[Dan g]

Hi guys new here,been reading a lot of the forum and loads of helpful threads so thanks guy,anyway I'm started out doing trad and until finances are a bit better better am think thing of using an estate car and get a van at a later date.
Do you think this will make me appear unprofessional/bit pikey even though i will be uniformed?or will my quality of work/professional manner out weigh this?

Thanks dan.

[mufcglen]

I use the wife's audi a4 avant and it's perfect for trad work with big boot etc but I feel it would be better for business if I got something like an astra van all sign written looks more pro but generally I don't think customers care if your doing domestic work rather than commercial!

[robertphil]

a car will rake in more work on the street than any van , its a fact .      make up window cleaner signs to fix on the rear /side windows

[mufcglen]

That's interesting pal, why do you say that?
I'm actually going to get the back window sign written so even when I get a van the wife will still be driving it round as an advertisement!

[Michael Peterson]

roberts right, a car pulls in loads of work, im not sure why but they do

[redstarwindowcleaners]

I'm looking for a new vehicle at the moment
was originally thinking of a new van
but have seen a couple of multispaces you still get a large boot space  big enough for me anyway and the additional seats if needed

[robertphil]

That's interesting pal, why do you say that?
I'm actually going to get the back window sign written so even when I get a van the wife will still be driving it round as an advertisement!

  i ran a car my first 2 yrs and folk were forever running over to me from across the street wantin me to do theirs.  these days iv a van ,all lovely, but just a few come over ask me to do theirs each week , and they certainly dont run !

if was you id get signs on the rear side windows,so folk know u are serious and can spot you from across the street

[mufcglen]

Very interesting, I didn't know that!
I always thought it would be more pro with a signwritten van!
May have to think twice now lol as I want more work coming in only starting 4 months ago!

[Smudger]

If your starting out and trad then a van is not a needed requirement, but something to upgrade to as the biz grows, this applies to everything you want to add to your biz think is it needed or just wanted.

I have to say I had very few walk ups when working from the car (4x4) even on Saturdays but had loads since the first sign written van so I doubt it makes much difference as long as people see you out and about

Darran

[PoleKing]

Maybe if you run out of a car people think you're doing it on the side and so may be cheaper or more prepared to do a one off.
There's a fella round my way runs out if a Citroën Xsara Picasso.
He couldn't look more unprofessional with the seats folded down, 20mm ratchet straps to hold his tank and the brush-head dripping on the passenger seat.
Just my opinion though.
At the end of the day-if it makes you the $, who cares.

[Smudger]

Trad ok - not WFP

Darran

[Jonny 87]

I would disagree that a car brings in more walk ups.

I have lots from my sign written van that I wouldn't of had from a car.

[tench0771]

same here jonny my van brings in loads of wrk bing sign riten much more than my old astra ever did

[shina]

I work out of my focus estate and it works really well for the following reasons.
1: It is cheaper than running a van. Insurance fully comp on business for w/cleaning 240.00 r/tax 30.00.
2: The bottom seat comes up in the rear and the back folds down completly flat, with the bottom seat up you have an instant bulk head.
3: I use a trolley which fits easy in the back and can fit 12 25ltr containers in the back. Before anyone says that this is to much weight for the car I must mention that I only need to carry 8 a day, no more.
4: I have magnetic signs that fit on the doors and come off Thurday night.
5: I only work 4 days a week so on Thursday night I strip the car down and it becomes the family car again until Monday.
6: I can claim back on all the costs for the car which is great as its also the family car as well.

If I had the choice I would prefer a van, that is without a doubt. However I run the mrs little Nissan Micra which drinks the fuel and the family car so another vehicle which would be hard to park and would really end up being a nightmare.
Lets face it we are here to make money not spend it, I have to remind myself of that all the time. If I had a van I would have to work a lot harder like start cleaning on Fridays and I dont really want to do that.

[George P]

would use it for trad, not recommed it for wfp, even with back pack, i tried it for a while, couldnt get on with it so got another van, much easier to work from and keeps business and pleasure separate, if you need to get something that will do both then as said something like a multispace, or going up bigger a crew cab

[jk999]

The reason for this is because they think a person using a car will be a lot cheaper than a person with a sign written van, I picked a customer up once and when I gave her a price she thought I was gonna give her a lot dearer price than what I did .

[robertphil]

personally think if you were goin down the route of employing a fleet of oldish saloon cars would make a lot of sense for the reason above for trad .  10 yr olders such as toyota or  hyundai  or even merc  are win win

[Mike #1]

As for looking like a Pikey try try going to work in a L200 Truck with a sports lid on the back now thats Pikey    . Mike

[8weekly]

roberts right, a car pulls in loads of work, im not sure why but they do

Because they scream "I'm cheap" I would guess.

[Smudger]

Shina - sorry mate but as you use the car for family/pleasure you can not claim 100% costs of the vehicle only a percentage

Best regards

Darran