[JSMC]

well i plan on doing one con for free as i clean his pub and is one of the best pubs in my town. loads of good people in there and i will tell him to mention it too his custy's about how good a job i done on his.

always thinking

[michael papworth]

Have I misunderstood something? I'd thought that Adam was thinking of doing one or two at zero cost - not spending his entire life working for free.

How many of us when we first started didn't spend days and days cleaning our own windows playing about with different amounts of different soaps for trad and different squeegee patterns or different techniques if wfp? I know that I did - and I still do from time to time.

How many of us cleaned our family's and friends' windows - and were really happy to get the experience before going out and canvassing up those first few jobs? And wasn't it useful so we could talk knowledgeably to even the first customer and give a sensible price from the beginning?

If Adam had his own conservatory, he'd be spending time cleaning it and getting really good skills and time-saving techniques. Before I did my first one, I cleaned my sister-in-law's conservatory inside and out loads of times.

Give the guy a break, will you?

Adam is going to get two things:

* He's going to get some brilliant photos that he can show prospects. He'll have some whole-conservatory pics, some showing how the glass sparkles when really clean and a few close-ups of algae-covered sills becoming sparkling clean. He'll print them on glossy paper and put them in a nice folder with a description of what each photo shows.

He'll show prospects the bits of grime in the frames of their conservatory and then show them the photos of the jobs that he's done. He'll point out the green lifeforms of the ridge capping and then show them before and after photos.

Because he's smart, he'll continue to get more photos as he gets more customers. He can put these on postcards in shop windows and on his web site as well as on flyers, if he gets a few printed.

* He's going to get valuable experience and it will show when he gives his first quotations.

Adam, I still think you're doing exactly the right thing. The only advice I would give is to do it through family and friends rather than total strangers.

Don't listen to the nay-sayers. If it works for you, then it works for the most important person. If it doesn't work for the nay-sayers, so be it.

Please yourself, Adam - and get the experience and then you'll get much more business much more quickly.

(I cleaned a Farm Shop for free in exchange for them displaying my leaflets. I got at least five regular, high-value customers from that. I'm sure that lots of others have done similar things.)

[Adam_london_uk]

Zano I think your missing the point dude.

I already run a successful internet business. One evening a customer calls and asks for a free product. gives me some spill.

So i decide to send him this free product and about 2 weeks later I get a call of his boss. The guys spends £600 with me.

Anyway back to the point, this customer judging by the neighbourhood would not be able to spend over £100 which is what the job is worth.

Nor do I think that the job will results in referrels etc.

BUT it will result in alot of very nice photographs that WILL impress new customers when I go door knocking.

[tonylee]

Hi Adam,
I don't want to come down on either side, you must do what you think is best.
From reading your back posts I get the impression that you seem to be unsure on many aspects of this trade.
I thought you were going out to canvass last night, how did you get on.
How will you clean this roof, trad or water fed.
I personally would not bother with portfolio as people buy people. (if they like you, you will get their work and recommendations.) That may be the time to take your pictures.
As you are starting out you just need to knock doors and speak to people. You will make mistakes, we all did but this is how we learn. But if you can't/won't do this at the start, this trade may not be the answer
To my final ramble, if you already run a successful business why on earth are you looking at window cleaning.
Tony

[Adam_london_uk]

Hi tony,

Well good question about starting in windows if I run a succesfull business.

Well it runs it self and the only input needed is to send out parcels every night! thats what my partner does.

That leaves me with lots of free time on my hands now. It would be ideal to have a flexible job and window cleaning certainly will offer that.

Your right Im very very new to this scene and im asking lots of questions.

I have a water fed pole but not a pure water setup yet as I just could not justify that expense at the moment.

if the work came in then yes but certainly not right now.

[tonylee]

Thanks Adam
How you getting on, have you been out yet
Tony

[leapstallbuildings]

Hi tony,

Well good question about starting in windows if I run a succesfull business.

Well it runs it self and the only input needed is to send out parcels every night! thats what my partner does.

That leaves me with lots of free time on my hands now. It would be ideal to have a flexible job and window cleaning certainly will offer that.

Your right Im very very new to this scene and im asking lots of questions.

I have a water fed pole but not a pure water setup yet as I just could not justify that expense at the moment.

if the work came in then yes but certainly not right now.

