[lal]

Anyone left the trade and gone on to do something else and be happy?

I'm so fed up with the actual work. Just brain dead aint it.

I'm not close to getting off the tools. Could potentially get someone to cover the work and get another job.

Big doubt is whether I could ever work for an employer after being my own boss.

Anyone left and happy? Anyone left and not, or come back to window cleaning?

Absolutely not!I still love the job even after 30 years!

In fact i love it more now than I ever did due to constant refining, short hours and getting rid of every single ladder job or anything I don't fancy doing anymore like certain roof jobs,etc....

When you ve spent 17 years on the ladders( just about breaking even most of the time) and even more years collecting to how my round is cleaned today its like a different job!

With the advances in technology the job is easy these days....I also usually have one Samsung earbud in listening to podcasts,music,audio books or the radio.....its so free and easy!

 Hi dazmond,
glad your keeping well, just wondering what Audio books service you use.
Thanks
Larry

[andycap]

For my tuppenth....I enjoy working the part time best,and my lad helps a couple of days..
As I have a health condition (Crohn’s disease) I just count my blessings that I can do what I like on a day
By day basis as this bar steward of a disease can be tiring ☹️...no employer would tolerate the haphazardness of me working one day and not the next..so I appreciate the flexibility...be under no illusions
It’s your health...either physical or mental that’s important nowt else👍

[dd]

I find what helps a lot is having some kind of escape plan.

For me it is investing money through Sipp and Isa. It is a long term thing, but I am near the end now after 34 years of window cleaning, and it sometimes has given me a focus, and option to retire at 60.

If I thought I had to keep working until I was no longer physically able, I would be depressed.

I'm the opposite.i want to keep working until I physically can't do the job anymore.id be depressed not being able to get out and do some work.

1.It gives me a sense of purpose

2.it gives me a structure and a certain self discipline

3.fresh air and exercise should not be underestimated

4.i like chatting to some folk as I'm out and about cleaning

5.i am of course keeping myself financially comfortable and adding to my savings.

Overall I quite enjoy working, but in 18 months time I will be 60. As the years go by i physically cannot do as much as I could and having to work for a living beyond 60 for me is not a nice idea.

When I get to 60 i may continue but will feel under no pressure to have to.

Give it another 10 years or so Daz and you may change your tune.

[DJW]

I did leave window cleaning for a while to set up a hot air ballooning business, but it never got off the ground. Quite a let down really.

[EandM]

" You can check out any time you like
But you can never leave" "

I get to drive around the beautiful countryside in the South West, listen to music and comedy shows, get to meet some interesting people, drink tea, get to see some really cool places, get paid well, have found a legitimate use for and get to drive pickup trucks and from time to time, actually clean some windows.

It was either this or proofreading.

Can't ever see myself doing anything else that I would enjoy more.

[Jay Le Huray]

I'm 70 this coming May and still going strong allbeit I am a lot slower now than I used to be which suits me fine as it looks good to customers not doing a SPLASH and DASH lol.
 The other day I did about 10 houses window cleans and went on to clean 3 conservatory roofs and that did finish me off on that day.

I think I will most likely carry on for as long as I can as I do enjoy my job regardless of the weather.

I know one day I will have to retire but hopefully not for a couple of years yet.

[AuRavelling79]

I'm 70 this coming May and still going strong allbeit I am a lot slower now than I used to be which suits me fine as it looks good to customers not doing a SPLASH and DASH lol.
 The other day I did about 10 houses window cleans and went on to clean 3 conservatory roofs and that did finish me off on that day.

I think I will most likely carry on for as long as I can as I do enjoy my job regardless of the weather.

I know one day I will have to retire but hopefully not for a couple of years yet.

That's a very solid day's work at any age!

[windowswashed]

I'm 70 this coming May and still going strong allbeit I am a lot slower now than I used to be which suits me fine as it looks good to customers not doing a SPLASH and DASH lol.
 The other day I did about 10 houses window cleans and went on to clean 3 conservatory roofs and that did finish me off on that day.

I think I will most likely carry on for as long as I can as I do enjoy my job regardless of the weather.

I know one day I will have to retire but hopefully not for a couple of years yet.

That's a very solid day's work at any age!

Some days I only manage 3 houses but they are the equivalent of 10-15 old houses or 30 new builds . I'm slowing down too. Part timer now and even bigger part timer in two years as army pension will kick in, hooray!

[windowswashed]

" You can check out any time you like
But you can never leave" "

I get to drive around the beautiful countryside in the South West, listen to music and comedy shows, get to meet some interesting people, drink tea, get to see some really cool places, get paid well, have found a legitimate use for and get to drive pickup trucks and from time to time, actually clean some windows.

It was either this or proofreading.

Can't ever see myself doing anything else that I would enjoy more.

Is it Exmouth?

[EandM]

" You can check out any time you like
But you can never leave" "

I get to drive around the beautiful countryside in the South West, listen to music and comedy shows, get to meet some interesting people, drink tea, get to see some really cool places, get paid well, have found a legitimate use for and get to drive pickup trucks and from time to time, actually clean some windows.

It was either this or proofreading.

Can't ever see myself doing anything else that I would enjoy more.

Is it Exmouth?

