[preston powerblast]

Get a power washer

[preston powerblast]

I really should be used to up hill struggles, as last year i battled for work to keep my power washing business going and against all the odds I managed to secure some very good contracts.
But to be honest the window cleaning has managed to keep me going through the quiet period of DEC/JAN.
But no matter what I do, I always want to do it well.
Window cleaning and powerwashing go hand in hand as it all comes under exterior cleaning.

[chris@c.m.s]

Ok gaz I'm going to stick my neck out here and proberly I'll regret saying it but your system doesnt look very professional  and may even be part of the reason you've lost customers you seem to have things sorted with a website but dont let yourself down or under estimate the importance of public image.

[preston powerblast]

Cheers mate.
But I must make a bit more dosh before that can happen.
I agree with you totally.
When i am doing my other job, I think looking the part is everything.
As I wear a uniform, ski suit, which is cleaned everyday, shirt with company logo and my name etc.
I think I might as well keep it all in the the van then it will look professional.
As it will only take 2 mins to turn it around and run hoses up to the house as I have got shed loads of these.
[/img]

[rosskesava]

With wfp you will loose some customers and with wfp you will gain some.

I personaly don't think wfp is all it's cracked up to be in some area's of w/c'ing.

On some windows it is the pits. I hate it when customers say that it did a bad job and when others say they ended up with water in their house.

It goes against the grain for me to loose business and I just loathe that bad feeling that with trad methods never ever happened.

On the plus side, we do work we could never have done before. We do some ( and note the word 'some') commercial work in a fraction the time. And some customers think it's an improvement although they are few and far between.

Most of those customers who were previously 'high ladder' work understand the situation.

All in all, if you minus the ladder risk thing, then I think wfp is worse but if you include the fact that we have now dumped our 3 extension ladder and those heart stopping moment when it bends in the middle as you go up it, and the long way down when at the top, then give me wfp anyday.

S*d the lost customers.

There is plenty more fish in the sea.

Cheers

[Pole2pole]

Bottom line mate. It's always been a win some,lose some game. Always will be. And if i remember rightly, there's a fair bit of glass out there

[Sir Squeaky]

Why is it that Ross is the only only guy who tells it like it is and admits the faults of wfps and the fact that they don't do as good a job in general. (while still stating the good points)

Fair play mate, if only everyone else was as unbiased.

[rosskesava]

Dunno?

It's just how it is. Or how I see it. Maybe others see it different?

Cheers

[Morph]

Rog,

Read my posts.

Anyway, this forum , popular though it is, represents less than 10% of th w/c fraternity.
And of the members listed on this forum, about 1% comment regularly(American pronunciation).
Of that 1%, less than.01% comment on these issues.

I am pleased that you are enjoying the response.

I still use an applicator and squeegee, and wet scrim, and dry scrim.


Work out the percentages Rog.
You ain't here to uphold the minority.

I think you are here to be convinced.
Saving face is not important.  Get wfp!
You have more friends than me around you.  Life is no rehearsal.  Keep your eye on the Bullseye

You can do it.

Less risk.  
Less tirering.
More money/less time.
Bit more initial investment.
More interesting.
More spots for a while.
More water.
Can be cleaned up.

I've only been wfp 3 months, and I was anti!

Not any more.
Suit yourself mate.

Windows are starting to shine like crystal

Pj

[Sir Squeaky]

Oh yeah I know Pj.

It's just more money than I have, and it doesn't suit the jobs I have.
I wish it did, believe me.

You can't all be wrong, but I've heard a lot of bad feedback too, and no-one on here would admit if it happened to them, as it's been so built up to be wonderful.

Maybe it is, maybe I'll join you one day, but I'll need to get myself a load of two up-two down estate houses first.
I've got too many rich folks with balconies and flat roofs in the country(whom I like).

Cheers for the honest opinions though.
Too many on here are of the "get a life" sort.
If more people like you and Ross praise it I might take more notice....

Cheers, Rog.

[steve k]

.

[steve k]

Preston

I applaud your efforts to construct a WFP system BUT I am going to go with Chris CMS here.
Take another look...







I will be honest here and hope you do not get disillusioned.

If you have attempted in your canvassing to present a professional image and distributed an explanation leaflet, the customers are probably quite keen to see this new fangled advancement in window cleaning.

Come the day, you drag up a rusty trolley with a dirty barrel held on with a piece of cloth and a battery hanging on with wires everywhere...seriously mate, they will look at it and EXPECT poor results. NO WAY will they believe that PURE water is coming out of that...

