[p1w1]

Hi James
I dont think people on here are trying to put you off there just telling you how it is. If you think £400 is going to set you up properly it simply wont. Fair play to you for having the initiative for giving it a go but you really need to sit down properly and think it through on how your going to go about it
Before you start throwing out the questions spend a week or 2 going through all the back posts then come back.

[james peters]

don't buy a trolley! my daughter is 9 stone and easily carries a back pack all day long... (not on her back , by the handle )

[James Styles]

Seems a lot of people try put you off on here (not all) but people talking about my car not being able to fit poles or barrels is negative to me, I’d make it work, doesn’t matter if I’d have to pull back seats down I’d have no issue and I’m determined, any actual advice on backpacks, poles, where to purchase water etc would be very welcome.

I hope you dont mind me asking, but how old are you?  Im guessing between 18 and 22 with this attitude.  You mentioned youve been researching on here and yet it appears you have not. Sorry if thats blunt.

The reason for the question about the car is for you to be safe in it with the extra weight and equipment that you would need and not about what you can squash into it.

If youve researched on here you will know theres basically 4 ways for you to get your water. This depends on your tap tds. Im sure from ur research you know what tds is.  From here you can either use just a DI or twin DI.     
The second option is to use a reverse osmosis. Either a small and perhaps cheaper option to begin with a small 350 gpd unit and storage tanks to hold the water. Or third, use a bigger, quicker RO like a 4040 and store your water.
The fourth is to buy your water of someone local or if you have a supplier like "spotless"water for instance.

Plenty of people are giving you advice, it depends on how you want to receive that advice to if you deem it negative or not.

Blunt perhaps but true

My reply there was because some are just looking to take the mick (like I said not all) just a couple who seem to be looking down on me or putting me off.
I appreciate that about the weight but what I’ve been trying to say is I’m not going to need loads of barrells as I’ll only be using wfp on the upstairs windows and I’m not going to be busy for a while (then I could look at upgrading to a van or bigger car)
I am 32 years old, just looking to better myself and have my own business, I do appreciate all the help and advise, just don’t appreciate people trying to knock me or say “is this a wind up” or knocking my car/ideas.
Yes I know what a TDS is but I’d more be looking at buying pure water if there is a supplier nearby.

[James Styles]

don't buy a trolley! my daughter is 9 stone and easily carries a back pack all day long... (not on her back , by the handle )

A backpack would suit me fine, I’m a tall strong guy, what one do you use mate and has it been reliable?

[James Styles]

Hi James
I dont think people on here are trying to put you off there just telling you how it is. If you think £400 is going to set you up properly it simply wont. Fair play to you for having the initiative for giving it a go but you really need to sit down properly and think it through on how your going to go about it
Before you start throwing out the questions spend a week or 2 going through all the back posts then come back.

Yes I agree most are just telling me how it is but sum just want to try degrade.
I don’t see how £400 won’t be enough?
What I need is a backpack/tank (bout £100)
Pole (about £120) few barrells of pure water (not sure price of that but doubt it’s over £200)

[P @ F]

You are gonna need more than a few barrels of water me thinks you are not really understanding this Wfp nonsense quite yet !

[Cookie]

My reply there was because some are just looking to take the mick (like I said not all) just a couple who seem to be looking down on me or putting me off.
I appreciate that about the weight but what I’ve been trying to say is I’m not going to need loads of barrells as I’ll only be using wfp on the upstairs windows and I’m not going to be busy for a while (then I could look at upgrading to a van or bigger car)
I am 32 years old, just looking to better myself and have my own business, I do appreciate all the help and advise, just don’t appreciate people trying to knock me or say “is this a wind up” or knocking my car/ideas.
Yes I know what a TDS is but I’d more be looking at buying pure water if there is a supplier nearby.

Just ignore the put-downs & go for it. We all had to start from somewhere....

As far as pure water is concerned. Spotless Water - at B5 7EJ (if that's anywhere near you). Otherwise just call a local window cleaner and ask to buy some.

[Ste b]

Try ebay, when i started 6/7 years ago i got a tank, ro, reel/hose and a couple of poles for 350. Got me started then I upgraded as and when i could.

[AuRavelling79]

Hi James. Malc the Mod here.

If you have no job then how do you pay your way or do you have savings or live with family?

I suggest the following if you have monthly bills to pay.

Get a part time wage job covering three days a week. Use the rest of your time (three days ) to canvass and build up a round with your backpack and barrels. Have a goal of being able to upgrade in six months

A Punto will not last very long if you have any success at this (this is a good thing) but you can buy a trailer if you have a garden you can lock it in. A small trailer will allow you to carry 8 barrels or a 200L tank which should last you a day for tops only.

