[Kevin R]

hi kev,could you tell me if one man can operate the vac at full stretch(48ft),can you clean house gutters when the slates cover half of the gutter,how long does it take to do an average 3 bed semi,and do you ever use customers electric to save bringing the generator-thanks

Hi Darren,

I operate the system up to 35 feet on my own after that I usually use a second  person and a support pole.

The omnivac is supplied with different attachments which will enable you to clean gutters even when the slates partially cover the gutter.

I would never plug into the customers supply. For a few reasons, 1, the current draw is heavy, a standard extension cable is not sufficient. 2, overloading their electrical system is a possibility especially if you plug into an unprotected spur at their house. 3, It limits when you can work. 4, Plugging in on most commercial jobs is not an option.

I dont do three bed semis, I did my own house it took under 10 mins, but the set up is quite a bit longer.
 

[Kevin R]

also do you really need the power washer-thanks again

Occasionally you will get a blocked down pipe. The easiest way to clean this is with a pressure washer / telescopic lance.

Dont look at it as a separate tool, its extremely useful.

[Clive McDonald]

Kevin,
I'm a bit tied up and going on hols in a few days, but i was wondering if you'd be prepared to do a bit of business mentoring with me and set me on the right path?

I've reached a bit of a plateau and I can make no inroads into commercial at all so need a strategy setting out.

What do you think?

[mark311069]

I believe £90.00 - £150 is resonable on a three bed semi - others I am sure will have imput on this.

We can usually supply a system within five working days, dependant on any special requirements that need to be custom made.

£90 -£150 !!!!  iam sorry not where i live. i wouldnt be able to charge that much. £50 tops if i was lucky.

[ftp]

I have thought about the Guttervac but for me with a medium sized van i would need to tow a trailer, have space to store it etc. The problem with residential properties would be a bit like trad v wfp where you need a fairly high outlay and still end up competing with the guy on a ladder. You can have your facias and soffits painted in my area for £150 so i'm not sure how high you could push the price. Obviously commercial would be where to make the best money. Still would like to try one though.

[ronnie paton]

so you can earn about 800-1000 in a day doing commercial gutter cleaning?

[Kevin R]

Kevin,
I'm a bit tied up and going on hols in a few days, but i was wondering if you'd be prepared to do a bit of business mentoring with me and set me on the right path?

I've reached a bit of a plateau and I can make no inroads into commercial at all so need a strategy setting out.

What do you think?

As long as your not in my area I have no problems with that 

[Kevin R]

so you can earn about 800-1000 in a day doing commercial gutter cleaning?

With the right job - yes no problem 

[Ian Rochester]

We charge £2.50 per linear metre, most jobs are around the £40-£50 mark.  Would never get away with charging £150 on anything but the biggest properties.

We still also use ladders and stand offs for gutter cleaning with great effect, very quick, most 3 bed properties in about half an hour.

[Clive McDonald]

Kevin
No not in your area. I know what questions i need to ask of you.It'll be to do with improving my website and where I should advertise,yellow pages safe contractor etc.

Glyn H,
I am getting more interested in this gutter cleaning kit. If you had an email with pictures and description of a package i would be happy to receive it.

[Kevin R]

We charge £2.50 per linear metre, most jobs are around the £40-£50 mark.  Would never get away with charging £150 on anything but the biggest properties.

We still also use ladders and stand offs for gutter cleaning with great effect, very quick, most 3 bed properties in about half an hour.

Ladders on commercial properties can only be used as temporary workstations, and where any other system is seen as impractical. (for example you wouldn't hire a cherry picker to re- connect a down pipe at 8m as the cost would be prohibitive. A properly secured ladder and a trained operative would be fine) But you wouldn't and couldn't use a ladder to clear a whole stretch of guttering.

Some of our commercial customers have active ladder bans on their sites.

As with wfp the world is changing 
 

[cvdewsbury]

We charge £2.50 per linear metre, most jobs are around the £40-£50 mark.  Would never get away with charging £150 on anything but the biggest properties.

We still also use ladders and stand offs for gutter cleaning with great effect, very quick, most 3 bed properties in about half an hour.

probably the best way of doing domestic jobs as long as the ladders are been held..

[Kevin R]

if your using ladders its not the best way.

If I was just doing gutters on domestic properties I would do them with a pressure lance as a minimum. I have a 9 m  Ladder, occasionally I have to use it, but its rare, I want to keep it that way. When it is used (once this year so far) I set it up with two safety devises and a person footing it.

The trouble with a repetitive job, using ladders like window cleaning or gutter cleaning is that  one day just by statistics alone you will get injured. You might be the most careful person in the world but its still a possibility.

At the prices your charging your risking yourself for a few quid. For a few hundred quid you could get a pressure washer and a lance that will keep you on the ground, make the job easier and safer.

Its a no brainer really 

[mark311069]

so kevin r just to recap!!  do you think i should spend the money and get the system???

[Kevin R]

so kevin r just to recap!!  do you think i should spend the money and get the system???

If you want to get involved with commercial work, earn much more money than you can from window cleaning, and you are aware of the health and safety regulations (not the made up ones often quoted on here)  and the alternative costs to do the job with cherry pickers or scaffolding or towers if low enough, then go for it.

But be aware there is a downside. 

It takes a while to become established, payment is usually 30 days or more, the work can be much more demanding at times, you will go from mad busy to slack depending on the weather once established (heavy rain brings loads of work all at once).

Do your homework, add the service and you'll not look back.

My biggest bit of advice is you have to speculate to accumulate. you can have the best kit in the world but its useless if know body knows you have it. So spend some of your earnings on targeted advertising 

[mark311069]

thank you kevin for the really usefull advice   

regards mark

[Nathanael Jones]

The trouble with a repetitive job, using ladders like window cleaning or gutter cleaning is that  one day just by statistics alone you will get injured. You might be the most careful person in the world but its still a possibility.

Good advice Kev,... pity so many will not accept this simple fact.

[col222]

I am thinking of getting one also. What is the best way to get work? And what is the miimum financial outlay to start with?

[DASERVICES]

Glynn,

I was very impressed with the attachements on veiw at Windex. Would these fit the Ionic gutter vac by any chance.

Will be waiting until doomsday until it is modified, it's a good piece of equipment bu the attachments are not designed to do the job.

If your attachments can fit them will buy some off you.

Cheers

Doug

[Captain Scarlet]

I know one user who made over £2000 in one day from his DIY gutter vac, beat that!! talk about 5 days to get your investemnt back....thats too long if you ask me!!!  Luke