[matt]

i know some1 on here who ONLY cleans on 2 MASSIVE council estates up north ( i will not name the town / city, as i know he doesnt post on here what he cleans as he thinks people will look down on him )

he does very well out of them, he has complete roads where he does every house on them, they all pay cash and he is happy

[seandyer2003]

i know some1 on here who ONLY cleans on 2 MASSIVE council estates up north ( i will not name the town / city, as i know he doesnt post on here what he cleans as he thinks people will look down on him )

he does very well out of them, he has complete roads where he does every house on them, they all pay cash and he is happy

I have one day a week on what is classed as a not nice estate, a stones throw from Moss Side Manchester, was there today and the average price here is about £5 a house on my prices, was there today and did no less than £29 per hour trad Did £48 on one hour alone, and took home £100 without collecting....but thats work i had from day one , very first stuff i canvassed, and never give it up as i now have the whole estate as no one else would touch it, still get work from it every week, picked 2 up this week without even trying

However i wouldnt now go and canvass council because of that, i was lucky, and payment can be difficult sometimes, you have to be there at the right time of the week / month, but i never have to wait long.....

Just my 2 pence, but alot of nice people and some very good tippers, 2-3 tip every time

One pays over £6 more than the price on every clean, dont ask why, im not - im just happy it keeps coming lol

[johns window kleen]

Yeah Sean I know what your saying, and i've got a similar estate that takes me about 3-4 days to get round, but I do it over two weeks as I find the place so depressing.
 The custies are really nice, mainly oldies but the atmosphere is just deadly. CANT FACE DOIN IT FOR TWO CONSECUTIVE DAYS. Wall to wall hoodies, grafitti everywhere, man I hate doing it, but good business.
Would never seek to expand on it,

[Davo]

Council prop aside, what does it matter what type of prop you clean (apart from access issues etc)

If the job gives you your minimum hourly rate it shouldnt matter, maybe you prejudge certain prop unfairly.

Mark

Matter’s a great deal, more so if you are a sole trader.

I don’t think it’s any kind of prejudices to be selective, most business have a particular type of customer and focus there marketing and products/services towards them.

A single window cleaner is not going to have the facilities and resources to cater for all (same applies to the largest corporation).

Achieving your minimum hourly rate is only one aspect, disregarding everything else will affect or have detrimental impact to the rest of your business, whether you are aware of it or not.

You are only being unfair to yourself if you try to take every job that comes along.

Well I thought I could talk bo**ox sometimes but youve got me stumped with that post.

Mark

[macmac]

Hey, I'm in for this one- Davo vs Ewan.  Ding Ding

[Mike 108]

Well I thought I could talk bo**ox sometimes but youve got me stumped with that post.

Mark

 

Ewan’s ‘posts’ can be a bit confusing (sometimes you feel like you’re sitting an exam!) but if you can work it out, there’s usually a thought-provoking point in there somewhere.

I think he might be suggesting (in response to Gazza's original question) that it is best to concentrate on the types of jobs that pay the best, or the type that give you the most satisfaction. Perhaps go for a 'niche' market - and not try to be 'all things to all men'

Or – Only take on new BETTER work, not MORE OF THE SAME.

But, I might be wrong.

Mike

[macmac]

Council prop aside, what does it matter what type of prop you clean (apart from access issues etc)

If the job gives you your minimum hourly rate it shouldnt matter, maybe you prejudge certain prop unfairly.

Mark

Matter’s a great deal, more so if you are a sole trader.

I don’t think it’s any kind of prejudices to be selective, most business have a particular type of customer and focus there marketing and products/services towards them.

A single window cleaner is not going to have the facilities and resources to cater for all (same applies to the largest corporation).

Achieving your minimum hourly rate is only one aspect, disregarding everything else will affect or have detrimental impact to the rest of your business, whether you are aware of it or not.

You are only being unfair to yourself if you try to take every job that comes along.

Well, this may be a CIU first. I agree with Ewan 100%!! & I totaly understand his post

Although I would add, it would depend on the position you're in. Given Gazza has stated he's nearly got a full round then yes, be as selective as you like!

Tony

[ftp]

Yes, well done Ewan, your post made perfect sense.



(first time for everything)

[Feen]

Stan, do me a favour and change that picture. I find it distracting

[Davo]

Ewan I owe you an apology, my reply to your original  post wasnt very constructive.

As to your last post, i think your entitled to your dig given the circumstances.

Mark

[mlscontractcleaner]

Well, unlike most of you it appears, I'm more than happy to clean on council estates. This isn't due to lack of work or years in the job; I've been doing this since 1991.

