[dai]

I passed a couple of old WC's yesterday. I see them every Weds morning at 8 doing the same shop front, you can set your watch by them, and they have been doing it for years. Now these two must be in their 60's, and have been in the game most of their lives. Yesterday I see one of them scrubbing away with a brand new WFP system. I thought I was a late convert when I went WFP at 63, I'm sure these two are older. Times are certainly changing. Dai

[simbag]

Started cleanin trad feb 2005, still do trad but now used wfp since aug 2006. Amazing the difference in turnover!

[AuRavelling79]

I haven't voted because it's two years for me (the first of which was a slow change over - commercial first, then area by area domestic)

Finally last May my last area (terraced houses) when I got my shurflo to do the backs with.

[marc]

started wfp a year ago my only regret is not doing it years ago , i was speaking to a w/c approx 5 or 6 years ago he told me about his wfp that he was using on(commercial) i thought at the time this will never catch on how wrong i was

[marcus hopkins]

3 months. Best move i could have made.

Marcus

[Chris Cottrell]

Since Nov 2005 for me & can honestly say these have been the best years of my life so far as enjoying work is concerned

Chris

[AuRavelling79]

Me again - a bit of history.

I started with a trolley system from Peter Fogwill and worked out of my estate car until last November. My system has changed almost completely but during that time I have learned a great deal. Now mainly due to you folk on this forum I have got the system how I want it.

March 2005 Bought system and converted all my commercial over. May 2005 First domestic area change (large 1930's semi's and detached in posh part of Bristol) - pre warned customers re: H&S and benefits (in writing)

June 2005 As above Villages in Sth. Glos. changed over.

Bought 125L tank to supplement barrels from trolley system (now carrying 200l a day)
Often finishing day by doing downstairs trad. as low on water.

Sept 2005 Lower value areas changed over (ex-council semi's type)

May 2006 Bought 100m microbore, autobrush and Shurflo backpack - last area changed (1970's terraced "modern" housing) dropped last trad. house (old georgian flaky panes)

June 2006 Bought 175L tank, now carrying 250L a day

Oct/Nov 2006 Bought Doblo Van and carrying 316L

Jan 2007 Swapped 125 and 175L tank for a 400L tank. (Now carry 416L inc backpack)

Feb 2007 Dropped Unger poles for lighter domestic work and just bought "fishing pole set up" for up to 4th floor.

All that's left of my original system is the R/O which is excellent and the 200L butt that stores my water. (Oh I put a bigger bore tap in that too!)

Now a concerted effort to drop the dross (sub £20/£25 ph moaners) and replace with better work (£25ph plus happy people and £35ph plus new work! )

[Chris Cottrell]

Malc that makes for good reading thankyou for that

more power to your elbow chap

Chris

[pjulk]

Just coming up to 2 years but there is not 2 years on the pole so had to pick 1 year

paul

[jeff1]

Couldn't add my vote, only been going since just before christmas, I do tops and bottoms, love it so much I even started doing my bungalows wfp
Now my whole round is converted to wfp and I haven't lost one because of it.
Best move anyone can make, my takings have shot up even in such a short time, Now I'm looking for more work 'O' How I love being my own Boss.

[Pj]

Year and a half wfp.

18 years previous trad.

[Bonzer]

3 Years trad, 8 Months WFP. Customers very happy with it, earnings gone right up, work days gone down - Should have done it earlier 

Only one downer - tax bill will be bigger next Jan 

[brett walker]

Been going 1 year wfp

window cleaning hasnt changed much in 16yrs until2yrs ago til i discovered wfp and now it seems to be changing all the time.  We can not only work faster and earn more we can clean awkward windows and clean higher safely

I am very pleased i made the change

regards

Brett

[mgcleaning]

it seem's i started wfp the same time and the same way as Malc(G)old,with a trolley from PeterFogwill but i went straight into it an i  have gradually converted to a van mount with 250l tank + 6x 25l jars(400l tank going in next i hope 
mal

[craig jwc]

Been wfp for abolut 18 months now with no regrets

[Ian_Giles]

Three years for me, and I too started with a Trolley setup from Peter Fogwill, was 100% WFP straight away after 0ver 20 years trad, without a shadow of a doubt it was the best thing I have ever done.
I uprgaded to a full van mount system 18 months ago, and I've spent the best part of a grand upgrading further since I changed to a van.
But I can only make these upgrades because I'm earning the money to be able to do so, and the van was brand spanking new when I got it too, lease purchasing that.
Each time I've set myself little targets, for the van I only went for it once I'd picked an extra guaranteed £300 per month, always over and above what I would actually need.
And with each upgrade you also become more efficient, allowing you to earn the money you are already earning that little bit quicker or easier, so you are then able to take on yet more work, and so on and so on...

Ian

[steve k]

bought my van and WFP system in May 2005...

[Paul Coleman]

I put 1 year but it's more like 16 months. It took a while to convert all the work over though.  A lot of stuff went wrong early on and it was a baptism of fire.  Probably would have gone back to trad but for internet forums.
My turnover is higher.  Income probably slightly higher (as extra costs with WFP).  Get LOTS more time off though and feel much less knackered.  It's taken me a while but this stuff is really just starting to come together now.

[Pippin]

Two years and I did not drop one customer.
First six month the hardest but well worth it.
cleaning windows all my working life 20+ years
WFP best thing I ever did.

[sair]

coming up eight years