[windowswashed]

There is nothing but new builds going up all around me. I stay clear of them as the ones who move in are stretched to the brim with mortgage, household bills, furniture and white goods on credit and possibly flashy car . Been slowly working my way into the best areas for work and commercial. Picked up quite a few on reputation from customers which is very good. It's a nice steady trickle to replace lost/deceased/moving customers. Keep my round full just picking the best ones and letting other window cleaners have the new builds, terrace houses and the likes.

[dazmond]

dont write the year off its only the end of feb lads!plenty of time to pick up new jobs in the months to come.......

[The Jester of Wibbly]

Let's look on the upside.  With so many wfp folk out there is getting the word out about the equioment switch over.   

The more Joe public sees a wc in the street the more they start to think about their windows and becomes the norm to employ one.

[Bungle]

I've picked up a few so far this year. Got one this morning, put my price in and left them with it. Phone went this afternoon and they want me to be their window cleaner. I asked how much the other cleaner charged and they said £25 less than you but he was unreliable. Not too bothered if I pick any up or not really, if I do I price higher.

[John Mart]

I've picked up a few so far this year. Got one this morning, put my price in and left them with it. Phone went this afternoon and they want me to be their window cleaner. I asked how much the other cleaner charged and they said £25 less than you but he was unreliable. Not too bothered if I pick any up or not really, if I do I price higher.

What’s the total price of the clean?

[james peters]

this is a weird one for me .
I started in 1992...but I started to see lots of new start ups around 2006 when wfp started to become the norm.
but the last year or so it has really gotten crazy... newbies everywhere.
what I have noticed is that most or all of the new ones go for the add ons  (soft wash, fascias , pressure washing , more than the window cleaning)
these can be more lucrative , but are not regular as in 4 weekly , or 8 weekly.
I know a few of them , I had one of them soft wash my render last year.
for me , I am not really interested in the add ons , unless they are a customer, and even then I find them a pain.
I am only interested in regular window cleaning customers, that's my main focus..
I am gaining slow and steady, but I am mainly after 8 weekly these days rather than 4.
in the end it will be survival of the fittest I believe .

[John Mart]

this is a weird one for me .
I started in 1992...but I started to see lots of new start ups around 2006 when wfp started to become the norm.
but the last year or so it has really gotten crazy... newbies everywhere.
what I have noticed is that most or all of the new ones go for the add ons  (soft wash, fascias , pressure washing , more than the window cleaning)
these can be more lucrative , but are not regular as in 4 weekly , or 8 weekly.
I know a few of them , I had one of them soft wash my render last year.
for me , I am not really interested in the add ons , unless they are a customer, and even then I find them a pain.
I am only interested in regular window cleaning customers, that's my main focus..
I am gaining slow and steady, but I am mainly after 8 weekly these days rather than 4.
in the end it will be survival of the fittest I believe .

I agree. Some of the newer ones want to do the add ons. All well and good but it’s the regular customers that makes this a solid business.

[Smudger]

this is a weird one for me .
I started in 1992...but I started to see lots of new start ups around 2006 when wfp started to become the norm.
but the last year or so it has really gotten crazy... newbies everywhere.
what I have noticed is that most or all of the new ones go for the add ons  (soft wash, fascias , pressure washing , more than the window cleaning)
these can be more lucrative , but are not regular as in 4 weekly , or 8 weekly.
I know a few of them , I had one of them soft wash my render last year.
for me , I am not really interested in the add ons , unless they are a customer, and even then I find them a pain.
I am only interested in regular window cleaning customers, that's my main focus..
I am gaining slow and steady, but I am mainly after 8 weekly these days rather than 4.
in the end it will be survival of the fittest I believe .

I agree. Some of the newer ones want to do the add ons. All well and good but it’s the regular customers that makes this a solid business.

Agreed
regular windows are the bread and butter
but the add ons are the icing on the cake - yum!

Darran

[tlwcs]

It’s even dead since Christmas but 8 enquiries this week from the website.
1 is a new build with 8 windows and 1 door I got at £20  8 weekly, not sure how long I’ll keep it at that price.
The rest all had access issues and they’re not for me. I recommend someone else.
Tony

[AuRavelling79]

It’s even dead since Christmas but 8 enquiries this week from the website.
1 is a new build with 8 windows and 1 door I got at £20  8 weekly, not sure how long I’ll keep it at that price.
The rest all had access issues and they’re not for me. I recommend someone else.
Tony

Nice when you know what you want and have the time to shape your round accordingly.

[jonboywalton75]

It’s even dead since Christmas but 8 enquiries this week from the website.
1 is a new build with 8 windows and 1 door I got at £20  8 weekly, not sure how long I’ll keep it at that price.
The rest all had access issues and they’re not for me. I recommend someone else.
Tony

Nice when you know what you want and have the time to shape your round accordingly.

