[Dry Clean]

I'd spend some money and get a half decent set up straight away...decent equipment makes customers more prone to trusing you to do a good job.
Could you spare £1500 as an initial outlay as I did?

This is it I want to give a professional image from the start. To be honest I don't have £1500 without getting a loan. Did your £1500 include a vehicle or did you already have something suitable. We need a new car anyway so getting something I can use as a van and to cart the family about is an option.

My main worry is that investing £1500 or so is a fairly big risk for me so I guess I want some reassurance that I've got a good chance of succeeding. I need 1250 take home per month to replace my current income due to my pay and hours being cut.

Thanks

There is no risk when it comes to investing in equipment ARRON that's the beauty of window cleaning, if things don't pan out
then just sell it on, chances are you will get back what you paid for it, put it this way when it comes to Gardiner poles they can sell for more than their new price on ebay (I kid you not).

[A A R O N]

I'd spend some money and get a half decent set up straight away...decent equipment makes customers more prone to trusing you to do a good job.
Could you spare £1500 as an initial outlay as I did?

This is it I want to give a professional image from the start. To be honest I don't have £1500 without getting a loan. Did your £1500 include a vehicle or did you already have something suitable. We need a new car anyway so getting something I can use as a van and to cart the family about is an option.

My main worry is that investing £1500 or so is a fairly big risk for me so I guess I want some reassurance that I've got a good chance of succeeding. I need 1250 take home per month to replace my current income due to my pay and hours being cut.

Thanks

There is no risk when it comes to investing in equipment ARRON that's the beauty of window cleaning, if things don't pan out
then just sell it on, chances are you will get back what you paid for it, put it this way when it comes to Gardiner poles they can sell for more than their new price on ebay (I kid you not).

Never thought of it like that. Guess buy decent equipment with a good resale value and I have that to fall back on.  thanks.

[JandS]

No my £1500 didn't inc a van I already had one.

[richard groves]

See if  its possible to buy ro water locally to you.  A clx and backpack would get you started for a minimal cost.

I think (correct me if I'm wrong) I could get away with DI only as my TDS is only 35ish?? So the costs look quite a bit less. Have been looking at backpacks. There are so many different options for everything. Some people I speak to seem to want a traditional cleaner too. 

Sorry, didn't realise you were one of the lucky ones ! I think its always good to have trad experience especially for add on interior cleaning, or shops / bars etc.  but I think it would hold your income back if you were to offer it as the norm over wfp. Being able to reach those awkward windows or particularly high ones safely is what will build your round quickly. With 35 tds , like you've said, you won't need an ro. If a van is not in budget just now then I would just get resin vessel some barrels, a pole and backpack and see how things go. Buy all you need from Gardiners, as mentioned, it will hold its value if things don't work out, good luck.

[p1w1]

i will have a transit connect van with 500lt pure freedom fitted tank and frame, pump, controller and split charge relay for sale around February (vans done 106000 but has been serviced every year also new cam belt done recently, also have a spare hose reel with hose on it basically everything you need to get going, perhaps something to bare in mind.

[A A R O N]

i will have a transit connect van with 500lt pure freedom fitted tank and frame, pump, controller and split charge relay for sale around February (vans done 106000 but has been serviced every year also new cam belt done recently, also have a spare hose reel with hose on it basically everything you need to get going, perhaps something to bare in mind.

What sort of money will you be looking for? I will definitely bear it in mind.

[Seymour Sunshine]

Still look at rainwater. Collected off a clean roof and at TDS up to 10 or even a tad more will give you excellent results. If you want to put it through a DI vessel, you can. Collecting rainwater isn't difficult and is much cheaper than buying an RO system. To begin with, you'll only be using a small amount and you can invest your earnings in a posh system later.

If you're worried about the TDS, have a look at this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BGkmnQFzCoQ

And for real, practical info have a look at this guy: https://www.youtube.com/user/MyWagga  And watch the set of videos in which he takes you through the steps of making your own trolley system.

[p1w1]

i will have a transit connect van with 500lt pure freedom fitted tank and frame, pump, controller and split charge relay for sale around February (vans done 106000 but has been serviced every year also new cam belt done recently, also have a spare hose reel with hose on it basically everything you need to get going, perhaps something to bare in mind.

What sort of money will you be looking for? I will definitely bear it in mind.

haven't really thought i suppose about 2500 with the hose reel etc (06 transit connect).

[A A R O N]

i will have a transit connect van with 500lt pure freedom fitted tank and frame, pump, controller and split charge relay for sale around February (vans done 106000 but has been serviced every year also new cam belt done recently, also have a spare hose reel with hose on it basically everything you need to get going, perhaps something to bare in mind.

What sort of money will you be looking for? I will definitely bear it in mind.

haven't really thought i suppose about 2500 with the hose reel etc (06 transit connect).

OK. Cheers I will keep it in mind and keep an eye  out if you do sell it.

[tony atkinson]

We're in the northwest you located pal I could pass a few customers on to you if your in bolton as I have no room for any new ones so instead of telling them I'm booked up could pass on to you when they ring

[AuRavelling79]

Hi AARON, welcome back to the funny farm that is CIU.

If you have little spare lolly and are staying in a job you are not leaving for a while then no reason why you can't stick 4 x  25 litre barrels in your car, get a backpack and trad .tools and do wfp tops and trad bottoms.

Gardiners Pole Systems is a very customer service oriented supplier and they will happily give advice on backpacks and poles.

Refuse to take a ladder then you will not be tempted to use it!

As soon as you are committed then a van and 400L tank will let you do a day's domestic work without faffing about doing bottom windows trad.

Best of luck.

[A A R O N]

We're in the northwest you located pal I could pass a few customers on to you if your in bolton as I have no room for any new ones so instead of telling them I'm booked up could pass on to you when they ring

I am a bit further north mate.  North Lancashire/South Lakes is where I am. To be honest traveling doesn’t bother me and if I thought it’d work I’d be prepared to travel especially to get myself going. I think like someone said I should aim for after Christmas now. Try and get equipment together and practice practice practice. If the offer is still there then, and it would work I will be in touch. Thanks very much.

[A A R O N]

Hi AARON, welcome back to the funny farm that is CIU.

If you have little spare lolly and are staying in a job you are not leaving for a while then no reason why you can't stick 4 x  25 litre barrels in your car, get a backpack and trad .tools and do wfp tops and trad bottoms.

Gardiners Pole Systems is a very customer service oriented supplier and they will happily give advice on backpacks and poles.

Refuse to take a ladder then you will not be tempted to use it!

As soon as you are committed then a van and 400L tank will let you do a day's domestic work without faffing about doing bottom windows trad.

Best of luck.

Thanks for the advice mate.  You recommend staying well clear of ladders then?

[AuRavelling79]

"Thanks for the advice mate.  You recommend staying well clear of ladders then?"

Yes.

[Missing Link]

I've quite a few jobs that require ladders, including ladders for inside jobs.

I've tried fannying around with extension poles and squeegies, but sometimes it's just a lot simpler and quicker to get the ladders out.

[dazmond]

you should always have some ladders with you IMO.I use mine every week (albeit only a few times).mainly for gates and the odd flat roof.i also use them for conny roof cleaning .if your doing a builders clean then often you ll need ladders to get up close to the glass for scraping.

sometimes you just have to clean a window trad off ladders if theres paint,silicone,etc  on the windows.