[Dean Aspects]

I do mostly every four weeks but do have a couple of 6 weeks that are a pain to be honest
every 8 week work i see that work as extra money and can always fit it in as i usually finish at 2.30 so have plenty of time to do it

Dean

[supernova77]

As it stands, about 6 miles, but that's for a full day.

I'm not travelling miles for odd jobs.

If the money's good though, I don't mind how far I go.
Over the bridge to Bristol (including tolls) if it was worth more than back home.

Why not spend a weekend or so canvassing for new work a bit further away? It could well be worth it.

Andy

[jdemarco]

I'm wishing I had enough work to do 6-weekly, but I haven't got enough for 4, so I'd have to literally double my round.
Not really going to happen is it? Grin

Why can't you double your round Rog?

Andy

If I've picked up about 6 or 7 new jobs this year, how long is it going to take to pick up another 200?

..and I'm losing them quicker than gaining them anyway.
Come on, that's old news!

Not heard that before from you but only new to this. why dont you be proactive and get the work if your waiting for work to come to you, it wont happen. Whats going on?

I done plenty, just haven't had much joy.
We've got 15-odd window cleaners in a small town and surrounding areas.

Everyone's either already got one, or doesn't want one.

A few years back I canvassed solidly for 2 days, must have called on hundreds and hundreds of houses and businesses.

Result? 2 new ones.
What a waste of 2 days. :

So no, I can't do much about it.

Anyway, this is off-topic.
I don't want to get into another "I do £4000 a day, what's wrong with you?" again.

Well i can see why your not getting any work and losing work with an attitude like yours. I wasnt posting you for a fight it was purely out of interest and concern.
Whats your pitch to the householder?
What time of the day are you canvassing ?
Do you smile?
Theres always a reason why you dont get any luck canvassing. And 9 times out of  10 its down to you.

[Neil_A]

Most of my customer base are 4weekly... but some i have are every 6weeks  and some are every 2weeks...  i allso have a copple that are every 2 months

[NWH]

If most of your work is 4 weekly you need to get some bigger houses,and my advice to Squeaky would be that when you take on new work don`t take on the rubbish,your struggling to pick work up now so you might aswell be picky.Big sign on the van should do the trick.

[mark dew]

i've been going 3 1/2 years and work on a 4 weekly or multiple of for most work. I have 1 area that i do on a 6 weekly. A few are 8 weekly and a couple are 12 weeks.
I did get asked loads of times to come in a calendar month (is it??), but like jdemarco has mentioned, i could fit an extra months work per year by doing 4 weekly.
I used to have a handful at 2 weeks but didn't like it and put them on 4.

[Londoner]

Windows are still too clean after 4 weeks. All my work is 6 week but average price is up £4 so it works out better for me.

[Sir Squeaky]

Well i can see why your not getting any work and losing work with an attitude like yours. I wasnt posting you for a fight it was purely out of interest and concern.
Whats your pitch to the householder?
What time of the day are you canvassing ?
Do you smile?
Theres always a reason why you dont get any luck canvassing. And 9 times out of  10 its down to you.

9 times out of 10?

Absolute toilet as usual.
I don't know why anyone bothers to reply to you. :

Listen mate, I've worked in sales, I know how to sell a product and how deal with the public.
I know every trick in the book.

Of course I smile.
I'm thouroughly charming to the public.

The sale is down to you 30% of the time at the most.
Any professional canvasser will tell you that.

One thing that's always a factor is the punter.
Some can be swung, and I can tell straight away.

But others aren't interested.
If they don't want one, they don't want one.
You're wasting your time with them.

I think you need to understand the ratio of window cleaners around me.
There isn't that much spare about.

It's a shame you're so far away.
I'd like to see how you get on trying to get work around here.

[supernova77]

9 times out of 10? Grin

Absolute toilet as usual.
I don't know why anyone bothers to reply to you. Roll Eyes

Listen mate, I've worked in sales, I know how to sell a product and how deal with the public.
I know every trick in the book.

Of course I smile.
I'm thouroughly charming to the public. Wink

The sale is down to you 30% of the time at the most.
Any professional canvasser will tell you that.

One thing that's always a factor is the punter.
Some can be swung, and I can tell straight away.

