[TomSE]

Hello there was just wondering what your thoughts on canvassing between now and february are? In your experience do you find them as successful or is it best to wait until it is lighter later on and the weather picks up a bit?

The reason I ask is that I stopped canvassing a few months back when I picked up enough work to start me off, now I am up to a better speed I have more time that I can work if I had more windows, but I don't want to go out and knock on houses that would say yes if I had knocked in March but say no now, if you see my point.

Thanks
Tom

[p1w1]

i dont think it matters what time of year you canvas its all just a numbers game really..you could say this time of year is no good dark nights etc winter almost here but you may get customers of some cleaner who started in the summer and has now finished because now's the time when cleaning windows gets more unpleasant and some people can't hack it during the winter, so i would say just go for it. The only thing you might find is people saying yes just to get a Christmas clean and then dump you after but you wont know till you try..

[supernova77]

I started my business in November 2005... I canvassed right through the winter... It worked for me.

Andy

[mlscontractcleaner]

You pick up your better customers in the winter. If they're happy to have their windows cleaned when the weather is nasty they'll stay right through the year 

[TomSE]

Thanks very much for all your answers it seems I should be out there knocking asap!

[mr smear]

I just knocked on eight houses and got 4 totalling £60 while collecting best result ever. So i think its always the right time to knock. I usually struggle on canvassing.

[Smudger]

2 excellent posts - like Andy i started in winter and canvassed right thriugh as picked up loads of customers
and as stated by MLS these custy's are better than the summer pick up's - never cancel or stop for winter and
usually better Christmas tippers too 

Darran

[Washing Windows]

I don't want to go out and knock on houses that would say yes if I had knocked in March but say no now, if you see my point.

If you need more work I would say get knocking mate. Canvassing is by far the fastest and most consistent way of picking up new customers. If you're right with your concern, then those potential customers get the opportunity to see the quality and reliability of your work and they will stop you when they see you if they need a window cleaner, which I've found is the second best way of getting new customers!

Duncan

[Crystal-clear]

it dont really matter , you will get the christmas one off brigade but even those might actually go regular, what you can do as well is charge double on the first clean which will cover you if you get cancelations but it all depends how many jobs you want to get from now to fed charging double sometimes you cant pick up as much

[Steven White]

I just been out there on some estates round me and was surprised how well I did, considering there two of the biggest window cleaners in the area. My rule of thumb is if you can get six houses on an estate you've broke the back of it and it will just mushroom from there. People will see you actively cleaning and people know people and a stream of new ones will come. You have to talk to them though, just putting a leaflet through the letterbox doesn't work in my experience. Offering 50% off a clean for every new customer they can get you might also be a good way to get a bigger customer base quicker.

[PoleKing]

Go for it.
Saturday's are better.
Dark evenings puts some customers off.

www.laneswindowcleaning.com

[Ian Lancaster]

Go for it.
Saturday's are better.
Dark evenings puts some customers off.

www.laneswindowcleaning.com

My experience too.  Lots of people who would otherwise be good customers won't open the door in the dark, plus you frighten them - imagine if it were you and you are a bit elderly and not as spry as you used to be (I'm speaking from experience here ) and there was a completely unexpected knock on your door after dark, it could frighten the life out of you.  Drop leaflets to forewarn them you're about then knock during the day at the weekend - much better results.