[lee_dewing]

I finally took the plunge I have a sky vac atom
7x5ft carbon poles and a Non recordable camera

Just need customers 😁

I have 3 jobs lined up 2x 3 bed semis
And a big one I posted pics of a few days ago

Questions
What’s best way to advertise new service ?

I’ve been telling customers I’ve seen mainly getting asked how much then not much else said the tumble weed blows past 😁

Looking at charging this, I live in Essex
Terraced House £50
3-Bed Semi £65 to £75
4 Bed Detached £90
Big house brigade £120 upwards

I’ve now got some cheap small leaflets
£30   1000  have pic of gutter full of leaves

Reverse says gutter clearing my website details and a QR code so lazy s0ds can just scan with smart phone camera and go to My website

I plan to give to all window cleaning customers

Once I’ve done a gutter job put a few leaflets out in the road

I plan to do gutter jobs Saturdays to get seen more

And on damp days where I will struggle to do well window cleaning

I’ve had my website updated.

My goal is obviously to recover my outlay on equipment as quick as possible

If I like gutter clearing I will invest in a more powerful gutter vac that poles will plumb too
Probably gutter sucker and add side cyclonic
Entry

Any advice from fellow gutter vac guys most welcome 👍

Especially fellow Atom users 👌

Thanks lee

[Splash & dash]

Like all new business it takes time to pick up customers , target existing customers they will then recommend you to there friend and family that’s what I did when I started gutter  vaccing , you have the best time of the year approaching our busiest months for  it are September through March although we do ones every month of the year now , I think your prices are to cheap we start at £65 for a mid terraced 3 bed modern house 4-5 bed detached would be £150-200 depending on size , not sure where you are or what competition you are facing but try minimum of £65 for  anything would be my advice . You have to allow for set up and pack up time and cleaning time , we always do a full days gutter vaccing jobs so we go from one to the next makes it more profitable and then just clean everything out at the last job .

[lee_dewing]

Thanks for advice Splash

Glad to hear you think there’s room to up the charges Splash

Unfortunately as a window cleaner some think everything you do is for buttons 🙄

I was told by the Guys at GVS they were charging £80 for 3 bed semis 7+ years ago.
They  use to live up the road to me before moving to Norfolk 🥕

I nearly got their entry level cyclonic vac And aerospace ally poles 25 ft max

But out of stock until mid September

Decided on the Atom  can go 35 ft

Yeh good advice on gutter vac season 👍

I thought if I’m gonna go for it, nows the time!

Any useful tools to add Splash?

Plumbers snake 🐍 for blocked down pipe?
Gardeners agitator spike any good?
https://gardinerpolesystems.co.uk/quick-loqr-gutter-spike-agitator.html

Ps did you start out with the Atom?
If I remember right

You have the monster sky vac with generator
On frame 🤩

[lee_dewing]

I must add cyclonic gvs vac can go 35 ft too
With their carbon poles 👍

[Smudger]

Sounds like your on the right track Lee - I'd only add get ads in the local parish mags as these are a great source of enquiries for gutter clearing

Other than that you'll find it's a slow start but will build over the first year once your doing lots you get lots!


Good luck
Darran

[Splash & dash]

Thanks for advice Splash

Glad to hear you think there’s room to up the charges Splash

Unfortunately as a window cleaner some think everything you do is for buttons 🙄

I was told by the Guys at GVS they were charging £80 for 3 bed semis 7+ years ago.
They  use to live up the road to me before moving to Norfolk 🥕

I nearly got their entry level cyclonic vac And aerospace ally poles 25 ft max

But out of stock until mid September

Decided on the Atom  can go 35 ft

Yeh good advice on gutter vac season 👍

I thought if I’m gonna go for it, nows the time!

Any useful tools to add Splash?

Plumbers snake 🐍 for blocked down pipe?
Gardeners agitator spike any good?
https://gardinerpolesystems.co.uk/quick-loqr-gutter-spike-agitator.html

Ps did you start out with the Atom?
If I remember right


I started out with an omnivac 3600 watt 110 volt job , I also have a Grippatank mains powered small vac for shop fronts ,and now have a  Skyvac interceptor, we do lots of gutters and have a lot of large commercial stuff that’s done every 3 months so need different vacs for  different jobs , I do like the look of that latest gvs vac if I was in the market for one I would certainly give it a closer look I think the price is very good . I have not had an atom but know several that have got them and they are very pleased with them , as for extra tools I have custom made extra ends out of solvent weld waist pipe fir specific jobs costs around £3-5 per end , the Gardiners gutter spike is a useful thing to have .

You have the monster sky vac with generator
On frame 🤩

[Stoots]

Thing with window cleaning is it runs itself, find a customer then repeat the work indefinitely.

With one of services you will need to work harder..

I would capture email address or contact numbers of every person that shows an interest or that you have cleaned so you can re market to them periodically. Look at mail chimp for this....

As for getting the jobs, if you have an existing window cleaning database with customer contact details you can text or email them all to make them aware you already do this service. Maybe a cheeky text to everyone saying you have started to offer this service and if anyone is interested.. This should bag you a few.

[lee_dewing]

Thanks Smudger 👍

[lee_dewing]

Splash I like grippavac numatic 23 ltr and 40 ltr models but £1200 incl vat price just for vac only 🤦‍♂️

Gvs predator £700 vac only I think 🤔
watch their YouTube videos very impressive!

