[seanc]

hello every one as some of you know i am new to this game and have seen a cheap pole system for sale £700
are they worth it and do you use yours all the time ?
many thanks to you all

[replacement]

Hi,
   Yeah i started with a pole what some 2 - 3 weeks ago now i invested nearly £2,000 in it. I have started fresh so no round and i have not brought a round but things are going really well for me atm.

The main thing my customers love is the Frames get done and when they watch you they cant belive how much dirt comes out plus they love the idea that no one is invading there personnel space but looking though the windows which they love when theres a young family, nearly all my new customers have come from word or mouth which is the best way to advetise ( have got a 12 week advert running in local paper as well but not many calls from that )

Its a big learning curve with a pole and i am still learning now. One of the main reason's i went with a pole is anyone can clean windows or be an window cleaner and i wanted to be differnt i have got that and i find thats what alot of ppl like, some have even cancelled they regular window cleaner for me due to the pole.

Now i have had some problems with spotting where the water drys on 1 window but if you expalin this to customers and the process they look at you weird as they think you have not dryed the windows but i usally go back an 1hr or so later to check and see if there happy and every 1 has been over the moon.

I also give new customers an Information sheet about the system i use ( but find they dont read it ) plus an Card that Phil gave us all, they find this an pro touch and like it as they now when your coming back and the info they need on the system.

The advert i use is below if that helps..



Good luck

Justin

Ps The webby should be finnished today once i get round it :s

[Jeff Brimble]

Good post Justin, very interesting that you are starting off from scratch with the pole and do not have to "convert" customers you already have. You will end up with a very valuable round of exclusive wfp cust.  Have you noticed that some windows sheet and others form droplets ? The ones that sheet are the ones you will have no trouble with.
Are you doing the bottoms traditionally or with wfp ?
Keep us informed how things are going, the weather can only get better and you will get quicker - but dont drop your prices, put them up in April as an annual increase.

[Reuben_Reynolds]

Sean,

When looking at Systems on the market, look at wether they are a Reverse Osmoses DI systems, or just DI.
I see you live in Hampshire where the water quality is pretty hard, so just using a resin only (D.I)system could incur a high running cost if used a lot.
If you would like more info on filtration and costings on The Reach & Wash System please dont hesitate to contact me on E-MAIL below.
Regards

Reuben    

[replacement]

Jeff,
     Thanks for the post i find nearly all windows sheet then form droplets, i use over 60 litres of water on the 1st clean and spend nearly 45min - 1hr per house on the 1st clean due to the new customers are going to inspect them very close.

Some might find spending an hr on one house alot of time and i agree it is but i do an proper job on the 1st clean and have only had 1 yes 1 window spot on me so far. ( this i think was when i did the tops of the frames and an massive droplet dropped onto the glass, lesson learned there never to tops of frames unless u wipe them )

I am using the WFP on all windows top and bottom, i dont think i can up my prices so soon so ill leave it this yr and up them next for the house in the picture that is priced at £8.50 and ill say i could do 3 too 4 in an hr when i get going. ( my aim within May is £20 per hr plus anything extra is a bouns and 9am till 4.30pm work)

The pole is the furture and ill say within a few months ill be making alot of money fingers crossed.

The other advantage i have with the pole and pure water is all the other things like Boats Cars Moblie Homes, in my town its an massive sailing town with over 3000 plus boats in the harbour and surroundings which i am going to market later, hoping my brother will water some weekend work might as well make full use of the system and make some money on his back

Down side moving the water barrels into the back of the car what a pain in the neck.

Thanks

Justin

[Rick]

i don't understand how you guys can say "poles are the future"? it just seems so impractical. for me, that fella in the photograph is just standing there with an applicator on the end of a stick. i can't understand how you would have enough leverage or pressure to scrub the window properly, or how you would edge the window off? can someone show me a website that explains how this whole "squeegee on the end of a great big stick" thing works?

[easycleanwindows]

I think your getting a liitle confused its not an aplicator its a brush on the end of a wfp system and yes you can have enough leverage to scrub the muck off we use ours upto 80feet and still do a great job.Pure water is aggresive so asoon as it hits the glass,frames etc its picking the dirt straight up and results are great.

[Rick]

so are you telling me that you have a little generator pumping the water up to your brush?

