Well guys as its lashing down here i thought i would just run through my 1st 6 weeks as a window cleaner, and can i just say a big thankyou to everyone for you help in getting me going cos if it was not for this forum then id probably still be very unhappy packing boxes in a warehouse for 6.50 an hour being told i cant to this and cant do that
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I bought a van a few weeks ago which had all the bits in it, 400lt tank,hose reel ect, it also had a couple 250 garden tubs and outside filter system which was great for me as i cant really park outside my house for more than 20 mins without the warden turning up so i get to do my water in the garden and pump through in the evenings. I also bought myself an 18lt backpack which has been of great use so far.
i was still at the factory at this point but had reached a point where i was getting quite a bit of interest and getting asked when i could do some windows, so as i was getting pretty depressed packing boxes i decided to bite the bullet and hand my notice in....hooorraah. i had a loada fliers made up and put a few about. My first week was not good at all. the throttle on the van snapped, or so i thought. it has one of those fly by wire acceleraters, no cable at all. the garage could not get one for 3 yes.. 3 weeks. so this is where the backpack came in handy.i used the mrs ford focus and four 25lt tubs and my back pack for the first few weeks, and to make matters worse i went on one occasion to put the backpack on my back one of the straps snapped, as it fell i reached around and snapped the bloody speed button off, i could not believe it. so i rang the company i bought it off and they changed really quickly.very impressed. so after a few weeks of backpack i was very pleased to get my van back as id bearly used it.
Just before i started and left my job, i went and saw the other local windy who is and has been trad for as long as i can remember as i thought it only right that i would mention it as didnt want to feel uncomfortable if we ened up in the same road, plus we have been sort of friends for years, anyway, he was fine and all was good....so i thought.......i bumped into him after id been cleaning for 2 weeks, i shouted up the road " alrite mate" i said......he dropped his ladder and came marching over shouting and f..ing this and f..ing that. It turns out that some rugby player was winding him up up in the pub and saying stuff like i was gona be better than him and all this stuff, they ened up having a big punch up.so i said to him its not my fault, ive not taken any customers ect, and didnt ask this rugby player to wind you up. So now he dont talk to me .
Anyway, im really loving being my own boss, im now approaching 50 regular customers, some 4 weeks, mostly 1 months which makes life a bit easier i think. ive had quite a few one offs. and i seem to pick up another job each time im out which is a good boost.
things i like about the job
my own boss
endless cups of tea and lots of yapping
my 25ft clx and superlite brush.
being able to go for a quick surf if i like
being on the move out and about. fresh air daylight.
and much more
things not so keen on
RAIN, although been caught out a few times,im not sure if i should or shouldnt clean. Do you guys clean in the rain, or is it not worth it.
Pricing, although i think im doing ok on the pricing i think sometimes im a bit soft and should have gone a bit higher.
funniest moment so far..(not including the other windy incident) was i went around to price a job, got yapping then i said "right i will just count your windows", she said " its not the windows darling, i want you to clean my table and chair set" and it was one of those old white plastic table and chair sets, 8 chairs 2 tables all minging with black mold ect....but a jobs a job and i did them but they must ahve been 20 years old or more.
Anyway its stopped raining now so i might attempt to get out and do some windys. Again a big thanks to all of you and i will try and post more often now im getting the hang of it. Chow for now.Ian Kev