Your next goal should be to get a van that will let you carry you plus 400L minimum and you can start doing the downstairs and move more quickly and earn more.

Don't try and reinvent the wheel. The best way by far for a window cleaner to make 2K then 3K then more per month is by canvassing hard and having a van plus a tank.

Best of luck.

[nathankaye]

Take a look at gardiners website and you can see for yourself how much the equipment is. Alex's poles come with pole hose adequate for the pole and pole only, so you will need to buy extra pole hose min 10 metres.

On average a barrel of water would last around 4 basic houses upstairs only but that is when you know what you are doing. To begin with you may end up using a barrel a house. Thats not a dig its how it happens and how you learn. You also need to have a good flow and cant be skimping on water if you want good results.  Also look into univalves

[P @ F]

It’s hard not to come across as not taking the P , I’m not by any means , you have £400 in your pocket and no clue what to spend it on or how all this works , save what you have and go offer your blood sweat and tears to another W/c a bit of free labour in return for a bit of insight .
I’m miles and miles away but have a tank pumps poles hoses all sat doing nothing , you could have them but it’s no good having them if you got no way to house them !

[The Jester of Wibbly]

You also need resilience and a thick skin in this game.   

[The Jester of Wibbly]

On average a barrel of water would last around 4 basic houses upstairs only but that is when you know what you are doing. To begin with you may end up using a barrel a house. Thats not a dig its how it happens and how you learn. You also need to have a good flow and cant be skimping on water if you want good results.  Also look into univalves

Brings back memories, I remember my first house, a 3 bed semi.  I must of used 100 litres of water on it.   

[P @ F]

On average a barrel of water would last around 4 basic houses upstairs only but that is when you know what you are doing. To begin with you may end up using a barrel a house. Thats not a dig its how it happens and how you learn. You also need to have a good flow and cant be skimping on water if you want good results.  Also look into univalves

Brings back memories, I remember my first house, a 3 bed semi.  I must of used 100 litres of water on it.   

Exactly my point , nobody else is putting it how it really is , there is a bit more to it than buying a backpack and pole , if you can’t produce the water let alone carry it you’ve no chance

[James Styles]

Hi James. Malc the Mod here.

If you have no job then how do you pay your way or do you have savings or live with family?

I suggest the following if you have monthly bills to pay.

Get a part time wage job covering three days a week. Use the rest of your time (three days ) to canvass and build up a round with your backpack and barrels. Have a goal of being able to upgrade in six months

A Punto will not last very long if you have any success at this (this is a good thing) but you can buy a trailer if you have a garden you can lock it in. A small trailer will allow you to carry 8 barrels or a 200L tank which should last you a day for tops only.

Your next goal should be to get a van that will let you carry you plus 400L minimum and you can start doing the downstairs and move more quickly and earn more.

Don't try and reinvent the wheel. The best way by far for a window cleaner to make 2K then 3K then more per month is by canvassing hard and having a van plus a tank.

Best of luck.

Hi mate. I have some savings (about 2k) but I don’t want to be blowing all that when I don’t have any customers yet, I’m looking to spend 400ish. I live with two friends and my bills are very low, even if I can make £200 a week I could save.
Rather than get a part time job (which is easier said than done anyway) id rather start building my round starting out in my punto and wfp then once I get bigger I could upgrade my vehicle.
Surely my punto could hold a couple of 25l barrells?
I’m going to be doing just houses so I’d think until I’m busy two 25l barrells would do, upstairs windows are usually quite small.

[James Styles]

You also need resilience and a thick skin in this game.

I worked for a window cleaner for 2 years back in 2007, he used to do them traditional way with ladders leather and scrim, was pretty simple, just seems some are trying to make this seem way more difficult then it actually is with the wfp nothing to do with needing a thick skin, it’s just cleaning windows.

[James Styles]

On average a barrel of water would last around 4 basic houses upstairs only but that is when you know what you are doing. To begin with you may end up using a barrel a house. Thats not a dig its how it happens and how you learn. You also need to have a good flow and cant be skimping on water if you want good results.  Also look into univalves

Brings back memories, I remember my first house, a 3 bed semi.  I must of used 100 litres of water on it.   

Exactly my point , nobody else is putting it how it really is , there is a bit more to it than buying a backpack and pole , if you can’t produce the water let alone carry it you’ve no chance

So why have I seen people working from there cars with like 4/5 massive barrells and a back pack, they’ve done it for years, I’m not looking to produce the water there’s a spotless water station 22 minutes from me.

[James Styles]

I have just looked and there is a spotless water supply 22 minutes from my house a 3p a litre, that’s good right?

[P @ F]

50 L of water will do you for about 30 minutes non stop cleaning , thats on established windows and being up to speed .

[P @ F]

You are going to be spending more on petrol than you are earning