[dazmond]

ive spent around 30k but i fully expect most things to last 15 years(with a bit of servicing,parts etc)so roughly 2k a year........

im hoping itll last until im 60(im 46 now and my van is a year old now)...then when im 60 spend another £30k-£40k on van and system to last me another 15 years which should take me up to retirement(if im lucky and stay healthy) ..ill be 75 then and probably had enough of window cleaning! .....i do around 3-4k a year in mileage(so 45k-60k total mileage after 15 years).......

[deeege]

You want to work until 75 Daz?

I hope I don’t have to work until I’m that age. Do you not pay into a pension/property or similar to pay for a decent retirement?

[Dry Clean]

ive spent around 30k but i fully expect most things to last 15 years(with a bit of servicing,parts etc)so roughly 2k a year........

im hoping itll last until im 60(im 46 now and my van is a year old now)...then when im 60 spend another £30k-£40k on van and system to last me another 15 years which should take me up to retirement(if im lucky and stay healthy) ..ill be 75 then and probably had enough of window cleaning! .....i do around 3-4k a year in mileage(so 45k-60k total mileage after 15 years).......

[dazmond]

You want to work until 75 Daz?

I hope I don’t have to work until I’m that age. Do you not pay into a pension/property or similar to pay for a decent retirement?

why not?some of us enjoy work mate.....both window cleaners i know(one i used to work for over 25 years ago now)are both still working.one is 71 and the other 69.(their both on ladders too!).they look years younger than than their age and i reckon theyll carry on for a few more years yet......

they both have holiday homes abroad and pensions but still like to keep their hand in with the window cleaning(albeit on a part time basis).it keeps them active....and topping up their nest eggs/pensions....

[dazmond]

the 71 year old chap started window cleaning when he was 18 around the area i work in so he s been at it 53 YEARS NOW!good on him i say....

[Tom-01]

My Dad did it on ladders until he was 72.

He looks very young for his age now. He always had physical jobs and was very strong. I do think that has helped to keep him looking good at his age now.

A customer I had a few years ago, her husband retired from his high powered job whereby he was never home. She couldn't wait to spend time with him, he died two weeks after retiring.

Just guess you never know Daz. If you enjoy it and it keeps you active who cares? But I would like to have something other than just myself working to rely on.

[james peters]

ive spent around 30k but i fully expect most things to last 15 years(with a bit of servicing,parts etc)so roughly 2k a year........

im hoping itll last until im 60(im 46 now and my van is a year old now)...then when im 60 spend another £30k-£40k on van and system to last me another 15 years which should take me up to retirement(if im lucky and stay healthy) ..ill be 75 then and probably had enough of window cleaning! .....i do around 3-4k a year in mileage(so 45k-60k total mileage after 15 years).......

may I point out here ... you diss others with  old vehicles and not up to date systems , yet  in just a few years that is what your set up will be , and you reckon it will be the best for 15 years ! no! it will be tatty and battered in ten years  and out of date ! to keep your appearance you will have to spend and spend .
just saying . maybe its time to respect more experienced advice .... buisness is about profit not vanity

[harv deek]

in the ten years since iv been at this game iv spent [on gear +vans ]  about  ,,hmmm lets work it out

    4 old berlingo vans [@ £500 a pop]  = £2000
   20 wagtail squeegees [£15 each]     =  £300
 Various Tbars                                                 =£200
   30  odd  applicator sleeves                  =  £300
                                                                ladders = £300
               30 Harris poles [@£15 a pop] =£450
            smaller telepoles  + 2 teleplus  =£200                         
             Unger buckets                                   = £50
            150 scrim cloths                                 = £ 500
                                           TOTAL on gear = £ not so much 

[dazmond]

ive spent around 30k but i fully expect most things to last 15 years(with a bit of servicing,parts etc)so roughly 2k a year........

im hoping itll last until im 60(im 46 now and my van is a year old now)...then when im 60 spend another £30k-£40k on van and system to last me another 15 years which should take me up to retirement(if im lucky and stay healthy) ..ill be 75 then and probably had enough of window cleaning! .....i do around 3-4k a year in mileage(so 45k-60k total mileage after 15 years).......

may I point out here ... you diss others with  old vehicles and not up to date systems , yet  in just a few years that is what your set up will be , and you reckon it will be the best for 15 years ! no! it will be tatty and battered in ten years  and out of date ! to keep your appearance you will have to spend and spend .
just saying . maybe its time to respect more experienced advice .... buisness is about profit not vanity

ive always  had old vans mate but they usually had the best part of 100,000 on the clock when i bought them....at least from new i can keep it regularly serviced etc and lower mileage.....

