[Don Chute]

While surfing this morning, I ran into a site discussing water fed poles.  The link led me here.....so here is my 2 cents....

I have been a window cleaner for 21 years, and owned the company for twentyh of them.

About eight years ago, I baught my first pure water system.  They brought the unit to my customers (who is my neighbor) house.  Befor the demo was complete, I knew I would walk 3 doors down and write a check for the unit.

Last year I merged my company and my partner now runs it.  Now I am a distributor for Reach & Wash systesms.

And now for my 2 cents

One of the issues discussed on the site that led me here was locked gates.  Here, the customer will leave them open for us.  As I see it, the customer should give you a key.  What if you fell climbing over the gate?

Ladders......With all of the tough regs on ladders on your side of the pond, it is becomming almost impossible to clean windows above the first floor.  The answer is obviously WFP.  Is it perfect?  of course not, but then squeegees and ladders isn't the perfect answer either.

With a WFP system, you can CLEAN windows up to 75% faster from terra firma.  There will always be a window here of there that you may not be able to reach....thats life.....  There are also windows that are near inpossible to access with ladders.

Cost.  Some systems are quite pricey.  My first one was.  Is it worth it?  Hell yes it is.  Just do the math...75% faster...hello!!

Now there are less expensive sustems on the market...Progress huh?  The cost of producing water with a multi stage filtering unit is pennies a day!!!

Most units come with plenty of hose to keep you from having to move them a lot.  Some are on a small dolly and can be pushed around a property quite easily.

With all of these new tough ladder regs that I keep reading about, your goverment seems to be pushing you into the WFP market.  As I see it, the end result will be that you will be able to clean windows much faster and safer.  And that is surely going to add to your bottom line.

Regards,

Don Chute

[Davindo Cleana]

Welcome to the forum Don - Across the pond? Argentina.... Mexico...New York...Montreal...Tell us more or maybe add a little to your profile

[Moderator David@stives]

Hi Don

windows 75% faster .
should that not be some windows 75%  faster . iagree on big houses it will be faster . i have got a lot of jos where it is clearly faster with ladder no matter what you say.

yes you are completely right about safety of course .the fact is ladders are not banned and insurance is still reasonable .

wfp is another tool in your box everybody should have .
i am selective about where i will and will not use it . if it is faster by ladder i will use them.as it is all about the bottom line for me .
and i dont want to be at work any longer than i have too.
i am not trying to be awkwerd but i think noobys should realize it is going to take a long time to get up to speed and win customers over ,and are going to face a lot more problems than with a squeegie .
ladders may be dangerous ,but aint most things these days.if you listened to all safety advice you would not even get out of bed or eat.if you use ladders common sense should always provail.

and welcome to the mad house   

[Londoner]

I presume Don is talking about the States and my impression of houses in the States are that most of them are a Window cleaners dream.
Depending on where you are of course, most are detatched houses with plenty of access all the way round. Its also true that in a lot of areas external security eg fences and gates is minimal to non existant.

We get enough American TV programmes to be able to see that for ourselves.
However, we don't get temperatures of 100 plus in the summer and 30 below in winter. I would be interested to hear from Don or anyone else in the US how they cope with that.

Another thing that would be interesting would be some idea of prices in the States. How much do you get  for a three bedroom house?

In the States a lot of businesses have to be licenced by the City Authority. Do window cleaners have to be licenced? and if so how do you get a licence?

[daniel b]

also i wonder how much they pay for there pole systems over there

[SWC_70]

..I'm just wondering when Don's gonna try selling us something..

[AuRavelling79]

Where's your faith in human nature..... eh Gringo?

[Davindo Cleana]

Don't buy anything off somone who can't say 'maths' properly

[rosskesava]

Wow

Don - what a dripping with honey laden sincere posting and I mean that sincerely.

Just lately I havn't posted much as we're working flat out but and by evening time i'm done for but for er... 'Don's' posting I felt I just had to reply.

He's obviously not selling anything, he's just making a passing comment, all his points are just so and his presentation is not a contrived and carefully scripted posting.

Cheers