sized windows etc. and I've got about 28" of Pulex hard rubber will that do me?

I've had a little practise on my own windows, very basic at the moment (apply water, squeegee off in straight lines edge to edge, bit of detailing with the microfibre cloth). I've got a mate who's a windowcleaner so I think I'll be getting a few tips off of him aswell.

And yeah I've been looking at houses around my area and noticed the little porch roofs and just thought I'd stay away from them for now, or just ask the customer if they wanted me to miss those tricky ones out.

Another thing I'm not too confident about is leaded windows, anyone? lol.

[MickeyMontz]

Im not one for giving advice... but the best bit of advise I could give if your working on ladder then get some proper window cleaning 'a' frames!

Any particular reason?

Oh and who was it who produced that DVD about trad window cleaning?

That 'Mark' guy... has anyone got a link to it?

It's well worth buying if you're new; honest; buy it.  No joke; that's good advice.  I've seen it, it's good; though I don't know where you purchase it from.

Cheers I think I'll google it see what pops up.

[dai]

Micky, your doing the right thing weekends only to start, It's much easier for shift workers of course, they can do a few hours here and there until they build their round up.
Tosh's advice is sound, be careful, it's one thing using a ladder on a dry floor in a warehouse, trying the same thing on wet decking could be fatal.
You can't compete with £3.50 for a 3 bed semi, don't even try to, get out into a different area.
The biggest mistake new guys make is under pricing to get work, it will turn out to be a millstone round their necks for years.
If I was working trad, I would charge £1 a window, I charge that for new work now, and I'm WFP.
Good luck mate, if you want it enough you'll get there.

[MickeyMontz]

Micky, your doing the right thing weekends only to start, It's much easier for shift workers of course, they can do a few hours here and there until they build their round up.
Tosh's advice is sound, be careful, it's one thing using a ladder on a dry floor in a warehouse, trying the same thing on wet decking could be fatal.
You can't compete with £3.50 for a 3 bed semi, don't even try to, get out into a different area.
The biggest mistake new guys make is under pricing to get work, it will turn out to be a millstone round their necks for years.
If I was working trad, I would charge £1 a window, I charge that for new work now, and I'm WFP.
Good luck mate, if you want it enough you'll get there.

Thanks pal, I've read all about underpricing, and will try my hardest not to!!

Oh and who was it who produced that DVD about trad window cleaning?

That 'Mark' guy... has anyone got a link to it?

It's well worth buying if you're new; honest; buy it.  No joke; that's good advice.  I've seen it, it's good; though I don't know where you purchase it from.

Is this the one you mean by Mark Henderson? http://www.windowcleancentre.co.uk/productdetails.aspx?ProductID=252&SectionID=39

[dai]

Another thing I'm not too confident about is leaded windows, anyone? lol.

Buy a couple of scrims. Rinse a scrim in clean water and wring it out, use this first and then use your micro fiber to polish, I always used two scrims, one as above and the other slightly damp. You have to wash them out quite frequently though, that second scrim has to be clean.

[MickeyMontz]

Another thing I'm not too confident about is leaded windows, anyone? lol.

Buy a couple of scrims. Rinse a scrim in clean water and wring it out, use this first and then use your micro fiber to polish, I always used two scrims, one as above and the other slightly damp. You have to wash them out quite frequently though, that second scrim has to be clean.

Thanks, think I'll have to print this page out lol.

All the help is greatly appreciated guys, you're a credit to the profession 

[ZaNo]

you image dont work

[chrisyg]

Im not one for giving advice... but the best bit of advise I could give if your working on ladder then get some proper window cleaning 'a' frames!

yes there made for window cleaning... the rubber block protects the building and also you can use it at an angle or wedge it into window frames and not have to be restricted to climbing parallel with the wall.

get some articulated ladder feet on the bottom and your good to go.

[Dave71]

Hi Mickey, 6" 14" 18" Size squeeges is the sizes i use most, 14" t-bar i use all time perfect size for bucket on belt.
 The rubber ettore or unger (soft rubber) are two best rubbers out there, think you mentioned you bought pulex not a very good rubber to be strarting with.
 GG3 is the best, stick with it, detergents all have a certian purpose, fairy is desigiened to break down protiene of food and GG3 is desigened to clean glass, stick to the one that cleans glass you will get on better.
 Micro cloths are good but you need scrim too, i have 2 pouches with front pocket                  
1 pocket to hold sill cloth, the other to hold small squeege, and scrim in 1 pouch, micro in the other. Never wash your cloths with washing powder that has fabric condtioner in it it will ruin you micro cloths, i use tesco biological liqued and its fine.
 Ladders you must invest in a pointer ladder they are expensive £200 plus for decent set but well worth it.
 I never had much succsess of leafets for best result go out canvessing, best time 4pm to 7pm or weekend, always look clean and smart a dont worry about what the other wc is pricing, i have 1 day work on a estate where guy is charging £3.50 i do the next door same size house £6 and have 25 of them at same price and have done for last 2 year never lost custy, do a qualty job and be ok.
 Your doing the right thing by starting by working weekends i did simliar,  i set myself what i was wanting to earn in a day say £100 4x sat month =£400 it took me 6 months  once  i reached this point and in that time i never took a hoilday from my fulltime job and so had about 3 week due to take, used they 3 weeks to go cavnessing everyday and had got £600 of work by the end of 3 week, on the monday i went back work  handed in notice brillant feeling never forget it and have never looked back.