That last bit sounds a bit like the chicken and egg analogy.  I've found that I've needed to invest in the equipment before the work comes in.  The strange thing is that when I make the investment for certain tools (e.g. extra long poles), the work for it does seem to come in.
Your marketing style is a bit non-standard but maybe that's what is needed.  No harm trying something a bit different.
Best of luck.

[Adam_london_uk]

I was out for an hour in the end. Weather was crap.

1st door I knocked on said window cleaner all ready does the road So I decided to just leaflet.

I knocked at 1 visable conservatory though and quoted very cheap just to get something under the belt. He will let me know.

and today well weather is 

Oh and just to add I have invested about £300 which does not include some proper ladders yet but im waiting untill the book has some customers on.

[Oakley Windows]

You can come and clean my conservatory if you want to do it for free, I dont mind you taking some pictures either, honest 

[simon knight]

Zano I think your missing the point dude.

I already run a successful internet business. One evening a customer calls and asks for a free product. gives me some spill.

So i decide to send him this free product and about 2 weeks later I get a call of his boss. The guys spends £600 with me.

Anyway back to the point, this customer judging by the neighbourhood would not be able to spend over £100 which is what the job is worth.

Nor do I think that the job will results in referrels etc.

BUT it will result in alot of very nice photographs that WILL impress new customers when I go door knocking.

[Griffus]

I haven't read this thread through as way too much.

In answer to your original post then I would say free can be a good investment of your time if you are just setting up. Not only gives you invaluable experience (what price training) but also as you say pictures for marketing to prove you can do what you say you can do. Try to keep free for close family and friends though and only whilst you are 'training'. They will be more forgiving if there are any problems.

One point though, before and after conservatory pictures aren't always that great. The don't quite show the reality unless absolutely filthy to start with.

[simon knight]

Adam Sweetheart, If you came a-knocking on my door with some before and after photos I'd think: "So what...anybody can use before and after photos...what's to say this was his work, and anyway he's showing me that the conservatory is clean...er..yes...it should be clean as that was what he was paid for"!

One other thing: Doing it for nothing could be counter-productive because since you're not getting anything out of it you're gonna think "bugger reaching into that corner it's too much effort...besides they're getting it for nowt anyway".

[Adam_london_uk]

Exactly simon if its good enough for the photo its good enough for me afterall its for free. Not breaking my back.

[simon knight]

Yes but how exactly can you "prove" that the work was yours?

[Adam_london_uk]

Well my ugly mug is going to be in one of the shots with uniform on. Also they are going to be printed as your average family album photo is.

So they will look genuine anyway. I really think its the best way forward.

[tonylee]

Well my ugly mug is going to be in one of the shots with uniform on. Also they are going to be printed as your average family album photo is.
Do not waste your money on a uniform yet, you have no customers.

So they will look genuine anyway. I really think its the best way forward.
I think it is over kill unless you are going for the topend business
Tony

[simon knight]

The only people who work for nowt are usually ordered to by the courts for some minor crime.

But for anybody else doing work for nowt is a ridiculous concept Adam but I wish you all good luck anyway.

[davids3511]

Well my ugly mug is going to be in one of the shots with uniform on. Also they are going to be printed as your average family album photo is.

So they will look genuine anyway. I really think its the best way forward.

Why have you invested in a uniform if you can't justify buying an RO unit? Start with the basics, you can't clean a window with a uniform.

Personally I have found that my business has gone in stages when I could afford it. I started out with a 75GPD RO when all I needed was DI (40PPM WATER) so I did make some mistakes along the way. I worked from my car with a backpack and 25ltd drums.

Once I could afford it I got a uniform and upgraded the car to a van and the backpack to a van mount. That increased my income and after a while I invested in an SLX. It is only a few days in but the SLX does seem to have increased my income again. The main point I am trying to make is that our business is cleaning windows so before anything else you should make sure you have at least the basic equipment to do just that.

Charging even half price for these conservatory roofs could be put towards a pure water setup.

Wally, I agree with your sentiment but not your timing. When you can't justify investing in a water production system then how can you justify working for free? Even if he gets loads of business he can't do it.

[peter holley]

im i missing something? why cant u charge for the job and take photoes as well???
  :

[Adam_london_uk]

uniform  cost me 15 quid!