[dazmond]

in the ten years since iv been at this game iv spent [on gear +vans ]  about  ,,hmmm lets work it out

    4 old berlingo vans [@ £500 a pop]  = £2000
   20 wagtail squeegees [£15 each]     =  £300
 Various Tbars                                                 =£200
   30  odd  applicator sleeves                  =  £300
                                                                ladders = £300
               30 Harris poles [@£15 a pop] =£450
            smaller telepoles  + 2 teleplus  =£200                         
             Unger buckets                                   = £50
            150 scrim cloths                                 = £ 500
                                           TOTAL on gear = £ not so much 

ah....a trad window cleaner.........i remember them......(i was one for 17 years)..........yeah cheaper expenses but much lower earnings too........

[P @ F]

in the ten years since iv been at this game iv spent [on gear +vans ]  about  ,,hmmm lets work it out

    4 old berlingo vans [@ £500 a pop]  = £2000
   20 wagtail squeegees [£15 each]     =  £300
 Various Tbars                                                 =£200
   30  odd  applicator sleeves                  =  £300
                                                                ladders = £300
               30 Harris poles [@£15 a pop] =£450
            smaller telepoles  + 2 teleplus  =£200                         
             Unger buckets                                   = £50
            150 scrim cloths                                 = £ 500
                                           TOTAL on gear = £ not so much 

I have done way better than you , I aint bought any trad gear for 5 years , and the last ladder i purchased was 12 years ago 

[Marc Stock]

My van was only £4000 when i bought it 7 years ago on finance. Its been paid now 2 years so it doesn't cost anything in finance now.

Van Tank, static tank, pole, di, merlin ro, pump, hose reel and hoses and gubbins all in for £800 from fleabay.

Last year i turned over £45,300 and only 3 and a 3rd days a week at that.

This year we hope to hit 60k a year, and im buying a cheap van and tank as above for 3k if i can and get someone in it and keep pushing forward. I am already approaching £51,000.

You don't need to spend 30k on vans and equipment to have a profitable business. Its all snake oil, customers dont care if you have ionics systems with go faster stripes. They just want thier windows cleaned to a high standard with minimum fuss. Make that your goal and you will always have plenty of work.

[dazmond]

My van was only £4000 when i bought it 7 years ago on finance. Its been paid now 2 years so it doesn't cost anything in finance now.

Van Tank, static tank, pole, di, merlin ro, pump, hose reel and hoses and gubbins all in for £800 from fleabay.

Last year i turned over £45,300 and only 3 and a 3rd days a week at that.

This year we hope to hit 60k a year, and im buying a cheap van and tank as above for 3k if i can and get someone in it and keep pushing forward. I am already approaching £51,000.

You don't need to spend 30k on vans and equipment to have a profitable business. Its all snake oil, customers dont care if you have ionics systems with go faster stripes. They just want thier windows cleaned to a high standard with minimum fuss. Make that your goal and you will always have plenty of work.

no you dont have to spend a lot on vans/systems marc  but youll be changing them a lot more often than me.....

i got sick of messing about with old second hand vans,breakdowns,garages etc.....

[harv deek]

[/quote]

ah....a trad window cleaner.........i remember them......(i was one for 17 years)..........yeah cheaper expenses but much lower earnings too........
[/quote] im quite happy to go along with that [the much lower earnings]  -if only it was true!   

dont worry if youre reading this mr taxman  iv got nothing to hide 

 yeh rite you old scrote

[Stoots]

Van 7k on finance.

Wfp setup maybe £1000

Probably another £2000 in person/gutter vac, other bits I've sold etc.

Probably £10k on marketting/canvassing/advertising which is money much better spent than on the latest gear.

