[dazza]

Hello,

I've been interested in doing window cleaning for a while now, i have got most of the equiptment, just need a few more bits then i'm ready 

Once i have all my gear i will then get some flyers printed up and post them out. I'm in no rush to get lots of customers all i want is to do the job right then the customers will stick with me. The only thing is i am a bit nervous because i have never done it before, i have been practising on my own house the traditional way as i cannot afford the WFP method yet.

My brother said i could do his house so theres my first customer, it's a start 
any advice from you professionals i would be much appreciated.

I also live in Nottingham, sherwood area.

Daz.

[Newby]

If you are starting up in window cleaning, then you needed to be careful, as us window cleaners different to any other trade – as in that the amount of times we go up a ladder in a week 100s if not 1000s no other trade is like this, we lost 3 window cleaners this year along, please take care and have safe work practice with in your business, one pain of glass is not worth a life

Andy           

[dazza]

cheers for that matey..... i always like to be as safe as possible 

[David 'Duck' Clare]

Hi Newby

Welcome to the fold!!!!!!!

Hmmmmm best advice would be as follows:

1. read as many posts on this forum as possible - this alone will teach you loads

2. get your flyers now....why wait.....get them out there and start getting customers (i waiting to buy my equipment and when i got my customer i realised i needed different types of equipment ..... so at the end of the day i was silly to wait as i still needed extra stuff!!!)

3. see if a local window cleaner to you will take you out for the day (can anyone take Newby out for the day???)

4. buy decent stuff not cheap stuff - im now all Unger and Ettore (virtually) and this gear is far superior to other non brand name stuff.

5. get a decent pair of sun glasses - this time of year they are invaluable

6. go do you brother house asap - then whilst you do it stop half way - the go visit the neighbours and say 'im just doing FRED's house - do you want a quote for yours' (or whatever your brother is called?)

7. invest in some GG3 or GG4 as this hot weather dry's out fairy in about 10 seconds and if your just starting you might think you are doing something wrong - whereas GG3/4 will stay wet for a lot longer

all the best fella

DC

[dazza]

7. invest in some GG3 or GG4 as this hot weather dry's out fairy in about 10 seconds and if your just starting you might think you are doing something wrong - whereas GG3/4 will stay wet for a lot longer

Thank's for that, glad you told me about the GG3 and GG4 as i was going to use Fairy.
Anygood online ordering for this stuff?

[David 'Duck' Clare]

try www.windowcleaningwarehouse.co.uk

[pt]

Been cleaning for four years.My first house,first time took one hour.I did this same house today and it took twenty mins.You will be slow at first,but you will get quicker.The best thing i ever bought  was an A frame ladder.My best tip is where poss move every at once, ladder  bucket.

All the best.

[DTS]

Hi,

Newbie here looking to start up WC business very soon.

Does anyone have a list of traditional equipment and their uses as im a complete novice lol, obvisously I do know the basics i.e ladder, buckets, squeegee but would apreicate if someone could go into more detail like the proper names for these equipment and where I can buy them. Already checked out windowcleaningwarehouse.com, dont know whats what as pictures arent complete.

Cheerio

[Trevor Knight]

Good luck with your business, all I will say is stick at it, your customers will be loyal as long as you are reliable. I have been cleaning windows for 15 years and have lost count how many other guys and girls I have seen start up and then dissapear!!!! It looks easy but rest assured, a week up and down a ladder all day long soon sorts the men from the boys, good luck!!

[dazza]

Thank's for all the advice guys 
I have some triple ladders, when closed are about 7 foot, then open out to around 18 foot, never heard of an A Frame ladder.

[David 'Duck' Clare]

dazza and dts - re equipment

a frame ladder is kinda like a triangle ladder of sorts - basically its a normal ladder at the base but at the top it goes into a point.

general equipment i listed for another new cleaner a few weeks ago - to view this click on my name on the left hand side of your screen then click on previous posts then look back about 30 / 40 posts ago and its all in there including what i paid for it and where i got it all from

by the way - the best way to see what equipment you need is to check out other w/c's at work (either going out with them for the day OR by looking at those you just happen to bump into)

i never saw a w/c in my area for the last 3 years.....however in the last 6 months ive met 10 in my area alone....they were always there but i just didnt look hard enough!

DC

[Trevor Knight]

A triple ladder!!!  either your really Arnie and are bored with films and politics or you wanna be a body builder, lugging a 3 tier ladder around, well I reckon you'll last 3 days before ya pass out!!!  If you have lots of 3 storey work then maybe you should look at a small mobile WFP system? Plus the fact, if you're up the top, who is footing you? Safety, safety

[dazza]

A triple ladder!!!  either your really Arnie and are bored with films and politics or you wanna be a body builder, lugging a 3 tier ladder around, well I reckon you'll last 3 days before ya pass out!!!  If you have lots of 3 storey work then maybe you should look at a small mobile WFP system? Plus the fact, if you're up the top, who is footing you? Safety, safety

they are the small ones, and they will only be used for first floors, maybe your right tho  :
I may have ti invest into some A Frame ladders.

If i extend the A Frame ladders is the end point safe to put up against the wall?

[Trevor Knight]

Yeah the ladders are fine, easier to manouvre the higher you go but wouldn't recommend over 15ft

[TVCS]

Good luck in your new venture.
  I have been cleaning windows now only for about 3 months.  It was meant to be a side line to my pressure washing biz but I now make more doing the windows. 
I started on a really small budget and the good thing is the overheads are not too big. 
At first I was worried about the amount of time I was taking per property and I`m sure I`m still slow compared to most of the guys on here but I figured that if I took my time and did a good job I would keep the customer.
After a small leaflet drop I picked up a handful of customers but a bit of door knocking is much more succesful.  I was about to give up door knocking yesterday, had not picked up any new customers, thought to myself this one is the last one then I`m going home.  That last house was a tiny bungalow with a conservatory, the chap wants it done every month and has agreed a price of 30 quid a month.  It may not sound like much but they all add up.
Anyway good luck with it.
Ant
TVCS

[gsw]

Hi, if you are going to order gg3/gg4 then you should find out how hard your water is first, gg4 is for hard water and gg3 is for soft, when i was using gg4 with tap water i found i still had to add some powder water softner (sainsburys) to the bucket to get any "slip".

basically you need to work out what is best for you (trial and error!) having used all my gg4 up now i have gone back to fairy for the minute....it really is kinder on the hands!

use the forums past posts to look up invaluable advice on "dog earing" your channel and get yourself some unger microfibres instead of scrim, be the best thing you ever do!
hope this helps
greg

[dazza]

Thats one of the things i need to buy, my cloths, now before i read the forums i would have gone out and purchased a leather 

[gsw]

just been to soapnational they have a special on unger microfibres...well worth the offer.

http://www.soapnational.co.uk/acatalog/New_Products.html

hope this helps

greg

[Fast 1 *]

getting out there door knocking is the best way to go,so obviously a bit of charm helps.Plus even if you go a few nights without picking any jobs up,do not be disheartened.For example,i went knocking for 4 nights without a thing,then the following night,i basically claimed a whole close,where a window cleaner had give it up(i personally would of sold it).But do have respect for other window cleaners,and do not attempt to under cut someone elses work,which in my opinion is out of order.I found that just delivering leaflets alone isnt that effective.all the best

[jules0267]

been doing this for a year now, put a local advert in your paper... best job i,ve had, good luck