[easycleanwindows]

No not generator two pumps on seperate battery that ump from 700lt water tank with two di resin chambers that produce pure water

[williamx]

I thinking of buying a Aqua Tec trolley system from www.window-tools.com.  Can anyone tell me what they are like to use and any pitfalls they might have. I live in Birmingham which I have been told is a soft water area,  does anyone know? :

[replacement]

To find what if your water is Hard or Soft just ring your local water company and there tell you on the phone there and then.

For Hard water your need an RO Unit and for Soft water your need an DI tank, you defo will not need both i have hard water and just use an RO unit and my TDS readings are 000.

I use an trolley system but not the one you mention i find the pitfalls are carrying water barrels to the car when full thats all, bouns are easy to transport to and from a job and it looks good plus loads more like clean water all the time, you get all windows , you can get frames at same time, you are not looking through bedroom windows which is an massive plus with young families worried about pedo's.

Really anit that many neg points on an WFP but they have massive plus points. Best to shop around and see whats on offer then go for the one that mets your needs.

Justin

[gibbouk]

peter's system from window tools. is a great entry level system. i bought mine from him a year ago. for under 1300 quid it does all that is needed for a domestic light commercial round. i dont use it on every thing but with more and more new houses being built with porches and hard to reach windows it is worth it for them. i just got a contract for 3 storie show homes on the back of selling the benifits of this. its basic with no frills but i am currently working on a new trolley for mine. the reason is because i am going to fit a tank into my van  and only use the trolley for places that the hose wont reach.

[Jeff Brimble]

Rick if you want to see the future dont miss the Fed show for hands on experience Mind you for many of us who  bought when prices were high,  poles are the present and if you wait 5 years they will soon be the past.
You need to stay ahead of the competition.
Keep an open mind and GET TO THE FED SHOW OR REGRET IT ??  I made my own, its a backpack.
JUSTIN look round for rectangular oblong ex MOD black plastic water carriers . They fit in the boot easier

[Philip Hanson]

Hi Justin R

I'm very impressed with your leaflet, and most importantly, you seem to have a very positive attitude to your new business.

I think we would all congratulate you on what is very clearly a professional approach.  Well done!  

Down side moving the water barrels into the back of the car what a pain in the neck.

Careful here, its very easy to hurt your back.  I heard of someone who uses a trolley and some planks to get their barrells in and out.

I suppose the good thing about starting up with a WFP is that you have time to learn how to use it properly, as you get more customers.  I could never spend an hour on 1 house now (unless it was a £40) but I would have had time to do that when starting up.

Keep us all posted as to how things go!

Philip

[replacement]

Thanks Phil but like you say "very clearly a professional approach"

This approach will get me the work i require and with my trusted WFP will reach other areas normal window cleaners cant.

Below is an house i did the other day and the lady as happy for me to take pictures of before and after this window has an plant in the way and her regular window cleaner never did this, as i have an WFP you can judge for yourselfes the results.




As you can see i am sure once they start talking about me i can have a very good round which will pay very well indeed, and thats the benfits of an WFP.

Thanks

Justin

[stevekennedy]

Hi Justin

Pics look good. You say you wouldn't clean the top of frame, do you mean just when it's above a vent or do you only clean the glass  

[replacement]

Hi Steve,

            I will not clean the frame where it overlaps the window as it builds up water and drips on the glass leaving either water marks or dirt, i could dry this with a cloth but for the hassles it anit worth it plus the customers are happy as well.

I just got back from a few jobs and had one new customer phone up and say how clean her windows are specially the frames, so looks like i could be on a winner mind u anit got no more work today as i just started, going down the loacl Tesco in a min as there glass is really dirty, wish me luck.

Thanks

Justin

[stevekennedy]

Hi Justin,

I think Tesco's are on a national contract. You may be able to work as subcontractor. It's probably being done with a pole already but just very quickly with no rinsing. This is what I am discovering up here in aberdeen. Hope you get the contract  

SteveK

[replacement]

Yeah Tesco have national contract but they got my business card there now, see what happens.

Justin

[stevekennedy]

just priced a golf club today. When I arrived the guys doing it already had just left. They were using a pole and left a right mess. They are giving poles a bad name  

But, maybe i will get the job since, unlike them, I will rinse the glass