[G Griffin]

in the ten years since iv been at this game iv spent [on gear +vans ]  about  ,,hmmm lets work it out

    4 old berlingo vans [@ £500 a pop]  = £2000
   20 wagtail squeegees [£15 each]     =  £300
 Various Tbars                                                 =£200
   30  odd  applicator sleeves                  =  £300
                                                                ladders = £300
               30 Harris poles [@£15 a pop] =£450
            smaller telepoles  + 2 teleplus  =£200                         
             Unger buckets                                   = £50
            150 scrim cloths                                 = £ 500
                                           TOTAL on gear = £ not so much 

You're paying too much for your trad gear, Bobby.  And you forgot to mention the ladder mat you bought.   
A fireman mate of mine can get loads of trad stuff on the cheap. All smoke damaged of course.   

[harv deek]

in the ten years since iv been at this game iv spent [on gear +vans ] )

You're paying too much for your trad gear, Bobby.  And you forgot to mention the ladder mat you bought.   
A fireman mate of mine can get loads of trad stuff on the cheap. All smoke damaged of course.

ah yes the laddermat

how could i forget it,the one item that damn near killed me

over the years since iv done my best to make folk aware of the dangers of it-  several people have contacted me with tales similar to my own ,some really bad injuries , i was so lucky my own legs did not break

and you know wot the inventor has gone and done? hes expanded into making rubber ladder feet and other anti slip gizmos is selling his lethal cocktail of gear worldwide in all sorts of places  . Thing is hes aware how dangerous and inherently faulty his products are . a true man trap-    doesnt care one iota

 one day i sense i might actually meet him, purely by coincidence  .   id certainly be the Karma Man   

[deeege]

You want to work until 75 Daz?

I hope I don’t have to work until I’m that age. Do you not pay into a pension/property or similar to pay for a decent retirement?

why not?some of us enjoy work mate.....both window cleaners i know(one i used to work for over 25 years ago now)are both still working.one is 71 and the other 69.(their both on ladders too!).they look years younger than than their age and i reckon theyll carry on for a few more years yet......

they both have holiday homes abroad and pensions but still like to keep their hand in with the window cleaning(albeit on a part time basis).it keeps them active....and topping up their nest eggs/pensions....

I enjoy work as much as anyone. At 75 though I reckon I’ll enjoy relaxing and spending time doing my hobbies more....I hope so anyway.

[G Griffin]

in the ten years since iv been at this game iv spent [on gear +vans ] )

You're paying too much for your trad gear, Bobby.  And you forgot to mention the ladder mat you bought.   
A fireman mate of mine can get loads of trad stuff on the cheap. All smoke damaged of course.

ah yes the laddermat

how could i forget it,the one item that damn near killed me

over the years since iv done my best to make folk aware of the dangers of it-  several people have contacted me with tales similar to my own ,some really bad injuries , i was so lucky my own legs did not break

and you know wot the inventor has gone and done? hes expanded into making rubber ladder feet and other anti slip gizmos is selling his lethal cocktail of gear worldwide in all sorts of places  . Thing is hes aware how dangerous and inherently faulty his products are . a true man trap-    doesnt care one iota

 one day i sense i might actually meet him, purely by coincidence  .   id certainly be the Karma Man

You need to take some responsibility  .
I don't know how you could think that it would stop a ladder from slipping. It might be an add on but I don't see it as a safety device.
Spend the money and get something proper.

[andyM]

You want to work until 75 Daz?

I hope I don’t have to work until I’m that age. Do you not pay into a pension/property or similar to pay for a decent retirement?

why not?some of us enjoy work mate.....both window cleaners i know(one i used to work for over 25 years ago now)are both still working.one is 71 and the other 69.(their both on ladders too!).they look years younger than than their age and i reckon theyll carry on for a few more years yet......

they both have holiday homes abroad and pensions but still like to keep their hand in with the window cleaning(albeit on a part time basis).it keeps them active....and topping up their nest eggs/pensions....

I enjoy work as much as anyone. At 75 though I reckon I’ll enjoy relaxing and spending time doing my hobbies more....I hope so anyway.

I hope I'm not still working at 75 too.
Ideally i'd be somewhere warm, enjoying myself with a younger attractive female, sitting on my boat.