We clean windows for houses aswell as a load of commercial clients. We clean carpets both private and commercial and have day to day cleaning contracts for night clubs in Plymouth.

We are very busy and I put this down to our ability to be able to mix with everybody from posh folk to common folk. Obviously on all estaes, whether council or private, you'll get the odd prson who has an adverse reaction to paying but they are soon dumped. 99% of households are decent payers, decent people who don't mess us around and are a pleasure to work for .

I know this isn't a debate on the merits or otherwise of council estates, but to refuse to clean someone's windows because of their address is a bit odd in my opinion; and it is just that, my opinion  .

In the mean time I'll enjoy earning a very good living cleaning being less selective 

[Davo]

Council prop aside, what does it matter what type of prop you clean (apart from access issues etc)

If the job gives you your minimum hourly rate it shouldnt matter, maybe you prejudge certain prop unfairly.

Mark

Matter’s a great deal, more so if you are a sole trader.
Why??

I don’t think it’s any kind of prejudices to be selective, most business have a particular type of customer and focus there marketing and products/services towards them.
Erm yes it is, that is precisely what prejudice means..... "To cause (someone) to judge prematurely and irrationally.......A preconceived preference or idea......prejudice"

A single window cleaner is not going to have the facilities and resources to cater for all (same applies to the largest corporation).
Access issues aside as mentioned in my initial post....what facilities and resources does he need??...you mean equipment used in the cleaning of windows??

Achieving your minimum hourly rate is only one aspect, disregarding everything else will affect or have detrimental impact to the rest of your business, whether you are aware of it or not.
erm.....dont understand what it is you are saying

You are only being unfair to yourself if you try to take every job that comes along.
If the job is on your terms why is that?

Mark

[foxy]

i've worked on estates and in the more select parts of town; and i can tell you straight that you get less grief, (and more cups of tea) from the estates. they are less likely to mess you about for the money and don't look down their noses at you. it all depends on how you see yourself. i work commercial and have shop owners who have money and staff who are grafters. just because they live in big houses in a nice area doesn't mean they have a better attitude toward other people.

[Mike 108]

Bump!   

[peter holley]

Council prop aside, what does it matter what type of prop you clean (apart from access issues etc)

If the job gives you your minimum hourly rate it shouldnt matter, maybe you prejudge certain prop unfairly.

Mark

this type of remark shows    a.... not as window cleaner...or b INEXPERIERNCED...LOL

[Mike 108]

 

[Rob.Hall]

I was selective when I first started.

Now I try and accomodate all and have seen my busines grow.

I also reolized that it was better and faster to do 4 or 5 in one street than try and get 1 house in the sticks with a good cleaning value.

£25 for 1 house an hour or 3 to 4 at £10.

Picked up 4 £10ers yesterday, all side by side which can be done in an hour. Good windows great access.

Some of the older larger properties can look good on price but are a real pain to clean.

Now there are more w/c getting into the act I feel its good to have diversity in ones portfolio of custies.

[jeff68]

To sum this entire thread up, its like this.Most of you guys have left a s**t  job with no future and crap pay to start out on your own, window cleaning.Some of you might have left a job due to health issues but I suspect the majority of you have left a job so you can have a more quality lifestyle with better pay and better working houres,(work when you want to).So why the hell would you want to clean a certain type of house if you don't want to?Isn't it better to enjoy cleaning the houses on your round than to dread going to certain houses?If cleaning council houses is your thing then great,if cleaning large, detached, country mansions is your thing then thats great to.Remember you are your own boss and you make the decisions so carry on the way you are mate,you will get there in the end,I did

[Rob.Hall]

Problem is Jeff its how quick you wan't to get there.

I started being selective but found a lot of the work was already taken.

Now I target areas where I want to work regardless of the type of house.

Also I did not have the time to build my perfect round.

 
 

[NWH]

To sum this entire thread up, its like this.Most of you guys have left a s**t  job with no future and crap pay to start out on your own, window cleaning.Some of you might have left a job due to health issues but I suspect the majority of you have left a job so you can have a more quality lifestyle with better pay and better working houres,(work when you want to).So why the hell would you want to clean a certain type of house if you don't want to?Isn't it better to enjoy cleaning the houses on your round than to dread going to certain houses?If cleaning council houses is your thing then great,if cleaning large, detached, country mansions is your thing then thats great to.Remember you are your own boss and you make the decisions so carry on the way you are mate,you will get there in the end,I did

So true but i prefer the bigger 1`s as there`s no need for rushing about to do your money.