Sounds like you’ve  used top kit 👍 omnivac, grippavac, sky vac 👍

Thanks for your help Splash 😊

[lee_dewing]

Thanks for your tips Gomo  👍

Was gonna text customers initially with link to gutter page on my website, then thought is this a bit pushy 🤔

Now
Gonna give leaflets to customers or put in envelope with bill if out.

It’s obvious I suppose
Just seeing if I’ve missed something

Thanks for your ideas 💡😊

[lee_dewing]

He who asks a question is a fool for five minutes;

He who does not ask a question remains a fool forever. – 😅

[Splash & dash]

Splash I like grippavac numatic 23 ltr and 40 ltr models but £1200 incl vat price just for vac only 🤦‍♂️

Gvs predator £700 vac only I think 🤔
watch their YouTube videos very impressive!

Sounds like you’ve  used top kit 👍 omnivac, grippavac, sky vac 👍

Thanks for your help Splash 😊

I agree the Grippatank one is expensive  I paid around £900 for  the vac only think I have had it two years or so ? It is surprising good I have used it to do gutters at 60 feet and it worked a treat , it’s very good for smaller jobs or where access is an issue like terraced shops , or houses .

[robbo333]

I've got the atom as well.
One of my favourite tools is the smaller diameter round tube (get this if you haven't already got one).
You may want to set up a 'Google my business' page for 'gutter cleaning'. It's free and can work well.
Leaflets are always good, you may want to put them out in areas where there are lots of trees in gardens etc.
I'm leafleting at the moment for window cleaning, A6 2 sided, and the response has been excellent.

[lee_dewing]

[lee_dewing]

Robbo

Theses are the tools I have.

The only small round tool is maybe the plastic tube that fits inside the crevice tool🤔

It goes in round end of crevice tool to link it to the silicone bend.

Thanks for tips on hunting customers near 🌲 🌳 trees 👍

As I remember Robbo your pleased with the Atom?

You find it’s powerful enough for domestic customers?

I have 7 poles so 35 ft reach

[SB Cleaning]

You will be forever emptying the drum on the atom if you get a large job with gutters full...the poles are too small in diameter they will block easy.

[lee_dewing]

Splash, I think this is your grippavac

https://www.equip4work.co.uk/numatic-wvd570c-wet-pick-up-utility-vacuum.html

If it is it’s £600 cheaper than grippavac website 😳

Maybe I’m wrong 🤔

[lee_dewing]

You will be forever emptying the drum on the atom if you get a large job with gutters full...the poles are too small in diameter they will block easy.

I’m not experienced enough to answer but I’ll have a go.

Blockages usually happen at the top of the pole at silicone bend

Yes big jobs you will have to empty more
But I’m aiming at domestic 3 4 bed semis and detached

Atom is not the most powerful vac but around £1000 35 ft carbon poles and proper camera setup

If jobs take 30% longer then I’ll suffer that
Not got customers queuing up yet 😁

If I out grew Atom I’d probably look at numatic in link but maybe next drum size up
40 litre

I’m plugging into customers electric so don’t
Want big 3000 watt machine

The side cyclonic entry kits really give the vacs more welly

Gvs video shows there starter vac “cyclonic “
Modified and it’s more powerful than the front entry 3000 watts 😁

Just what I’ve seen and heard SB

No hands on experience so maybe talking 💩💩

[Splash & dash]

Splash, I think this is your grippavac

https://www.equip4work.co.uk/numatic-wvd570c-wet-pick-up-utility-vacuum.html

If it is it’s £600 cheaper than grippavac website 😳

Maybe I’m wrong 🤔

No it’s a different machine I had this discussion with Oliver , the one I have is 2400 watt mains powered I think the cheaper one is much less watts , that’s what I was told anyway by Grippatank, I did  phone numatic as well and they said it was different but we’re very cagey about saying any more .

[Splash & dash]

You will be forever emptying the drum on the atom if you get a large job with gutters full...the poles are too small in diameter they will block easy.

I’m not experienced enough to answer but I’ll have a go.

Blockages usually happen at the top of the pole at silicone bend

Yes big jobs you will have to empty more
But I’m aiming at domestic 3 4 bed semis and detached

Atom is not the most powerful vac but around £1000 35 ft carbon poles and proper camera setup

If jobs take 30% longer then I’ll suffer that
Not got customers queuing up yet 😁

If I out grew Atom I’d probably look at numatic in link but maybe next drum size up
40 litre

I’m plugging into customers electric so don’t
Want big 3000 watt machine

The side cyclonic entry kits really give the vacs more welly

Gvs video shows there starter vac “cyclonic “
Modified and it’s more powerful than the front entry 3000 watts 😁

Just what I’ve seen and heard SB

No hands on experience so maybe talking 💩💩

I think for what you want the atom will be fine it won’t be as quick as the bigger machines but it’s not all about power it’s also about technique and how to use it , most vacs that are centre inlet block where the dirt goes into the drum not the silicone bend , having used many machines over the years that’s my experience , 51 mm poles are the best but I have used 38, and 44 mm theses can block but they will give you greater air speed which gives more suction on smaller powered machines . For your average house it will be fine , if doing large commercial with 300+ meters of guttering it will take a lot longer and may struggle but it’s not designed fir that type of work . We do a nursing home every 12 weeks and it takes a morning it’s just over 300 meters and every visit we fill a small skip with moss , the owners won’t have the roof cleaned but are happy to pay  us to empty them that often   .