Lyme Regis looking East towards Charmouth and Golden Cap.

You’re not far out at all 👍

[Stoots]

Im fed up of it, have been for a while but i dont help myself, take on far too much work and end up weeks behind. 20 first cleans last week, another 40 on the horizon next couple of weeks. Ive been busting a gut though last couple of months to build the round up. Supposed to be taking on a new lad monday, heres hoping it works out this time  Either need to employ or really cut back and find something else.

[NWH]

Don’t worry that new employee will cull some work lol.

[Stoots]

For my tuppenth....I enjoy working the part time best,and my lad helps a couple of days..
As I have a health condition (Crohn’s disease) I just count my blessings that I can do what I like on a day
By day basis as this bar steward of a disease can be tiring ☹️...no employer would tolerate the haphazardness of me working one day and not the next..so I appreciate the flexibility...be under no illusions
It’s your health...either physical or mental that’s important nowt else👍

I once took a lad on a  trial day who had crohns disease. He didnt tell me until after we had started he might need the bog. Ended up driving him to a morrisons to use their pots about 10am  The lad was mortified he had never used a public toilet  Took him home at lunch time made my excuses and left it at that.

I have IBS and thats bad enough can only imagine your plight 

[Stoots]

Don’t worry that new employee will cull some work lol.

Haha hoping this time ive nailed it, he has many years wfp experience im more confident than ive ever been. Cant wait to get going tbh im 2 weeks behind and 670 customers  towing my b******s off on my own

[NWH]

Yeah I hope so for you m8 I’ve heard all the toilet talk before start day how hard can it be I’ve done for years etc 💩,yet to meet anyone that comes close to the job I can do pole or traditional.
I had a bloke once when he went inside to clean windows they used to get their carpets cleaned for free at the same time.

[deeege]

Don’t worry that new employee will cull some work lol.

Haha hoping this time ive nailed it, he has many years wfp experience im more confident than ive ever been. Cant wait to get going tbh im 2 weeks behind and 670 customers  towing my b******s off on my own

I know it mostly seems to work for you but having that volume of low value customers would absolutely drive me nuts. No wonder you are always fed up with it.

[Stoots]

Don’t worry that new employee will cull some work lol.

Haha hoping this time ive nailed it, he has many years wfp experience im more confident than ive ever been. Cant wait to get going tbh im 2 weeks behind and 670 customers  towing my b******s off on my own

I know it mostly seems to work for you but having that volume of low value customers would absolutely drive me nuts. No wonder you are always fed up with it.

My round is for the most part how I like it small houses than take less than 10 minutes a pop.

The numbers of customers are high because my round has now tipped to about 60 percent 8 weekly

[Splash & dash]

Don’t worry that new employee will cull some work lol.

Haha hoping this time ive nailed it, he has many years wfp experience im more confident than ive ever been. Cant wait to get going tbh im 2 weeks behind and 670 customers  towing my b******s off on my own

I know it mostly seems to work for you but having that volume of low value customers would absolutely drive me nuts. No wonder you are always fed up with it.

My round is for the most part how I like it small houses than take less than 10 minutes a pop.

The numbers of customers are high because my round has now tipped to about 60 percent 8 weekly

So are you saying approximately 400 are 8 weekly ? And the rest are 4 weekly ? If so that’s a doodle especially if they are small houses and less than 10 muinits per house you should easily be able to do that on your own and have spare days to build further , don’t see why you need an employee?.

[windowswashed]

Im fed up of it, have been for a while but i dont help myself, take on far too much work and end up weeks behind. 20 first cleans last week, another 40 on the horizon next couple of weeks. Ive been busting a gut though last couple of months to build the round up. Supposed to be taking on a new lad monday, heres hoping it works out this time  Either need to employ or really cut back and find something else.

Slow down and refine your work so that you do the work you enjoy as we all have our favourites. lose the ratty customers and awkward access ones and the PITA ones and you might start appreciating the freedom of this job. Employing can be more stressful than it's worth if you ain't motivated by greed. The grass is always greener on the other side until you get there and realise it really isn't.

Got to enjoy what you do, or at least appreciate the benefits of this job otherwise move on into something else with no regrets but be prepared to be an employee with all the fun that comes with not being in charge of decisions, good luck with that one.

[Stoots]

So are you saying approximately 400 are 8 weekly ? And the rest are 4 weekly ? If so that’s a doodle especially if they are small houses and less than 10 muinits per house you should easily be able to do that on your own and have spare days to build further , don’t see why you need an employee?.

No I was a bit out just checked its 335 8 weekly and 308 4 weekly but I've got about 30 to add to cleaner planner so maybe about 355 8 weekly and 318 4 weekly roughly.

It's about 1600 quid a week x 52 weeks of the year.

Obviously I don't work 52 weeks more like 47 and I don't  normally work Fridays either and I like to finish by 2 or 3pm at the latest. 

So yes whilst technically it might be possible on paper to do 350 a day 5 days a week there no way I can keep it up ive tried before. When you factor in bad weather and red hot summers I would have to be an absolute machine to do it.

Anyway besides all that I dont want to do it that's the thing. 

I have about 83k on the books I think now so I  a great position to employ I just Nedd to find someone quick before I collapse under the pressure  it's lots of customers already asking where are you lol