[frames to panes]

Found out why yesterday ........................ i'm only on the same patch as a well known forum member who has just about the whole estate i've been canvassing and most of the surrounding countryside. : and i've not realised for the past year. :

[cat9921]

throw dirt up his windows
Then offer your wfp service 

[Jon-scwindows]

i know around 15 friends of mine who are window cleaners in the same/ close areas to where i work, but there is still work -
they pretty much surround me completely all within 6 miles. Though i have found i still get work.

did the customers say they have someone else?

its funny how some customers say '' oh no we all have a window cleaner who has this area'' ... and then i get 2 customers in the same road.

[windowwashers]

Found out why yesterday ........................ i'm only on the same patch as a well known forum member who has just about the whole estate i've been canvassing and most of the surrounding countryside. : and i've not realised for the past year. :

Dont worry about it, do a good job and you will get work 

[Ian W]

Offer to do them for £3!  

I know of 3 window cleaners that work the road I live in. Yesterday I noticed a gang of 3 new window cleaners. One of them was female too. I know the other window cleaners cover most of the road, so I am surprised they have enough work to come here.

[jonah]

offer to clean them and you will pay them !

[frames to panes]

I think i'll just go round and collect for him instead!

[frames to panes]

Actually he's a good chap and i wouldn't even try to poach his work.

[jonah]

Have you thought about asking him for a job ?

[macmac]

It will come dave, as you have probably now realised it's not as easy as some would make out gaining new work & building a round up. Thinking back to your first posts, when you first started, to now, i think you've done a great job so far. Building a round from scratch is a very, very hard task (even with wfp, for the milloinair brigade) You've thought, researched & commited, overcome all the many obstacles in your way. been honest when seeking advise & given good advise to others through your start up experience.
This is you well on your way now dave, you've done the hardest bit, you'll keep gaining new custom as you go on. You may have to try new areas, different tactics etc. etc. but stick at it like you have done so far & i can't see you going wrong mate.
You're not on your own, we all have good & bad patches in this trade, great when everything is going well, positive comments from custy's, new work coming in, then bang, pump breaks, custy moans, van needs a major service just when you're skint etc.etc.

huugh, i'm worn out now, hope this cheers you up

Tony

[jeff1]

Actually he's a good chap and i wouldn't even try to poach his work.

Dave Where do you live (area)  

[Dale Smith]

Dave, your in West Wilts are'nt ya?
I heard through the grapevine that there is lots of work in Melksham, but it's too far for me, that must be not that far from you?
Go get it....   

[frames to panes]

Tony i'm deeply touched
 No seriously, i know we crossed poles a couple of times and i certainly took you the wrong way on more than one occasion but your advice was always sound and just common sense really. Having spoken to several other cleaners out on the road you soon find it's not easy to start from scratch. A lot of the work you pick up is the crap that all the other cleaners have been through - it's quite funny to compare notes with other locals. The work you do build is then all over the place from one side of town to the other and takes MONTHS to try and pull together and compact it. I started by viewing a ready made van set up, and for a while got sucked in by the speil pushed in front of my nose - luckily i didn't have the money to waste at the time. My advice to anyone starting out would be the same as you gave me - don't try to run before you can walk. Oh and try to listen to someone with years of experience (not months).

[LWC]

not this guy?

http://www.cleanitup.co.uk/smf/index.php?topic=49954.0

 

[frames to panes]

Dale, Melksham - yes i've done a bit of work there, subbied out on horrible housing association work and know of several cleaners that head there - one posh van set up actually comes from there to my neck of the woods a former Ionics employee i think. I am earning enough to tick over and have picked up a lot of work within two miles of my front door, things arn't that bad really, it all takes time. We all have ups and downs and the ones who don't.....well.
 I like to read of peoples bad days, it helps to keep it real.  

[macmac]

I like to read of peoples bad days, it helps to keep it real.   

 

That's honesty for you, i'll second that too, it's great when you've had realy crap day & you come on here to find someone has had one even worse

Tony

[Dale Smith]

With you all the way Dave & Tony..... we are still building up a round so good/great days are few & far between..... 

[frames to panes]

LWC - no.

Funny thing is I have the logo on the van, the decent clothes, shave everyday etc. but it does nothing if the competition is established i have proved that. As long as they are happy with their cleaner they won't change thats a fact. It does help to get you recognised but this image thing really isn't that important. I know of at least eight wfp set ups working in my area and probably a dozen trad guys all in about six square miles. I think the prospects of another newbie starting up would be pretty grim for him
Even if he had hot water.

[macmac]

It's the weather that's done it for me. havent had a full week in since before xmas. It's been a case of going out & doing what you can when you can. This tends to split your work up to make matters worse too.
As posted on another thread, the first day this year that was sunny all day in this region was yesterday- my pump broke on the first job. the first time it's ever let me down in the 3.5 years i've had it! typical!  I still trad though so it wasn't all bad.

Tony

[cvdewsbury]

Found out why yesterday ........................ i'm only on the same patch as a well known forum member who has just about the whole estate i've been canvassing and most of the surrounding countryside. : and i've not realised for the past year. :

Not looking at an argument but if you have invested in a van and system why didn,t you put up two or three thousand pounds and invest in some work to hit the ground running I know 20 to 30 local window cleaners and this is how we all started...