I am trying to offer an observation as if I was one of your customers.

I think you need to ditch that trolley ASAP.
I have had a look on Ebay for you and this is available for £24.00 which includes delivery.



http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/New-Nutool-180KG-Medium-Duty-Sack-Barrow-Truck-Trolley_W0QQitemZ7580655441QQcategoryZ64813QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem


and a quick search came up with this 25 litre water container for £11.50 including delivery...I think these may be much cheaper in Halfords.


http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/New-25-Litre-Water-Carrier-Jerry-Can_W0QQitemZ8748670102QQcategoryZ16036QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem


£24...for a brand new trolley and £11 for a clean, new barrel...£35.00


Things CANNOT be that bad mate that your budget cannot stretch to that.

Get rid of that piece of cloth/strap holding the barrel on and replace with at least a brand new bungee which is a few pence or even better a small ratchet strap from B+Q.

These small changes will, I`m sure, change the appearance of your set up and present a better image to customers who might now believe that PURE water really CAN come out of that trolley...

If you cannot afford £35.00, then I would suggest keeping it in the van and using a hose reel.

I never explained my change to WFP to anyone...I just turned up and started using it...I have never mentioned anything about spots because if you do, as soon as you are gone, they will be searching the glass for them.
My opinion is that it is my business and I purchase the tools and means of delivering a service. If a customer is interested in WFP, I will happily explain how it works and the benefits.

You are only up the road from me...if you ever have a spare day, why not come down and spend a few hours with my set up and I can offer some advice from my own experiences with it.
Hope you take this advice in good heart, it is meant with good intentions.

[steve k]

sqeaky,
there is shed loads of advice on here...both negative and positive about WFP.

I read it all before weighing it up, looking at the properties I cleaned at the time and looking around at the potential WFP friendly windows in my area.
I decided the benefits of putting together a round where the majority of cleans would be great with wfp FAR outweighed my existing practice of working alone up ladders.

The list below details windows unsuitable.

Windows with flaking, poorly maintained paintwork.
Windows with white coated aluminium frames.
Louvre windows.
Doors with letter box slots on.
Windows above an open window (that cannot be closed)

I would suggest that, in my opinion and based on my own round building experience, that these windows are in the minority.

If you have gone to the lengths of a purchase, then I think a restructure of your round might be necessary if you are to get the maximum potential from your business. If you have a lot of windows which are not WFP friendly, I personally would start re-building my round around my WFP.

Loyalty to your existing customers might be questioned here.
No problems...just do them traditionally...I do.

BUT...the reality is as a business, we owe it to no-one but our family to make the best, most profitable and safest use of our working day.
We need to maximise our profits and bring the bread home.

If I have a run of customers where wfp is not suitable and the use of trad methods is slowing me up to the point where I hate doing them as the financial return is not good enough...then I am going to try and replace that run with a more profitable wfp friendly run.
I will explain to the customers the honest reasons (financial, safety, etc) and move on.
If possible, I will pass on the work to another cleaner.

During bad weather, holidays, sickness or injury...do your customers have a whip round to help you pay your bills??
Of course not.

It comes down to choices, if you have a big round with many years standing and the majority of your accounts would appear to be unsuitable for WFP...then I can understand your resistance to change.

BUT you CAN change and rebuild a round to give you the best financial return for your time and effort.
Keep the ladders and squeegees...you will need them now and again

[neil100]

Hi Gary,

I live up the road from you in Lancaster. I have just done my second week with wfp and am still in the transtion stage of deciding wether I hate wfp or just dislike it at the moment.

I am sure like me that deep down you are wondering weather you have done the right thing. I have spent just over £14,000.00 setting it all up and I wonder weather It as been worth it.

Yes you do worry how customers are going to react. I went collecting last night dreading weather I was going to get cancellations on mass. As it was nobody cancelled. Many had not even noticed the frames were clean, they go to work when it is dark and come home when it is dark. Two customers Praised me for the good job I had done and gave me a tip.

I have lost £35.00 of work in the last 2 months. most due to the price increase of 20%. Only one customer cancelled because she did not want wfp. She wanted them cleaning traditonaly. Though I have gained £200.00 of work in that time so I am still quids in.

I have said to all my customers to give wfp a chance, In 6 months if your not happy I will do them for you the old way. I have not given any leaflets out but have spoken and explained wfp to every single customer since September 05. So i have had a long transition period. They have all been forwarned the windows will not be as good as they should be untill the 4th w/clean. Due to my inexperince with wfp and the build up of degerent on the glass and under the seals.

