[Shaun Keating]

Hi
I was thinking of setting up a window cleaning round with a friend of mine
Our intentions are to go in to an area and canvass for work.
However we don't want to step on anybody else's toes.
So was hoping to get some feedback about how we could do this and how existing window cleaners feel about new guys knocking on doors to build a round(we have no intention of stealing work from existing wc,s)

[David Lingard]

noone has a patch 

I would suggest that you dont knock on a door if it has a WC van on the drive though.

In the town I live in there are 60,000 houses. If each wc has 500 houses then theres room for 120 cleaners just in this town - there are surrounding towns and villages too - theres enough chimneys for everyone.

Just dont steal work or undercut prices.

Always do a good job

[scottt24]

^^^^
What he said
I will add that when I canvass if someone says that they have a window cleaner I always say I will leave them a leaflet in case they need it in the future
I have had a few calls from these when their regular cleaner disappears and most say they have called me because when they said they had a cleaner I didn't try to push anything on them

[David Lingard]

Oh yeah just remembered..

Knocking on doors you will always hear: "one guy does this whole area" that is never ever the case - just keep knocking - those are the kinds of customers you want, but dont ever think an entire area if flooded with WC's

unless im wrong 

[richard jagger]

DON`T SAY YOU WILL BETTER THE PRICE THEY ARE GETTING.
DON`T ASH WHAT THEY ARE PAYING.
DON`T RUN THERE WINDY`S WORK DOWN.
REMEMBER WHEN YOU SAY BAD THING ABOUT ANYONE IN THIS INDUSTRY YOU WILL BE PART OF THAT IMAGE.
BE RESPECTFUL AND FRIENDLY TO OTHER WINDIES AS THEY ARE WERE YOU WANT TO BE.
GOOD LUCK. N
NOT SHOUTING JUST MAKING A STRONG POINT,sorry.

[Ian101]

DON`T SAY YOU WILL BETTER THE PRICE THEY ARE GETTING.
DON`T ASH WHAT THEY ARE PAYING.
DON`T RUN THERE WINDY`S WORK DOWN.
REMEMBER WHEN YOU SAY BAD THING ABOUT ANYONE IN THIS INDUSTRY YOU WILL BE PART OF THAT IMAGE.
BE RESPECTFUL AND FRIENDLY TO OTHER WINDIES AS THEY ARE WERE YOU WANT TO BE.
GOOD LUCK. N
NOT SHOUTING JUST MAKING A STRONG POINT,sorry.

is it ok to tell them that the local guy has been sent down for sexual offenses against animals though ??  .. ive used this to great effect a few times.

[richard jagger]

Yes if you know the dog .....and if she is not good don`tell................. pig or chicken do tell. Donkeys NO they will kick the shiiiiii      out of them.

[PurefectWindowCleaning]

I wish you the very best of luck, but...

You and a friend going in together? A big error in my opinion. There are so so many problems that could arise: One of you not pulling their weight etc Having to split everything 50/50.

In my opinion, this would be a massive mine field, and a recipe for disaster.


Im not trying to be negative, just saying what I think.

[mark5380]

just dont go in and be desperate for work and undercut all other cleaners or steal there work

if the customer is not happy thats fair enough

dont worry about knocking at the end of the day if the other cleaners are not knocking thats their choice

most window cleaners are just trying to earn a living and are decent guys ,it may be helpful to build up good relations with other cleaners in your area,as they com in hlpful from time to time,