[geefree]

hi,
 A  while a few weeks ago i posted something like i could not afford wfp yet as just starting out...

now i find myself driving around for ages just looking For houses with no sloping roofs below windows or porches etc.... all the new builds are either 3 storey high or decorated with lots of sloping areas below upstairs windows.....

my question is someone posted a reply to me saying of course i can afford a starter kit wfp, ... and he broke down all the prices to build my own kit cheaply just to get me going... are you that person reading this ?

or can anyone please tell me how to get up and running with wfp cheaply just to begin with,

i know it sounds ridiculous but i seem to be running out of decent priced houses to canvass,

anyone help?

cheers.
Gary.

[DASERVICES]

  It was Matt's DIY link, I built my own DI unit cost me £1000 in total.

  Doug

[geefree]

Thanks Doug,

I think he broke it down to £315,
to get me going.
gary.

[stephen]

dont be fussy canvess all houses till you get enough work then you can pick and choose. i take on any work i can some of it  good some bad but it pays the bills at the end of the week.

[geefree]

i wont take work less than a fiver, anywhere... but i aint being fussy i am fed up of walking past houses that i cant clean so i want a basic kit to start with,... i drive around and spot a new estate, then drive off ..leaving dozens of houses i cant clean because i cant get to them...
this post is in no way flaring a debate regarding trad and wfp.... this is my choice to have a bit of both thats all

so please dont anyone butt in with quips about trad, and wfp... as i dont get involved now and wont be doing in the future... just a touch of help regarding a nice cheap set up.. thanks everyone.

gary.

[geefree]

also there is no point in canavassing a house i cant clean, ...


dont be fussy canvess all houses till you get enough work

(quote from stephen)

[jr windows]

Gazza

What equipment did you get for yor £315

Thanks Jason

[windows_chepstow]

Gazza,

Make sure you have your e-mail on display in your profile and Matt should hopefully e-mail you a link for his DIY WFP site.  It's considered bad manners by some to advertise other (similar web-sites) using this forum, but I think the site owner and Matt have some sort of agreement.

Also, use the search facility at the top of this page to search for DIY WFP.

Also do a search for 'backpack'.

Spend a few hours reading!

------------------------------

WFP aside, on many properties you may find the odd window that would be dangerous to clean; gaining access to it using ladders.

That doesn't mean you don't approach the customer and ask if they want a quote.

Just let the customer know that the windows you consider dangerous will be left alone; since you don't want to chance injury or death; cleaning them.

Some customers (a tiny minority) may say, 'Ah, but my last window cleaner did them'.  Just tell them that their last window cleaner was taking a risk you're not prepared to take and explain why it's dangerous.

99% of customers will be happy to have a good, safe regular window cleaner who does a top job; despite missing the odd dangerous window.

[stephen]

was not having a go sloping roofs are not that bad there is nearly allways somewere you can put the ladder safely i have got slopping roofs on most of my round.

[geefree]

hi stephen,

am i being too cautious?


gary.

[dai]

Better to be too cautious than to take a fall.
I built my own system with the help of Matt's site. It cost me about£600 in total.
You will get conflicting advice about van mount versus trolley systems. Take my advice and build yourself a trolley system. I was talking to a guy last week who had got himself a new van mounted system costing thousands, He can't get to some of the jobs that I can get to with my trolley. One is a large marina developement with no vehicle access to one side. I am 13 months into WFP now and a van system would not be half as good as my trolley for my work. Think of parking problems and having to move the van for every job.
 I am lucky, with a tap TDS reading in the 50's I am still on my third bag of resin since I started and that's DI only. It's very simple science mate. Get building. Dai

[jr windows]

Dai,

Did you get the email i sent to you a few weeks ago ?

Thanks Jason

[Jeff Brimble]

Could I suggest starting with a backpack, then buy or put it on a trolley, then as the work grows get a van mount
I have the lot, which do I prefer ? the backpack......... but, .... the electric trolley is second choice, but you cannot buy one of those 

[dai]

Jason, you have e-mail. Dai

[mxmegansdad]

hi all im new on here been in the game 25 years used to have 10 window cleaners working for me all domestic untill the inland revenue caught up with me so strictly commercial now have one of the first tucker pole systems bought it years ago but recently started using it alot more.
its just a basic one thinking about building a truck mounted one as i do loads of industrial estates.

can someone guide me to the diy wfp site email addy is nicklewis120@hotmail.com

cheers

[Jeff Brimble]

http://d.co.uk

[matt]

mail me for the link

<-------------------- e.mail address on the side

[JohnL]

I had my first half day today (due to seriously heavy rain this morning) working WFP only.

This was on upstairs and downstairs on all the houses done

It was an extremely good day with more houses successfully completed than I had anticipated when setting out so I was really happy.

to get back to the core of the thread - an idea what costs can be achieved to get a system up and running I have listed my expenditure on my kit - I was lucky to get second hand stuff over a period so trawl around like I did.

second hand 18 ft pole including brush from a member of this site   -  £100 inc postage

second hand backpack from a member of this site  -  £45  inc postage

4  -  25ltr containers free from my local garage

1 small 60kgs trolley from Do It All for taking the 25 ltr containers full of water around the houses and out to my vehicle when needed  -  £16

1 heavy weight 100kg trolley from B&Q to take the backpack around - special offer reduced from £38 down to   -  £18

a couple of brushes ( spares ?  )  -  £45

my own DIY resin based DI Unit to bring the water down from an average of 45 TDS to zero - about       -  £50

total £275 but I will be adding more bits soon like a shorter pole for the downstairs windows and a longer hose extension so as not having to take the trolley round some of the backs all the time.

using the backpack on the trolley worked superbly without any hitches, the drawback was getting wound up in hose -  AARRRRRGGGHHH - but I soon got the hang of it and raised my game to a pretty quick procedure. ie 2 houses which used to take over an hour each took 35 mins each and all the windows came up superbly well due to having previously trad them some 5 weeks ago, so they were still fairly clean. I was able to check out the wet ones immediately from inside 'cus I know my customers well. I was able to later on go and recheck the finish - well pleased and I hope it continues.  But I put this down to the  good trad results previously 

Good trawling guys  -  go for it!

JohnL

[geefree]

thanks to all for replies,

tosh, forever helpful and lots of knowledge cheers mate....

jeff , yes thats what i will do, thanks mate

 john i want your gear please  .

dai,.. brill advice, thanks for your suggestions...



lol next time.... i will put thanks lads  ... and thats it.

matt you have email mate.



gary.

[brett walker]

Gaza

i think the easiest way for you to start wfp would be with a backpack and all you need is a few other basics, ro, water butt, pole and some 25ltr containers.  Unless you are handy and then you could make your own diy

If you say there is a lot of 3 storey work out your way then you will definately be making the right decision with wfp, most of my work is 3 storey and i dont do any of them under 10 pounds.  I think this would be a good move for you

best of luck

Brett.