[Oakley Windows]

Another thing I'm not too confident about is leaded windows, anyone? lol.

Buy a couple of scrims. Rinse a scrim in clean water and wring it out, use this first and then use your micro fiber to polish, I always used two scrims, one as above and the other slightly damp. You have to wash them out quite frequently though, that second scrim has to be clean.

Thanks, think I'll have to print this page out lol.

All the help is greatly appreciated guys, you're a credit to the profession 

When he says wring it out, he means as dry as you can get it !!

Excess water makes for excess work.

[Tosh]

Oh and who was it who produced that DVD about trad window cleaning?

That 'Mark' guy... has anyone got a link to it?

It's well worth buying if you're new; honest; buy it.  No joke; that's good advice.  I've seen it, it's good; though I don't know where you purchase it from.

Is this the one you mean by Mark Henderson? http://www.windowcleancentre.co.uk/productdetails.aspx?ProductID=252&SectionID=39

Yes, that's the one; done by Mark; it's very good, professionally done, entertaining to watch and even Ian_Giles whose been window cleaning since the Battle of Agincourt said he'd learnt at least two tips from it.

It's well worth the £20 if you're starting up.

[MickeyMontz]

Thanks again guys, a lot of good  advice there.

I'm sticking with my ladders I have, just forked out £90 for em so I dont know about the a frame ones yet, maybe in time.

I'll try to re-upload my leaflet when I get home later I don't know why it's not working

[seandyer2003]

Hi Mickey, 6" 14" 18" Size squeeges is the sizes i use most, 14" t-bar i use all time perfect size for bucket on belt.
 The rubber ettore or unger (soft rubber) are two best rubbers out there, think you mentioned you bought pulex not a very good rubber to be strarting with.
 GG3 is the best, stick with it, detergents all have a certian purpose, fairy is desigiened to break down protiene of food and GG3 is desigened to clean glass, stick to the one that cleans glass you will get on better.
 Micro cloths are good but you need scrim too, i have 2 pouches with front pocket                  
1 pocket to hold sill cloth, the other to hold small squeege, and scrim in 1 pouch, micro in the other. Never wash your cloths with washing powder that has fabric condtioner in it it will ruin you micro cloths, i use tesco biological liqued and its fine.
 Ladders you must invest in a pointer ladder they are expensive £200 plus for decent set but well worth it.
 I never had much succsess of leafets for best result go out canvessing, best time 4pm to 7pm or weekend, always look clean and smart a dont worry about what the other wc is pricing, i have 1 day work on a estate where guy is charging £3.50 i do the next door same size house £6 and have 25 of them at same price and have done for last 2 year never lost custy, do a qualty job and be ok.
 Your doing the right thing by starting by working weekends i did simliar,  i set myself what i was wanting to earn in a day say £100 4x sat month =£400 it took me 6 months  once  i reached this point and in that time i never took a hoilday from my fulltime job and so had about 3 week due to take, used they 3 weeks to go cavnessing everyday and had got £600 of work by the end of 3 week, on the monday i went back work  handed in notice brillant feeling never forget it and have never looked back.

Some of the soundest advice you will get mate!! Canvass canvass canvass, i know its hard after a day s work but if you can get out and knock 6-8 most evenings, you will packing your job in sooner than you think!!

[mikethechamois]

your getting good advice here, you dont need aframes standard ladders are good enough but what the "points" have over standard ladders is a rubber cap at the top which prevents slippage and damage to sills so invest in ladder mitts or pads as they are sometimes called

check out the h&s site concerning ladders, i fell years ago and did a lot of damage to my left ankle,insurance never paid out as i hadnt taken care to foot the ladder
on thir recomendation i bought stabilads and still use them, i havent seen them for sale for along time but i understand they make other similar devices

dont take a chance with ladders itsnot worth it, i was out of work for 2 yrs and had to go to physio to learn to walk again

dont worryabout the tuppence halfpenny brigade, work out your costs and charge enough to pay everything inc tax and ni plus a decent wage for yourself

if youve been reading the other posts on here about pricing theres no point repeating it all

with the right attitude you will make it as a wc and earn a decent living

there are still those on here who will help you

oh and be mates with your local wcs

[dai]

When I said use two scrims for leaded, I forgot to mention that you should use clean fresh water only.
Don't put detergent anywhere near them.

[MickeyMontz]

your getting good advice here, you dont need aframes standard ladders are good enough but what the "points" have over standard ladders is a rubber cap at the top which prevents slippage and damage to sills so invest in ladder mitts or pads as they are sometimes called

check out the h&s site concerning ladders, i fell years ago and did a lot of damage to my left ankle,insurance never paid out as i hadnt taken care to foot the ladder
on thir recomendation i bought stabilads and still use them, i havent seen them for sale for along time but i understand they make other similar devices

dont take a chance with ladders itsnot worth it, i was out of work for 2 yrs and had to go to physio to learn to walk again

dont worryabout the tuppence halfpenny brigade, work out your costs and charge enough to pay everything inc tax and ni plus a decent wage for yourself

if youve been reading the other posts on here about pricing theres no point repeating it all

with the right attitude you will make it as a wc and earn a decent living

there are still those on here who will help you

oh and be mates with your local wcs

Thanks, the ladders ive got already have rubber mitts and the articulated feet, feel very safe on em! I'll make safety a priority.

When I said use two scrims for leaded, I forgot to mention that you should use clean fresh water only.
Don't put detergent anywhere near them.

Got it! Here's my leaflet again, hope it works this time.