[J and J Services]

Hi All,

Some of you may have seen some other topics that I posted about wanting a business partner, unfortunatley my situation has changed.

Last month I was cleaning a school on my wooden ladders, unfortunatley they were positioned on a sponge based surface, as it is a school for children with disabilities so the ground is not concrete.  This cause my ladders to been as oppose to remaining firm...........the end result was that the ladders snapped went through the bottom window and I ended up on my neck......I was rushed off in an ambulance and had wuite bad brusing - But the next day I was determined to get over it and carried on with my work.......However as the days have gone on I have thought more and more about what could have happend and to be blunt have worked that I'm not cut out for this.

Hats off to all you window cleaners out the fighting for the cause.  I originally was in an office based job and mocked you guys but having done it for a 1year and a half I have the upmost respect for your jobs.

SO the juicy bit......I have just over £1100 per month(selling for £3500 - negotiable) of well established that I am willing to sell.  the work consists of Residential and Schools.  The prices range between £3.50 & £75.00.  All the work is based in nottingham and is in a very good set rotation with customers constantly reccommending me to neighbours and friends so bags of potential for expansion.  Interestingly in a good month I can get around all the work in 3 weeks and have a week to play with to fit more work in, and if I really go at it I have managed to get it done in 2weeks.

The business comes with a website and email accounts should you want to look more professional and I can also transfer my VAT number across to you.  The business was VAT regisitered as I was also doing a lot of adhoc business cleans and contracted cleans that demanded that I be VAT registered.  You would also inherit those contracts.  I am happy to show you the books and even go around the work should you be interested.  PLEASE BE AWARE THAT I WILL BE LIMITED AFTER FEBRUARY TO SHOW YOU AROUND THE WORK IN THE WEEK DUE TO STARTING ANOTHER JOB - ALTHOUGH I WILL BE HAPPY TO SHOW YOU ROUND IT ON THE WEEKENDS.

Please feel free to contact me on 07900 562581 or email samueljohnson@jandjservices.co.uk

 

[Philip Hanson]

I'm sorry to hear about your accident, J and J, sounds like a nasty one!

To give up window cleaning completely is a drastic move, and the fall must have really shaken you up.  I have never fallen, but I have had a few "near misses" especially in the winter time.

Just a questions, I hope you won't mind me asking:

Firstly, did you changing to water-fed pole?  That way you could keep your feet firmly on the ground.  I know of quite a few window cleaners that would never have dreamed of doing this job if it had meant they were going up ladders.

Anyway, I wish you the best in your new job, and hopefully you can get that round sold quickly!

-Philip

[mark6765]

sorry to hear of your fall.
ive had loads of near misses that could of been serious.
im glad i am wfp now.
wfp is not without its risks tho.
you are looking up most of the time and have to be aware of things around your feet.
obviously if you do trip and fall it isnt from hieght, so the injury is greatly reduced.
anyway im waffleing. 
im from derby.
is any of your work long eaton area.
if so i would be interested.
ive never paid more than 2 cleans tho.
im not disputing that it aint worth what you want.
but in this area 2 cleans is the norm

[kikjason]

COULD YOU TELL ME HOW MUCH IS ALL THE CONTRACT WORK AND HOW MUCH IS THE RESIDENTIAL ARE THE SCHOOLS EVERY COUPLE OF TERMS

[valroyb]

sorry to hear of your fall , but i think its a shame your gonna stop .I appricate your a bit shook up but you have done so much hard work in establishing your company in stead of selling it why dont you subbi it out or employ someone to to it for you that way you can still see your company growbut all you do is price up and do books so you could run it in conjuction with your new job it just seems such a waste
 

[J and J Services]

Wow - You guys are really sound - I didn't want to give it up but I have to put my family first - and when you've been knocked out for a 2hours and now have permanent neck pain you start to think about whats best for them.

VALROYB - I would definetley consider this - I just wish I could find someone reliable enough to do it.

KIKJASON - The schools are as follows:
1. - £120 (One school, two buildings, cleaned every other month, so essentially it works like this - January £55, February £65, March £55 and so on.....

2. - £75 four times a year

3. - £60 every term so 6 times per year

4. Residential amounts to £930+  I say plus because I picked customers up every week, for example in Novemeber I picked up £80 of work, that has expaned to £130 worth of work without me even canvassing it.

I'm happy to do a full cost breakdown - although after Valroyb mentioned subbing it I'm think it might be a better idea.

Mark6765 - Sorry mate nothing in long-eaton however I would happily of let you have some work if I had any out that way - sorry.  Appreactiate your kind words tho.

Philip Hanson - WFP is just not for me know because of the strain it would probably put on my neck - but If I had started out with that maybe I would have succeeded.

[ducky]

sorry to her about ur fall.i have never used wooden ladders never will just dont trust them.if u were in fife u would get workers no bother.i work with 1 lad we get half of wot we make and we half it again is it the same down ther.

[AdamSouth]

sorry to hear that. one of my friends fell off his ladder last year and then didn't wanta go up his ladder again so sold up .

best of luck for your new job

[dustycorner]

Hi Samuel,

Sorry to hear about your fall, i know it shakes you up i fell about 3 years ago. Nothing serious off for 3.5 weeks with damaged ligaments, before you  definately give up your round look into w.f.p. system it  could be the answer your looking for.

Cheers Mark.

[simbo]

hi
sorry to hear about your accident, had a nasty one last week with 3 cracked ribs very very painfull, but give up no way! i can't clean windows for a week or so but i can leaflet and ask for more work 10 months ago i was working in warehouse very boring for 7.50 hour now 10 hour would be s**t and rising all the time.
you might feel different in a week or 2.
ps i have a family and 2 kids so really scared me too but, i want them to have a good life so onwards and upwards
good luck simb0

[rosskesava]

Hi J and J

That was a nasty experience. It could have been so much worse but it still makes you think doesn't it not to mention the 'afterwards'.

Before you give it all up, the suggestions about going down the wfp road is really worth thinking about. You will loose some traditional only jobs but you will gain more jobs also. Ones that can't be done with traditional methods. With wfp, you cannot fall off a ladder.

With regards ladders, I use (when needed) a 2 extention pointed ladder. They cost a bit but having used that now for about a year there is no way I'd ever use a normal ladder again. They are very very stable because of the rubber bit at the top and much much less prone to problems should the ladder move downwards for any reason.

Once on soft earth the ladder suddenly sunk about 9 inches upto the first rung while I was up it but because of the rubber bit at the top was against the corner of a wall, it was just a bit hair raising. I'm still a bit wary of soft soil though.

I'd think on it all for a while first.

Cheers

[J and J Services]

Many thanks again -  I have just accepted a position with a local business.  Some of you have the backbone to continue and I will forever sing your praises, but some of us come so close to never being able to walk or run or laugh, it makes us re-evaluate.

I would never advocate that you quit window cleaning - its a great proffession and when done correctly is probably the safest one out there - however in my eyes the sparkle for the job has been tainted so I've moved on.

Thanks for all you kind words again though - if anyone is interested in my work I have now reduced it to £2500 - for more details email me on samueljohnson@jandjservices.co.uk - All books can be provided and are uptodate.

Thanks again.

[Biscute]

Sorry to hear bout your fall m8, hope it all turns out well for you anyway.