But others aren't interested.
If they don't want one, they don't want one.
You're wasting your time with them.

I think you need to understand the ratio of window cleaners around me.
There isn't that much spare about.

It's a shame you're so far away.
I'd like to see how you get on trying to get work around here.

Rog,

If you need new work then it sounds like your going to have to travel for it... Does that cause you a problem?

Andy

[Sir Squeaky]

Not if it's good money.

[Chris Cottrell]

6 wks is my norm

[supernova77]

Are there any "rich areas" within 15 / 20 miles of you then?

Andy

[jdemarco]

It's a shame you're so far away.
I'd like to see how you get on trying to get work around here.

Is that a challenge?

Where you based?

[Pureandclean]

Been going nearly 25 years, when I started most people wanted their windows doing every fortnight, and of course there were the odd ones that wanted once a month.
 Many years back I changed all of our work over to monthly, and guess what, there are some that want it every other month. No matter what you choose there will always be someone who wants to be different.
 I decided that, I would only take on customers who wanted a monthly clean, and 9 times out of 10 when you tell them that, they agree, the ones that don't, I don't take on.
 You must run your round, don't allow your round to run you.
If we continue to have window cleaners that will take on cleans at 2 monthly, and 3 monthly intervals, you will end up with the American situation, where they will ring you when they want you.
 Stick to your guns, and educate your customers that window cleaning is not about cleaning dirty windows, but maintaining clean ones. Then look for the add-on services that you can provide to these regular customers.

If people don't want their windows cleaning at the same time as everyone else on your round, then they are looking for a different service. that is window cleaning by appointment, in which case the price should be completely different to the price you charge your regular customers. At least double your normal price, and probably more than that.

Blessings,

Graeme

[NWH]

Spot on Graeme.

[Paul Coleman]

I started out in '91 with monthly cleans.  A lot of custies did the "not today thanks" number on me or asked for 2 monthly.  So once I had an overfull workload, I went 6 weekly across the board.  This brought most of the 2 monthlies onside and the monthlies were happy as they saved some money.  A few 2 monthlies cancelled.
Apart from a couple of shop fronts close to where I live, my work is 6 weekly still.  I have 4 jobs on 12 weekly.  I will only do 12 weekly service now for jobs of £50 or more though three of the four were 12 weekly (and under £50) before I decided to make that change.  I have actually cancelled some work due to them wanting 12 weekly while being below the £50 threshhold.  I have a job worth £41.00 that is 6 weekly and due an increase.  I suspect I will be asked (again) about doing them less often.  If they do I will suggest 12 weekly for £50 a pop.  It will still save them money.
I do have a 2 monthly job left over from the old days.  It doesn't really fit on my round schedule the way I'm now set up.  However, it's only a mile from my water tank so I can fit it in by doing it when I get some water.

[Village Gleam]

Graeme,
Brilliant post. I make a lot of the mistakes you speak of.
"it's not about cleaning dirty windows, but maintaining clean ones"
I'm going to make that my new mantra.

I and people like me are not all bad though, there is a trend to longer cleans. The frames glass and cons is better than 25yrs ago,as is the method wfp. That trend is against us, but as these upvc frames no longer need painting the trend in our favour is the gutter and facia cleans.

[dai]

Been going 14 years on my own, although I did work for a guy back in 1958.
I do mostly monthly cleans, but have now got 3 estates bi-monthly at +50% of the original price. This seems the only way to get a decent increase for long standing work.
Why pass the work on, if you can get 50%more for doing them bi-monthly.
I do need to prune the round though, not getting any younger. Dai

[Village Gleam]

How old are you Dia? I find the work very hard too and I have always been a perfect physical specimen and very fit.

I try to compensate by buying good kit. I want to employ as well but this isn't straight forward either.

I cling to life and will never want to give up work, if you are like me Dia your only chance of a pension is to biuld a business that could go on with less involvement from you.

I do find that long term wc lack self esteem and confidence. Squeaks as a young example, possibly yourself as slightly older.

[Alex Wingrove]

oh dear me what a silly comment from someone,


its only a forum, its not real, there is more to life than winning an argument on the internet, and at the end of the day no one cares