I have reassured every single customer that if wfp is rubbish and I cannot clean their windows to the same standard I have set for 26 yrs. I will sell my system and van on Despite it costing me an arm and a leg.

As far as I am concerned the customers anxiety about wfp pales into insignifigence concerned with my own about wfp and they know it.

If a customer is not prepaired to give me 6 months after all the money and time I have put into this they can take a hike.

Last night a freind Had just priced up a job in Preston. A commercial property windows 80' high, they dont want wfp, so a cherry picker will be used, they want it done traditinoal in and out. Huge cost. theres work there Gary lad, Go get it.

Regards Nel.

[Paul Coleman]

How have you explained to your customers why you use the WFP and how it works?

Did you do it verbally, which is very difficult to get EVERY point across, or did you use David's WFP explanation letter from the documents to upload section?

Good communication is the key to a successful transition.  Get it right and you'll have very few problem customers.

I numptyised a version of David's letter; it ended up into a 3 page essay on 'Why I'm using a WFP and how it works".  I encouraged customers to read it. 

Most did; a few didn't and those few who didn't and questioned me (why have you've left my windows wet?) I jokingly rebuked them for it, accusing them; saying, 'You didn't read my letter, did you?'

It put them on their back-foot straight away.

Then I explained it roughly and gave them another letter.

I honestly haven't lost one customer (though I thought I might) and I must've done over 1000 cleans with it by now.

Not only that, if the letter is well presented on good quality paper, looks good and is worded correctly; the customer will realise that you're not just another 'thicko school drop-out', which is their general impression of us 'window cleaning scallywags'.

So far, I've only lost two customers since I started with WFP.  One was as a direct result of it.  It was the first time I had cleaned for them.  I had water access issues at the time ands was cinserving water.  This led to me doing a rubbish job for them.  They cancelled but no payment was exchanged.  Another one left a message on my voicemail cancelling due to their own financial issues though I did wonder if WFP was a factor.  It was no loss as she was a padlocker anyway and it was an "over the flat roof" job.  I'm doing the second clean on most of them now so, if there are problems, the next few weeks is when I'll hear about it.
I did produce a letter explaining about the new setup and I'm sure it helped a lot.  As you say though, a lot of them don't read it.  Maybe I should start the letter off in 36 point high bold type:-
"I'm going to leave your windows wet"

[Sir Squeaky]

Cheers for the above post Steve.
A lot of interesting points, and as you say we working for ourselves and families not the customer.

Truth be known, apart from a few nice old grannies most of them probably don't give toss about us really. :

It would take a lot of dropping good customers though, so it's not an overnight switch job.
Thing is, if I change I wouldn't want to use ladders at all.
If I spend big money I'd want to replace my kit, not still have to climb a ladder sometimes.

Cheers anyway. Big post for 5.20am!

Rog.

[Mr. S]

Fair play Squeaky Clean! Im 34 tomorrow and thoroughly enjoy the ups and downs of ladders! It keeps u fit, well thats my reasoning! I play Sunday football and do thai boxing so to me my job works hand in hand with my training! Maybe I sense u feel like me, is it that ive done a hard days work, had the adrenalin buzz thing! U know you like what u do & dont want to change! I dont really either I love my traditional way! But how did ur grandmothers w/c feel when squeegees come along? Times change! Im going wfp hopefully in next month, but will still do some long standing customers traditional if need be, it is about money but other factors do come into it! Maybe ill do most downstairs traditional and those with conservatories and loads a plastic wfp. ill see ! Anyway mate, I love trad method but as I get older my legs will give up one day!!!!!! Craig

[preston powerblast]

Cheers guys, I'm not disheartened or disillusioned by your comments and I do welcome them.
I may in time invest in some better stuff, but at the moment I am just testing the water so to speak.
As this is not my main business and is just merely an add on.
So the bulk of my income has to go into my main business, which on its own isnt cheap to run.
But everytime I get some money in from the window cleaning side it gets spent on it.
I have decided at least for time being to run everything from the van as it will project a better image.
But the wfp is a better system with better results, as my own mate has said who has been a wc for over 30 years and swears by traditional method.
He has been having a play with the pole and he does like it.

[Sir Squeaky]

He has been having a play with the pole and he does like it.

Sorry.

[preston powerblast]

Hi Niel, I dont think I want any commercial work, I know there is a lot of it about at the moment in Preston, with all the new premises going up.
But all I want is about 10 days a month domestic.
Once I get to that I dont want anymore, because as i said its only an add on and I dont want it to become my main business.
It will just help pay the bills during my slack periods.
                                  Gary