You only have to have half a brain to outthink the local Windowcleaners in my area
Its great, leave the dross to the inexperienced shiners. 😉

[Walter Mitty]

There is nothing but new builds going up all around me. I stay clear of them as the ones who move in are stretched to the brim with mortgage, household bills, furniture and white goods on credit and possibly flashy car .

Although this is often the case, I've also encountered older people who are trading down, so buy a new house to avoid large maintenance costs as they go into retirement.  These are also people who have recently come into a financial bonus if there are funds left over from the trade down.

[nathankaye]

There is nothing but new builds going up all around me. I stay clear of them as the ones who move in are stretched to the brim with mortgage, household bills, furniture and white goods on credit and possibly flashy car .

Although this is often the case, I've also encountered older people who are trading down, so buy a new house to avoid large maintenance costs as they go into retirement.  These are also people who have recently come into a financial bonus if there are funds left over from the trade down.

The problem with new builds around me is that canvassers get in their cheap and then sell the rounds on.  So i leave these to ones who want to battle it out for the crumbs whilst i canvass more lucrative areas.  Then wait for the phone enquiries when they get sick of the poor work or unreliability of their current cleaners 😎

[Bungle]

I've picked up a few so far this year. Got one this morning, put my price in and left them with it. Phone went this afternoon and they want me to be their window cleaner. I asked how much the other cleaner charged and they said £25 less than you but he was unreliable. Not too bothered if I pick any up or not really, if I do I price higher.

What’s the total price of the clean?

£65

[Dry Clean]

There is nothing but new builds going up all around me. I stay clear of them as the ones who move in are stretched to the brim with mortgage, household bills, furniture and white goods on credit and possibly flashy car .

Although this is often the case, I've also encountered older people who are trading down, so buy a new house to avoid large maintenance costs as they go into retirement.  These are also people who have recently come into a financial bonus if there are funds left over from the trade down.

The problem with new builds around me is that canvassers get in their cheap and then sell the rounds on.  So i leave these to ones who want to battle it out for the crumbs whilst i canvass more lucrative areas.  Then wait for the phone enquiries when they get sick of the poor work or unreliability of their current cleaners 😎

After 15 years are you not tired of waiting ? plus as a sole trader on the go for 15 years your need to still canvass doesn't say much about your reputation or reliability.

[LT carpet cleaning]

There is nothing but new builds going up all around me. I stay clear of them as the ones who move in are stretched to the brim with mortgage, household bills, furniture and white goods on credit and possibly flashy car . Been slowly working my way into the best areas for work and commercial. Picked up quite a few on reputation from customers which is very good. It's a nice steady trickle to replace lost/deceased/moving customers. Keep my round full just picking the best ones and letting other window cleaners have the new builds, terrace houses and the likes.

You know everyone in the estate is like that? Doubtful.

[John Mart]

I've picked up a few so far this year. Got one this morning, put my price in and left them with it. Phone went this afternoon and they want me to be their window cleaner. I asked how much the other cleaner charged and they said £25 less than you but he was unreliable. Not too bothered if I pick any up or not really, if I do I price higher.

What’s the total price of the clean?

£65

Unreliable in that case because he underpriced it I'm guessing. We've all done it. 

[nathankaye]

There is nothing but new builds going up all around me. I stay clear of them as the ones who move in are stretched to the brim with mortgage, household bills, furniture and white goods on credit and possibly flashy car .

Although this is often the case, I've also encountered older people who are trading down, so buy a new house to avoid large maintenance costs as they go into retirement.  These are also people who have recently come into a financial bonus if there are funds left over from the trade down.

The problem with new builds around me is that canvassers get in their cheap and then sell the rounds on.  So i leave these to ones who want to battle it out for the crumbs whilst i canvass more lucrative areas.  Then wait for the phone enquiries when they get sick of the poor work or unreliability of their current cleaners 😎

After 15 years are you not tired of waiting ? plus as a sole trader on the go for 15 years your need to still canvass doesn't say much about your reputation or reliability.

Ok, ill bite?
Nah, in 2nd thoughts i cant be arsed to argue with you buddy or debate or whatever. Instead ill simply say;
Enjoy your working day mate 🖒🖒

[johnny bravo]

in the north east  atm  theres a housing boom,.    1000s     of new builds in all areas.    these started  3 years ago.     theres still 5 years work on these areas to build more new houses.       I got a big piece of this  from 3 years ago.    keeping an eye on new home owners moving in and pouncing .       with my charm and decent pricing and my customer add on service at reduced rates I now have too much work on.
But I still seem to want to get that  new customer moving in.   ill have to stop.     Too much work and you cannot keep to a regular schedule you can loose the odd one.      I am happy with my current work load atm.   for  one man       , im not having someone farting in my van , only me.

Lots of work for sale on Gumtree  ,   ebay,       I always look just out of curiosity to see how much they want

There was one chap wanting 8 x  cleaning.       no takers yet.        3 /4  x clean is the max.       

[Richard Stevenson]

Just adapt to the changing environment and you will prosper. Good on Dazmond for been the only positive one on here( and me😉