[bernlyn]

hi there i have browsing for awhile now and now have decided to post.

i am sick and tired and had it with working permanent nights [ 6 years of it ] 10 to 6am and it is getting to me now. the family life has suffered and i hardly ever get to see the sun only on  weekends. also i dont want to work for someone else anymore as they are getting the beifits of my hard labor.

i want to start window cleaning as my own business. have not decided if i want to go trad or wtp

hope you all will be patient with me as i have loads of questions

[d s windowcleaning]

hi mate you found a good forum here where you will get loads of help & advice so get them questions coming . i know what you mean about nights aswell . good luck when you start wfp is the best but its the outlay so trad minght be better to start with until you build up a custom base and income .once again good luck 

[Grafters Cleaning Services]

Decision, to make! wfp is the way to go but more expensive set up than trad.
If you are in the position to finance wfp then that is the route you should go down as when and if you go full time you will be there already, another point being is that if you start trad then change over to wfp (say in  a year or so) you then have the hard job of converting all your customers over.
If on the other hand you are not in the position to finance wfp then you will have to go trad, but make sure you but the best gear you can i.e decent ladder (not B&Q) ladder stopper etc and finally good luck.

[bernlyn]

thanks for your replies i have done a few searches on this forum and others. i think that i will start off with trad at first as i will still be working nights until i get a decent supply of customers

where is the best place to shop for ladders and what equipment do you recomend i need to start off. as i want to start getting the equipment asap

there is so many shops out there that my head is spinning i just need a good kit to start off with.

[Grafters Cleaning Services]

bucket
applicator
squegge
ladder
ladder stopper
scrims (loads of them)
glass scrapper
bucket on belt & scrim pouches

try
www.scrimcity.co.uk  ........... www.cleantech.co.uk

[Dean Aspects]

Steps
Public Liability Insurance
Extention pole
Cleaning liquid
Oh and customers 


Dean

[brett walker]

 8)welcome


start by learning traditional

then go wfp

good luck 

brett

[brett walker]

www.windowcleaningwarehouse.co.uk


brett

[bernlyn]

hi thanks for all the replies 
another questions or two

there are so many shops out there and different sizes and brands of equipment
could recommend a brand and sizes to get for the items below

what size and make:
bucket [with or without lid]
applicator
squegge
ladder[which one the pointed or construction normal type]
scrims (how many)
glass scrapper
bucket on belt & scrim pouches[which one would your recommend]

looking to buy these this week coming
 thanks bern

[mark dew]

i remember checking out midland ladders after trevor knight posted a link one time and the prices were really good.
http://midlandladders.com/

Starting off traditionally is a good way to start, just for the experience and for being able to take on any type of work.
I reckon you'll want 4 scrims, although 2 will be enough to keep you going for awhile. Make sure you boil up the scrims or wash them a few times without detergent to soften them up. Also a couple of microfibre cloths will be a good addition to the scrims. I prefer using these rather than scrims for the buffing as they don't leave fine fibres on the glass.
good luck.

[Dale Smith]

Bernlyn,
Where were you working..... was it the Tesco warehouse?
I used to work there 

[bernlyn]

hi Dale

no, i work on lul @ nights and do maintenance on the fire systems but the health and safety is absolutely ridiculous. if i walk on station i have to have method statement and risk assesment for the task. if i fill a bucket with water i have to have manual handling assesment done. for steps they have to have a register saying that they are safe to work on. every single thing that we do on the station has its own set of rules and regs and paperwork for it. on top of that we regulary get auditted by the main contractors.

 i run a team of 4 guys and i have to make sure that they are fit for work in that they arent drunk or have had a drink and no use of drugs and as you guessed it there is paperwork that i have to fill out for this and get them to sign every night. also i have loads of paperwork that also has to filled out saying that the maintenance is done corrcetly which then gets sent to the main contractor for them to inspect.

6 years of this is to much now and the paperwork is increasing from day to day.

sorry i know that you asked a simple question but i just got home from work and am getting more and more peed off with this job

[Dale Smith]

Hello Bernlyn,

Mate I got out of warehouse management for similar reasons, been doing this for only 5 months..... best thing I ever did  .
The advice you have already got on this thread is good as well....ref the equipment, and the leafletting & doorknocking.
Best of luck mate

[bernlyn]

thanks
i just received the dvd window cleaning essentials and am going to start practising on my windows tomorrow and the neighbours.

when door knocking how would you sell [say to them] your services to the costomer.

i must admit that this part i am going to find quite duanting so any help would be much appreciated

[Stephen Dwyer]

You could say something like this...

"Hello.  I am a window cleaner and am looking to expand my round in the area.  I was wondering if you might be interested"?